Young aspen trees in Yellowstone are doing something they have not done in almost 100 years. Rather than sprouting and being eaten back to nubs by elk and bison, they're actually growing into tall, adult forest trees rising up towards the canopy.



This matters more than it might seem, because it shows what happens when a missing piece of an ecosystem returns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yellowstone-aspens-and-elk">Yellowstone, aspens, and elk</h2>



In the 1920s, people <a href="https://www.yellowstone.org/wolf-project/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eliminated wolves in Yellowstone</a>. At the time, with limited scientific knowledge, managers believed it was the right thing to do.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-wolves-to-dogs-did-domestication-begin-without-human-help/">Without wolves</a>, elk herds grew very large. Elk love to eat aspen shoots - the tender young growth is highly palatable to them.



For roughly 70 years, elk browsed aspen sprouts down to stub height, and the trees couldn't grow. 



If you had walked through Yellowstone in the 1980s, you would have seen many tiny aspen shoots covering the ground, but almost no young trees gaining height. 



The forest's regeneration was stalled. Old trees died, and no new ones replaced them.



In 1995 and 1996, park managers reintroduced wolves into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-supervolcano-eruption-study-sparks-new-debate-on-where-and-when-it-will-erupt/">Yellowstone Park ecosystem</a>. Scientists hoped and wondered whether this would change anything for the trees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-aspen-matter-to-yellowstone">Why aspen matter to Yellowstone</h2>



Aspen groves provide habitat for many species. Birds nest in them. Beavers eat the bark and use the wood for dams. Butterflies and moths lay eggs on the leaves. 



Their canopy admits enough light for wildflowers and shrubs to grow beneath. When it rains, aspen groves hold water in the soil better than some other forest types.



In short, when aspen return, dozens of other species benefit. More trees support more insects, which in turn support more birds, enriching the ecosystem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-checking-the-trees-three-decades-later">Checking the trees three decades later</h2>



<a href="https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/users/luke-painter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke Painter</a>, an ecologist at <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a>, sought clear answers. His team returned to 87 aspen stands across Yellowstone that scientists had previously surveyed. 



They measured thousands of young trees, looked for bite marks, and counted how many stems were tall enough that elk could no longer reach the tips.



About a third of these stands now have many tall young aspens pushing toward the canopy. 



"About 26 of the 87 aspen stands we examined had large numbers of tall saplings throughout, a remarkable change from the 1990s when surveys found none at all," Painter said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-wolves-matter-to-yellowstone-aspens">Why wolves matter to Yellowstone aspens</h2>



Breaking it all down, the conclusions of this study are pretty simple. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wolves-move-pups-across-mountains-to-adapt-to-climate-pressure/">Wolves hunt elk</a>. When wolves came back, two things happened. First, elk numbers declined from unusually high levels. Second, elk changed their behavior. They spent less time in the same areas feeding.



With fewer elk and shorter feeding bouts, more aspen shoots survived long enough to exceed the browsing zone - about six to seven feet high. 



Once a sapling reaches that height, elk cannot easily reach the growing tip. The tree continues to grow.



"The reintroduction of large carnivores has initiated a recovery process that had been shut down for decades," Painter explained.



Scientists call this a <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/trophic-cascades-across-diverse-plant-ecosystems-80060347/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trophic cascade</a> - when adding or removing one species causes changes that ripple through the whole system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-places-recover-others-don-t">Some places recover, others don't</h2>



Unfortunately, not every aspen stand has recovered yet. Some valleys still have many short, heavily browsed shoots, because it's not only elk eating them anymore. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstones-iconic-bison-have-merged-into-a-single-herd/">Bison herds have grown</a>, and bison browse on aspen as well. They are strong enough to break young trees. 



"Increasing numbers of bison may be emerging as a new constraint to aspen in some areas," Painter confirmed.



Additionally, winter snow depth varies; droughts stress trees; bears and mountain lions also hunt elk; and hunting outside the park influences elk distribution. 



All of these factors interact, which is why some sites show strong recovery, others show moderate recovery, and a few have changed very little.



The key pattern is that places with many tall saplings experience little browsing, and aspen groves that remain popular eating grounds today stay short. 



This fact is the strongest indication that tree recovery is linked directly to wolf presence, not solely to weather or soil conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proof-in-the-measurements">Proof in the measurements</h2>



Painter's team did not rely on casual observation. They used the same methods as earlier researchers, measuring the same plots. 



They counted recruitment - when young trees surpass browsing height and begin progressing toward maturity. This measure is crucial. Sprouts are insufficient if they never grow; without recruitment, the forest cannot replace itself.



The results are robust. After being stalled for most of a century, Yellowstone's aspens are increasing in height. In recovering stands today, you will see saplings - six, eight, or ten feet tall - that were not present in the 1990s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-yellowstone-s-aspens">The future of Yellowstone's aspens</h2>



"This is a remarkable case of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-viruses-found-in-yellowstones-hot-springs-may-be-near-the-root-of-all-life-on-earth/">ecological restoration</a>," Painter concluded. "Wolf reintroduction is yielding long-term ecological changes contributing to increased biodiversity and habitat diversity."



Trees grow slowly, so even with wolves restored, it will take decades for these young aspens to form a full-grown forest. 



Some areas might never fully recover if bison numbers continue to rise or if the climate becomes too hot and dry.



Thanks to the work of Painter and his team, scientists are now certain that restoring the Yellowstone predator has restarted aspen forest regeneration. Not everywhere and not perfectly, but enough to be measured, creating hope for the future.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112725004499?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Ecology and Management</a>.



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Yellowstone's aspen trees are growing again thanks to the reintroduction of wolves

Young aspen trees in Yellowstone are doing something they have not done in almost 100 years. Rather than sprouting and being eaten back to nubs by elk and bison, they're actually growing into tall, adult forest trees rising up towards the canopy. This matters more than it might seem, because it shows what happens when a missing piece of an ecosystem returns. Yellowstone, aspens, and elk In the 1920s, people eliminated wolves in Yellowstone. At the time, with limited scientific knowledge, managers believed it was the right...

Recent research into how dinosaurs managed to run on their massive body frames has helped scientists gain a better understanding of how the act of "running" evolved in animals over time.



Let's travel back 106 million years, to a time when small, feathered dinosaurs roamed the Earth. This new study suggests that these little creatures were pulling off some impressive stunts using their wings, even without the capability to fly.



The research team focused on a fossil trackway found in South Korea. This preserved slice of history belonged to a dinosaur the size of a sparrow. 



What makes this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alpkarakush-kyrgyzicus-new-dinosaur-was-t-rex-cousin-has-protruding-eyebrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prehistoric path</a> so interesting is how it demonstrates the dinosaur used a unique "flap-running" technique to achieve impressive speeds.



What is this "flap-running"? Imagine the quick scuttle and fluttering of a domestic fowl. Except, picture this taking place millions of years ago in a dinosaur about the size of your hand!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaurs-flap-running-with-wings">Dinosaurs flap-running with wings</h2>



These findings challenge the traditional view of evolution. Previously, it was thought that flight evolved in a linear process, from gliding to powered flight. 



This new discovery highlights the complexity and adaptability of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/qunkasaura-pintiquiniestra-new-sauropod-dinosaur-discovered-in-spain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird ancestors</a>, demonstrating that wing usage played a crucial role in locomotion before the actual evolution of flight.



Moreover, the findings also enrich our understanding of extinct species' biomechanics and their transition from ground-dwelling to flight-capable creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-locomotion">Unique locomotion</h2>



“With this new find, we’ve demonstrated these really tiny, feathered dinosaurs were using their wings for a kind of locomotion only seen in birds today,” said <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a> Biology Professor Hans Larsson.



