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...

Doctors have long known that children who become seriously ill with certain respiratory viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are at elevated risk of developing asthma later in life. However, the reason why this happens has remained a mystery.



A new study by researchers at <a href="https://medicine.washu.edu/">Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis</a> may have solved this puzzle. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viruses-linger-in-immune-cells">Viruses linger in immune cells</h2>



The study, conducted in mice, found that respiratory viruses can remain hidden in immune cells in the lungs long after the initial symptoms of an infection have disappeared. 



This lingering presence creates a persistently inflammatory environment that promotes the development of lung diseases like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-asthma-attacks/">asthma</a>. 



Moreover, the researchers demonstrated that eliminating these infected cells could reduce signs of chronic lung damage before they progress into full-blown chronic respiratory illnesses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-chronic-lung-diseases">Preventing chronic lung diseases </h2>



The findings, published in Nature Microbiology, point to a potential new approach for preventing asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other chronic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/low-levels-of-air-pollution-increase-the-risk-of-heart-and-lung-disease/">lung diseases</a> by eradicating the persistent respiratory viruses that contribute to these conditions.



“Right now, children who have been hospitalized for a respiratory infection such as RSV are sent home once their symptoms resolve,” said senior author Carolina B. López, a professor of molecular microbiology at WashU Medicine. 



“To reduce the risk that these children will go on to develop asthma, maybe in the future we will be able to check if all of the virus is truly gone from the lung, and eliminate all lingering virus, before we send them home.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-persistent-viruses-and-chronic-lung-disease">Persistent viruses and chronic lung disease </h2>



There are about 27 million people in the U.S. living with asthma. Several factors influence a person’s likelihood of developing this chronic breathing condition, such as living in areas with poor air quality, exposure to cigarette smoke, and having been hospitalized for viral pneumonia or bronchitis as a child.



Some researchers - including López - had suspected that the link between severe lung infections and later asthma diagnoses might be due to lingering viruses in the lungs causing ongoing damage.



Until now, however, a direct connection between the persistent presence of a virus and chronic lung disease had not been established.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-common-respiratory-viruses">Studying common respiratory viruses </h2>



López and first author Ítalo Araújo Castro, a postdoctoral researcher in her lab, developed a unique system using a natural mouse virus called Sendai virus and fluorescent markers to track infection. 



Sendai virus is related to human parainfluenza virus, a common respiratory virus that has been associated with asthma in children, similar to RSV. 



Since Sendai behaves in mice much like human parainfluenza behaves in people, it provides an excellent model for studying infections that may lead to chronic lung disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viral-rna-in-lung-immune-cells">Viral RNA in lung immune cells </h2>



Using the fluorescent markers, the researchers were able to observe the presence of the virus throughout the infection. 



While the mice seemed to recover after about two weeks, the viral RNA and protein could still be detected weeks later in their lungs, where it was hiding inside immune cells.



“Finding persistent virus in immune cells was unexpected,” said López. “I think that's why it had been missed before." 



"Everyone had been looking for viral products in the epithelial cells that line the surface of the respiratory system, because that's where these viruses primarily replicate. But they were in the immune cells.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-persistent-inflammatory-response-to-viruses">Persistent inflammatory response to viruses</h2>



Furthermore, the presence of the virus altered the behavior of the infected immune cells, causing them to become more inflammatory than the uninfected cells. 



This persistent inflammation set the stage for the development of chronic lung disease, the researchers explained.



Seven weeks after the initial infection, the mice's lungs exhibited signs of chronic lung damage - even though the mice appeared to have recovered.



These signs included inflammation of the air sacs and blood vessels, abnormal lung cell development, and excess immune tissue - all of which indicate long-term inflammatory lung damage. When the researchers eliminated the infected immune cells, these signs of lung damage decreased.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study">Broader implications of the study </h2>



“We use a perfectly matched virus-host pairing to prove that a common respiratory virus can be maintained in immunocompetent hosts for way longer than the acute phase of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-infection-equips-the-body-to-fight-off-the-flu/">infection</a>, and that this viral persistence can result in chronic lung conditions,” Castro said. 



“Probably the long-term health effects we see in people who are supposed to be recovered from an acute infection are actually due to persistence of the virus in their lungs.”



The findings offer new insights into how chronic lung diseases might develop and provide clues for future treatments, the researchers said.



“Pretty much every single child gets infected with these viruses before the age of 3, and maybe 5% get serious enough disease that they could potentially develop persistent infection," said López.



"We’re not going to be able to prevent children from getting infected in the first place. But if we understand how these viruses persist and the effects that persistence has on the lungs, we may be able to reduce the risk of serious long-term problems."



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Viruses can hide in lung cells and cause chronic disease

Doctors have long known that children who become seriously ill...

The white stork has been linked to human society for centuries. Legends and fables have portrayed storks as bringing luck, children, and prosperity, and today these birds are viewed as an emblem of a healthy environment.



So, just how deep does this kinship between humans and white storks run? Where and how did this relationship begin?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-link-between-storks-and-humans">Link between storks and humans</h2>



Addressing this puzzle required understanding the historical habitat of the stork. Dr. Ulrich Schmölcke, an esteemed archaeologist from the Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie in Schleswig (<a href="https://www.leiza.de" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LEIZA</a>), and ornithologist Kai-Michael Thomsen from the<a href="https://bergenhusen.nabu.de/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Michael Otto Institute within NABU</a>, set out to investigate.



The experts embarked on a unique quest to explore the range dynamics of the white <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/younger-storks-choose-migration-routes-that-are-social-hotspots/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stork</a> in Europe since the last ice age using archaeological evidence.



The exploration revealed a curious fact - the north-eastern part of Europe, today brimming with storks, only became part of their range in the recent past. The trailblazing study was recently published in the Journal of Ornithology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stork-s-past-with-humans">Stork's past with humans</h2>



To unravel the stork’s history, Schmölcke and Thomsen evaluated previously published findings of bird bones found near prehistoric or early historic settlements. 



A data set from 1999, for instance, provided information on over 7,500 archaeological sites with animal remains dating from the last ice age to the early modern period all over Europe. 



The two academics also delved into current research literature, thus rounding off an extensive database to make reliable statements about the white stork's distribution over the past millennia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-puzzle-solved">Historical puzzle solved</h2>



According to their findings, about 1,500 years ago, the white stork was found exclusively in southern and western Europe, notably on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Upper Rhine region, and the southern Balkans.



Intriguingly, the boundary of the stork's distribution at the end of antiquity matched precisely the extent of the Roman Empire. Ancient written sources validate this, showing that the white stork was closely associated with people in the Mediterranean region at the time. 



However, beyond the borders of the Roman Empire, the white stork didn't find suitable habitats. Why? The human population density was substantially lower there, with less open spaces due to less intensive agriculture.



"It was only around 1,000 years ago that the white stork's range expanded rapidly to the north-east. This coincides with the medieval 'Landesausbau,' when many forests were cleared and new agricultural land was created," noted Thomsen.



