Every living organism relies on a genetic blueprint encoded in its DNA, yet the amount of DNA - or genome size - varies dramatically across the tree of life.&nbsp;



In animals alone, genome sizes range from the minuscule genome of Intoshia variabili, a marine parasite - which is about 200 times smaller than the human genome - to the massive genome of the marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) - which is over 40 times larger than ours.&nbsp;



Plants exhibit a similar range, with the fork fern (Tmesipteris oblanceolata) setting the record with a genome size over 50 times larger than that of humans.



This diversity in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genome-mapping-completed-for-dozens-of-common-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genome</a> size reveals the vast variety of life forms on Earth, but it also raises a fascinating question: If smaller genomes lead to faster, more efficient growth, why do some species have larger genomes?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-smaller-genome-sizes">Advantages of smaller genome sizes</h2>



The replication of DNA is essential for cell production and growth, making smaller genomes more efficient as they require fewer resources and time to replicate.&nbsp;



Smaller genomes demand fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/excess-nutrients-are-creating-ocean-dead-zones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nutrients</a>, especially the DNA-building elements nitrogen and phosphorus, making them ideal for rapid growth and reproduction.



Because of these advantages, it’s not surprising that most species have evolved with relatively small genomes.&nbsp;



However, large genomes persist in some organisms, suggesting that these genomes may confer certain benefits in specific environments, where the costs of carrying extra DNA are outweighed by unique growth advantages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-large-genome-benefits-in-grasses">Exploring large genome benefits in grasses</h2>



A research team led by the <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sheffield</a> has recently studied the potential benefits of large genomes in grass species. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fairy-circles-kill-all-newly-planted-grasses-deepening-their-mystery/">Grasses</a>, a vast plant family found worldwide from arctic tundras to tropical savannas, vary in genome size, making them an ideal group to examine how genome size affects growth in different conditions.



The study, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>, examined the growth of various grass species under conditions mimicking their natural environments - high temperatures, low nutrients, and drought. 



The scientists compared growth rates to each species’ genome size and observed that while grasses with smaller genomes generally grew better across most conditions, larger genomes provided advantages in two specific scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-genomes-thrive-in-nutrient-rich-environments">Large genomes thrive in nutrient-rich environments</h2>



The first scenario where larger genomes proved beneficial was in nutrient-rich soils. While low nutrient levels slowed down large-genome grasses, those with large genomes thrived in high-nutrient environments.&nbsp;



Here, the extra DNA content meant larger cells that produced more biomass, such as leaves, which allowed these plants to outgrow and overshadow neighbors with smaller genomes.&nbsp;



In nutrient-poor areas, however, the demands of replicating additional DNA outweighed these benefits, making smaller genomes more favorable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-seasons-and-genome-sizes">Growing seasons and genome sizes</h2>



The second advantage for large-genome grasses occurred in cooler environments, such as temperate regions with lower growing season temperatures.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-grow-more-branches-and-become-bushy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plant growth</a> typically has two stages: cell division, where new cells are generated, and cell expansion, where cells swell with water to help the plant grow taller or spread. 



Cool temperatures significantly slow down cell division, but they have less impact on cell expansion.&nbsp;



Consequently, grasses with larger cells, which accompany large genomes, can expand more rapidly by cell enlargement even in cooler weather, outpacing smaller-genome plants that rely on faster cell division in warmer temperatures.



This cell expansion process explains the early spring growth of plants like daffodils and bluebells, which also have large genomes.&nbsp;



These plants perform much of their cell division in warmer months, allowing them to use cell expansion to grow quickly in early spring, well before smaller-genome plants begin to compete for light and nutrients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genome-size-diversity">Genome size diversity</h2>



The diversity in genome sizes among grasses may be one reason for their global success, as it allows them to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.&nbsp;



While smaller genomes typically support efficient growth, larger genomes offer unique advantages in specific environments, enabling certain species to thrive where others cannot.&nbsp;



This genetic diversity in grasses underscores the importance of variation in supporting species’ survival and adaptability across ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genome-size-and-evolutionary-success">Genome size and evolutionary success</h2>



The relationship between genome size and survival is not limited to plants. Our own medium-sized genome has supported humanity’s adaptability, though we don’t face the same nutrient limitations as stationary plants.&nbsp;



Unlike grasses, humans can move to seek out food and resources, which may allow us to bear the metabolic costs associated with our DNA without significant limitation.&nbsp;



This mobility highlights how different species leverage their genetic make-up in conjunction with unique behaviors and environmental interactions to thrive across diverse habitats.



In summary, the role of genome size in evolutionary success is nuanced and complex.&nbsp;



From the efficient replication of small genomes to the adaptability enabled by larger ones, genome size continues to shape the ecological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asian-forests-proving-resilient-both-climate-change-human-actions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resilience</a> and global distribution of life on Earth.



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How does genome size impact evolutionary success?

Every living organism relies on a genetic blueprint encoded in its DNA, yet the amount of DNA - or genome size - varies dramatically across the tree of life.&nbsp; In animals alone, genome sizes range from the minuscule genome of Intoshia variabili, a marine parasite - which is about 200 times smaller than the human genome - to the massive genome of the marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) - which is over 40 times larger than ours.&nbsp; Plants exhibit a similar range, with the fork fern (Tmesipteris oblanceolata)...

An incredibly discovery from a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid sample has brought great excitement and valuable insights to the scientific community. The sample, which was <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-safely-delivers-rock-samples-from-asteroid-bennu-back-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brought to Earth</a> by NASA from the asteroid Bennu, displays evidence of a high-carbon content and water. These findings suggest that the building blocks of life on Earth might be traced back to such celestial bodies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroid-bennu-sample-revelations">Asteroid Bennu sample revelations</h2>



NASA announced these exciting findings on Wednesday from its <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnson Space Center</a> in Houston. Here, for the first time since its arrival in September, the scientific leadership presented the asteroid material to the world.



Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, remarked on the significance of this discovery, stating, “The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-delving-into-the-osiris-rex-mission">Delving into the OSIRIS-REx mission</h2>



The samples were collected as part of NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSIRIS-REx</a> (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer) mission. This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-is-bringing-an-asteroid-sample-back-to-earth-this-month-worrying-many-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mission</a>, according to Nelson, not only helps us understand potential threats from asteroids but also allows us a glimpse into the beyond. 



The true nature of the carbon compounds discovered still needs extensive analysis, but the preliminary findings are promising for future studies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-insights-to-come">Decades of insights to come</h2>



These samples from Bennu are not just about the present; they carry within them secrets that will be explored for decades. They will shed light on the formation of our solar system, how life's precursors might have landed on Earth, and the necessary precautions to avert potential asteroid collisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unpacking-the-asteroid-bennu-sample">Unpacking the asteroid Bennu sample</h2>



NASA’s initial aim with the OSIRIS-REx sample collection was to obtain 60 grams of the asteroid material. However, when the sample return hardware was being disassembled, the team found an abundance of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-black-dust-found-on-bennu-asteroid-samples/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bonus asteroid material</a> covering the collector head, canister lid, and base. This surplus of material temporarily slowed down the meticulous process of gathering the main sample.



Vanessa Wyche, the director at NASA Johnson, emphasized their preparedness, noting that their labs had anticipated various outcomes from Bennu. A combination of scientists and engineers had been working together for years, designing special tools to maintain the asteroid material's integrity and purity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-glimpses-and-analyses">First glimpses and analyses</h2>



Within the initial fortnight, the team embarked on "quick-look" <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/asteroid-bennu_return-capsule_exam_3medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">examinations of the collected material</a>. They employed tools such as a scanning electron microscope, infrared measurements, and X-ray diffraction. Additionally, X-ray computed tomography provided a 3D computer model of one of the particles, revealing the prevalent carbon and water content.



Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator from the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a>, Tucson, shared his enthusiasm, “As we peer into the ancient secrets preserved within the dust and rocks of asteroid Bennu, we are unlocking a time capsule that offers us profound insights into the origins of our solar system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead">The road ahead</h2>



Over the next couple of years, the mission's science team will focus on further characterizing the samples. At least 70% of the sample will be preserved at Johnson for research by a global scientific community, ensuring that even future generations can benefit from this discovery.



As part of the OSIRIS-REx's wider science program, a global cohort of over 200 scientists will explore the regolith's properties. This includes researchers from various U.S. institutions, international partners like JAXA, CSA, and numerous other global scientists. 



Later this autumn, parts of the samples will also be on display at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston, and the University of Arizona.



NASA’s recent findings from the Bennu asteroid sample have opened new avenues in our understanding of life and the universe. These discoveries not only emphasize the importance of space exploration but also promise a deeper comprehension of our very existence and origins.



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NASA finds the building blocks of life in sample returned from asteroid Bennu

An incredibly discovery from a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid sample has brought...

Scientists have confirmed that over 40% of the ice shelves in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-levels-in-antarctica-have-reached-an-unprecedented-low/">Antarctica</a> have seen a reduction in volume over the past 25 years. This equates to a net loss of 7.5 trillion tons of meltwater entering the oceans between 1997 and 2021.



Ice shelves play a pivotal role in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happens-to-antarctic-seals-when-sea-ice-vanishes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic ecosystem</a>. Floating on the seas, they act as buffers, controlling the rate at which ice drains into the oceans. As they diminish, the rate of ice loss from the glaciers accelerates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-patterns-of-ice-loss">Disturbing patterns of ice loss</h2>



The ice shelves on the western side of Antarctica were found to be the most affected. Nearly all of these shelves had experienced significant ice loss.&nbsp;



By contrast, many of the eastern ice shelves either remained consistent or experienced an increase in volume. The total ice exported to the ocean during this period was around 67 trillion tons - offset by 59 trillion tons of ice added to the shelves.



“There is a mixed picture of ice-shelf deterioration, and this is to do with the ocean temperature and ocean currents around Antarctica," said Dr. Benjamin Davison, a research fellow at the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a> who led the study.



“The western half is exposed to warm water, which can rapidly erode the ice shelves from below, whereas much of East Antarctica is currently protected from nearby warm water by a band of cold water at the coast.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-influence-on-antarctica-s-ice-shelves">Human influence on Antarctica's ice shelves</h2>



Dr. Davison believes that human-induced global warming is a significant contributor to the dwindling ice. Without human influence, signs of regrowth would have been observed in the western region.



"We expected most ice shelves to go through cycles of rapid, but short-lived shrinking, then to regrow slowly. Instead, we see that almost half of them are shrinking with no sign of recovery," said Dr. Davison.



The Getz Ice Shelf reported a loss of 1.9 trillion tons of ice over 25 years, with a mere 5% resulting from calving. The Pine Island Ice Shelf wasn’t far behind, losing 1.3 trillion tons. By comparison, the Amery Ice Shelf, situated in colder waters, gained 1.2 trillion tons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellite-surveillance">Satellite surveillance</h2>



The study was focused on the analysis of over 100,000 radar images from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/CryoSat-2_operations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CryoSat-2</a> and <a href="https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sentinel-1</a> satellites.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="DNy7iog6g0-3069374-12187" type="single"]</div>



Launched in 2010, CryoSat-2 was dedicated to observing polar ice sheets and glaciers. The precision of these satellite sensors has enabled year-by-year tracking of Antarctic changes.



Dr. Mark Drinkwater of the European Space Agency emphasized the role of the European Copernicus Programme’s Sentinel-1 satellite mission in revolutionizing our ability to take stock of floating ice shelves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-shelves-and-implications-for-antarctica">Ice shelves and implications for Antarctica</h2>



The melted freshwater entering the oceans could disrupt global ocean circulation. The Southern Ocean, in particular, plays a role in the global ocean conveyor belt, which circulates nutrients, heat, and carbon. An influx of freshwater could weaken this system.&nbsp;



“The study has generated important findings. We tend to think of ice shelves as going through cyclical advances and retreats. Instead, we are seeing a steady attrition due to melting and calving," said study co-author Professor Anna Hogg.



