In a remarkable medical breakthrough, engineers have developed a light-activated pacemaker so tiny that doctors can inject it into the body through a syringe. Remarkably, the device simply dissolves after it’s no longer needed.&nbsp;



Designed for newborns, the pacemaker could transform temporary heart care after congenital defect surgeries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-the-heart-with-light">Controlling the heart with light</h2>



The new pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice. It's wirelessly activated through pulses of light which are delivered by a soft, wearable device mounted on the patient’s chest.



The external controller detects abnormal rhythms and sends light through the body to activate the pacemaker and restore heartbeat. The study demonstrates the device’s effectiveness across animal and human donor hearts.&nbsp;



The development of the pacemaker was led by John A. Rogers, a professor of material science, biomedical engineering, and neurological surgery at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a>.&nbsp;



“We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world’s smallest pacemaker,” said Professor Rogers.



“There’s a crucial need for temporary pacemakers in the context of pediatric heart surgeries, and that’s a use case where size miniaturization is incredibly important. In terms of the device load on the body - the smaller, the better.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solution-designed-for-newborns">Solution designed for newborns</h2>



Though the light-activated pacemaker can function in patients of all sizes, its miniaturized design was motivated by the needs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infant-speech-is-driven-by-heart-rate-activity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infants</a>. 



Igor Efimov is a co-leader of the study and experimental cardiologist at Northwestern.&nbsp;



“About 1% of children are born with congenital heart defects. The good news is that these children only need temporary pacing after a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-smallest-robot-could-transform-minimally-invasive-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surgery</a>. In about seven days or so, most patients’ hearts will self-repair. But those seven days are absolutely critical," said Efimov.



Traditional pacemakers require surgery and have wires sticking out of the chest to connect to an external device. When they are no longer needed, the wires are removed - risking bleeding, tissue damage, or even death.



“Wires literally protrude from the body, attached to a pacemaker outside the body,” Efimov explained. “When the pacemaker is no longer needed, a physician pulls it out. The wires can become enveloped in scar tissue. That’s actually how Neil Armstrong died.”



The new injectable pacemaker addresses these risks. All of its components are biocompatible and bioresorbable, meaning they safely dissolve in the body’s fluids without needing surgical removal. Once the device has served its purpose, it simply disappears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refining-the-light-activated-pacemaker">Refining the light-activated pacemaker</h2>



This innovation builds on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00948-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earlier work</a> by Rogers and Efimov, who developed a quarter-sized dissolvable pacemaker in 2021. Surgeons asked for a smaller version to allow easier placement and suit the smallest patients.&nbsp;



The original device used near-field communication (NFC), but its antenna limited how small the device could be made. To overcome this, the team replaced the NFC system with a novel light-based mechanism.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pacemaker_light-activated_worlds-smallest_heart-health_Northwestern_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pacemaker_light-activated_worlds-smallest_heart-health_Northwestern_1s.webp" alt="The tiny pacemaker sits next to a single grain of rice on a fingertip. The device is so small that it can be non-invasively injected into the body via a syringe. Credit: John A. Rogers/Northwestern University" class="wp-image-1964846"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The tiny pacemaker sits next to a single grain of rice on a fingertip. The device is so small that it can be non-invasively injected into the body via a syringe. Click image to enlarge. Credit: John A. Rogers/Northwestern University</figcaption></figure>



“Instead of using the radio frequency scheme for wireless control, we developed a light-based scheme for turning the pacemaker on and delivering stimulation pulses to the surface of the heart. This is one feature that allowed us to dramatically reduce the size,” said Professor Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powered-by-the-body-s-own-fluids">Powered by the body’s own fluids</h2>



The engineers also reimagined how to power the tiny pacemaker. Rather than requiring a battery or external power source, the device uses a simple galvanic cell - a chemical battery formed by two different metals as electrodes.&nbsp;



When the device is inside the body, surrounding biofluids act as the electrolyte, allowing electrical current to flow and stimulate the heart.



“A very tiny light-activated switch on the opposite side from the battery allows us to turn the device from its ‘off’ state to an ‘on’ state upon delivery of light that passes through the patient’s body from the skin-mounted patch,” explained Professor Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-trauma-and-risk">Reducing trauma and risk</h2>



Using infrared light, which can safely penetrate deep into the body, the wearable controller detects when a patient’s heart rate falls too low. It then triggers a light-emitting diode (LED) to flash on and off at the desired pacing rhythm.&nbsp;



“Infrared light penetrates very well through the body,” Efimov said. “If you put a flashlight against your palm, you will see the light glow through the other side of your hand. It turns out that our bodies are great conductors of light.”



Despite its microscopic size - just 1.8 mm wide, 3.5 mm long, and 1 mm thick - the pacemaker delivers stimulation on par with traditional devices. “The heart requires a tiny amount of electrical stimulation,” Rogers said.&nbsp;



“By minimizing the size, we dramatically simplify the implantation procedures, we reduce trauma and risk to the patient, and, with the dissolvable nature of the device, we eliminate any need for secondary surgical extraction procedures.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-of-heart-care">A new era of heart care</h2>



Because these light-activated pacemakers are so small and wireless, doctors could one day deploy multiple units on different parts of the heart to create more advanced pacing systems. 



Each device could be controlled independently using different light wavelengths, enabling personalized and precisely timed stimulation across the heart’s surface.