The adaptable white stork seems to have benefitted long-term from these changes in human landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-the-study">Implications of the study</h2>



This study doesn't just shed light on a fascinating chapter of natural history. It is also instrumental in understanding species distribution and disappearance patterns over time. 



"If we want to understand how species spread or why they disappear from some areas, we can't just look at the current pattern. We need to understand long-term developments," said Thomsen.



Schmölcke noted that understanding past environments and species prevalence is crucial to studying how the relationship between humans and the environment has evolved over time - something that researchers at LEIZA and the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence are already working on.



According to Schmölcke, the study shows the great potential of cooperation between ornithology and archaeology, especially if we include even more&nbsp;analytical methods&nbsp;such as genetics and isotope measurements in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-storks-and-human-settlements">Storks and human settlements</h2>



The presence of white storks near human settlements throughout history highlights a remarkable symbiosis that has persisted for centuries. 



Storks, with their preference for open, agricultural landscapes, often chose nesting sites near human habitations, taking advantage of the structures for nesting and the agricultural practices that heightened food availability. 



As these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-behaviors-are-shaped-by-experience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> fed on rodents, insects, and other pests, they inadvertently provided a form of natural pest control, benefiting human communities by sustaining crops and, thereby, the food supply. 



The gear-driven harmony between storks and humans was not only sustenance-based but also symbolic, as storks became emblematic of good fortune and prosperity in various cultural narratives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-in-a-changing-world">Conservation in a changing world</h2>



As we move further into the 21st century, the challenges posed by climate change and habitat destruction cast a shadow on the once-thriving relationship between humans and white storks. 



Conservation strategies must be informed by the rich historical context provided by studies like that of Schmölcke and Thomsen. 



Future conservation efforts should take an interdisciplinary approach, integrating historical data to inform sustainable land-use practices that accommodate the needs of both humans and stork <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-feeding-pollutes-local-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">populations</a>. 



By focusing on habitat preservation and landscape management, policymakers can ensure that the white stork continues to soar across European skies, embodying the interconnectedness between species and the environments we share.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tale-of-man-and-bird">Tale of man and bird</h2>



The bond between humans and the white stork is older and deeper than we thought, starting from ancient human civilizations and showing a surprising parallel with human expansion and land use changes. 



And it is fascinating discoveries like these that underscore how interconnected we are with the natural world. 



So, the next time you see a white stork, take a moment to appreciate not just its elegance, but also the rich, shared history it symbolizes.



The study is published in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10336-024-02206-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Ornithology</a>.&nbsp; 



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White storks and humans have a long, intertwined history

The white stork has been linked to human society for...

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) might not live up to its reputation as a cleaner energy alternative as many people believe.



A new study discloses that, taking into account factors like processing and shipping, LNG's greenhouse gas emissions are 33 percent more harmful than those of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coal-use-is-not-declining-fast-enough-to-slow-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coal</a>.



This finding questions the long-standing belief that liquefied natural gas is a climate-friendlier option, revealing its significant ecological impact.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-truth-about-liquefied-natural-gas">Hidden truth about liquefied natural gas</h2>



This new evidence emerged in a study recently published in the journal Energy Science &amp; Engineering.



"Natural gas and shale gas are all bad for the climate. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is worse," noted the researchers.



The team was led by Robert Howarth, a professor of ecology and environmental biology at <a href="https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/10/liquefied-natural-gas-carbon-footprint-worse-coal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a>. The researchers set out to uncover the true environmental cost of LNG by examining its entire lifecycle, from extraction to transportation.



The findings, published in a paper titled "The Greenhouse Gas Footprint of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Exported from the United States," reveal some striking new insights.



The team discovered that about half of LNG’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-methane-emissions-threaten-earths-habitability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane</a> and carbon dioxide released during its extraction, processing, transportation, and storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coal-vs-liquefied-natural-gas">Coal vs. liquefied natural gas</h2>



The research suggests that over a 20-year period, when measured against the global warming potential, LNG's carbon footprint is a third larger than that of coal.



This measurement evaluates the atmospheric impact of various greenhouse gases, and shockingly, even on a 100-year timescale, the carbon footprint of liquefied natural gas either matches or exceeds that of coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-liquefied-natural-gas-in-the-u-s">Liquefied natural gas in the U.S.</h2>



As the world’s largest exporter of LNG, the U.S. finds itself in an unsettling position considering its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/circular-economy-needed-to-reduce-americas-carbon-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon footprint</a>.



The study highlights that the majority of the increase in natural gas production in the U.S. since 2005 stems from shale gas, primarily sourced from Texas and Louisiana.



But, LNG is more than just natural gas. It's cooled to a frigid minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit, enabling easier transport but at an alarming environmental cost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-emissions-from-natural-gas">Hidden emissions from natural gas</h2>



The experts report that even the seemingly harmless tasks of transporting and storing LNG hide an environmental threat.



Contemporary LNG tankers powered by two- or four-stroke engines might have lower carbon dioxide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-carbon-dioxide-emissions-hit-a-record-high-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> than older steam-powered ships, but they inadvertently discharge methane into the atmosphere during the transportation and storage of natural gas.



Given the potency of methane, which is over 80 times more impactful than carbon dioxide, even these minute emissions can severely affect our climate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-the-invisible-enemy">Methane: The invisible enemy</h2>



The research discloses that significant methane emissions arise during the natural gas liquefaction process - nearly 8.8% of the total when evaluated against global warming potential. Depending on the ship, methane emissions from tankers range from 3.9 to 8.1 percent.



"Almost all the methane emissions occur upstream when you're extracting the shale gas and liquefying it," noted the study authors.



"Liquefied natural gas will always have a bigger climate footprint than natural gas, regardless of the assumptions of being a bridge fuel. It still ends up markedly worse than coal."



Given these startling findings, it's essential for us to reconsider the role of natural gas in our energy systems and its environmental repercussions. The choices we make today will have lasting impacts for generations to come.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-our-perspective">Shifting our perspective </h2>



These revelations about LNG should drastically shift our perspective. It has often been considered a "bridge fuel" in the transition to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bamboo-plants-shows-great-potential-to-become-the-next-big-renewable-energy-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">renewable energy</a>, but this recent research forces us to question that notion as the environmental cost seems too high.



As we plan our future, our focus must shift towards truly sustainable energy solutions without concealed climate costs or long-term damage.



The choices we make, from our energy sources to our policies, will shape the future. As we move forward, we should take responsibility and strive for a cleaner, greener planet. Liquefied natural gas might have brought us this far, but it's not the path forward we need.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ese3.1934">Energy Science &amp; Engineer</a><a href="https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ese3.1934" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in</a><a href="https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ese3.1934">g</a>.



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Natural gas isn’t as clean as we think

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) might not live up to its...

Eurasian,Pygmy,Shrew,(sorex,Minutus),Mouse,In,Natural,Habitat.,This

Do you ever stop to marvel at the tireless beating of your heart, rhythmically pulsating at an average pace of 60 to 100 beats per minute? Now, try to imagine an organism, considerably tinier than our species, whose heart goes on a racing spree at around 1,020 beats per minute. Nope, this isn't a hyperbole; it's the humble shrew, a creature no bigger than your index finger with incredible hearts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enigma-of-nature-s-artistry">Enigma of nature's artistry</h2>



The resting heart rate of a shrew reaches up to 17 beats per second, making it about 10-17 times faster than that of us humans. 