“Many of the ice shelves have deteriorated a lot: 48 lost more than 30% of their initial mass over just 25 years. This is further evidence that Antarctica is changing because the climate is warming."&nbsp;



“The study provides a baseline measure from which we can see further changes that may emerge as the climate gets warmer.”



Video Credit: European Space Agency 



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Antarctica’s ice shelves are dwindling at a startling pace

Scientists have confirmed that over 40% of the ice shelves...

Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience and AI (Artificial Intelligence) have spurred innovative ventures into better understanding the intricacies of intelligence. Spearheading these efforts is a groundbreaking new platform called the Digital Twin Brain.



Developed by a team led by Tianzi Jiang at the <a href="http://english.ia.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Automation</a> of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this platform has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of both biological and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-environmental-cost-of-ai-what-are-we-willing-to-give-up-for-computing-power/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-digital-twin-brain">Understanding the Digital Twin Brain</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-concept">The concept</h3>



Drawing parallels between biological and artificial networks, the Digital Twin Brain aims to create a digital replica of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-the-human-brain-outperform-artificial-intelligence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human brain</a>. This "twin" could absorb insights from biological intelligence, thereby offering a platform to bridge the two forms of intelligence.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ultimate-goals-of-digital-twin-brain">Ultimate goals of Digital Twin Brain</h3>



The overarching objectives of the Digital Twin Brain are twofold:



<ol type="1" start="1">
<li>Propel the evolution of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). </li>



<li>Enhance the precision in mental healthcare.</li>
</ol>



These ambitions underscore the need for collaboration across multiple scientific disciplines on a global scale.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-applications">Potential applications</h3>



The Digital Twin Brain offers a sandbox for simulating various states of the human brain. Researchers can understand regular brain functions, pinpoint malfunctions linked to disorders, and devise techniques to alter undesirable brain states.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-core-pillars-of-the-digital-twin-brain">Core pillars of the Digital Twin Brain</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-atlases">Brain atlases</h3>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/digital-twin-brain_core-elements_credit-Hui-Xiong_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brain atlases</a> are akin to structural blueprints, ensuring that the digital replica mimics the intricacy of the biological brain. They encompass:



<ul>
<li>Atlases at varying scales. </li>



<li>Atlases spanning different modalities. </li>



<li>Atlases from varied species.</li>
</ul>



These atlases are imperative for a comprehensive understanding of brain regions, their interconnections, and the overarching organizational principles of the brain. 



However, they also present challenges. Ensuring "biological plausibility" means that neural models are bound by the confines of these atlases, creating technical complexities.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multi-level-neural-models">Multi-level neural models</h3>



Derived from biological data, these models simulate brain functions. Their effectiveness relies heavily on a dynamic brain atlas, which, when enhanced, leads to more accurate function simulations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-applications">Practical applications</h3>



The "twin", made up of the neural models, undergoes validation across diverse practical applications, such as disease biomarker identification and drug testing. The insights from these applications cyclically refine the brain atlas, ensuring an evolving and dynamic platform.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-brainnetome-atlas">The Brainnetome Atlas</h2>



An essential asset in the development of the Digital Twin Brain is the Brainnetome Atlas. Introduced by the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2016, this atlas provides a macroscale overview of 246 brain sub-regions. It aims to offer an exhaustive and intricate mapping of the structure and connectivity of the human brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-a-comprehensive-platform">Need for a comprehensive platform</h2>



The current brain simulation platforms, despite their potential, lack a robust anatomical foundation. It's crucial to craft an open-source, versatile platform. This platform should be adaptable, user-friendly, and potent enough to endorse multiscale and multimodal modeling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-open-challenges-of-digital-twin-brain">Open challenges of Digital Twin Brain</h2>



Several challenges loom over the Digital Twin Brain:



<ul>
<li>Incorporating fragmented biological knowledge into the digital twin seamlessly. </li>



<li>Designing superior models for precise simulations. </li>



<li>Integrating the Digital Twin Brain into real-world applications.</li>



<li></li>
</ul>



In summary, the Digital Twin Brain emerges as a nexus of neuroscience and AI. Integrating detailed brain atlases, evolving neural models, and varied applications, this platform stands on the cusp of reshaping our comprehension of both biological and artificial intelligence. 



With the unified efforts of the global scientific community, it promises groundbreaking insights into the human psyche, advanced intelligent technologies, and novel treatments for brain-related conditions.



The full study was published in <a href="https://spj.sciencemag.org/journals/icomputing/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D66160571152378498672135368084722781746%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1697113960" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intelligent Computing</a>, a Science Partner Journal.



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Owning a digital twin of your brain is one step closer to becoming a reality

Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience and AI (Artificial Intelligence) have spurred...

Every year, an alarmingly large quantity of e-waste goes unnoticed. Items such as discarded cables, electronic toys, LED-embellished novelty garments, power tools, vaping devices, and a myriad of smaller consumer products are often discarded by consumers as e-waste.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-e-waste-accumulation-nbsp">E-waste accumulation&nbsp;</h2>



These items collectively contribute to a colossal nine billion kilograms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/this-years-electronic-waste-outweighs-the-great-wall-of-china/">electronic waste</a> annually in the US. This figure represents a staggering one-sixth of the total global e-waste production.&nbsp;



To put this in perspective, should this “hidden” e-waste be amassed, it would be equivalent to the weight of almost half a million 40-tons trucks - a continuous line stretching from Rome all the way to Nairobi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-use-of-lithium">Increasing use of lithium</h2>



As the world marks the 6th annual <a href="https://weee-forum.org/iewd-about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International E-Waste Day</a> on October 14th, this overlooked category of e-waste takes center stage. A concerning trend is the increasing use of lithium in devices such as vapes. While lithium plays a vital role in making batteries rechargeable, it also poses a substantial fire hazard upon disposal.&nbsp;