It seems these ancient creatures were up to something innovative that modern birds have carried forward into the present.



The study was spearheaded by Alex Dececchi at <a href="https://dsu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dakota State University</a> in the United States and Michael Pittman at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (<a href="https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/english/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CUHK</a>)’s School of Life Sciences. 



Together, with a team of researchers from South Korea and the U.S., they have given us a fascinating glimpse into the past.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaurs-flap-running">Dinosaurs flap-running</h2>



The revelation of flap-running provides a nuanced understanding of the evolutionary trajectory of avian flight. 



It suggests that flight did not emerge from a straightforward set of innovations but through a series of complex adaptations.



The ability to flap-run would have offered these tiny theropods a survival advantage, enabling rapid escape from predators and efficient movement across varied terrains. 



In this context, the evolutionary path appears to be more of a branching process with multiple explorations, highlighting the adaptability and resourcefulness of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-with-huge-blade-like-horns-discovered-in-montana/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prehistoric creatures</a> in an ever-changing environment. 



This discovery invites further exploration into the transitional forms and intermediary behaviors that punctuated the rise of avian flight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-avian-flight">Modern avian flight</h2>



The study's insights extend beyond paleontological curiosity, offering implications for modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cracking-the-code-of-pterosaur-flight-soaring-vs-flapping/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">avian flight mechanics</a>.



Understanding how these ancient winged dinosaurs utilized their wings not only informs us about their evolutionary past but also potentially reveals aspects of contemporary bird flight we may not fully grasp. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/dinosaur_Dromaeosauriformipes-rarus_wings_running_credit-Alex-Boersma-PNAS_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/dinosaur_Dromaeosauriformipes-rarus_wings_running_credit-Alex-Boersma-PNAS_1s.webp" alt="Illustrated reconstruction of Dromaeosauriformipes rarus running along the muddy shore of an ancient lake. Credit: Alex Boersma/PNAS" class="wp-image-1948266"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Illustrated reconstruction of Dromaeosauriformipes rarus running along the muddy shore of an ancient lake. Credit: Alex Boersma/PNAS</figcaption></figure>



Modern birds, from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/songbirds-benefit-from-social-networks-during-migration/">songbirds</a> to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alarming-decline-of-african-raptors-linked-to-multiple-pressures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raptors</a>, exhibit a range of flight techniques and efficiencies that could trace their origins back to these primal movements.



By studying these ancestral techniques, scientists can gain a more comprehensive understanding of avian physiology and biomechanics, ultimately enriching our knowledge of biodiversity and the intricacies of life on our planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-fossil-trackways">Insights from fossil trackways</h2>



Examining fossilized trackways offers a unique window into understanding the locomotive behaviors of ancient creatures. 



The specific trackway discovered in South Korea not only illuminates the movement strategies of these small theropods but also sheds light on the environments they inhabited.



By analyzing the substrate and patterns of the preserved footprints, scientists can infer details about the gait and speed of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feathered-dinosaurs-had-scaly-skin-like-modern-day-lizards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feathered dinosaurs</a>. 



Such insights help reconstruct ecological contexts, indicating whether these dinosaurs traversed swampy landscapes, forested areas, or open plains.



This broader environmental understanding is critical in piecing together the intricate puzzle of prehistoric ecosystems and their dynamic interactions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-from-flap-running-of-dinosaurs">Learning from flap-running of dinosaurs</h2>



The revelation of flap-running in small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-theropod-dinosaurs-thrived-in-polar-environments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropods</a> prompts a reevaluation of other similar adaptations in the paleobiological record.



This research underscores the importance of revisiting fossil evidence with a fresh perspective, as even minute details can revolutionize our understanding of evolutionary processes. 



Furthermore, these findings highlight the interconnectedness of survival strategies across different species, suggesting that analogous adaptations may have arisen independently in various lineages. 



The implication is a call for interdisciplinary collaboration to explore these complex <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-are-helping-astronomers-in-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary narratives</a>, integrating paleontology, biomechanics, and environmental science to unravel life's historical tapestry. 



Through such a comprehensive approach, we can better appreciate the diversity and ingenuity present in the natural world both in ancient times and today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next">What’s next?</h2>



This research opens up a new avenue of inquiry about the origins of bird flight. It is a clear illustration that evolution isn't always a straightforward process, and complex adaptations can occur, even in the tiniest of creatures.



Indeed, the journey of a thousand miles (or in this case, millions of years) starts with just a single step. Or perhaps, a fascinating flap-run!



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2413810121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)</a>.



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Feathered dinosaurs used wings to run, not fly, in what's now called 'flap-running'

Recent research into how dinosaurs managed to run on their...

The amphibian world, home to fascinating creatures like frogs and toads, is hanging by a thread. These anurans are facing an uncertain future, all thanks to our ever-warming planet, which is drying out frog and toad habitats.



In a recent paper, an international team of researchers paints a stark picture of the struggles ahead for these creatures, pointing to their rapidly disappearing habitats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-an-invisible-thief">Climate change: An invisible thief</h2>



As we broach this topic, let's understand why we're even discussing a 2.7°C increase in global temperature by the century's end. This seemingly small figure can make big waves, leading to transformations in our climate and ecosystems that are anything but small.



With climate change running amok, many amphibians face a significant threat. The researchers raise a red flag towards the loss of water in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-frog-day-addressing-environmental-threats-to-frogs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anuran</a> habitats.



Less water means that these habitats may shrink or vanish completely. With the impacts of deforestation, fungal outbreaks, pollution, and warming temperatures, amphibians have their share of problems, and this situation simply adds to the pile.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-change-in-frog-and-toad-habitats">Change in frog and toad habitats</h2>



The researchers set out to predict which and how many of these watery havens might suffer due to drought. Now, you might wonder why this is such a big deal.



Frogs and toads require moisture to breathe. No water, no air, no frogs - it's as simple, and as heartbreaking, as that.



To make these predictions, the team got down to business using a range of tools to map out potential drought-prone areas across the globe. They also took into account factors like ecosystem sensitivity to drought and anticipated behavioral changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wood-frogs-achieved-significant-biological-evolution-25-years-salt-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">different climate scenarios</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parched-future-for-amphibians">Parched future for amphibians </h2>



From all this rigorous research, what emerges is a bleak scenario. The findings suggest that by 2100, between 7% and 30% of current frog and toad habitats could be so dry that our amphibious friends can't survive there anymore. 



Furthermore, between 15% and 36% of these areas may face drought due to regular heatwaves.



It seems that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/frogs-have-a-third-eye-for-direct-light-sensing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anurans</a> can't catch a break. They're likely to keep confronting escalating risks as ecosystems continue to fall prey to human encroachment. Pollution isn’t likely to let up anytime soon either. 



Plus, toads and frogs have the specter of natural threats, such as spreading fungal infections, to contend with.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-the-habitats-of-frogs">Saving the habitats of frogs</h2>



The dire predictions outlined in the study demand an urgent response. Conservation efforts must be intensified to safeguard the future of these vulnerable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seven-new-tree-frogs-named-after-star-trek-captains/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creatures</a>.



Key strategies include habitat restoration, reinforcing legal protections, and developing scientific action plans that mitigate the impact of climate threats. Initiatives such as creating amphibian sanctuaries and promoting biodiversity-friendly agriculture can help preserve the delicate ecosystems these animals depend on. 



Cross-disciplinary collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and communities is crucial to implementing effective measures. 