This biological marvel has intrigued scientists for years - how does such a tiny creature manage to maintain a heart rate that would be lethal for most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-mammals-live-depends-more-on-climate-than-human-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>?



This question has finally found an answer in a recent study published in the prestigious journal, Science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-shrew-s-heart">Mystery of shrew's heart</h2>



An international team of researchers, led by postdoc William Joyce during his time at Aarhus University (<a href="https://international.au.dk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AU</a>), and his colleague, Professor Kevin Campbell, previously of AU and currently with the <a href="https://umanitoba.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Manitoba</a> (Canada), embarked on this mission to decode the shrew's heart. 



It was during this investigation that they discovered the secret lay in the heart protein called "cardiac troponin I."



"We discovered that a crucial part of the heart protein that regulates heart relaxation time is missing in shrews and closely related moles," explains Joyce, who has shifted his base to The Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) in Spain.



"This evolutionary loss permanently removes the brakes on heart relaxation, allowing their hearts to beat much faster."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-missing-link-in-the-protein-chain">Missing link in the protein chain</h2>



The protein cardiac troponin I is integral to the way a heart works. It binds to calcium ions during contraction, a process pivotal for the heart muscle's function. 



In most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-mammals-play-a-vital-role-in-maintaining-forest-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a>, this protein contains two specific serine amino acids that are temporarily modified when the heart gets a burst of adrenaline from stress or physical activity. 



This modification allows the heart to relax faster between beats, providing more time for blood refill, thus setting the pace for the next contraction.



But a remarkable deviation occurs in the case of shrews.



"In an early ancestor of shrews, the DNA region encoding the two serines became inactivated. This means the protein always functions as if it were activated by adrenaline, even when the animal is at rest, allowing shrews to achieve their extreme heart rates," explains Campbell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shrews-bats-and-their-heart-rates">Shrews, bats and their heart rates</h2>



To understand how this evolution towards high heart rates has unfolded, the research team studied the heart protein in bats. Like shrews, bats also boast heart rates exceeding 1,000 beats per minute.



"Our analysis shows that some bat species can skip over the part of the gene that codes for the two serine amino acids when the protein is formed," Campbell continued.



Ancient shrews and moles likely had the same ability, and evolution gradually favored their troponin I proteins to completely lose this region. This permitted them to evolve even higher heart rates.



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



The findings about the shrew's cardiac adaptations provide intriguing insights into the potential avenues for advancing human health and medicine. 



Understanding how the removal of the regulatory serine amino acids leads to enhanced heart rate capabilities in shrews could inspire new therapeutic strategies aimed at treating heart conditions in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-know-far-less-about-four-footed-animals-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans</a>. 



For instance, manipulating similar pathways could help develop treatments that ameliorate conditions marked by slowed or inefficient heartbeats. 



By revealing how nature adapts efficiently under high metabolic demands, these discoveries might pave the way for medical innovations that can mimic these natural developments for human benefit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-shrew-s-heart">Future research on shrew's heart</h2>



This research not only elucidates the evolutionary paths taken by shrews and bats but also opens new frontiers in cardiovascular research. 



Future studies could delve deeper into the genetic and molecular underpinnings that enable such high heart rates, potentially harnessing these mechanisms for translational applications. 



Continued exploration into the genetic coding of cardiac proteins across different species may uncover more evolutionary strategies that have yet to be understood, shedding light on the diversity and adaptability of life on Earth. 



By investigating these natural adaptations, scientists may unlock new strategies for improving heart function, offering unprecedented insights into both human health and evolutionary biology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-implications-for-biomedicine">Potential implications for biomedicine</h2>



The findings from this study are not just fascinating trivia about tiny mammals like shrews and their heart rate. They may have far-reaching implications for the field of biomedicine. 



"Our goal is to translate our findings into biomedicine. This means replicating the splicing of troponin I, as observed in bats, in model organisms and potentially -- eventually -- in human hearts to mimic the beneficial effects," Joyce comments.



Indeed, the implications of this research stretch far and wide, from a deeper understanding of the heart's mechanics to possibly revolutionizing biomedical strategies. 



It’s a stark reminder of how much we can learn from the smallest creatures whose hearts have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammal-evolution-kicked-off-with-daring-experiments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lessons</a> to teach us far beyond our own human pace.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi8146" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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How shrews and other tiny creatures have superfast heartbeats

Do you ever stop to marvel at the tireless beating...

Long before the skies of the Mesozoic era (252 - 66 million years ago) became the domain of some of history’s most remarkable flyers, pterosaurs were already captivating creatures. These winged vertebrates didn’t just rule the skies; they also thrived on land in unexpected ways.



Yes, you read that right - pterosaurs were adept at terrestrial living. A new study sheds light on a fascinating twist in their evolutionary journey.



The ability of pterosaurs to adapt to life on land was instrumental in their transformation into massive aerial giants, with wingspans reaching up to 10 meters.



This research, carried out by paleontologists at the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/research/centres/cpbe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leicester’s Centre for Palaeobiology and Biosphere Evolution</a>, closely examines the structure of pterosaurs’ hands and feet to unravel their surprising story.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-all-started-with-tree-climbing">It all started with tree climbing</h2>



"Early pterosaurs were highly specialized for climbing, with extreme modifications in their hands and feet, similar to those found in climbing lizards and birds like woodpeckers today," said lead researcher Robert Smyth from the University of Leicester.



"Clinging to vertical surfaces by your fingertips for long periods is hard work - it’s a lot easier for small, lightweight animals.” 



Consequently, these early pterosaurs were likely restricted to arboreal habitats and consequently, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-pterosaurs-were-fierce-competitors-in-the-late-cretaceous/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">small body sizes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-of-pterosaurs-on-land">Life of pterosaurs on land</h2>



Everything changed during the Middle Jurassic period. The hands and feet of pterosaurs underwent a drastic transformation, resembling more those of ground-dwelling animals.



This shift opened up a whole new world of ecological opportunities, empowering them with a range of feeding strategies.



"These findings underscore the need to examine all aspects of pterosaur locomotion, not just flight, to fully understand their evolution. That <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jurassic-park-was-wrong-about-how-fast-pterosaurs-could-fly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pterosaurs could fly</a> is only one part of their story," said Smyth.



"By exploring how they lived in the trees or on the ground, we can begin to understand the roles that they played in ancient ecosystems."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-pterosaur-bones">Evolution of pterosaur bones</h2>



Details of the pterosaur's hands and feet were crucial to this transformative process. Early pterosaurs had short bones at the base of their fingers and toes, ideal for climbing trees.