The European Commission has even flagged lithium as a ‘strategic raw material,’ crucial for Europe’s transition to green energy, yet its supply remains in jeopardy, with vast amounts being discarded with household trash.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electronic-toys-nbsp">Electronic toys&nbsp;</h2>



This groundbreaking study, spearheaded by the <a href="http://www.weee-forum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum</a> and conducted by the<a href="https://www.unitar.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)</a>, sheds light on the enormity of the situation. Of particular note is the category of electronic toys, such as racing sets, drones, and biking computers.&nbsp;



These toys alone account for a whopping 3.2 billion kg or 35 percent of the ‘invisible’ e-waste, equating to an astonishing 7.3 billion individual items discarded every single year. This means that, on average, every individual on Earth disposes of one electronic toy annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vaping-devices">Vaping devices</h2>



Highlighting another segment, the researchers argue that the vaping devices discarded yearly form an e-waste mountain with a weight equivalent to triple that of New York’s iconic Brooklyn Bridge or even six times the weight of Paris’ Eiffel Tower.&nbsp;



Additionally, the staggering 950 million kg of discarded cables, rich in precious and recyclable copper, could encircle our planet 107 times.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-waste">Invisible waste</h2>



Pascal Leroy, Director-General of the WEEE Forum, emphasized the deceptive nature of ‘invisible’ e-waste. “Invisible e-waste goes unnoticed due to its nature or appearance, leading consumers to overlook its recyclable potential."&nbsp;



"People tend to recognize household electrical products as those they plug in and use regularly. But many people are confused about the waste category into which ancillary, peripheral, specialist, hobby, and leisure products fit and how to have them recycled,” explained Leroy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-awareness-of-e-waste">Public awareness of e-waste</h2>



Magdalena Charytanowicz of the WEEE Forum highlights the urgency to increase public awareness, drawing parallels to the global mobilization against plastic pollution.&nbsp;



Despite Europe’s leading efforts, where 55 percent of e-waste is officially collected and processed thanks to two decades of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, the global average lags, with collection rates barely scraping past 17 percent.



Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for the Environment, underscores the need for a holistic approach, integrating modern circular economy principles into legislation. He believes that harmonizing standards and defining clear e-waste management protocols are essential steps forward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-escalating-e-waste-crisis">Escalating e-waste crisis</h2>



Looking at the broader picture, the United Nations warns of an escalating e-waste crisis. By 2023, it is estimated that every global citizen will produce about eight kg of e-waste.&nbsp;



Out of this, a mere 17.4 percent will be appropriately collected and processed, leaving the lion’s share to rot in landfills, be burned, or stockpiled in households.



Organizations like the WEEE Forum remain committed to the responsible management of e-waste, championing the importance of collective global action in addressing this ever-growing challenge. The onus is also on consumers to recognize the value and potential hazards in items that, at first glance, might not seem like typical e-waste.



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Hidden e-waste: Millions of tons discarded in the US each year

Every year, an alarmingly large quantity of e-waste goes unnoticed....

Researchers have unearthed what appears to be the earliest evidence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-provides-insights-into-the-lives-of-neanderthals/">Neanderthals</a> hunting cave lions, dating back to 48,000 years ago in Germany.&nbsp;



The findings, published by Springer Nature in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42764-0">Scientific Reports</a>, offer new clues about the relationship between ancient humans and these once-majestic creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primary-evidence-nbsp">Primary evidence&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/neanderthals_cave-lions-skeleton_2medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puncture wounds</a> on a cave lion's ribcage hint at the possibility that Neanderthals might have killed it with a wooden spear.&nbsp;



This revelation could place Neanderthals as the earliest hunters of these big cats, a discovery which was previously unknown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cave-lion-pelts-nbsp">Cave lion pelts&nbsp;</h2>



The study also presents what could be the earliest evidence of Neanderthals using a cave lion pelt.&nbsp;



This particular interaction has been a subject of speculation for a long time, especially given the prominence of cave lions in ancient human cultures.&nbsp;



For instance, Homo sapiens prominently featured cave lions in their cave paintings, but direct interactions with Neanderthals remained elusive until now.



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



The (almost complete) cave lion skeleton from Siegsdorf, Germany was originally excavated in 1985. Gabriele Russo and colleagues took on the task of analyzing the skeleton.&nbsp;



Through their analysis, the experts concluded that the remains likely belonged to an old, medium-sized lion.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intriguing-discovery-nbsp">Intriguing discovery&nbsp;</h2>



Although previous assessments suggested that the animal might have been butchered post-mortem, a closer examination unveiled something more intriguing.



A partial puncture wound, specifically located on the inside of the lion’s third rib, presented the researchers with a unique clue. The wound seemed to be consistent with the impact mark of a wooden-tipped spear.&nbsp;



The angle of the puncture suggests that the spear might have entered from the left side of the lion's abdomen, hitting vital organs before lodging into the third rib on the right side.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skilled-hunters-nbsp">Skilled hunters&nbsp;</h2>



Moreover, the nature of this wound bore similarities to those found on deer vertebrae, which were confirmed to be caused by Neanderthal spears.&nbsp;



Drawing parallels, the authors propose that the Siegsdorf specimen stands as a testament to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-tools-hunt-distance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neanderthals' hunting expertise</a>, specifically targeting cave lions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-analysis-of-cave-lion-specimens">Further analysis of cave lion specimens</h2>



The researchers also analyzed phalange and sesamoid bones from three cave lion specimens, excavated in 2019 from Einhornhöhle, Germany.&nbsp;



These specimens, dating back to approximately 55 – 45,000 years ago, bore cutmarks that are typically found when an animal is skinned.&nbsp;



The way these marks were positioned indicated a deliberate effort to ensure the lion's claws remained intact within the fur. This could very well be the earliest instance of Neanderthals using lion pelts, possibly for cultural or ritualistic purposes.