By enhancing public awareness and education on the importance of amphibians, we can galvanize collective action, ensuring these fascinating organisms continue to thrive alongside us.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-ecosystem-shifts">Broader ecosystem shifts</h2>



The repercussions of declining anuran populations extend beyond the amphibians themselves, indicating broader shifts within ecosystems. Frogs and toads play pivotal roles in their habitats, acting as both predators and prey. 



Their presence helps control insect populations, reducing the spread of vector-borne diseases, and their absence could disrupt the intricate food web balance. Amphibians also serve as environmental indicators; their declining numbers signal broader ecological distress. 



This cascading effect poses significant challenges for conservationists and highlights the urgency of addressing climate change impacts holistically.



Protecting anurans is, therefore, more than an act of preservation; it is a crucial step in maintaining the health and stability of our global ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taking-action-for-amphibians">Taking action for amphibians</h2>



Stepping back, it's clear - the amphibian world is teetering on the brink. Will we allow their symphony of croaks to be silenced forever? Or can we take a moment to consider our actions and their implications for these creatures?



The choice is ours to make. After all, it's not just about the habitats of frogs and toads. It's about the delicate balance of our shared world and our responsibility to protect it.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02167-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Climate Change</a>.



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Frogs and toads face new risks as their habitats dry up

The amphibian world, home to fascinating creatures like frogs and...

Picture this - one day, Earth's climate takes a sudden turn. The ocean circulation shifts without warning, creating weather chaos. In the blink of an eye, the Earth is in another Ice Age.



Sounds like the premise of a Hollywood disaster film, right? What makes this more attention-worthy is that it isn't a fictional scenario.



This actually happened several times during the last Ice Age that ended more than 11,000 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tipping-points-in-earth-s-climate">Tipping points in Earth’s climate</h2>



Researchers analyzed ice cores gathered in Greenland to provide a fresh understanding of these abrupt shifts. The cores contained data from 120,000 years ago, including evidence of sudden climatic upheavals called Dansgaard-Oeschger events.



These represent "tipping points" in Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atmospheric-rivers-are-shifting-with-global-climate-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a>. Imagine a person standing on the edge of a cliff. One wrong step sends them stumbling down into a dangerous abyss. That's a tipping point .



“It is really important to understand such tipping points in the climate, because they may result in catastrophic and irreversible change,” said Christo Buizert, an associate professor in the <a href="https://ceoas.oregonstate.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences</a> at Oregon State University. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-dansgaard-oeschger-cycle">What is the Dansgaard-Oeschger Cycle?</h2>



The Dansgaard-Oeschger Cycle is a pattern of rapid climate fluctuation, which occurred over 25 times during the last Ice Age. It's like flipping on and off multiple times.



The catalyst behind these cycles is the <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/amoc.html">Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation</a> (AMOC), which circulates water throughout the Atlantic Ocean. This includes the Gulf Stream, which carries warm tropical waters to the North Atlantic.



“The AMOC is fundamentally unstable, and when it collapses, big things happen across the globe. There is significant cooling in Europe and around the North Atlantic, and the Indian and Asian monsoons fail,” Buizert said. 



"That instability was frequent during the last Ice Age. It is cause for concern for the future because climate models suggest the AMOC will likely weaken again under <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-is-losing-its-cooling-power-making-the-earth-even-warmer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global warming</a>, potentially impacting billions of people.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-of-the-last-ice-age">Climate of the last Ice Age </h2>



Buizert, a paleoclimatologist, used the ice cores like time capsules to decode and understand past <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-the-ice-age-can-tell-us-about-future-el-nino-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate changes</a>.



The cores carry trapped water, dust, and tiny air bubbles that contain data dating back hundreds of thousands of years. This data provides crucial records of Earth's atmospheric evolution and is instrumental in scientists' understanding of past climate events.



Buizert analyzed ice cores from across Greenland including cores from south and coastal east Greenland, which had not been studied in detail. Findings related to the AMOC and the winter sea ice's interaction sparked interest in the cores.



These interactions had a key role in Dansgaard-Oeschger events. Scientists previously thought sea ice from the Nordic Seas north of Iceland was involved.



The new analysis suggests winter sea ice would extend much farther south, reaching modern-day France and New York City.



“The model shows that the Nordic Seas alone wouldn’t be big enough to drive a climate change event of this size,” Buizert said. “It just doesn’t pack enough of a punch.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ice-age-and-future-climate-change">The Ice Age and future climate change </h2>



The AMOC has been stable over the last 11,700 years. However, current <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-underestimate-sea-ice-melt-and-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate conditions and predictions</a> indicate it might weaken again but for different reasons than those in the Ice Age.



“We know the AMOC will weaken, but will it collapse? That is the big question. The weakening is likely gradual for the time being, but it could cross a tipping point and become a catalyst for abrupt climate change events like we saw in the past,” Buizert said. “The climate does not behave in linear patterns; it can change quickly and irreversibly.”



The past holds clues to our future. The research was conducted in collaboration with scientists from five countries and supported by the National Science Foundation. The insights bring us a step closer to understanding the nature of our planet's climate.



The research serves as a reminder that we have a lot more to learn, explore, and prepare for in the face of climate change.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2402637121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Disastrous climate changes of the last Ice Age could happen again

Picture this - one day, Earth's climate takes a sudden...

There's a new heavyweight in town, and no, we're not talking about the next boxing champion. It's the alcohol-loving Oriental hornet, an insect that can go head to head - or should we say drink for drink - with the best of us.



In a recent study, a group of behavioral ecologists, zoologists, and crop protection experts from Tel Aviv University have found that these buzz-worthy insects have the highest-known tolerance to alcohol in the animal kingdom.



"Ethanol, a natural by-product of sugar fermentation, can be found in various fruits and nectar. Although many animals routinely consume ethanol in low concentrations as part of their natural diets, its inherent toxicity can cause severe damage," noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oriental-hornets-and-alcohol">Oriental hornets and alcohol </h2>



Fermented foods like cheese, bread, and some fruits naturally produce alcohol as they break down. While eating rotten fruit may sound unpleasant to us, it’s a normal part of the Oriental hornet's diet. 



How does this insect eat ethanol-rich food without acting drunkenly? Scientists in Israel found that these insects aren't just a little bit tolerant to alcohol, they're practically teetotalers. 



Even after consuming foods with a whopping 20% ethanol content, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hornets-are-the-most-important-pollinators-for-some-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hornets</a> showed no signs of drunkenness.



What happens when they have the equivalent of an 80-proof meal? A very brief period of slight tipsiness, then they sober up and fly off as if nothing happened. For comparison, a fruit fly would likely die from consuming such levels of alcohol.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-behind-sobriety">Science behind sobriety</h2>



The mystery of the Oriental hornet's impressive alcohol tolerance lies within its unique physiological mechanisms. Research indicates that the hornet's liver-equivalent organs have potent enzymes specifically adapted to metabolize alcohol efficiently. 



These enzymes break down ethanol at a rapid rate, significantly reducing its intoxicating effects. This evolutionary trait serves an ecological advantage, allowing hornets to exploit food sources that other animals may shy away from due to high alcohol content. 



Additionally, the hornet's robust nervous system seems less prone to alcohol-induced impairment, ensuring that their survival activities, such as foraging and defending their nests, remain unaffected even after feasting on fermented delicacies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-high-alcohol-diets-of-hornets">High-alcohol diets of hornets</h2>



Adaptations to a high-alcohol diet have significant ecological implications for the Oriental hornet. Living in environments where naturally fermenting fruits are abundant, these hornets have carved a specialized ecological niche for themselves. 