“We can deploy a number of such small pacemakers onto the outside of the heart and control each one,” Efimov said. “Then we can achieve improved synchronized functional care.”



Professor Rogers noted that because it’s so small, the pacemaker can be integrated with almost any kind of implantable device.



“We also demonstrated integration of collections of these devices across the frameworks that serve as transcatheter aortic valve replacements to address complications that can occur during a patient’s recovery process," said Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-bioelectronic-medicine">Future of bioelectronic medicine</h2>



While this breakthrough has clear implications for pediatric heart care, the technology could pave the way for a new generation of bioelectronic medicine.&nbsp;



These tiny, dissolvable devices could one day be adapted to promote nerve and bone regeneration, manage <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain</a>, support wound healing, and more.



Northwestern engineers shrank the device and removed risks by making it dissolve after use. In doing so, they’ve created a tool that could reshape how doctors care for the heart - from the tiniest patients to adults.



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Click here to <a href="https://youtu.be/j_0hZ8cUwgo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch a video interview...</a>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08726-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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World's smallest pacemaker is set to revolutionize heart health

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, engineers have developed a light-activated pacemaker so tiny that doctors can inject it into the body through a syringe. Remarkably, the device simply dissolves after it’s no longer needed.&nbsp; Designed for newborns, the pacemaker could transform temporary heart care after congenital defect surgeries. Controlling the heart with light The new pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice. It's wirelessly activated through pulses of light which are delivered by a soft, wearable device mounted on the patient’s chest. The external controller detects...

Middle-aged mice lived 33% longer when they cut back on one particular dietary building block. This finding has grabbed attention because it suggests a simple strategy that may support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/leg-balance-is-a-key-indicator-of-healthy-aging/">healthy aging</a>.



This work comes from research teams who tracked how limiting the isoleucine in rodent meals boosted their longevity. 



This approach was led by metabolism researcher <a href="https://www.medicine.wisc.edu/directory/lamming_dudley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dudley Lamming</a> from the University of Wisconsin, US, and colleagues who also observed improved blood sugar control and leaner physiques among the animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isoleucine-s-role-in-healthy-aging">Isoleucine’s role in healthy aging</h2>



“Different components of your diet have value and impact beyond their function as a calorie, and we've been digging in on one component that many people may be eating too much of,” explained Lamming, who was involved in these mouse experiments, in 2023. Isoleucine is an essential part of our diet, yet some people consume too much of it.&nbsp;



Too much of this amino acid has been linked to unhealthy weight gain. The mix of amino acids in a person’s diet is now seen as an important factor in metabolic health. 



Higher intake of the branched-chain amino acid isoleucine has been <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11185563/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked</a> to increased body mass index in humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isoleucine-restriction-extends-lifespan">Isoleucine restriction extends lifespan</h2>



Male mice on reduced-isoleucine chow experienced lifespan increases of about a third. They also handled glucose better and stayed slimmer even while allowed to eat more total calories.



Restricting isoleucine did not require complicated food measurements. It simply involved changing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-model-esm3-creates-new-protein-that-simulates-500-million-years-of-biological-evolution/">protein</a> proportions in their daily ration so that isoleucine was the limiting factor. The mice were allowed to eat freely, which makes the results even more surprising.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-male-female-variation-in-isoleucine-restriction">Male-female variation in isoleucine restriction</h2>



In this study, male mice showed a 33% boost in lifespan, while females only gained about 7%. This big gap raises questions about how sex hormones, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-metabolism-has-evolved-to-become-energetically-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, and body composition may influence how the body responds to amino acid changes.



Researchers have seen similar patterns before with other nutrient-based interventions. Hormonal differences can affect fat storage, muscle metabolism, and how energy is used, which may explain why the same diet creates different results depending on sex.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-gains-from-limiting-isoleucine-intake">Health gains from limiting isoleucine intake</h2>



“It's interesting and encouraging to think a dietary change could still make such a big difference,” said Lamming. Such results spark optimism for ways to support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-say-this-is-the-best-fruit-to-eat-for-a-healthier-liver/">healthier</a> aging.&nbsp;



Scientists believe that trimming isoleucine intake helps the body regulate insulin activity, which in turn aids energy balance and metabolic stability. The 2021 study in mice supports the idea that altered amino acid levels can reprogram liver function and fat storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-and-rewards-of-isoleucine-reduction">Risks and rewards of isoleucine reduction</h2>



Experts note that isoleucine is one of three branched-chain amino acids needed for survival, so eliminating it is not an option. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemp-seeds-could-be-a-game-changer-as-an-alternative-protein-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Higher-protein foods</a> like eggs, dairy, soy, and meats typically provide ample amounts of it, which can be troublesome for those at risk of excessive intake.



Lifestyle adjustments must be approached carefully, because going too low in protein can also cause problems. “We can't just switch everyone to a low-isoleucine diet,” Lamming said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-incorporating-isoleucine-limited-foods-into-daily-meals">Incorporating isoleucine-limited foods into daily meals</h2>



People who eat mostly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/">animal-based foods</a> may be getting more isoleucine than they realize. Meats, dairy, and eggs are especially rich in branched-chain amino acids, including isoleucine. 



Swapping some of these foods for plant-based proteins - like beans, lentils, or tofu - could be a practical way to bring levels down without under-eating protein altogether.