However, as evolution spun its web, their structural pattern reversed - base bones grew longer, while the farther ones shortened. Their claws also became flatter and less curved, suggesting better adaptation for walking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pterosaurs-mobility-on-land">Pterosaurs' mobility on land</h2>



With the ground already brimming with dinosaurs and other reptiles, it was a clever game of competition avoidance that led pterosaurs to exploit ecological niches that required both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cracking-the-code-of-pterosaur-flight-soaring-vs-flapping/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flying</a> and walking abilities. 



"In early pterosaurs the hind limbs were connected by a flight membrane which severely impeded walking and running. In later, more advanced pterosaurs, this membrane became separated along the midline, allowing each hind limb to move independently," noted Dr. David Unwin from the University of Leicester.



"This was a key innovation that, combined with changes to their hands and feet, greatly improved pterosaurs’ mobility on the ground."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-ways-of-life">Diverse ways of life</h2>



The ability to adapt ultimately freed pterosaurs from the constraints of climbing, allowing them to grow into massive sky creatures.



At the same time, such evolution brought forth some bizarre feeding strategies. One such feature resulted in hundreds of fine, needle-like teeth for filter-feeding - resembling the feeding method of modern flamingos, a good 120 million years prior to the first flamingos' evolution.



All in all, this exciting discovery provides a more complete picture of the diverse ways of life that pterosaurs enjoyed, from tree-top dwellers to ground explorers and eventually, giants of the sky.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-pterosaur-evolution">Rethinking pterosaur evolution</h2>



This new understanding of pterosaur terrestrial locomotion sheds light on the broader factors behind their evolutionary success. 



Moving beyond their aerial abilities, it becomes clear that these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-species-of-jurassic-pterosaur-found-on-the-isle-of-skye/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient reptiles</a> adapted to diverse ecosystems, mastering both the skies and the ground. This dual capability likely contributed to their remarkable resilience and longevity throughout the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-were-not-the-only-animals-that-grew-fast-during-the-mesozoic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mesozoic era</a>.



By exploring how pterosaurs thrived across various environments, researchers are beginning to see a more complete picture of their evolutionary journey. 



Such findings also inspire further investigation into other prehistoric creatures that might have displayed similarly unexpected adaptations. 



As we uncover more about these ancient worlds, it’s clear that evolution often involves surprising strategies that help species overcome the challenges of their time.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982224012260" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Pterosaurs mastered land before dominating the sky

Long before the skies of the Mesozoic era (252 -...

It's commonly acknowledged that Mother Nature has her own rules, proving time and again that she plays by her own playbook. And today, we're diving into one such fascinating realm, which presents an opportunity to revise long-held scientific viewpoints on plants and fungi.



We often think of plants as stationary fixtures, hinged to the ground by their roots, twirling their leaves in sync to the rhythm of the wind. But plants, it seems, are silent movers and shakers, involved in a vast annual movement of carbon. 



Remarkably, each year, they shift a whopping 3.58 gigatons of carbon to mycorrhizal fungi - their partners in the underground realms. For visualization's sake, were this carbon a solid mass like ice, it would suffice to lay a slick sheet over 112 million NHL hockey rinks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-market-perspective">The market perspective</h2>



Previously, scientists, akin to economists, have viewed this hefty carbon transfer as a kind of marketplace transaction. The understanding was fairly straightforward - in this unique marketplace, carbon was traded for essential nutrients delivered by those fungi residing underground.



It seemed like an equitable exchange, neatly governed by market principles of trade. But, as it happens in the world of science, not everything is as it seems. 



A team of researchers, including Professor Justine Karst of the University of Alberta, suggest we need to reassess how these eco-critical systems function.



The experts argue that market principles are not universally applicable, particularly not in the case of this unique plant-fungi relationship. "We found no evidence of trade," said Professor Karst.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-link-between-plants-and-fungi">Link between plants and fungi</h2>



Mycorrhizas are essentially symbiotic relationships between plants and fungi that operate underground. The constant shuttling of resources between plants and fungi, seen as a hallmark in biological market models, is well established. 



Herein, mycorrhizal fungi happily accept carbon in the form of lipids and sugars from their botanical partners, reciprocating with a supply of essential nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.



However, this economic analogy has shrouded our understanding of mycorrhizas, according to the researchers. They argue that it might have made us blind to other possible functions of mycorrhizas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-alternative-perspective">An alternative perspective</h2>



An alternative theory titled the "Surplus C" hypothesis recently surfaced, proposing that plants often manufacture more sugars than they require for growth. 



As per this theory, the excess carbon simply finds a home in the mycorrhizal fungi. This implies the volume of carbon handed over to a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungi-fusion-turning-food-waste-into-culinary-delights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fungus</a> isn't dependent on the delivery of nutrients to the plant.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leaning-toward-the-new-theory">Leaning toward the new theory</h2>



The team's comprehensive review of multiple scientific studies failed to produce convincing support for the biological market models.



The experts found no empirical evidence of a direct regulatory function and hence dissed the idea of "prices" - the ratio of carbon units to nutrient units - controlling the carbon handover to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-fungi-diversity-can-be-pulled-out-of-thin-air/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fungi</a>.



Delving further into the mycorrhizal link, they discovered that plant growth was associated with nutrient uptake, not carbon transfer. Interestingly, what curtails plant growth is not the quantum of carbon sent to mycorrhizal fungi but the volume of nutrients delivered by the fungi.



It appears that the carbon handed over to mycorrhizal fungi is not costly for the plant. The research findings leaned more towards backing the Surplus C theory rather than the market models.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-relationships-between-plants-and-fungi">Rethinking relationships between plants and fungi</h2>



The researchers' observations encourage us to set aside narrow economic models and explore the essential interactions between plants and mycorrhizal fungi. 



According to Professor Karst, the key is in understanding the carbon flow from plants to fungi, given its potential in benefiting the environment - especially with respect to carbon sequestration.



The review also highlights the need for more targeted research to get to the heart of what determines the carbon transfer from plants to mycorrhizal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/symbiotic-relationship-plant-roots-underground-mycorrhizal-fungi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fungi</a>.



Finally, while a direct link between carbon and nutrient transfer may still be waiting in the wings to be discovered, the researchers caution against over-reliance on economic models to make sense of it all.



"The idea of markets is familiar to us, but the inner workings of mycorrhizas are not, so we need to stay open to other ways of understanding how these systems work," said Professor Karst.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.20145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>.



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Plants transfer massive amounts of carbon to fungi

It's commonly acknowledged that Mother Nature has her own rules,...

Dogs are justly famous for their ability to melt the hearts of even the most hardened individuals. This feat is achieved, in a part, through the patented "puppy dog eyes" - an irresistible and expressive manipulation of the eyebrows that can convey an incredible range of emotions. But new research from Baylor University has found that coyotes, wild relatives of man's best friend, share the ability to make "puppy dog eyes."



This revelation rocks the boat of the hypothesis that this expressive facial feature was an evolutionary outcome of dog domestication.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coyotes-and-their-eye-muscles">Coyotes and their eye muscles</h2>



The research, conducted at <a href="https://www.baylor.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baylor University</a>, highlights an interesting find in the animal kingdom. The team behind this fascinating discovery was led by Patrick Cunningham, a Ph.D. research scholar in Baylor's Department of Biology.