Their ability to consume alcohol-rich foods without adverse effects reduces competition for resources, as few other species can tolerate such levels of ethanol. 



Moreover, by consuming overripe fruits, hornets contribute to the cycling of nutrients and seed dispersal in their habitats, playing a critical role in maintaining <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/streetlights-make-tree-leaves-too-tough-for-insects-to-eat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecological balance</a>. 



Their alcohol tolerance might also offer insight into avenues for pest control strategies, utilizing their unique dietary preferences while safeguarding crops from destruction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-that-support-alcohol-tolerance">Genes that support alcohol tolerance</h2>



Remember when your biology teacher explained how genes work? Well, everything you learned about genetics goes hand in hand with why Oriental hornets can handle their alcohol so well.



Upon closer examination, researchers discovered that these hornets are packing some heavy-duty genetic artillery. Multiple copies of a gene known as alcohol dehydrogenase are present in their DNA. 



This gene is directly involved in breaking down alcohol in the body, which explains why these hornets can drink up without any <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/edible-ants-art-science-sustainable-food-source-ant-cuisine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adverse effects</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alcohol-breakdown-by-oriental-hornets">Alcohol breakdown by Oriental hornets</h2>



The brewer's yeast, which ferments and produces ethanol, has a symbiotic relationship with the hornets. They live and reproduce in the hornet's intestines, aiding in alcohol breakdown, and in return, the hornets help the yeast to spread.



The research team was led by several scientists from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a> in Israel. These experts specialize in behavioral ecology, zoology, and crop protection.



The study has garnered the attention and respect of the scientific community for its pioneering research on the relationship between the Oriental hornet and alcohol tolerance.



Next time you find a hornet feasting on your overripe fruit, you might just pause and marvel at nature's unexpected boozy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alien-invasion-yellow-legged-hornet-spotted-in-the-u-s-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">champions</a>. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2410874121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</a>



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Oriental hornets have the highest alcohol tolerance of any animal

There's a new heavyweight in town, and no, we're not...

Scientists looking at weather patterns from El Niños and La Ninas millions of years ago may help predict future weather shifts in a world suffering from global warming. 



Research indicates the mass of unusually warm water on either side of the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean known as El Niño has been around for at least 250 million years.



This revelation comes from a team of researchers at <a href="https://duke.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a> including Shineng Hu, assistant professor of climate dynamics at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, who led a new modeling study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-has-el-nino-evolved">How has El Niño evolved?</h2>



"The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), originating in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is a defining mode of interannual climate variability with profound impact on global climate and ecosystems," wrote the researchers.



"However, an understanding of how the ENSO might have evolved over geological timescales is still lacking, despite a well-accepted recognition that such an understanding has direct implications for constraining human-induced future ENSO changes."



The study shows the massive temperature swings of El Niño and its sister effect, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/winter-of-extremes-how-will-la-nina-affect-weather-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Niña</a>, took place when continent locations were different than today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-temperature-tango-of-el-nino">The temperature tango of El Niño </h2>



"In each experiment, we see active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-mountains-impact-el-nino-winters-and-snowfall-amounts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Niño Southern Oscillation</a>, and it's almost all stronger than what we have now, some way stronger, some slightly stronger," said Hu.



The findings are a boon for climate scientists studying El Niño. This system significantly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forecasters-warn-of-weather-chaos-as-el-nino-arrives-early/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alters the jet stream</a>, leading to drier conditions in the northwest U.S. while simultaneously soaking the southwest with unusual rains.



Similarly, La Niña shifts the jet stream north, causing drought in the southwestern U.S., East Africa, and intensifying the monsoon season in South Asia.



Hu explained that atmospheric noise - the winds - can act just like a random kick to this pendulum, contributing to the strength of El Niño during earlier periods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-the-past">Insights from the past</h2>



To explore the ancient history of the El Niño weather phenomenon, the researchers used a climate modeling tool employed by the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC) to project future climates. Instead of looking ahead, the scientists ran simulations to study the deep past.



"The model experiments were influenced by different boundary conditions, like different land-sea distribution, different solar radiation, different CO2,” said Hu.



The researchers identified two primary factors historically impacted the magnitude of these climate oscillations: the thermal structure of the ocean and atmospheric winds.



Hu noted that previous studies largely focused on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-were-a-driving-force-behind-2023s-record-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean temperatures</a>, overlooking the influence of surface winds.



"So part of the point of our study is that, besides ocean thermal structure, we need to pay attention to atmospheric noise as well and to understand how those winds are going to change," Hu said.



The research highlights that understanding the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-needed-millions-of-years-to-recover-from-past-climate-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's ancient climate</a> patterns is crucial for accurate future projections. "If we want to have a more reliable future projection, we need to understand past climates first," Hu said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-oceans-and-atmospheric-dynamics">Ancient oceans and atmospheric dynamics</h2>



During the Mesozoic era, Earth’s continents were in different locations. The Panthalassic Ocean existed west of the supercontinent Pangea and experienced dramatic temperature oscillations.



Higher concentrations of atmospheric CO2 and lower solar radiation, factors that created a warmer global climate than today's, largely influenced these oscillations.



Understanding these ancient oceans provides key insights into how current and future climate systems may behave.



With the planet facing rising CO2 levels, studying past oscillations offers clues to potential changes in the strength and frequency of El Niño events.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-modern-climate-predictions">Implications for modern climate predictions</h2>



The findings from this study carry significant implications for how scientists approach modern climate predictions. 



By understanding the intensity and persistence of ancient El Niño and La Niña events, researchers can refine their models to anticipate future climate variability. This is especially important as the current global climate faces increasing pressures from human-induced changes.



With the past revealing stronger and more frequent oscillations, similar conditions could happen under future climate scenarios.



Predicting how El Niño and La Niña evolve in a warming world requires scientists to consider not only ocean temperatures but also atmospheric dynamics and surface winds.



These elements are critical to determine the impact of future oscillations on global weather patterns from droughts and floods to other extreme weather events.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2404758121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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El Niño climate shifts date back 250 million years

Scientists looking at weather patterns from El Niños and La...

Fear strikes in many forms - standing on the edge of a towering skyscraper, glimpsing a tarantula, or feeling your heart race as you prepare to deliver a speech.



The scientific community long believed these scenarios stimulated brains similarly.



"There's this story that we've had in the literature that the brain regions that predict fear are things like the amygdala, or the orbital frontal cortex area, or the brainstem," said Ajay Satpute, an associate professor of psychology at <a href="https://www.northeastern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northeastern University</a>. 



"Those are thought to be part of a so-called 'fear circuit' that's been a very dominant model in neuroscience for decades."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-the-fear-circuit-model">Challenging the fear circuit model</h2>



In early October 2024, Satpute and his team released a study challenging this long-held belief.



The researchers used MRI scans to examine the brain’s response to three distinct fear-inducing scenarios: fear of heights, spiders, and public speaking.



Contrary to prior assumptions, the study revealed each type of fear activated different brain regions, debunking the idea of a universal "fear circuit."



"Much of the debate on the nature of emotion concerns the uniformity or heterogeneity of representation for particular emotion categories," noted the researchers. 



The team discovered that "the overwhelming majority of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-pinpoints-the-brain-regions-that-regulate-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain regions</a> that predict fear only do so for certain situations."



Research suggests responses to fear are more specific than previously thought. These findings carry important implications for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-and-anxiety-the-mental-health-impacts-of-wildfires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a> across species, and how to develop neural signatures for personalized treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-machine-learning-and-fear-in-the-brain">Machine learning and fear in the brain</h2>



The research tested long-standing assumptions about how fear works, particularly as neuroscience increasingly relies on AI and machine learning to predict <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-can-decipher-every-possible-facial-expression-outperforming-therapists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotions</a>.