This isn't about extreme dieting. It’s more about tweaking food choices to reduce excess. Since isoleucine is just one of many amino acids, small shifts in dietary sources might be enough to improve long-term health without sacrificing nutrition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-in-isoleucine-focused-research-and-treatment">Next steps in isoleucine-focused research and treatment</h2>



Researchers believe more targeted changes, including drugs that block how the body processes isoleucine, may one day be explored. 



Some observers hope physicians and dietitians might soon personalize amino acid profiles for specific health needs.



A short-term trial <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27346343/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">indicated</a> that low-protein diets can reduce weight and improve metabolic markers even without cutting overall calories. Such findings hint that translating the rodent results to human benefits is not far-fetched.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-prospects-for-isoleucine-and-healthy-aging">Future prospects for isoleucine and healthy aging</h2>



Many see this approach as a clue about the intricate links between diet and aging. These rodent models give reason to think that certain dietary tweaks could support longevity in people too.



The investigators emphasize that fine-tuning is key. They plan to keep studying how these food-based strategies could be adapted into safe recommendations for adults. 



Any future guidance will need to balance nutrient needs, metabolic responses, and practical eating habits across different age groups and lifestyles. The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413121001662" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Metabolism</a>.



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Reducing isoleucine is the key to a 33% longer life

Middle-aged mice lived 33% longer when they cut back on...

Conspiracy theories often seem bizarre or extreme to some people, but they can take root in something very human - the desire to feel that our lives have meaning. This basic need for purpose drives many of our decisions - both good and bad. 



For some people, it can even lead down dangerous paths. In a new book titled The Quest for Significance, social psychologist Arie Kruglanski and journalist Dan Raviv have explored this idea in depth.



Their research is backed by extensive psychological studies and their own personal experiences, including childhood memories shaped by historical trauma. The book is the product of work conducted at the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-significance-matters">Why significance matters</h2>



“Experts on human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-regulates-both-learning-and-motivation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">motivation</a> contend that all people share the same set of basic needs, and everything people do, try to attain, or avoid is in the service of satisfying one or more of those basic needs,” explained the researchers.



“The need for significance and mattering is one such pre-eminent basic need that all people have.”



This need, they argue, often flies under the radar of conscious thought. Yet it plays a powerful role in shaping our emotions, behaviors, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conversations-with-ai-chatbots-can-reverse-reduce-conspiracy-theory-beliefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beliefs</a>. 



When people feel they’ve lost their sense of importance or dignity, they may seek it out in extreme places - sometimes believing false narratives that make them feel special or give them a sense of control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-link-between-uncertainty-and-belief">The link between uncertainty and belief</h2>



Today’s world is filled with unpredictability. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/financial-losses-during-the-pandemic-took-a-toll-on-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Financial instability</a>, political unrest, war, and global health crises create an environment where people feel vulnerable. 



“But it is not the uncertainty alone that has been so troubling to so many,” the authors noted. “It is a loss of significance that the uncertainty connotes.”



When life feels unstable, people often imagine worst-case scenarios. They worry about losing their homes, their jobs, or their cultural identity. This fear creates a gap, and conspiracy theories step in to fill it - offering easy answers and a sense of direction.



“The loss of significance that people around the globe have been experiencing makes them vulnerable to a particular brand of narratives; ones that acknowledge their fears and anxieties and blame some agent or entity for nefarious plots and actions aimed at humiliating and diminishing them,” explained the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-appeal-of-conspiracy-theories">The appeal of conspiracy theories</h2>



The authors show how conspiracy theories gain traction by assigning blame and calling for action. They note that these stories often center on a common enemy, suggesting that violence or resistance is the only way to reclaim lost dignity.



“An important aspect of those narratives has been a call to arms against the party or parties allegedly responsible for these evil machinations. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of conspiracy theories identifying an assortment of culprits as the enemy that must be violently confronted and whose satanic plans must be aggressively thwarted.”



A well-known example is the theory promoted by David Icke, who claims that a race of interdimensional reptilians disguised as humans - including world leaders - are secretly trying to control the world.



“From a psychological perspective, the real question is what do these theories offer Icke’s audiences that motivates them to take the claims seriously? In fact, they offer quite a lot. First, to be privy to a truth so scandalous and shocking makes a person feel very special, one of a select few ‘in the know,'” the experts wrote. 



Conspiracy theories make people feel seen and valued. They can offer a sense of belonging and even hope. This makes them especially attractive to people who feel sidelined or powerless in society.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conspiracy-theories-fill-an-emotional-void">Conspiracy theories fill an emotional void</h2>



Research in psychology has long shown that motivations shape belief. When someone’s sense of importance is low, they’re more likely to believe stories that make them feel elevated or heroic.



“Disseminated by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-covid-conspiracy-theories-persist-on-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social media</a> at lightning speed, conspiracy narratives purport to identify the alleged culprits responsible for proliferating misery,” explained the researchers.



“In our private lives, and on the world stage, the challenge is to find ways that can enhance our significance as a win-win project, rather than through a bitter, competitive zero-sum game.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-self-awareness">The power of self-awareness</h2>



The book doesn’t just outline the problem of people believing conspiracy theories. It also offers a way forward. The authors argue that self-awareness is key. 



Many people don’t fully understand what drives them. This lack of insight makes them more vulnerable to manipulation and harmful narratives.