These findings not only shed light on Neanderthal hunting strategies but also their cultural practices. The research presents a new understanding of the interactions between Neanderthals and cave lions during the Pleistocene epoch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-cave-lions">More about cave lions</h2>



As mentioned previously, cave lions, whose scientific name is Panthera spelaea, once prowled the vast landscapes of Europe and northern Asia during the Pleistocene era. Although they bear the name "cave lion," this moniker arises not from their living habits but from the fact that we often find their remains in caves.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physical-appearance">Physical appearance</h3>



These majestic creatures closely resembled the modern-day lion, but with some distinct differences. For starters, cave lions were slightly larger, with males weighing up to 830 pounds (about 375 kilograms) or more. Unlike the African lions, they didn't possess a mane, making both males and females appear quite similar.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet">Diet</h3>



Their diet primarily consisted of large herbivores like bison, horses, and deer. Evidence from various cave paintings suggests that they might have hunted in groups, a behavior seen in today's lions. These ancient artworks, especially those found in the Chauvet Cave in France, depict the cave lion with remarkable detail and respect, indicating the significance they held in the eyes of ancient human communities.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinction">Extinction</h3>



The circumstances surround their extinction, which occurred approximately 14,000 years ago, remains a mystery. While climate change and the resulting habitat alterations surely played a role, overhunting by humans could also have been a contributing factor.



Today, the legacy of the cave lion lives on through paleontological studies, ancient artworks, and the imaginations of those intrigued by the prehistoric world. As we continue to unearth more about these fascinating creatures, they serve as a powerful reminder of nature's ever-evolving tapestry.



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Neanderthals hunting cave lions: Earliest evidence uncovered

Researchers have unearthed what appears to be the earliest evidence...

While the old adage “you are what you eat” may be true, a new study suggests that what we eat also has something to do with who we are, genetically speaking. A team of scientists led by the <a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/">University of Colorado School of Medicine</a> has recently pinpointed approximately 500 genes which seem to influence what we eat and have a direct impact on an individual’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/foods-preference-decisions/">food preferences</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sensory-genetic-profiles-nbsp">Sensory genetic profiles&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers believe that understanding these genes could pave the way for personalized nutrition plans tailored to enhance health or stave off diseases.



“Some genes we identified are related to sensory pathways - including those for taste, smell, and texture - and may also increase the reward response in the brain,” said lead author Joanne Cole, an assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics department at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.&nbsp;



“Because some of these genes may have clear paths toward influencing whether someone likes a food or not, they could potentially be used to create sensory genetic profiles for fine-tuning a person’s dietary recommendations based on foods they like to eat.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-genes-tied-to-eating">Studying the genes tied to eating</h2>



For this investigation, the research team analyzed data from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a>, which consists of details from 500,000 participants. Through a phenome-wide association study, they aimed to pinpoint genes that had a stronger connection with dietary habits rather than other health or lifestyle aspects.&nbsp;



“The foods we choose to eat are largely influenced by environmental factors such as our culture, socioeconomic status, and food accessibility,” Cole explained.&nbsp;



“Because genetics plays a much smaller role in influencing dietary intake than all the environmental factors, we need to study hundreds of thousands of individuals to detect genetic influences amid the environmental factors. The data necessary to do this hasn’t been available until recently.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted</h2>



To separate the direct impacts of genetic variations on diet from indirect ones, such as distinguishing a genetic predisposition to diabetes from the subsequent reduced sugar intake due to the condition, the team employed computational techniques.



The rich genetic, health, and socioeconomic data from the UK Biobank enabled the researchers to scrutinize individual genetic markers for links with a plethora of traits.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned</h2>



The experts found about 300 genes associated with specific food consumption, and nearly 200 genes connected to broader dietary patterns, like general fish or fruit intake.&nbsp;



“The study showed that dietary patterns tend to have more indirect genetic effects, meaning they were correlated with a lot of other factors,” Cole said.&nbsp;



“This shows how important it is to not study dietary patterns in a vacuum, because the eating pattern’s impact on human health may be completely mediated or confounded by other factors.”



Looking ahead, Cole envisions exploring the possibility of genetically tailored diets to enhance weight loss, the central question being: Can nutrition experts use genetic data to tailor the taste aspects of a weight loss regimen to ensure better compliance?



These findings were presented at the <a href="https://nutrition.org/n23/">Annual Conference of the American Society for Nutrition </a>in Boston and will soon undergo peer review for publication.



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Hundreds of genes identified that directly influence what we eat

While the old adage “you are what you eat” may...

A recent study has unveiled the independent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fibonacci-spirals-an-unexpected-twist-in-plant-evolution/">evolution</a> of pathways in plants to produce the same substance for defense.



"Enzymes that catalyze the same chemical reaction can evolve independently many times," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"However, examples of independent evolution of an entire pathway that consists of many enzymatic steps are rare. In this manuscript, we report the discovery of two biosynthetic pathways that both synthesize a class of plant defensive molecule called benzoxazinoid."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-specialized-metabolites-nbsp">Specialized metabolites&nbsp;</h2>



Benzoxazinoids are crucial for maize plants. Serving as a defense against herbivores, they suppress their appetite while also possessing antimicrobial properties.&nbsp;



Furthermore, these compounds play a role in facilitating interactions between plants. Their production process in maize has been familiar to researchers since the 1990s.&nbsp;



However, what's remarkable is that even though specialized metabolites often are seen in related plant species, benzoxazinoids deviate from this trend. They appear sporadically across numerous unrelated plant families.



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



A team of researchers led by Tobias Köllner at the <a href="https://www.ice.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology</a> set out to investigate this peculiar behavior. The goal was to determine whether different species developed the ability to form benzoxazinoids independently of each other.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers explored two unrelated eudicot plant species known for producing benzoxazinoids: the golden dead-nettle Lamium galebodolon and the zebra plant Aphelandra squarrosa.