"Most of those approaches assume that there is a single pattern that underlies the brain-behavior relationship: there's a single pattern that predicts disgust. There's a single pattern that predicts anger," said Satpute. 



"Well, if that's true, then such a pattern should be apparent for different varieties of fear." 



However, when it comes to fear, the study showed a more complex picture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-research">Focus of the research</h2>



In the experiment, the researchers asked 21 participants to identify their fears and used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to monitor brain activity as they watched videos depicting anxiety-inducing scenarios.



"We tried to find really scary videos of spiders," Satpute said. "Because I don't want a neural predictive model that 'says you're looking at a spider.' I want a neural predictive model that says 'you're experiencing fear.'"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revealing-fear-s-hidden-complexities">Revealing fear's hidden complexities</h2>



Following each video, participants rated their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-is-a-contagious-emotion-that-is-amplified-in-a-group/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">levels of fear</a>, valence (how pleasant or unpleasant the experience was), and arousal on a questionnaire.



The study revealed two surprising insights: responses were observed in a wider array of brain regions and not all brain regions were involved across all scenarios.



"The amygdala, for instance, seemed to carry information that predicted fear during the heights context, but not some of the other contexts," Satpute said. "We're not seeing these so-called 'classic threat areas' involved in being predictive of fear across situations."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-body-s-response-to-emotional-triggers">Body’s response to emotional triggers</h2>



The research is part of a broader body of work from Satpute’s lab, which focuses on understanding how fear manifests in the body.



In a previous 2021 study, the team explored physiological responses to fear such as sweat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-rate-influences-our-perception-of-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart rate</a> when facing different triggers like heights or confrontations with law enforcement.



The study also revealed that different triggers caused varied bodily reactions, supporting the idea that fear isn’t one-size-fits-all.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-future-treatments">Implications for future treatments</h2>



Satpute hopes to replicate these findings with a larger and more diverse participant pool and factoring in demographics like age and gender.



While the current study has a small sample size, the results could reshape how health professionals approach treating fear and anxiety disorders.



"When we look at the brain and the neural correlates of fear, part of the reason we want to understand is so we can intervene on it," noted Satpute. "Our findings suggest the interventions might also need to be tailored to the person and situation."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionizing-fear-based-therapies">Revolutionizing fear-based therapies</h2>



This shift in understanding could revolutionize behavior-based therapies for conditions like phobias and PTSD. It might even impact drug-based treatments.



"Drug-based therapies that target a particular circuit do work, but only for about fiftyish percent of people," Satpute said. "It's not really clear why." 



"Our research offers at least some explanation - the brain regions that are going to matter for any emotional experience are going to vary by the person and situation. If you focus only on what's common, you ignore so much."



This understanding of fear moves beyond the idea of a "fear circuit" and opens doors for personalized treatments.



Whether it’s the fear of falling, facing a spider, or standing in front of an audience, the research shows fear is more complex than once believed.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2024/09/29/JNEUROSCI.0142-23.2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Journal of Neuroscience</a>.



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Spiders, heights, or public speaking: Each fear has a unique place in the brain

Fear strikes in many forms - standing on the edge...

From a distance, the Arctic paints a picture of tranquility and serenity. A closer look at the massive icy region around the North Pole reveals a sobering reality. Climate change and rapid urbanization cast a shadow over this frequently overlooked part of our planet.



In this playground of polar bears and reindeer, the chills of the Arctic starkly contrast the heat of growing human activity.



The average temperature in these freezing plains shot up 3 degrees Celsius since 1979. This increase was nearly quadruple the global average.



With such climate shifts, the once inaccessible lands of the Arctic are witnessing an upsurge in industrial and urban development. It's important to understand the human impact on the region because of its delicate ecosystems and sustainable growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-industrialization-unveiled">Arctic industrialization unveiled</h2>



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/de.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Zurich</a> with colleagues from NASA and the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a>, studied the intensity and spread of industrialization across the Arctic with data derived from satellite imagery of artificial light between 1992 and 2013.



“More than 800,000 km2 were affected by light pollution, corresponding to 5.1% of the 16.4 million km2 analyzed, with an annual increase of 4.8%,” said Gabriela Schaepman-Strub, who led the international team.



From the European Arctic to the oil and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/britain-approves-controversial-oil-and-gas-field-in-the-north-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gas fields</a> of Alaska, USA, and Russia, signs of civilization stand stark against the pitch-dark landscapes. 



The findings revealed that only about 15% of the lit areas host human settlements with the rest attributable to industrial activities. This artificial twilight, responsible for significant light pollution, spreads yearly in scope and intensity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-industry-and-light-pollution">Effects of industry and light pollution </h2>



The data lays a strong foundation for future research into the effects of industrial development on Arctic ecosystems.



“In the vulnerable permafrost landscape and tundra ecosystem, even just repeated trampling by humans, and certainly tracks left by tundra vehicles, can have long-term environmental effects that extend well beyond the illuminated area detected by satellites,” said Cengiz Akandil, a doctoral student on Schaepman-Strub’s team.



The Arctic's biodiversity is under unprecedented threat due to the impacts of artificial light and industrial activities. 



For example, artificial light impairs Arctic reindeer's ability to adapt their eyes to the deep blue hues of winter twilight, a key adaptation to locate food sources and avoid predators.



Light pollution also affects leaf coloration and bud break, which are crucial for Arctic species with a limited growth season.



Meanwhile, rapid urbanization from oil, gas, and mining industries fuels the expansion of invasive species and environmental pollution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-industrialization-and-arctic-preservation">Balancing industrialization and Arctic preservation</h2>



With climate change forcing local communities to swiftly adapt and industrial development adding to the pressures on the region, the projected impacts of human activity on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dramatic-regime-shift-observed-in-arctic-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic ecosystems</a> could outpace or amplify the effects of climate change in the coming decades.



Assuming the industrial development growth rate from 1940–1990 is sustained, approximately 50–80% of the Arctic may reach critical levels of human interference by 2050.



Schaepman-Strub emphasized the importance of detailed analysis of spatial variability and hotspots of industrial development to support monitoring and planning efforts in the Arctic.



This information could help indigenous people, governments, and stakeholders align decisions with the <a href="https://sdwg.org/what-we-do/projects/sustainable-development-goals-in-the-arctic-the-nexus-between-water-energy-and-food-wef/">Sustainable Development Goals in the Arctic</a>. The ultimate goal is a harmonious existence that includes both human and environmental flourishing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-ecosystems-under-strain">Arctic ecosystems under strain</h2>



The rapid industrialization of the Arctic is not without its environmental consequences. The region's delicate ecosystems feel the strain as human activity encroaches upon its natural landscapes.



Increased infrastructure development for oil, gas, and mining operations disrupted the permafrost, a critical component of the Arctic environment. Thawing permafrost releases trapped greenhouse gases like methane, further accelerating the cycle of climate change.



Wildlife in the Arctic faces unprecedented challenges. Species such as polar bears, Arctic foxes, and migratory birds experience <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/top-marine-predators-may-suffer-massive-habitat-loss-by-2100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitat loss</a> due to expanding industrial activities.



The combination of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-visibility-is-deteriorating-due-to-light-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light pollution</a> and noise from machinery also affects the behavior of species that depend on the Arctic's natural rhythms for survival.



With projections of continued industrial growth, researchers warn the region may experience more profound ecosystem shifts.