The focus of the study? A tiny little muscle - the levator anguli oculi medialis (LAOM). This muscle plays a key role in producing those expressive "puppy dog <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-and-human-brains-sync-up-during-eye-contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eyes</a>," by raising the inner eyebrow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coyotes-making-puppy-dog-eyes">Coyotes making puppy dog eyes</h2>



Contrary to pre-existing beliefs, Cunningham and his team discovered that coyotes have a well-developed LAOM, similar to that found in dogs.



This challenges the long-standing notion that the LAOM muscle in dogs evolved exclusively for communication with humans during the process of domestication.



"Our findings suggest that the ability to produce 'puppy dog eyes' is not a unique product of dog domestication but rather an ancestral trait shared by multiple species in the Canis genus," said Cunningham. 



"This raises fascinating questions about the role of facial expressions in communication and survival among wild canids."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coyotes-dogs-and-gray-wolves">Coyotes, dogs, and gray wolves </h2>



Cunningham's team didn't stop at coyotes. They extended their research to encompass facial muscle comparisons between coyotes, dogs, and gray wolves. They found marked differences among these species. While dogs and coyotes share a similarly well-developed LAOM, the situation is quite different in gray wolves.



The gray wolf's LAOM muscle is either modified or altogether absent. This intriguing difference casts doubt on the previous hypothesis that focused entirely on human-driven selection as the be-all-end-all for the development of the inner brow raiser in dogs. 



Instead, the study proposes that the LAOM likely existed in a common ancestor of dogs, coyotes, and gray wolves, but was later lost or reduced in gray wolves.



The study also documented considerable individual variation within coyotes when it comes to facial muscles, particularly those involved in brow and lip movements. 



The experts ruled out significant dog ancestry in their coyote specimens through genetic analysis. This confirms that these traits are not due to crossbreeding.



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



The findings indicate a need for a re-examination of evolutionary paradigms concerning canine facial expressions.



The presence of "the LAOM muscle"puppy dog eyes" in both domesticated and wild canids like coyotes suggests that adaptive pressures influencing facial musculature might have been more complex than previously assumed. 



The ability for subtle emotional expression could have been an evolutionary advantage in group living and survival for species like coyotes. Consequently, this compels a broader inquiry into the ecological and behavioral factors that could have preserved this trait across different members of the Canis genus. 



Moreover, it implies a need to reassess how such traits contribute to intraspecies communication and interactions with humans and other species, potentially offering novel insights into the evolutionary biology of canids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



The revelations from this research offer numerous avenues for further exploration. For one, it would be valuable to investigate whether environmental or social factors in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coyotes-move-into-towns-to-avoid-predators-only-to-be-killed-by-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wild canids</a> contribute to the retention or modification of facial muscles like the LAOM. 



Comparative studies across a broader range of canid species could illuminate how these expressions have evolved and diversified. 



Additionally, integrating genetic research could provide deeper insights into the genetic mechanisms underpinning these anatomical traits. 



Understanding the potential haptic and communicative functions that facial musculature serves in various canid communities could offer exciting revelations about the evolution of non-verbal communication in the animal kingdom. 



Transformative research like Cunningham's lays the groundwork for future scientific exploration, making it imperative to continue unraveling these complex evolutionary stories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-puppy-dog-eyes-in-coyotes">Implications of puppy dog eyes in coyotes</h2>



"Our work reveals that&nbsp;coyotes&nbsp;and dogs share not just behavioral similarities, but also a fascinating evolutionary history that includes the ability to make expressions that we once thought were unique to domesticated animals," said Cunningham.



This transformative discovery gives us more to think about in terms of the evolution of facial expressions in mammals. The LAOM may not have come into being as a tool of communication with humans, as was previously thought. It may have originally evolved for vision-related functions and eye movements.



Looking ahead, Cunningham's team is excited about the prospect of future studies involving other species within the Canidae family, such as red wolves and African wild dogs. 



These studies could shed new light on the role of facial expressions in survival and communication among these species.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241046" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society Open Science</a>.



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Coyotes can make puppy dog eyes too

Dogs are justly famous for their ability to melt the...

What if our Earth, about 800 million years ago, was home to an abundance of diverse lineages of life -- far more than the conventional evolution theories suggested?



This is the conclusion of a group of dedicated Brazilian researchers who meticulously reconstructed the tree of life from amoebozoans, the ancestors of algae, fungi, plants, and animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-life-forms-and-evolution">Diverse life forms and evolution</h2>



Sometimes, you uncover a tale so unexpected, so contrary to what you've always believed that it reshuffles your perception of the world. 



The researchers, in their engaging endeavor, focused on eukaryotes -- organisms made of one or more cells in which the DNA is enclosed within a distinct nucleus.



This encompasses all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-evolution-was-shaped-by-environmental-crises-land-and-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life on Earth</a> except bacteria and archaea. The cornerstone of their study was the intriguing insight that these eukaryotes emerged around 1.5 billion years ago, and established themselves during the Neoproterozoic oxygenation event (850-540 mya). 



This was a point in time when the oxygen levels in the planet's atmosphere and oceans spiked due to changes in Earth's geochemistry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-against-all-odds">Against all odds</h2>



Unraveling the story further, the researchers also shed light on the resilience of these organisms. These ancestors of plants, algae, fungi, and animals withstood not one but two glaciations of the Cryogenian period (790-635 mya). 



This period, smack in the middle of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-did-the-first-animals-appear-on-earth-we-are-now-one-step-closer-to-knowing-the-answer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neoproterozoic Era</a>, was marked by the Earth's chilling transformation into a 'snowball', with polar ice blanketing the entire planet for around a cool 100 million years.



Now, that's survival on a whole new level!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legacy-of-the-neoproterozoic-era">Legacy of the Neoproterozoic Era</h2>



Daniel Lahr, the professor at the University of São Paulo’s Institute of Biosciences (<a href="https://ww3.icb.usp.br/ing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IB-USP</a>) and the last author of the study, gives us a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unraveling-the-story-of-early-animal-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quick reality check</a> on the classical paradigm surrounding the Neoproterozoic Era.



“The classical paradigm for the Neoproterozoic was that there was practically no life on the planet apart from one or two species of bacteria and protists,” he explains. 



However, the last 15 years witnessed the identification of fossils of unicellular, eukaryotic, and heterotrophic organisms, taking us back to about 800 mya.



The study effectively pivots the mass diversification of life on Earth back by a game-changing 260 million years, much before the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worm-youti-yuanshi-lived-520-million-years-ago-explains-insect-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambrian explosion</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-and-tree-of-life">Evolution and tree of life</h2>



Lahr goes on to explain how this research serves as a foundation for further paleoclimate reconstruction research. 



He elaborates on the stark transformation of Arcellinid amoebae, which were originally marine but now inhabit freshwater bodies. The adaptive nature of these organisms is awe-inspiring to say the least!