The team developed comprehensive datasets of the compounds and genes expressed in different tissues of these plants.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-candidate-genes-nbsp">Candidate genes&nbsp;</h2>



By contrasting them with related species that don't produce benzoxazinoids, they were able to pinpoint potential genes that might be implicated in the formation of these compounds.&nbsp;



"This approach allowed us to identify candidate genes that may be involved in the formation of these compounds," explained study first author Matilde Florean.



"We further characterized the candidate genes by expressing them in tobacco to find out if they are really involved in the production of benzoxazinoids."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-results">Surprising results</h2>



The results were surprising. The study revealed that the metabolic pathway of benzoxazinoids evolved independently in maize, the golden dead-nettle, and the zebra plant.&nbsp;



Unlike in maize, where a set of closely related cytochrome P450 enzymes handle specific steps, the golden dead-nettle and the zebra plant employ entirely different enzyme classes.&nbsp;



Remarkably, these two plants utilize a dual-function flavin-containing monooxygenase for this process, instead of the two separate cytochrome P450 enzymes observed in grasses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flexible-plant-metabolism-nbsp">Flexible plant metabolism&nbsp;</h2>



"With this work, we have shown how flexible plant metabolism can be. We have shown that plants can independently invent very different strategies to make the same chemical compounds, and this has happened at least three times in the evolutionary history of benzoxazinoids," said Sarah O'Connor, the director of the Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis.



The research team's next goal is to explore the biosynthesis of benzoxazinoids in a broader range of plant families.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2307981120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Different plants independently created the same chemical defense

A recent study has unveiled the independent evolution of pathways...

A recent study has revealed that tens of thousands of endangered sharks and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-two-thirds-of-coral-reef-sharks-and-rays-face-extinction/">rays</a> are caught annually by small-scale fisheries off the Republic of the Congo. 



Scientists conducting surveys at Songolo, home to over 60% of the country’s “artisanal” fishers, documented this alarming rate of catch over three years. This category of fishers operate small boats, equipped with small engines, and use hand-hauled lines and nets for their fishing activities.



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



This extensive study, led by the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a> (WCS) Congo Program and the Republic of the Congo’s fisheries department, recorded a total of more than 73,000 sharks and rays landed during the research period.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shocking-discovery-nbsp">Shocking discovery&nbsp;</h2>



A significant finding of this study was that most of these caught aquatic creatures were juveniles, with a staggering 98% of the individuals belonging to species that are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-encouraging-findings">Encouraging findings</h2>



However, the researchers also have some encouraging news to report. The area in and around Songolo is abundant with sharks and rays, including the African wedgefish and the smoothback angelshark, two species previously believed to be locally extinct.&nbsp;



This knowledge offers an opportunity for implementing measures that can protect these marine species while simultaneously supporting the livelihoods of the local fishers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-central-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Central focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Phil Doherty, the lead author of the study, emphasized that the goal isn’t to stop the artisanal fishers from fishing, as they rely on their catch for both food and income.&nbsp;



“The devastating impact of industrial fishing fleets is well documented, but much less is known about the importance of small-scale fisheries,” said Dr. Doherty. “These fishers depend on their catch for food and income, so we’re not here to tell them to stop fishing."



“Instead, by researching what they catch – including where and when – we can help to design measures that preserve shark and ray populations and ensure fishers’ livelihoods are sustainable.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-triple-threat">Triple threat</h2>



A concerning aspect noted by Dr. Doherty was the high proportion of juvenile sharks and rays in the catch, representing a “triple threat” to both fishers and biodiversity.&nbsp;



“It’s bad for fishers because these smaller animals have less meat, and smaller fins for the valuable fin market,” he said. “Catching juveniles is also bad for the population, as these sharks would be the future breeding adults."



“Thirdly, the high number of juveniles suggests this area may be a nursery ground for some species – and fishing in such an area could be disastrous for them.”



“Prolonged fishing by industrial fleets may have taken many of the larger individuals, meaning artisanal fishers have to settle for smaller ones. With many pressures faced by sharks and rays at different life stages, rapid population decline is highly likely.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effective-management-strategies-nbsp">Effective management strategies&nbsp;</h2>



The study played a supportive role in the establishment of the Republic of the Congo’s first marine protected areas last year.&nbsp;



"Buy-in, trust, cooperation and inclusion of the fishers and in-country researchers is the only way these projects can succeed, and the only way to generate important data – which is necessary to create effective management strategies," said Dr. Kristian Metcalfe, who has extensive experience working in the Republic of the Congo.



“For example, we found many juvenile scalloped hammerhead and blacktip sharks are caught at a certain time each year, so limiting fishing for these species at that time could allow populations to begin to recover.



“Changing equipment, such as adjusting the mesh size of gillnets to allow non-target species to escape, may be effective – as well as proposing the release of easily identifiable species such as the endangered African wedgefish.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers observed that the scalloped hammerhead and blacktip shark, listed as critically endangered and vulnerable respectively, were the most caught species, with over 50,000 individuals recorded.&nbsp;



Given that surveys were conducted only 14 days per month on average and that more than 30% of artisanal fishers operate from locations other than Songolo, the actual numbers of sharks and rays caught are likely significantly higher than the 73,268 individuals recorded.



The study was funded by the Darwin Initiative, the Waterloo Foundation, the Waitt Foundation and the Save Our Seas Foundation.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/25784854">Conservation Science and Practice</a>.



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Endangered sharks: Study reveals hidden crisis of overfishing

A recent study has revealed that tens of thousands of...

A recent study from <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Riverside</a> has revealed that the effects of drought can linger in streams and rivers for up to 3.5 years, regardless of intervening storms. Contrary to common belief, the research highlights that a lack of rainfall is not the sole indicator of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drought-to-downpour-climate-change-triggers-extreme-weather-shifts/">drought</a>.&nbsp;



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



The study, published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130256" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Hydrology</a>, introduces a new approach to understanding and measuring drought. The research focuses on two crucial factors: total water level and baseflow in streams.