The Arctic's biodiversity is vulnerable to human-induced changes. It's crucial to prioritize the balance between development and environmental preservation for both local and global health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2322269121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Arctic industrialization: How will it impact delicate ecosystems?

From a distance, the Arctic paints a picture of tranquility...

Methane is a central player in the fight against climate change. While exploring sources of methane and the role of microbes as a potential solution, a team of researchers discovered something surprising.



The experts identified a miniature but potent contributor to the worsening global warming crisis — and it’s not our industrial activities.



In a world-first, the study has revealed that microbes in the environment play a significant role in the ongoing surge of global methane emissions. This unexpected discovery may help guide more effective mitigation strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-emissions-from-microbes">Methane emissions from microbes</h2>



Sylvia Michel is a senior research assistant at the&nbsp;Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research(INSTAAR) and a doctoral student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CU Boulder</a>.



"Understanding where the methane is coming from helps us guide effective mitigation strategies. We need to know more about those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-methane-emissions-threaten-earths-habitability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> to understand what kind of climate future to expect," said Michel.



Methane takes the spotlight in these findings for good reason. It's a potent greenhouse gas that is responsible for a third of the planet’s post-industrialization warming.



Despite a lower atmospheric presence than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period, methane has 30 times the heat-trapping power. This makes it a formidable foe in the climate change battle.



“Methane concentrations in the air have almost tripled since the 1700s," noted study co-author Professor Jianghanyang (Ben) Li.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-methane-emissions">Reducing methane emissions</h2>



Interestingly, this harmful methane gas degrades within a decade, unlike CO2, which lingers in the atmosphere for millennia. 



Addressing methane emissions provides immediate and potent effects in slowing down global warming, making it a "low-hanging fruit,".as Li put it.



While research suggests microbes surpassed fossil fuels in methane emissions, it doesn't diminish the importance of reducing fossil fuel consumption for climate change mitigation.



The team further recommends cutting down on food waste and consuming less red meat as effective measures in reducing individual methane footprints.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-perpetrators">Understanding the perpetrators</h2>



Historically, scientists identified <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-kills-5-million-people-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuel</a> production as responsible for 30% of global methane emissions. Microbial sources including wetlands, cattle, and landfills contribute to over half of these emissions.



Archaea, a soil-dwelling microorganism and resident of cow intestines, produces methane as a byproduct of organic matter decomposition.



The research team collaborated with Boulder’s Global Monitoring Laboratory at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.



By analyzing air samples from around the world, the team identified <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=Methane%20source&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane sources</a> by examining the sample's carbon atoms and isotopes. The lab has conducted methanol isotope measurements since 1998.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-contribution-to-methane-emissions">Microbes' contribution to methane emissions</h2>



The team used computer simulations to model different emissions scenarios. They found that between 2020 and 2022, microbial sources drove a staggering increase in atmospheric methane.



While microbes contributed significantly to methane emissions since 2007, their contribution skyrocketed to over 90% in 2020.



“Some prior studies have suggested that human activities, especially fossil fuels, were the primary source of methane growth in recent years," said Xin (Lindsay) Lan, a scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. 



"These studies failed to look at the isotope profile of methane, which could lead to a different conclusion and an incomplete picture of global methane emissions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-true-origins-of-methane-emissions">True origins of methane emissions</h2>



It remains to be seen whether increased methane emissions from microbes originated primarily from natural sources like wetlands or from human-driven activities such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/landfills-emit-exorbitant-amount-methane-into-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">landfills</a>, livestock farming, and agriculture.



Pinpointing the exact origins of the emissions is crucial for developing tailored strategies to combat methane release.



The research team will use advanced tools and methodologies to identify the precise source of this methane. This will provide clearer insights into how human activity and natural processes contribute to the global methane surge.



“In a warming world, it wouldn't be surprising if any of these sources emitted more methane," said Michel. 



"Consequently, more methane could stay in the atmosphere to accelerate global warming.&nbsp;So we need to address the climate crisis, and that really means addressing CO2 emissions."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2411212121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Microbes have emerged as major source of methane emissions

Methane is a central player in the fight against climate...

The aurora borealis lit up the night sky as solar cycle 25 reached its peak, with the Sun's bustling activity sending energy into Earth's atmosphere.



This event transformed a calm night into a spectacular light show, with vibrant colors of green, pink, and red dancing across the sky on October 10, 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breathtaking-auroras-after-a-silent-storm">Breathtaking auroras after a silent storm</h2>



For those beyond the Arctic Circle and deep into the mid-latitudes, it was a rare visual treat - a breathtaking celestial spectacle that transcended time and space.



At 1:55 a.m. Eastern Time (05:55 Universal Time) on October 11, the NOAA-20 satellite's VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) captured this captivating event.



Using advanced filtering techniques, the tool observed signals like city lights, reflected moonlight, and, of course, the magnificent auroras.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-atmospheric-compounds-at-different-latitudes">Atmospheric compounds at different latitudes </h2>



The snapshot of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-spectacle-northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-17-states-next-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">northern lights</a> presented them as bands of white sweeping across parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan in the U.S, and significant provinces in Canada. 



However, the dynamic nature of the auroras meant that different coverage and patterns of light were witnessed at different times throughout the night. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/aurora-from-space_Vir2_october-11-2024_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/aurora-from-space_Vir2_october-11-2024_NASA_1s.webp" alt="The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-20 satellite acquired this image of the aurora. The VIIRS day-night band detects nighttime light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe signals such as city lights, reflected moonlight, and auroras. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1948207"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-20 satellite acquired this image of the aurora. The VIIRS day-night band detects nighttime light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe signals such as city lights, reflected moonlight, and auroras. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



While the satellite data captured the lights in grayscale, the on-ground spectators were enthralled by colors ranging from the most common green to rare purples and reds -- a palette crafted by the atmospheric compounds found at different altitudes.



Adding to the Earthly perspective, an astronaut aboard the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Space Station</a> shared an image of the aurora.



The photo captured the vibrant green hues of the aurora weaving across the planet’s crust, topped with a layer of deep red light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-storm-behind-the-auroras">Solar storm behind the auroras </h2>



This dazzling spectacle was the aftermath of a severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geomagnetic-storms-are-influenced-by-earths-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geomagnetic storm</a> - a turmoil in the upper atmosphere triggered by pressure waves and electromagnetic energy from the Sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.



The culprit was an energized material from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-southern-united-states-this-week-huge-solar-storm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun</a>, known as a coronal mass ejection, which erupted in synchronization with an intense solar flare on October 8, 2024. 



Solar flares, although reaching the planet in a matter of minutes and interfering with radio communications, are different from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-solar-storm-warning-issued-as-two-cmes-will-hit-earth-tomorrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coronal mass ejections</a>, which take several days to journey to Earth.



These coronal mass ejections, carrying a large amount of plasma from the Sun’s corona and an embedded magnetic field, interact with Earth's upper atmosphere to produce the enchanting auroral displays. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center ranked this storm 4 out of 5 in severity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-storm-ignites-pink-and-green-auroras">Storm ignites pink and green auroras </h2>



The aurora was a sight to behold from various parts of the globe, including latitudes where witnessing an aurora is usually rare. Its appearance in areas far from the poles added an extra layer of excitement for those lucky enough to catch a glimpse.



Auroras perform high in the atmosphere, enabling observers to potentially witness them from afar. These dancing lights, caused by charged particles colliding with Earth’s atmosphere, created an ethereal glow that extended across the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/steve-phenomenon-not-aurora-has-dawn-side-twin-swarm-satellites-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">night sky</a>.



Awe-struck spectators from Nevada, North Carolina, Arizona, and Texas shared photographs of this breathtaking phenomenon. 