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/thecamoebians_fossils_800-million-years-old_credit-Luana-Morais_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/thecamoebians_fossils_800-million-years-old_credit-Luana-Morais_1s.webp" alt="Left, a fossilized thecamoebian believed to have lived 720-635 mya. Right, a specimen from a group of modern amoebozoan testate amoebae. Credit: Luana Morais" class="wp-image-1946688" style="width:302px;height:auto"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Left, a fossilized thecamoebian believed to have lived 720-635 mya. Right, a specimen from a group of modern amoebozoan testate amoebae. Credit: Luana Morais</figcaption></figure>



The research hinged on the evolutionary history of amoebozoans, specifically Thecamoebae. 



By reconstructing the phylogenetic tree (a record of the organism's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jaw-dropping-mammal-evolution-discovery-fills-in-more-blanks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary history</a>) of this genus, the researchers could then build up the tree of life from there.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-and-tree-of-life-0">Evolution and tree of life</h2>



The research sheds light on an evolutionary leap that defied expectations. These findings propose that the diverse array of life forms we see today stemmed from a rich pool of single-celled organisms, thriving even in the face of harsh climatic conditions. 



This view challenges the traditional narrative of life's history on Earth, which often suggests that significant diversity only emerged post-Cambrian explosion. 



By tapping into the genetic and fossil records, these scientists offer a broader understanding of how primitive life navigated and adapted through ancient Earth's climate upheavals, suggesting that the seeds of complexity were sown much earlier than previously thought.



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



The ramifications of this study reach far beyond understanding past life; they provide a crucial framework for modern scientific inquiry. 



This elucidation of ancient climate resilience holds valuable lessons for contemporary climate science, particularly in terms of understanding and predicting how current ecosystems might adapt to ongoing environmental changes. 



Moreover, reconceptualizing the timeline of evolutionary history invites further interdisciplinary research, combining paleontology, geology, and molecular biology to explore <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-hotspots-may-skew-our-view-of-human-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life's profound adaptability</a>. 



Through this lens, the study serves as a testament to the complexity and tenacity of life, motivating a re-examination of other periods marked by climatic shifts and the potential for undiscovered diversity within them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-picture">Big picture</h2>



In simple terms, this research is about connecting the dots -- lots and lots of them. By drawing upon previous discoveries and using advanced techniques like single-cell transcriptomics, the researchers have unearthed a treasure of information about life 800 mya.



Under the aegis of the São Paulo Research Foundation (<a href="https://fapesp.br/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAPESP</a>), this research has opened new doors in our understanding of Earth's history, specifically the Neoproterozoic Era. 



“Our analysis of the data showed that a great diversity of lineages began to emerge in the period, one of which was animals and another fungi, possibly alongside plants,” Lahr concludes.



Such important research is proof of humanity's insatiable quest for knowledge, our endless fascination with life, its origins and evolution.



The story of Earth's past continues to be written, pieced together from fragments of data and fossils, a proof of the extraordinary journey of life. Who knows what we may unravel next?



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



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Diverse life forms from 800 million years ago redefine evolution

What if our Earth, about 800 million years ago, was...

Imagine a cosmic creature that blurs the lines between comets and distant icy objects. NASA has named these objects found roaming the outer reaches of our solar system "centaurs." 



Astronomers are beginning to learn more about these mysterious bodies thanks to observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.



Leading a recent study is Sara Faggi, a researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She's part of a team exploring one such object: <a href="https://youtu.be/SkDxFy3ri4M" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1</a>, or simply 29P.



Using the powerful instruments aboard the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb Telescope</a>, Faggi and her colleagues have made discoveries that could change our understanding of these hybrid celestial bodies. 



Their findings are helping scientists piece together the puzzle of our solar system's formation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-centaur-29p-a-cosmic-enigma">Centaur 29P: A cosmic enigma</h2>



Centaurs in astronomy are named after the mythological creatures that are half-human, half-horse, symbolizing their hybrid nature. 



Orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Neptune, these objects are thought to be former <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rogue-star-zoomed-by-our-solar-system-disrupted-planetary-orbits-stretched-edges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trans-Neptunian</a> bodies nudged inward by gravitational influences over the last few million years. 



They're in a transitional phase, sharing characteristics with both the distant Kuiper Belt objects and short-period comets.



What's particularly fascinating about 29P is its highly active behavior. It experiences outbursts every six to eight weeks, making it one of the most active objects in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-carbon-ices-discovered-objects-beyond-neptune-kuiper-belt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outer solar system</a>. 



"Centaurs can be considered as some of the leftovers of our planetary system’s formation. Because they are stored at very cold temperatures, they preserve information about volatiles in the early stages of the solar system," explains Faggi, from <a href="https://www.american.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American University</a> in Washington, D.C



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-jets-found-on-centaur-29p">New jets found on Centaur 29P</h2>



The team utilized Webb's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/nirspec/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIRSpec</a>) to gather data on 29P. They discovered a new jet of carbon monoxide (CO) and previously unseen jets of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas. These observations offer new clues about the centaur's nucleus and its composition.



"Webb really opened the door to a resolution and sensitivity that was impressive to us -- when we saw the data for the first time, we were excited. We had never seen anything like this," Faggi says. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centaur_29P-Schwassmann-Wachmann_outgassing_illustration_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centaur_29P-Schwassmann-Wachmann_outgassing_illustration_1s.webp" alt="An artist’s concept of Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1’s outgassing activity as seen from the side. While prior radio-wavelength observations showed a jet of gas pointed toward Earth, astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to gather additional insight on the front jet’s composition and noted three more jets of gas spewing from Centaur 29P’s surface. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1946681"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An artist’s concept of Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1’s outgassing activity as seen from the side. While prior radio-wavelength observations showed a jet of gas pointed toward Earth, astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to gather additional insight on the front jet’s composition and noted three more jets of gas spewing from Centaur 29P’s surface. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



The telescope's unique imaging and spectral capabilities revealed two jets of CO₂ emanating in the north and south directions, and another jet of CO pointing toward the north.



Interestingly, while they detected CO and CO₂, there was no indication of water vapor in the atmosphere of 29P. This absence could be related to the extremely cold temperatures present in this body, making it too chilly for water ice to sublimate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-the-jets-tell-us">What do the jets tell us?</h2>



Based on the data, the team created a 3D model of the jets to understand their orientation and origin. They found that the jets were emitted from different regions on the centaur's nucleus, even though the nucleus itself cannot be resolved by Webb.



"The fact that Centaur 29P has such dramatic differences in the abundance of CO and CO₂ across its surface suggests that 29P may be made of several pieces," says Geronimo Villanueva, co-author of the study at <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA's Goddard</a>. 



"Maybe two pieces coalesced together and made this centaur, which is a mixture between very different bodies that underwent separate formation pathways."



This possibility challenges existing ideas about how primordial objects are created and stored in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-objects-spotted-in-the-outer-solar-system-beyond-pluto/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kuiper Belt</a>. 



It suggests that 29P might be an aggregate of distinct objects with different compositions, adding another layer of complexity to our understanding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-outbursts-and-outgassing">Outbursts and outgassing</h2>



Understanding why 29P exhibits these bursts in brightness and outgassing activity is a key area of interest. In comets, jets are often driven by the outgassing of water. 