Total water level, often analyzed by researchers, is influenced by both snowmelt and rainfall. Baseflow, which is less frequently examined due to previous measurement challenges, represents the segment of streamflow originating from groundwater.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-baseflow-nbsp">Measuring baseflow&nbsp;</h2>



With baseflow being integral to water management and ecosystem services due to its strong connection with groundwater, the UC Riverside team initiated a closer examination of this overlooked aspect.



“People often just use rain as an indicator of drought because it’s easier to measure. But there are other kinds of drought that each have their own impacts,” said study co-author Professor Hoori Ajami. “We needed a new way to see how long it takes for one form of drought to become another form.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hydrological-drought-nbsp">Hydrological drought&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers pointed out that baseflow is part of a category called hydrological drought, which has significant implications for water availability for consumption, irrigation, and hygiene.&nbsp;



It also considerably affects the health of wildlife, plants, and ecosystems at large. More critically, severe hydrological drought poses a threat to infrastructure stability.



Decades of data



In an effort to better define hydrological drought's commencement and conclusion, the UC Riverside team examined three decades worth of data from over 350 locations nationwide. Their investigation exclusively encompassed the baseflow in streams or rivers unaffected by human activities, with no reservoirs or dams present.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The findings revealed that the onset and termination of hydrological droughts are influenced by an area’s typical climate and geography.&nbsp;



Recovery times post-rainfall drought varied, with some areas like parts of Kansas taking up to 41 months to recuperate, while others like the Arroyo Seco area near Pasadena, California, recovering in nearly a year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-insights-nbsp">Study insights&nbsp;</h2>



Study lead author Sanghyun Lee emphasized the importance of adopting site-specific water management strategies instead of a universal solution.&nbsp;



“When we are looking at water management strategies, it is clear we cannot implement a one-size-fits-all solution everywhere, for every stream. Our approaches need to be site specific,” said Lee.&nbsp;



“When I first came to California in 2016, people asked me, ‘Is the drought over?’ They wanted to know if our watersheds had recovered. This new study shows it may take another few years until they get back to normal,” said Ajami.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The study’s results align with past research, indicating a delayed response of underground aquifers to rainfall shortages. As these aquifers are vital for agriculture, providing the baseflow for rivers, over-extraction of groundwater during drought can lead to the development of sinkholes, thereby endangering infrastructure.



“One key message we want to send is that people must be careful about managing the water they have,” said Lee.&nbsp;



“Because of rising temperatures, baseflow drought is getting longer and more severe in many parts of the country. And because watershed boundaries often cross state or international lines, preserving precious water resources will require more cooperation.”



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Impacts of drought can linger in rivers for years

A recent study from UC Riverside has revealed that the...

The health and climate benefits of cutting methane from fossil fuels are potentially enormous. These benefits are detailed in a new assessment released today by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (<a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/report/imperative-cutting-methane-fossil-fuels-assessment-benefits-climate-and-health">UNEP</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-premature-deaths-nbsp">Premature deaths&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.ccacoalition.org/resources/imperative-cutting-methane-fossil-fuels">The Imperative of Cutting Methane from Fossil Fuels</a> report states that immediate, targeted methane abatement in the fossil fuel sector could prevent nearly one million premature deaths due to ozone exposure and 90 million tons of crop losses due to ozone and climate changes.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lost-labor">Lost labor</h2>



The researchers add that about 85 billion hours of lost labor due to heat exposure could be avoided by 2050, providing roughly 260 billion dollars in direct economic benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-warming-nbsp">Global warming&nbsp;</h2>



The experts emphasize that rapid cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuels would also help limit global warming in the short term. Methane cuts could avoid up to 0.1 °C in global temperature rise by 2050 - a greater impact than taking all the cars and trucks and trucks off the road - according to the report.&nbsp;



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



The assessment builds on findings from the IEA’s recently updated pathway to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. The experts say that while a drop in fossil fuel demand would cut methane emissions, these reductions by themselves would not occur fast enough to meet the world’s climate goals.



"Reductions in fossil fuel use alone do not achieve deep enough cuts in methane emissions to reach levels consistent with limiting&nbsp;warming to 1.5 °C with no or low overshoot," the experts state in the report.&nbsp;



"Additional, targeted actions to tackle methane emissions from fossil fuel production and use are essential to limit the&nbsp;risk of crossing irreversible climate tipping points."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-emissions-nbsp">Methane emissions&nbsp;</h2>



Methane emissions are responsible for approximately 30% of global warming experienced since the onset of the Industrial Revolution.&nbsp;



This greenhouse gas is predominantly released through fossil fuel operations, which represent the second-largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions.&nbsp;



The most recent estimates suggest that annual global methane emissions are around 580 million tons.



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



The report emphasizes that it is possible to mitigate a significant portion of these emissions using current technology.



"More than 75% of methane emissions from oil and gas operations and half of emissions from coal today can be abated with existing technology, often at low cost."&nbsp;



"The oil and gas sector has the greatest share of ready-to-implement and&nbsp;cost-effective technical opportunities to reduce methane emissions. Cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuel operations will likely need to provide half of the reduction in total methane emissions from human activities needed to 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 °C."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-escalating-crisis">Escalating crisis</h2>



To effectively curb the escalating climate crisis, the report suggests that more focused and deliberate actions are crucial, especially in tackling methane emissions originating from the production and consumption of fossil fuels.&nbsp;



These targeted strategies are not only needed for avoiding irreversible climate tipping points, but are also urgently needed to protect public health.



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Rapid methane cuts could prevent nearly a million premature deaths

The health and climate benefits of cutting methane from fossil...

A team of researchers including extreme sports enthusiast Ciara Burns embarked on a 42-day Atlantic rowing adventure in 2021 with a team of twelve. The goal of the expedition was to explore the connection between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-fatigue-impairs-athletic-performance/">physical exertion</a> and mental strain under extreme conditions.