“People are often blissfully unaware of why they do what they do, and what basic motives underlie their choices, decisions, and actions. Despite these misgivings, it may be better to face the truth about ourselves and navigate it, rather than bury our head in the proverbial sand."



Knowing your needs can lead to better decisions, stronger relationships, and a greater sense of purpose. It can also help protect against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brains-may-be-hardwired-to-believe-lies-and-conspiracy-theories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">false beliefs</a> that offer a quick - but misleading - sense of significance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-yourself-from-conspiracy-theories">Protecting yourself from conspiracy theories</h2>



Most people don’t realize what shapes even their everyday choices, let alone their core beliefs. The authors suggest paying attention to what affects you emotionally - things such as pride, envy, admiration, or shame.



“If you can somehow quantify how important significance is to you, how strongly you react to challenges to your dignity, how badly you feel when ‘put down’ by others, and what arouses your envy, empathy, or admiration, then you might identify guidelines for navigating your life more successfully,” the researchers wrote.



“This part of ‘knowing thyself’ may suggest to you which situations could be beneficial and which ones to avoid, which invitations to accept and which to turn down, which friends to choose or to eschew, and which goals to commit to or reject.”



Understanding what makes you tick is not just self-help advice. It’s a form of defense - against manipulation, against harmful ideologies, and against losing touch with what truly matters.



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Why some people believe conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories often seem bizarre or extreme to some people,...

Astronomers have spent years investigating a puzzling object in our galaxy’s constellation Sagittarius. They uncovered signs of a mysterious presence that warps the light of background stars in a way only a powerful black hole could manage.



This object garnered attention once team members used data from the Hubble Space Telescope. It stood out because it appeared to travel on its own, without any nearby companion star to betray its position.



Dr. Kailash C. Sahu, an astronomer at the <a href="https://www.stsci.edu/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Space Telescope Science Institute</a>, worked with colleagues to confirm that this wandering anomaly is indeed a lone black hole.



He collaborated with researchers from several institutions, sifting through new data to settle earlier debates about whether the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-active-black-holes-discovered-where-it-was-believed-they-couldnt-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">object</a> might be a neutron star instead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bending-light-in-our-galaxy">Bending light in our galaxy</h2>



Astronomers first noticed strange activity in 2011, when the object magnified a remote star’s brightness and caused a temporary shift in the star’s apparent location. 



Experts describe that effect as <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2019/02/Detecting_exoplanets_with_microlensing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microlensing</a>. Scientists realized something massive but invisible had briefly crossed in front of that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-massive-early-universe-black-hole-stuns-astronomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a>.



They gathered more details in 2021 and 2022, reinforcing the notion that the mass of this lensing body is about seven times that of our sun. The absence of any detectable star at the same spot ruled out a less extreme option.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-data-not-a-neutron-star">The data: Not a neutron star</h2>



Researchers initially considered the possibility of a neutron star. Its tight gravitational pull can also produce microlensing signals. Yet the object’s strong influence over the background star’s light pointed to an even heavier culprit.



They relied on observations from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Gaia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gaia mission</a> to pin down the motions of local stars. Those measurements showed how the unidentified lens sped past its environment in a way that matched theoretical expectations for an isolated black <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-in-the-shadows-giant-black-hole-emerges-from-cosmic-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hole</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-confirms-the-object-s-identity">Tracking confirms the object’s identity</h2>



Teams updated their findings by collecting new Hubble images over an 11-year time frame. That longer record revealed how the source star and background field moved in separate directions.



“The BH nature of the lens is conclusively verified,” said Sahu, lead author of the study. This declaration came after researchers completed precise measurements of how the black hole bent light in our galaxy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-is-alone">Why it is alone?</h2>



Most stellar-mass black holes known in our galaxy have a companion <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-turn-into-white-holes-and-blast-out-matter-and-time-runs-backwards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a> that betrays their presence. That energy flow makes them easier to spot. This newly confirmed body lacks that cosmic partner, so its discovery is a rare success in the hunt for hidden black holes.



Scientists point out that the black hole’s distance is around 5,000 light years from Earth. That location places it within our <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/asset/hubble/milky-way-bulge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way’s Galactic bulge</a>, though no ordinary star has been spotted orbiting it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-black-hole-questions-about-origin">The black hole: Questions about origin</h2>



Experts suggest that a massive star collapsed long ago, leaving this black hole behind. A possible <a href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018AAS...23113203I/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natal kick</a> might have sent it on a path that diverged from the usual flow of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-found-hiding-in-a-pure-starburst-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a> around it.



They see the black hole’s movement as a clue that these collapses can set off powerful blasts. Those events potentially jostle the resulting black hole, giving it a distinct velocity that stands out compared to local stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spotting-more-black-holes-in-the-galaxy">Spotting more black holes in the galaxy</h2>



Researchers anticipate more discoveries once the <a href="https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope</a> launches on May 1, 2027. Its instruments should detect additional microlensing events, including more lone black holes.



Teams plan to track how each candidate bends light. Detecting even a slight wiggle in a star’s position could reveal a new free-floating black hole. Such studies help astronomers learn about black hole birthrates across our galaxy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-on-hidden-objects">Insights on hidden objects</h2>



Enthusiasts note that isolated black holes may be common. Their detection remains tricky because they barely emit anything unless material flows into them. Until now, astronomers mostly confirmed black holes in binary systems or through X-ray outbursts.