However, centaurs are too cold for water ice to sublimate, which means the nature of their activity differs. This raises questions about the mechanisms driving their behavior.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centaur_29P-Schwassmann-Wachmann_outgassing-diagram_Webb-telescope_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centaur_29P-Schwassmann-Wachmann_outgassing-diagram_Webb-telescope_1s.webp" alt="A team of scientists used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s spectrographic capabilities to gather data on Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, one of the most active objects in the outer solar system. The Webb data revealed never-before-seen features: two jets of carbon dioxide spewing in the north and south directions, and a jet of carbon monoxide pointing toward north. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1946683"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A team of scientists used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s spectrographic capabilities to gather data on Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, one of the most active objects in the outer solar system. The Webb data revealed never-before-seen features: two jets of carbon dioxide spewing in the north and south directions, and a jet of carbon monoxide pointing toward north. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



"We only had time to look at this object once, like a snapshot in time," notes Adam McKay, a co-author of the study at <a href="https://www.appstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Appalachian State University</a> in Boone, North Carolina. 



"I’d like to go back and look at Centaur 29P over a much longer period of time. Do the jets always have that orientation? Is there perhaps another carbon monoxide jet that turns on at a different point in the rotation period?"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-study-centaurs-and-29p">Why study centaurs and 29P?</h2>



You might wonder, what's the big deal about these icy bodies floating way out there? Studying centaurs like 29P isn't just about satisfying curiosity. 



These objects act like time capsules, preserving the conditions and materials from the early solar system. By understanding them, we can gain insights into how the planets, including Earth, came to be.



As scientists continue to study centaurs like 29P, they're hopeful that these findings will enhance our understanding of how the solar system formed and evolved. 



The team is optimistic that applying these techniques to other centaurs will expand the astronomical community's knowledge.



By peering into these distant objects, we're essentially looking back in time to the early stages of our cosmic neighborhood. Each discovery brings us one step closer to unraveling the complex history of our solar system.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02319-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Deep-space objects called 'centaurs continue to perplex NASA

Imagine a cosmic creature that blurs the lines between comets...

Time is a fascinating concept, isn't it? If you ever got the feeling that days are getting longer, well, your instincts are spot-on. People in countries such as Australia will soon be switching to daylight saving time.



Just as Australia sets its clocks forward by an hour for summer, the United States will be rolling the clock back for fall.



The switch will not apply to everyone. Only around 70% of Aussies will be setting their clocks forward, embracing those extra hours of sunshine. In America, states including Arizona and Hawaii do not observe daylight saving time.



But why do we have longer days in summer and shorter days in winter?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tilted-earth-and-daylight-saving-time">Tilted Earth and daylight saving time</h2>



Earth goes around the sun in an almost circular orbit. However, there's a tiny catch. The axis of our beloved Earth is tilted by 23.44 degrees in relation to its orbit around the sun.



As Earth makes its merry way around the sun, this tilt remains as is. So, regardless of Earth's position, the celestial stick stays at the same angle, unwavering in its tilted determination. This peculiar tilt is the reason behind our longer summer days and those cozy, shorter winter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daylight-saving-time-disrupts-diet-and-exercise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">days</a>.



The scenario gets interesting when you think about how this tilt affects each hemisphere differently. On one side of our orbit around the sun, the top of our metaphorical stick points towards the sun. This initiates summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.



However, when Earth gets tired of this position and swaps sides, the bottom of the stick gets its time to shine (literally!) as it points towards the sun - ringing in winter for the North and summer for the South.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-winter-and-summer-solstice">Winter and summer solstice </h2>



Remember the extremes we talked about when Earth is on either side of the sun? Those distinct points are known as the solstices. On June 21, Australians experience their shortest day of the year, while their longest day is on December 21.



In the time between these solstices lie the equinoxes, when day and night play fair and square, sharing the hours equally. 



This equilibrium occurs when our celestial stick is perfectly "side-on" to the sun. In 2024, Australians can witness this balance on March 20 and September 22.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-length-of-a-day-on-earth">Length of a day on Earth</h2>



Daylight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daylight-saving-time-has-little-influence-on-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saving</a> does a lot more than just rob us of an hour's sleep (and add to our coffee intake). It rearranges our hours to give us more daylight in the evenings, which works wonders for night owls but isn't the best news for morning larks.



This tilt of the Earth hasn't always been at 23.44 degrees. Our intelligent planet cycles its tilt from a minimum of 22.1 degrees to a maximum of 24.5 degrees every 41,000 years or so.



Additionally, our day length hasn't always been a precise 24 hours. The day duration shifts continually by minute amounts, tracked closely by a system of telescopes and satellites. 



Interestingly, due to the moon's gravitational pull, the <a href="https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/secular.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">length of our day</a> is increasing by about 2.3 milliseconds every century.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-daylight-saving-time">Impact of daylight saving time</h2>



The cyclical changes in daylight and seasons have profound implications on human activities, affecting societal rhythms, agriculture, and even mood. 



Historically, longer daylight hours helped farmers maximize their crops by increasing the time available for tending to fields. Similarly, industries that rely on natural light benefit from reduced energy costs during these extended periods. 



Psychologically, the abundance of sunlight in the summer months is linked to elevated levels of vitamin D and enhanced mood, often resulting in increased productivity and well-being. 



Conversely, the shorter days of winter can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in some individuals, a testament to the powerful influence of natural light on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daylight-saving-time-causes-unhealthy-lifestyle-choices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human health and behavior</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-daylight-saving-time">Future of daylight saving time</h2>



Debates continue regarding the efficacy and relevance of daylight saving time (DST) in today's world. 



Proponents argue that DST conserves energy by reducing the need for artificial lighting in the evenings, consequently lowering electricity consumption. 



However, critics question its practical benefits, citing disruptions to human circadian rhythms and the limited energy savings in modern societies that operate less on solar time. Globally, the stance on DST remains divided, with some countries abandoning the practice altogether. 



As technology advances and societies evolve, the future of daylight saving time may rest upon weighing its traditional purposes against the realities of contemporary life.



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Do we actually benefit from daylight saving time?

Time is a fascinating concept, isn't it? If you ever...

We often discuss the environmental and economic impacts of climate change, but rarely do we explore its social repercussions.



In a recent study, researchers have uncovered a chilling link between climate change and increased violence against women.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intimate-partner-violence">Intimate partner violence </h2>



The study sought to understand how various climate shocks, including storms, landslides and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">floods</a>, might contribute to an escalation in intimate partner violence (IPV) in the two years following the event. 



The team analyzed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/maternal-mortality-the-overlooked-needs-of-mothers-after-childbirth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intimate partner violence</a> data from thousands of surveys conducted across 156 countries over a span of 26 years. Intimate partner violence is defined as any physical and/or sexual violence within the past year.



The shocking conclusion? There is a significant correlation between certain climate shocks and increased instances of intimate partner violence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-consistent-data">Lack of consistent data</h2>



Interestingly, not all types of climate shocks showed a clear connection to IPV. For example, earthquakes and wildfires did not seem to have the same effect. 