The National Weather Service in Lubbock, Texas, even shared pictures of the aurora illuminated in shades of pink and green, which is a truly rare sight for that region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-and-historical-significance">Cultural and historical significance</h2>



For centuries, the aurora borealis has fascinated people around the world. Many cultures once viewed these lights as mystical, attributing them to spirits or celestial beings. 



The Norse, for instance, imagined Valkyries riding across the sky, while the Inuit believed the auroras were souls playing games. 



No matter the interpretation, these lights have always sparked awe and curiosity throughout human history.



Today, auroras continue to inspire us - not just as a scientific marvel but as a symbol of nature's untamed beauty.



The event earlier this month reminds us of the delicate yet powerful connection between our planet and the Sun, and how solar activity can turn our skies into a living canvas.



Whether viewed from the northern latitudes or as far as the southern U.S., the aurora borealis remains one of the most awe-inspiring natural spectacles in the world.



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Solar storm triggered stunning auroras worldwide and from space

The aurora borealis lit up the night sky as solar...

In a distant corner of our galaxy, 41 light years from Earth, the TRAPPIST-1 star system contains seven planets orbiting a red dwarf star. 



Some of these planets are in the habitable zone, where conditions might be suitable for life as we know it, and where experts hope to possibly intercept alien signals. It's an irresistible invitation to explore the potential for life beyond Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-radio-signals-from-alien-planets">Detecting radio signals from alien planets</h2>



A group of scientists from the <a href="https://www.seti.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SETI Institute</a> and <a href="https://www.psu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State University</a> embarked on a quest to detect alien signals from TRAPPIST-1. 



Their tool of choice? The Allen Telescope Array (<a href="https://www.seti.org/ata" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ATA</a>), an array of radio antennas aimed at the cosmos like an eager ear, straining for whispers of alien technology.



For 28 continuous hours, the team scoured the system, seeking radio signals that could be indicative of extraterrestrial technology. 



This endeavor represents the most extended single-target search for radio signals from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trappist-1-has-seven-earth-like-planets-that-may-support-life/">TRAPP</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trappist-1-has-seven-earth-like-planets-that-may-support-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trappist-1-has-seven-earth-like-planets-that-may-support-life/">ST-1</a>. 



Despite not stumbling upon outright evidence of alien <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expanding-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">presence</a>, the expedition has unearthed a wealth of valuable data and has pointed the way to a new path to detect signals in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-seti-program">Understanding the SETI Program</h2>



SETI, which stands for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, is on a mission to tackle one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone in the universe?



The researchers at SETI are dedicated to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-bursts-from-space-may-be-signs-of-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scanning the cosmos</a> for signals that could hint at intelligent life beyond Earth.



They use cutting-edge tech like powerful radio telescopes and smart algorithms to sift through huge amounts of data from distant stars and galaxies.



SETI is always evolving, bringing in the latest scientific advancements to improve its chances of spotting potential communications from extraterrestrial civilizations. 



This new initiative is a great example of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-named-twain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SETI is evolving</a> from its original mission statement.



The program aims to find concrete evidence of life out there while encouraging us to think deeply about our place in the universe and what intelligence really means.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-communication-from-extraterrestrial-civilizations">Communication from extraterrestrial civilizations</h2>



“This research shows we are getting closer to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/finding-alien-life-searching-for-color-purple-not-green/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">detecting radio signals</a> similar to the ones we send into space,” said Nick Tusay, a research fellow at Penn State University.



The existing receiver technology, however, does have its limitations. 



“Most searches assume some intent, like beacons, because our receivers have a sensitivity limit to a minimum transmitter power beyond anything we unintentionally send out," noted Tusay.



However, with the advent of more sophisticated equipment, like the upcoming Square Kilometer Array (<a href="https://www.skao.int/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SKA</a>), Tusay believes we could soon detect signals from extraterrestrial civilizations communicating with their spacecraft.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-narrowband-signals-and-alien-technology">Narrowband signals and alien technology </h2>



The focus of the project was planet-planet occultations (PPOs), which occur when one planet moves in front of another from our vantage point here on Earth. 



If intelligent life exists on those planets, any <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insights-alien-life-mars-water-sulfur-discovered-gained-studying-extreme-life-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">radio signals</a> exchanged between them might leak out.



"PPOs may provide a unique opportunity to observe radio 'spillover' from extraterrestrial intelligences' (ETIs) radio transmissions or radar being transmitted from the further exoplanet towards the nearer one for the purposes of communication or scientific exploration," wrote the researchers.



Armed with the upgraded Allen Telescope Array, the team scanned a wide range of frequencies. They searched for narrowband signals -- possible fingerprints of alien technology.



Millions of potential signals were collected, and around 11,000 candidates underwent further analysis. Of these, 2,264 signals were picked up during predicted PPO windows.



However, none of these signals turned out to originate from a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gases-can-help-detect-alien-life-on-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">non-human source</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-filtering-out-human-signals-to-find-aliens">Filtering out human signals to find aliens</h2>



The new capabilities of the Allen Telescope Array, with advanced software designed to filter signals, assisted the team in separating potential alien signals from ones originating on Earth.



The researchers believe that refining these techniques and focusing on events like PPOs might increase the chances of detecting elusive alien signals in the future.



“This project included work by undergraduate students in the 2023 SETI Institute Research Experience for Undergraduates (<a href="https://www.seti.org/research-experience-undergraduates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">REU</a>) program,” noted Dr. Sofia Sheikh.



"The students looked for signals from human-made orbiters around Mars to check if the system could detect signals correctly. It was an exciting way to involve students in cutting-edge SETI research."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-searches-with-more-powerful-telescopes">Future searches with more powerful telescopes</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jwst-provides-new-insights-into-a-distant-star-and-its-exoplanets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The TRAPPIST-1 system</a> is a tantalizing target. Its proximity to Earth - along with the detailed information available regarding the orbits of its planets - provide a natural laboratory to test these techniques.



The SETI team will continue to refine their search techniques while also exploring other star systems.



The realistic hope is that future searches with larger and more powerful telescopes might allow scientists to detect even fainter signals, thereby broadening our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-oxygen-in-the-deep-sea-may-hold-clues-about-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">understanding of the universe</a>.



Who knows what the future holds? Will our descendants be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-connection-aliens-could-make-contact-by-2029/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">talking to our extraterrestrial neighbors</a> as casually as we chat with our friends across continents today?



The study will be published in The Astronomical Journal. The pre-print is available on <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.08313" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arXiv</a>.



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SETI is searching for radio signals of aliens communicating with each other

In a distant corner of our galaxy, 41 light years...

Are global forest fires becoming more frequent and more intense? According to a new study, the answer is a resounding yes. 



The research reveals that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from forest fires have risen by 60% worldwide since 2001.



In some northern boreal forests, which are acutely sensitive to climate variances, CO2 emissions have almost tripled during this time frame.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surge-in-forest-fire-emissions">Surge in forest fire emissions</h2>



The research explores the concept of "pyromes," a term used to denote regions witnessing similar forest fire patterns due to comparable environmental, human, and climatic influences.



The aim was to identify the key elements fueling the surge in forest fire activities of late.



One startling discovery was that emissions from fires in one of the largest pyromes, stretching across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lightning-is-the-leading-cause-of-wildfires-in-boreal-forests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">boreal forests</a> in Eurasia and North America, saw a 50% hike from 2001 to 2023.