They caution that each new find answers some questions while posing fresh ones about supernova physics. Improved telescopes will likely uncover more black holes on silent journeys through the Milky Way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studies-confirm-the-black-hole">Studies confirm the black hole</h2>



Several papers support these conclusions. Investigators relied on analysis of microlensing curves and advanced space observatories to bolster each claim. They also tapped large telescopes on Earth for spectroscopic insights into the background stars.



Teams compare these results to earlier data and see consistent patterns that favor a black hole. A neutron star cannot match the measured mass and lensing signals.



This solitary black hole underscores how much remains hidden in our galaxy. Some astronomers believe that many more roam undetected, awaiting sharp-eyed instruments and careful analysis.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/adbe6e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>.



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Astronomers confirm lone black hole wandering through our galaxy

Astronomers have spent years investigating a puzzling object in our...

Extreme weather is no longer an occasional event. Drought-fed wildfires in Southern California, a deadly hurricane in the Appalachian Mountains, and devastating floods in New England demonstrate that climate disasters are growing costlier. 



As climate-related damages escalate, governments seek recovery and try to hold fossil fuel companies responsible. Yet legal efforts have stumbled over one issue: proof.



A study published in the journal Nature changes that. It presents a method to scientifically tie specific companies’ emissions to measurable climate damage. This approach could shift how courts handle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-wins-in-2025-came-from-unexpected-places/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> liability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-damage-linked-to-specific-companies">Climate damage linked to specific companies</h2>



"Will it ever be possible to sue anyone for damaging the climate?" That question was first raised 20 years ago. Now, researchers say the scientific case is closed.



Using a method called “end-to-end” attribution, scientists link companies’ <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-now-impacting-earths-rotation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> to specific harms. This approach merges emissions data, peer-reviewed climate models, and economic damage assessments.



"We argue that the scientific case for climate liability is closed, even if the future of these cases remains an open question," said Justin Mankin, the study's senior author from <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartmouth College</a>.



"Just over 20 years later, we find the answer to be 'yes.' Our framework can provide robust emissions-based attributions of climate damages at the corporate scale."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-estimating-financial-harm">Estimating financial harm</h2>



The research draws on Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions data. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from a company’s operations. Scope 3 includes emissions from customers using their products.



By integrating this data with climate models, the study estimates the financial harm linked to each company. It compares today’s reality with an alternate world where those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-our-power-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> never occurred.



"Our findings demonstrate that it is in fact possible to compare the world as it is to a world absent individual emitters," said Christopher Callahan, the study’s first author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-top-companies-may-owe-trillions">Top companies may owe trillions </h2>



From 1991 to 2020, heat-related economic damage from just 111 fossil fuel companies reached $28 trillion. 



Of this, $9 trillion came from the five worst offenders. Chevron, the top investor-owned emitter, may be responsible for losses between $791 billion and $3.6 trillion.



The damages did not fall evenly. The experts pointed out that the tropical regions least culpable for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astonishing-global-heat-in-january-2025-defied-climate-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warming</a> have been disproportionately impacted. These areas contribute the least to emissions but bear the heaviest burden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legal-potential-of-end-to-end-attribution">Legal potential of end-to-end attribution</h2>



The framework is transparent, flexible, and reproducible. It creates a direct, evidence-based chain from polluter to harm. That clarity could transform litigation.



"We illustrate the trillions in economic losses attributable to the extreme heat caused by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wealthier-nations-set-bold-climate-targets-but-citizens-give-less/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> from individual companies," noted the researchers.



"The affluence of the Western economy has been based on fossil fuels, but just as a pharmaceutical company would not be absolved from the negative effects of a drug by the benefits of that drug, fossil fuel companies should not be excused for the damage they've caused by the prosperity their products have generated," said Callahan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-climate-science-to-target-companies">Using climate science to target companies</h2>



Vermont’s 2024 Climate Superfund Act uses attribution science to assign disaster recovery costs to fossil fuel firms. Mankin contributed testimony, and early versions of this framework influenced the law.



Legal challenges have begun. Opponents argue the state cannot prove which companies caused which damages. But the Nature study directly addresses that gap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-climate-damage-to-companies">Linking climate damage to companies</h2>



Previous climate models focused on general greenhouse gas levels. This study takes a sharper approach by directly simulating each company’s emissions. That allows researchers to trace the exact role each company played in warming.



"Our approach simulates emissions directly, allowing us to trace warming and its repercussions back to specific emitters," said Callahan.



The study highlights heat damage because it’s both measurable and widespread. Earlier work by Mankin and Callahan showed heat waves’ financial toll. Now, they use that foundation to tie losses to corporate behavior.



"Extreme heat is indelibly linked to climate change itself and the losses from it have been an instigator for legal claims," noted Mankin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accountability-for-climate-damages">Accountability for climate damages</h2>



This study documents what has already happened. "We also live in a world that has warmed considerably over the past 20 years," said Mankin.



"This analysis is not a predictive exercise where we ask what the future holds. Instead, it's a documentary effort where we show what has already happened and provide the reason why."



Science is no longer the obstacle. Climate attribution is now detailed enough to meet legal standards. For communities seeking justice, this could be the beginning of real accountability.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08751-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Fossil fuel companies linked to specific climate damages

Extreme weather is no longer an occasional event. Drought-fed wildfires...

Antarctica’s winter sea ice usually forms a bright lid over millions of square miles. So when a massive, black patch was spotted by NASA scientists for the first time, satellite operators were taken aback, to say the least.