The reasons for these different impacts remain unclear. The research team suggested the possibility of varying timeframes for the impacts of different types of climate shocks on violence levels. 



However, a lack of available data for a period longer than two years posed a challenge in investigating this theory.



The lack of consistent data prompted a strong recommendation from the researchers for more regular data collection concerning <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/severe-weather-will-increase-violence-against-women/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">violence against women</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-shocks-and-increased-violence">Climate shocks and increased violence</h2>



Study lead author Professor Jenevieve Mannell from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/global-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL Institute for Global Health</a> highlighted the urgency of the matter. 



"Existing evidence has found that when a woman experiences a climate-related event, she is more likely to experience violence in some countries and for some types of violence, but not others," said Professor Mannell.



"We set out to explore what was happening at a national level to help inform international climate change policy."



The study, which was a collaborative effort with researchers from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>, South African Medical Research Council, and the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</a>, also revealed that countries with a higher GDP showed lower rates of intimate partner violence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-an-environmental-crisis">More than just an environmental crisis</h2>



According to Professor Mannell, a cascade of triggers may be responsible for escalating violence in the aftermath of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thunderstorms-are-becoming-more-intense-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate shocks</a>. 



Increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-eats-away-our-brains-cognitive-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a>, food insecurity, overload of social services, and inadequate disaster relief shelters can all contribute to an environment where violence against women becomes more likely.



The frequency and severity of these events are heightened in countries with patriarchal gender norms, where violence against women is often normalized.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-women-s-protection">Climate change and women's protection</h2>



Despite the grim findings, the researchers believe that appropriate climate mitigation and adaptation efforts can play a significant role in reducing violence against women. 



They recommended including "violence against women" in the climate change commitments of countries and allocating finances to address it.



Samoa and Fiji are cited as examples, having already developed Climate Change Gender Action Plans. 



The experts also suggested that the potential for increased violence against women should be considered in countries' disaster planning processes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-is-a-human-crisis">Climate change is a human crisis</h2>



This research highlights the pressing need for a comprehensive approach to combat climate change - one that addresses its environmental, economic, societal, and now the emerging gendered impacts. It serves as a call for us to treat climate change not just as an environmental crisis but a human crisis.



Governments and international organizations must collaborate to ensure that climate adaptation and mitigation strategies are inclusive of gender-specific concerns.



Global initiatives such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasize gender equality and climate action, offer an ideal platform for integrating these findings into policy discussions. 



By incorporating climate change’s gendered effects into disaster risk management, countries can better protect vulnerable populations from cascading risks such as food insecurity, economic instability, and intimate partner violence.



This is not just a call for immediate relief efforts but a long-term vision where gender-responsive climate policies become the norm. Addressing climate change and violence against women is critical to creating resilient, equitable societies.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000478" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Climate</a>.



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Climate change linked to increased violence against women

We often discuss the environmental and economic impacts of climate...

For decades, fluoride has been considered as a cornerstone of dental health, especially in our drinking water. We’ve all heard that fluoride protects our teeth from decay, but have we ever stopped to wonder if water fluoridation is still as effective today?



With fluoride toothpaste now widely available, it’s worth asking if water fluoridation is still pulling its weight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-water-fluoridation">Community water fluoridation </h2>



A team of experts led by the <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Manchester</a> set out to investigate. They conducted a fresh review of the dental benefits of water fluoridation, reviewing evidence from 157 studies. 



Each of the studies were focused on communities that have incorporated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/too-much-fluoride-in-tap-water-supply-might-lower-kids-iq-by-few-points/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fluoride</a> in their water supplies against communities that haven't.



"Community water fluoridation (CWF) is currently practised in about 25 countries; health authorities consider it to be a key strategy for preventing dental caries," noted the researchers.



The experts found that the benefits of water fluoridation have seen a decline since the 1970s, which is when fluoride toothpaste began to popularize.



The studies under review were primarily conducted in high-income countries. Therefore, the impact of community water fluoridation in low- and middle-income countries remains relatively ambiguous, predominantly due to the absence of recent research. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-outdated-studies-on-fluoride-in-drinking-water">Outdated studies on fluoride in drinking water</h2>



In today's society, fluoride is a common ingredient in many commercially available <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-dental-hygiene-is-directly-linked-to-decrease-in-brain-volume-and-mental-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dental hygiene</a> products such as toothpaste and varnishes. It's renowned for its ability to combat tooth decay. 



Consequently, governments worldwide have added fluoride to their drinking water supply with the objective of improving the oral health of their populations.



Nevertheless, Anne-Marie Glenny, professor of Health Sciences Research at the University of Manchester, advises caution while interpreting these findings. 



"When interpreting the evidence, it is important to think about the wider context and how society and health have changed over time," said Professor Glenny.



“Most of the studies on water fluoridation are over 50 years old, before the availability of fluoride toothpaste. Contemporary studies give us a more relevant picture of what the benefits are now.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-does-water-fluoridation-still-benefit-children">Does water fluoridation still benefit children?</h2>



Post-1975 studies analyzed in the review suggest that the initiation of water fluoridation schemes might result in slightly lesser tooth decay in children's primary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-origin-of-human-teeth-dates-back-400-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">teeth</a>. 



An analysis of these recent studies, including a total of 2,908 children from the UK and Australia, estimates that fluoridation might result in an average of 0.24 fewer decayed baby teeth per child.



Nevertheless, this estimate is not absolute and comes with its uncertainty. There exists a possibility that these newer schemes might not provide any tangible benefits. 



As a point of comparison, an analysis of studies conducted before 1975 with 5,708 children estimated that fluoridation reduced the number of decayed baby teeth per child by an average of 2.1.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-oral-health-inequalities">Reducing oral health inequalities </h2>



The assumption that water fluoridation is a key method to reduce oral health inequalities has been under scrutiny. 



The review did not uncover substantial evidence to justify this claim, although this doesn't necessarily mean that there is no effect.



“The evidence suggests that water fluoridation may slightly reduce tooth decay in children," said Dr. Lucy O'Malley, senior lecturer in Health Services Research at the University of Manchester.



"Given that the benefit has reduced over time, before introducing a new fluoridation scheme, careful thought needs to be given to costs, acceptability, feasibility and ongoing monitoring.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-water-fluoridation">What's next for water fluoridation?</h2>



Concerns about oral health inequalities require immediate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-pandemic-has-had-an-enormous-impact-on-public-health-services/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">public health</a> action. However, water fluoridation may not be the most suitable solution for every population. 



Professor Janet Clarkson of the University of Dundee argues that while water fluoridation may lead to small improvements in oral health, it does not address underlying issues like high <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/want-to-reverse-your-age-take-sugar-out-of-your-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sugar</a> consumption and inadequate oral health behaviors.



This review sheds light on the evolving landscape of fluoride utilization for dental health benefits. It is evident that the contemporary dynamics of fluoride use in dental health need further examination as the world moves toward a more comprehensive approach to dental care.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010856.pub3/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews</a>.



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Is water fluoridation still effective?

For decades, fluoride has been considered as a cornerstone of...

<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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