"Unassisted rowing across the Atlantic Ocean is an extreme undertaking challenging the human body in every possible way. The reported rowing journey lasted for 42 days in a small vessel with 12 rowers, each rowing for 12 hours a day, broken into 3 hour shifts," wrote the researchers.&nbsp;



"This schedule disrupts the natural circadian cycle and autonomic balance, affecting subjective and objective wellbeing and sleep quality, that lack continuous empirical quantification."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biomedical-sensing-nbsp">Biomedical sensing&nbsp;</h2>



Over the course of the expedition, Burns recorded her heart rate variations with specialized sensors and documenting her subjective well-being.&nbsp;



Professor Eugenijus Kaniusas heads the Biomedical Sensing and Therapy research group at <a href="https://www.tuwien.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TU Wien</a> and provided scientific support for the project.&nbsp;



"You can derive a lot of interesting findings from the heart rate recordings," said Professor Kaniusas. "The variability of the heart rate is particularly important for us. From it, you can infer the general state of fitness, sleep quality and how well someone can regenerate during sleep."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strenuous-routine-nbsp">Strenuous routine&nbsp;</h2>



However, Burns and her team adopted an unconventional sleep routine throughout their Atlantic endeavor, with members alternating between three hours of rowing and three hours of rest around the clock.&nbsp;



Burns highlighted three strenuous phases within this regime: the initial adjustment period, the mid-journey realization of the immense distance remaining, and the tantalizing final stretch where the destination was in sight but not yet reachable.&nbsp;



These periods corresponded with measurable dips in sleep quality, emphasizing the strong link between psychological states and physiological parameters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protective-mode-nbsp">Protective mode&nbsp;</h2>



In addition to these observations, data revealed a progressive decline in the body’s ability to toggle efficiently between sleep and wakefulness as the journey unfolded.&nbsp;



Despite this, the body seemed to instinctively adopt protective measures to prevent heart overload.



"At the same time, the body seems to enter a kind of protective mode to protect the heart from overload," explained Professor Kaniusas. "The average heartbeat slows down, and the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which plays an important role in controlling the internal organs, increases."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance-nbsp">Study significance&nbsp;</h2>



Studies like this are rare, and collecting scientific data amid the challenging oceanic conditions makes them even more unprecedented.&nbsp;



"Ciara Burns has done highly precise work here with unprecedented dedication," said Kaniusas. "The project was also reviewed by the ethics committee of TU Wien and supported in an exemplary way."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



Following rigorous analysis of the gathered data, the researchers suggest future extreme athletes might benefit from a gradual transition into intensive rhythms instead of abrupt changes.&nbsp;



In addition, introducing rewards or enjoyable activities at the mid-point of similar extreme endeavors might provide much-needed morale boosts for participants bracing for the journey's second half.



"Maybe some special, enjoyable activity that lets you celebrate that you're halfway through the effort and comfort yourself over the realization that there is still a long way to go," said Professor Kaniusas.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1244438" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Physiology</a>.&nbsp;



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What happens to the body and mind during extreme sports?

A team of researchers including extreme sports enthusiast Ciara Burns...

In the largest study ever conducted on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-crisis-half-of-the-worlds-population-will-be-affected-by-age-75/">mental health</a> impacts of light exposure, researchers have found that artificial light elevates the risk for psychiatric disorders.



The investigation involved nearly 87,000 participants and was led by Professor Sean Cain of the <a href="https://www.monash.edu/medicine/psych" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash School of Psychological Sciences</a>.&nbsp;



"Circadian rhythm disturbance is a common feature of many psychiatric disorders. Light is the primary input to the circadian clock, with daytime light strengthening rhythms and night-time light disrupting them," wrote the study authors.



"Therefore, habitual light exposure may represent an environmental risk factor for susceptibility to psychiatric disorders."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artificial-light-exposure">Artificial light exposure</h2>



The comprehensive research demonstrates that artificial light exposure, particularly at night, is linked with a greater chance of conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and an increased risk of self-harm.&nbsp;



The study also revealed a 30% increase in the risk of depression for individuals with high nighttime light exposure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daytime-light-exposure-nbsp">Daytime light exposure&nbsp;</h2>



Conversely, the study also sheds light on the positive effects of substantial daytime light exposure.&nbsp;



The findings suggest that ample daylight exposure can reduce the risk of depression by 20 percent, and is also associated with a diminished risk of other mental health issues.&nbsp;



In other words, exposure to daylight is a simple, non-medicinal way to help protect yourself from mental health challenges.&nbsp;



“Our findings will have a potentially huge societal impact,” said Professor Cain. “Once people understand that their light exposure patterns have a powerful influence on their mental health, they can take some simple steps to optimize their wellbeing. It’s about getting bright light in the day and darkness at night.”



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



The research was focused on 86,772 participants from the UK Biobank.&nbsp;



Among the data collected from these individuals, the experts analyzed their exposure to light, sleep patterns, levels of physical activity, and mental health status.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consistent-impacts">Consistent impacts</h2>



It is crucial to note that the observed impact of nighttime light exposure on mental health remained consistent across various demographics and was not influenced by physical activity levels, season, or employment status.&nbsp;



“Our findings were consistent when accounting for shiftwork, sleep, urban versus rural living and cardio-metabolic health."



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



Professor Cain pointed out the disjunction between modern human lifestyles and our biological systems, suggesting that contemporary living conditions might be detrimental to our mental health.&nbsp;



He noted that human brains evolved under conditions of bright daylight exposure followed by almost complete darkness at night.



“Humans today challenge this biology, spending around 90 percent of the day indoors under electric lighting which is too dim during the day and too bright at night compared to natural light and dark cycles. It is confusing our bodies and making us unwell."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00135-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Mental Health</a>.



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Artificial light exposure is extremely harmful to our mental health

In the largest study ever conducted on the mental health...

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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

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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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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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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

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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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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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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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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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 



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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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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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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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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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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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.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



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.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video 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 history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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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.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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 capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...