Then roughly a year later, the situation got even stranger. The gap, called a polynya, swelled to the size of Switzerland and stayed open for weeks.



Only after it refroze did researchers start piecing together how such an enormous opening in the ice could appear hundreds of miles from the nearest shoreline - right above a submerged plateau named Maud Rise.



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



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-storage-mystery-emerges-in-the-southern-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Southern Ocean</a> is normally a layer cake. A thin cap of cold, relatively fresh water floats over saltier, warmer layers, and that slight density difference keeps the column from churning. 



A mid‑ocean polynya needs the cake to collapse. Salt must slip into the surface, make the top layer heavier, and flip the stack. 



Once that happens, convection kicks in, the lid fractures, heat pours skyward, and the ocean “breathes” gases.



Coastal versions manage something similar each year because fierce winds shove ice away from land. Out on the high seas, though, the phenomenon is much less common.



<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maud_Rise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maud Rise</a>, a 4,600‑foot‑tall seamount, may provide the missing ingredient by diverting currents and trapping water in tight spirals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stubborn-patch-over-maud-rise">Stubborn patch over Maud Rise</h2>



History backs that hunch. Between 1974 and 1976, a much larger hole lingered over Maud Rise each winter. 



The Maud Rise polynya was discovered in the 1970s, when remote‑sensing satellites capable of observing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-antarctic-sea-ice-loss-is-causing-severe-storms-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice</a> over the Southern Ocean were first launched. 



It persisted through consecutive winters from 1974 to 1976, and oceanographers at the time assumed it would become an annual occurrence. But since the 1970s, it has occurred only sporadically and for brief intervals.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/antarctica_sea-ice-hole_Maud-Rise-polynya_switzerland-size_blue-ice_credit-NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/antarctica_sea-ice-hole_Maud-Rise-polynya_switzerland-size_blue-ice_credit-NASA_1s.webp" alt="An arial view of the Maud Rise polynya. Scientists were baffled as to how this formed but now have an explanation. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory" class="wp-image-1966649" style="width:300px;height:auto"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An arial view of the Maud Rise polynya. Scientists were baffled as to how this formed but now have an explanation. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory</figcaption></figure>



“2017 was the first time that we've had such a large and long‑lived polynya in the Weddell Sea since the 1970s,” said Aditya Narayanan of the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a>, lead author of the study in Science Advances. 



He joined colleagues to probe the comeback with robotic floats, tagged elephant seals, and a high‑resolution <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-what-record-lows-tell-us-about-the-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean model</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salt-storms-and-a-hidden-conveyor">Salt, storms, and a hidden conveyor</h2>



During those winters, the clockwise Weddell Gyre sped up. That spin drew a deep layer of warm, salty water nearer the surface, softening ice from below. Yet the meltwater should have freshened the lid and shut down mixing.



"This upwelling helps to explain how the sea ice might melt. But as sea ice melts this leads to a freshening of the surface water, which should in turn put a stop to the mixing," explained Fabien Roquet, a Professor in Physical Oceanography at the <a href="https://www.gu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Gothenburg</a> and co-author of the research. 



"So, another process must be happening for the polynya to persist. There must be an additional input of salt from somewhere."



Roaring extratropical storms supplied part of that punch. Their swirling winds flung sea ice outward and dragged briny water toward Maud Rise. 



Atmospheric rivers - plumes of moist air stretching a thousand miles - added warmth from above, helping strip away stratification.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ekman-transport-as-the-missing-shove">"Ekman transport" as the missing shove</h2>



A final push came from physics first described a century ago. When wind blows across the ocean, Earth’s rotation deflects the surface flow roughly 90 degrees, a process called <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_currents/04currents4.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ekman transport</a>. 



The model showed this flow steering salt‑laden water onto the northern flank of Maud Rise, exactly where the 2017 hole opened. 



“Ekman transport was the essential missing ingredient that was necessary to increase the balance of salt and sustain the mixing of salt and heat towards the surface water,” said co‑author Alberto Naveira Garabato, also from the University of Southampton.



The storms didn’t just move ice; they herded the right water into the right spot, letting convection roar. By late September, the opening had vented more than twenty times the heat that normally seeps through unbroken ice before finally freezing again.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-polynyas-have-a-global-impact">Polynyas have a global impact</h2>



A hole in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/southern-ocean-absorbs-more-co2-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Ocean</a> sea ice may look local, yet its fingerprints show up far away. 



“The imprint of polynyas can remain in the water for multiple years after they've formed," noted Professor Sarah Gille from University of California San Diego (<a href="https://www.ucsd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCSD</a>), another co-author of the research



"They can change how water moves around and how currents carry heat toward the continent. The dense waters that form here can spread across the global ocean.” 



Deep convection hauls carbon‑rich water upward, where it can release CO₂, and sends newly formed, oxygen‑rich brine sliding along the seafloor.



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



That heavy brine eventually feeds the global conveyor belt of currents that helps regulate climate. Because the Maud&nbsp;Rise mechanism hinges on a stronger gyre and stormier skies, its future frequency could ride on winds already shifting as the planet warms.



“For the first time since observations began in the 1970s, there's a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-low-antarctic-sea-ice-and-rapid-melting-pace-stuns-climate-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative trend in sea ice</a> in the Southern Ocean, which began around 2016. Before then, it had remained somewhat stable," Professor Gille concluded.