This increase was not exclusive to this region, and was also present across extratropical forests globally - contributing to the CO2 output by half a billion tons per year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-climate-change-influences-forest-fires">How climate change influences forest fires</h2>



The study links escalating emissions to a surge in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-caused-the-devastating-2020-fire-season-in-california/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fire-prone</a> weather, such as heatwaves and droughts, and an uptick in forest growth leading to an abundance of combustible vegetation. 



Both of these circumstances are amplified by the swift warming in the high northern latitudes - a trend that’s occurring twice as fast as the global average.



This research, led by Dr Matthew Jones at the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of East Anglia</a> (UEA), highlights not just the growing scale of forest wildfires over the past two decades but also their intensifying severity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgency-for-net-zero-emissions">Urgency for net zero emissions</h2>



The international team included scientists from the UK, the Netherlands, the US, Brazil, and Spain. The experts caution that unless the primary culprits of climate change like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-carbon-emissions-hit-a-record-high-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuel emissions</a> are addressed, forest fires will continue to proliferate.



"Surging forest fires globally, both in extent and severity, have led to a dramatic rise in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canadian-fires-have-released-a-billion-tons-of-carbon-dioxide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon emissions</a>. We’re seeing startling shifts in global fire geography, largely explained by escalating climate change impacts in the world’s boreal forests," said Dr. Jones. 



"To protect these critical ecosystems from escalating wildfire threats, we must keep global warming at bay, emphasizing the urgency to move towards net-zero emissions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-carbon-storage-and-wildfires">Global carbon storage and wildfires</h2>



Forests play a significant role in global carbon storage, reducing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global warming</a> rates by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.



This makes forests instrumental in achieving international climate targets. Schemes like reforestation and afforestation are aimed at negating human-induced CO2 emissions in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize.



But the effectiveness of these initiatives hinges on permanent carbon storage in forests - a prospect that is increasingly threatened by wildfires.



Extratropical fires are now emitting half a billion tons more CO2 than they were two decades ago. The potential long-term effects are dependent on the capacity of our forests to recover.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-impact-of-rising-wildfire-severity">Hidden impact of rising wildfire severity</h2>



Increased emissions from forest fires stand in stark contrast with the reduced burning witnessed in the world’s tropical savannahs during the same period.



Forest fires burn with more severity and release larger amounts of harmful smoke into the atmosphere compared to savannah grassland fires, posing significant threats to people living nearby and even distant communities affected by declining air quality caused by smoke.



“Our work shows that fires are increasingly happening where we don’t want them to - in forests, where they present the greatest threat to people and to vital carbon stores," noted Dr. Jones, debunking the prevailing narrative that overall falling annual area burned globally means a declining wildfire impact.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-and-mitigating-wildfires">Managing and mitigating wildfires</h2>



Machine learning was key to understanding shifting global fire geography. This technology grouped the world’s forest ecoregions into 12 distinct pyromes, making it easier to isolate the effects of climate change from other influencers like land use.



The research provides a fresh perspective on effective strategies for mitigating wildfires and protecting forests. 



“We need substantial financing to support strategic programs for forest management, stakeholder involvement and public education," said Dr. Jones. "The focus should be on a proactive approach, like managing fuel loads at places of highest potential fire risk during favorable fire weather.”



The study received support from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), European Commission Horizon 2020 programme, and the European Space Agency.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.ado6828" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Global CO2 emissions from forest fires have surged by 60 percent

Are global forest fires becoming more frequent and more intense?...

Human diets have long served as a window into the past, offering insights into the habits and lifestyles of our ancestors. 



These dietary patterns not only shaped early human survival but also influenced the evolution of our digestive systems. 



Now, researchers have taken this concept further by examining the bacteria in our stomachs to uncover what our earliest human ancestors consumed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bacterial-clue-a-tale-of-helicobacter">The bacterial clue: A tale of Helicobacter</h2>



Helicobacter pylori, discovered in 1983, is a bacterium notorious for causing significant gastric diseases, including around a million cases of stomach <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/which-dietary-changes-are-best-for-cancer-prevention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer</a> annually. 



Its long association with humans - dating back to more than 100,000 years - suggests its likely role in many prehistoric stomach aches.



The study was conducted by Professor Daniel Falush of the Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (SIII) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Yoshio Yamaoka of <a href="https://www.oita-u.ac.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oita University</a>, and Professor Kaisa Thorell of <a href="https://www.gu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gothenberg University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-specialized-strain-of-bacteria">Specialized strain of bacteria</h2>



The researchers analyzed nearly 7,000 Helicobacter genomes from around the world. Among their key findings was a highly distinct variant of Helicobacter, termed the Hardy ecospecies.



This variant emerged hundreds of thousands of years ago and spread around the world alongside humanity. It's a specialized strain, designed to live in the stomachs of people with a principally carnivorous diet - those who consumed a lot of meat or fish.



This discovery suggests that our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-have-very-clever-ways-of-supporting-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stomach bacteria</a> today can inform us about the diet of our ancestors.



“We have made a substantial effort to collect bacteria from around the world, involving clinicians and researchers from more than 20 countries. This unprecedented collection of genomes will allow us to develop interventions and treatments suitable for every context,” said Professor Yamaoka.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-early-human-diets">Insights into early human diets</h2>



These bacteria were already silent passengers in our stomachs, adapting and evolving as our species stepped out of Africa more than 50,000 years ago.



The new ecospecies of Helicobacter identified in the study, known as Hardy, is significantly different from the more common type (Ubiquitous) by over 100 genes.



This discovery offers great insight into what these bacteria need to survive in our stomach and how diversity is maintained within bacterial species.



Exploring the diet of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-humans-used-to-eat-their-ancestral-relatives-practicing-cannibalism/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancestral humans</a>, it appears that in some parts of the world people relied heavily on fish or meat for sustenance due to the seasonal unavailability of plant material. These locations include Indigenous regions of Siberia and Northern Canada.



Intriguingly, the Hardy ecospecies has key genetic differences that could adapt it to the conditions found in a carnivore’s stomach, hinting at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-teeth-discovery-highlight-the-evolution-of-the-human-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dietary habits of early humans</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-surviving-in-acidic-stomachs">Bacteria surviving in acidic stomachs</h2>



One critical genetic difference between the Hardy and Ubiquitous strains lies in genes called ureases. 



Ubiquitous Helicobacter pylori makes a urease protein that incorporates nickel atoms while most Hardy Helicobacter includes iron atoms instead of nickel. 



This alternative urease helps Helicobacter survive in carnivores' more acidic stomachs, which also tend to have higher iron availability and lower nickel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helicobacter-s-battle-with-the-immune-system">Helicobacter's battle with the immune system</h2>



“Helicobacter pylori can live in our stomachs for decades, in a constant running battle with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-tiny-bacteria-outsmart-the-human-immune-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human immune system</a>, which can result in gastric disease," said Professor Thorel. 



"The Hardy ecospecies differs from the normal Ubiquitous Helicobacter in many genes it uses to interact with stomach cells and immune system cells, implying a completely different strategy."



"Understanding this strategy can provide new insights into the development of gastric diseases, including the often deadly gastric cancer."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancestral-tale-of-gastric-bacteria">Ancestral tale of gastric bacteria</h2>



The analysis of nearly 7,000 Helicobacter pylori genomes from around the world concluded that the first modern humans were infected by two distinct types of this bacterium – the Hardy and Ubiquitous.



Both ecospecies spread out of Africa during the early human migrations; however, the Hardy ecospecies appears to have gone extinct in many locations.



Understanding why these ecospecies coexist in some populations but not others promises to shed new light on our prehistory and the ongoing burden of gastric disease that we continue to grapple with today.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07991-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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What our stomach microbes reveal about ancient human diets

Human diets have long served as a window into the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

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https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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