The same rise of warm, salty water that primed the 2017 hole now seems to be thinning ice across Antarctica’s fringe.



Scientists will watch the next few winters closely. Whether the polynya returns or not, its story shows that the frozen edge of the world can still spring surprises - and that what happens far south seldom stays there, for the wider planet.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj0777" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Enormous hole the size of Switzerland appeared in the Antarctica sea ice, now we know why

Antarctica’s winter sea ice usually forms a bright lid over...

Long before humans roamed the Australian continent, the land teemed with giants. Towering reptiles, thunderous birds, and hulking marsupials defined a wild and ancient world of sprawling rainforest ecosystems. Among these formidable creatures was&nbsp;Protemnodon, a now-extinct genus of giant kangaroo.



Despite its size - some individuals tipped the scales at 170 kilograms (375 pounds) - it wasn’t a long-range wanderer.



Instead, Protemnodon lived a curiously local life. New research reveals that these megafaunal marsupials stayed close to home, navigating only a small stretch of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rainforest</a> terrain. That fateful trait may have doomed them when the land began to dry. 



A study led by Christopher Laurikainen Gaete at the <a href="https://www.uow.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wollongong</a> uncovers how restricted mobility, climate change, and the loss of rainforest habitats converged to erase these kangaroos from the map.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giant-kangaroos-stayed-close-to-rainforests">Giant kangaroos stayed close to rainforests</h2>



In the animal kingdom, large herbivores tend to move over vast areas to meet their dietary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-species-act-faces-its-biggest-legal-shift-in-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">needs</a>. Scientists use this trend to predict how extinct animals might have behaved. 



Based on this logic, Protemnodon, with its substantial mass, should have had a home range exceeding 11 square kilometers. The research team, using a regression model anchored in data from living macropods, estimated a predicted home range of 11.6 ± 5.8 km² (4.5 ± 2.2 square miles).



But when they examined fossilized teeth from eight individual Protemnodon collected from the limestone caves of Mt Etna in central Queensland, they found something surprising. The chemical signatures etched into these ancient teeth told a different story. 



Strontium isotopes, which reflect the geology of the area where an animal foraged, revealed the kangaroos fed within a narrow band of territory. Their enamel contained isotopic ratios matching only the local limestone of the Mount Alma Formation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-teeth-prove-they-lived-locally">Fossil teeth prove they lived locally</h2>



The findings relied on a cutting-edge approach. The researchers conducted strontium isotope analysis using laser ablation mass spectrometry. This technique allowed them to trace where each individual likely lived and ate during enamel formation.



Surprisingly, the vast majority of samples matched strontium levels from the immediate area <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surrounding</a> the Mt Etna caves.



Only one individual showed signs of a slightly wider movement pattern. This tooth, labeled WIGL8550, held isotope signatures more consistent with nearby formations like Alton Downs Basalt, suggesting a movement of about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) to the east or south.



However, the researchers can’t confirm whether this movement occurred in life or after death. One theory suggests scavengers, such as Thylacoleo carnifex or Sarcophilus, may have dragged the body to the cave after the animal died elsewhere.



In most other specimens, the teeth recorded a remarkably stable pattern. These kangaroos didn’t roam widely. They seemed to live and die within the same small patch of forest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainforests-gave-kangaroos-food-and-shelter">Rainforests gave kangaroos food and shelter</h2>



The study explored three main reasons why Protemnodon might have avoided long-distance travel. The first was environmental. 



For over 200,000 years, the Mt Etna region maintained a stable rainforest ecosystem. This lush <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-are-the-biggest-drivers-of-biodiversity-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a> offered abundant food and shelter, meaning the kangaroos didn't need to search far for survival.



Second, the species’ feeding habits likely played a role. While modern kangaroos like Macropus are grazers, feeding on grasses across open landscapes, Protemnodon probably browsed. 



Its low-crowned teeth and long forelimbs suggest a diet of leaves, fruits, and soft vegetation, more easily found in dense forest environments. Browsers often have smaller foraging ranges compared to grazers of similar size, and this pattern seems to hold true here.



Third, locomotion appears to have been a limiting factor. Unlike their hopping cousins, Protemnodon may have moved on all fours. Its anatomy - including elongated forelimbs and robust humeri - points toward a quadrupedal gait.



This form of movement, although efficient in forests, restricts the speed and distance an animal can cover. Without the ability to hop long distances, these kangaroos were naturally more sedentary within rainforests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainforests-disappear-so-do-the-giants">Rainforests disappear, so do the giants</h2>



These limited movement patterns became a fatal flaw when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-honors-success-in-clean-energy-and-wildlife-recovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> began to shift. Around 280,000 years ago, the once-stable rainforest began to decline. Increasing aridity transformed the landscape into dry woodlands. The thick vegetation Protemnodon relied upon began to vanish.



Because these kangaroos were so tightly tied to their habitat, they couldn’t adjust. They couldn’t migrate to find new rainforests. The kangaroos lacked both the physical capability and behavioral tendency to move long distances. In effect, they became stranded in an ecological trap. The resources they needed evaporated around them.



New dating methods, including thermally transferred optically stimulated luminescence (TT-OSL) and uranium-thorium dating, confirmed that these individuals lived between 280,000 and 330,000 years ago. Their extinction coincided with the local collapse of rainforest ecosystems. 



Over time, the rainforest fauna of Mt Etna gave way to animals adapted to dry, open conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-ideas-about-extinct-species">New ideas about extinct species</h2>



The implications of this research stretch beyond a single species, challenging the assumption that body size alone predicts home range in extinct animals.



Instead, the study suggests that environment, diet, and movement style must also be considered. The idea that Australia’s megafauna had flexible ranges similar to African elephants or North American bison may not apply across the board.



“Using data from modern kangaroos, we predicted these giant extinct kangaroos would have much larger home ranges. We were astounded to find that they didn’t move far at all, with ranges mirroring smaller modern kangaroo species,” said Laurikainen Gaete.



“These new isotopic techniques have blown our field wide open. Imagine ancient GPS trackers - we can use the fossils to track individuals and know where they moved, what they ate, who they lived with and how they died. It’s Palaeo Big Brother,” added Dr. Scott Hocknull.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-fate-of-giant-kangaroos">The fate of giant kangaroos</h2>



The Protemnodon case reveals how extinction can creep up slowly. The kangaroos didn’t die out in a dramatic, singular event - the loss of rainforests sealed their fate. 



Rather, they were slowly cornered by environmental changes they couldn’t outrun. Their highly specialized biology, once perfectly suited to rainforest life, became a burden.



These findings offer a cautionary tale. Species adapted to narrow niches are often the first to go when habitats shrink. For scientists studying extinction, understanding those ancient patterns helps anticipate what modern species might face as climate shifts intensify.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0319712" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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Giant kangaroos died out when rainforests disappeared

Long before humans roamed the Australian continent, the land teemed...

Scent plays a vital role in how we experience the world. It shapes our memories, emotions, and choices. Fragrance companies spend years perfecting the right blend. But what if artificial intelligence (AI) could do it in minutes?



A team from the <a href="https://www.isct.ac.jp/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Science Tokyo</a> has developed an AI model that does just that. The system, named Odor Generative Diffusion (OGDiffusion), uses essential oil data and scent descriptors to create new, ready-to-blend fragrances.



The work signals a shift from traditional perfume artistry to data-guided <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scent-plays-a-powerful-role-in-choosing-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aroma</a> creation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-overcomes-obstacles-in-scent-design">AI overcomes obstacles in scent design </h2>



In perfumery, food, and household products, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-recreated-julius-caesars-signature-scent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scent</a> influences our reactions. Traditionally, only experienced perfumers could design blends. The process involves many trial-and-error steps, often leading to inconsistent results.



OGDiffusion removes this bottleneck. It uses mass spectrometry data from essential oils as a chemical fingerprint. This allows the model to understand and recreate scents without needing chemical knowledge or manual testing.



The innovation lies in its learning method. The model starts with noisy data and learns to clean it up, mapping it to scent labels like "citrus" or "woody." It then builds a scent profile using essential oils and a mathematical method called non-negative least squares.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-training-ai-to-create-scents">Training AI to create scents</h2>



Commercial systems like IBM’s Philyra and Firmenich’s Scentmate assist <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-the-gene-that-gives-a-flower-its-scent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perfumers</a>. However, they depend on private datasets and still need human input. OGDiffusion is different. It uses open data, works without expert help, and creates blendable recipes using essential oils.



“Our diffusion network uses patterns in mass spectrometry data of essential oils to generate new fragrance profiles in a fully automated, streamlined, and data-driven approach while maintaining high-quality data output. By eliminating human intervention and molecular synthesis from the process, we provide a fast, general, and efficient method for fragrance generation,” explained Nakamoto.



Unlike other AI systems, this model was trained on data from 166 essential oils and 9 common odor descriptors. The training process involved adding controlled noise to the data, then teaching the network to reconstruct the original scent information.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-creates-scents-with-precision">AI creates scents with precision </h2>



Creating data-driven scents is one thing. Matching human expectations is another. The researchers performed several sensory tests with human volunteers to validate their work.



In one test, participants had to match AI-generated scents to their correct descriptors. In another, they had to tell apart blends with and without a specific scent label. Both tests showed high accuracy. Volunteers could reliably identify the correct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-mood-sharper-nose-optimistic-dogs-excel-in-scent-detection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scent</a> or pick the one that matched the descriptor.



A third test asked participants to rank AI-generated scents and real essential oils by strength of a single descriptor. The AI blends consistently ranked higher. This confirmed the system's precision in producing distinct and expected scent profiles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-efficient-and-scalable-method">An efficient and scalable method</h2>



“This approach represents a significant advancement in aroma design,” said Nakamoto.



“By automating the generation of mass spectra corresponding to desired odor profiles, the OGDiffusion network offers a more efficient and scalable method for fragrance creation. Moreover, even a novice can create an intended scent to make scented digital contents.”



The OGDiffusion model bridges chemistry and sensory science. It understands how changes in chemical composition affect what we smell. It can even generate multiple variations of the same scent by using different input noise, introducing creative diversity into the process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aroma-by-algorithm-what-s-next">Aroma by algorithm: What’s next</h2>



The researchers see potential far beyond the lab. OGDiffusion could revolutionize how fragrances are designed in perfumery, flavoring, cosmetics, and even virtual reality. 



Scented digital content is already a reality in experimental spaces. This AI system could make scent design scalable and accessible.



There are limits, though. The current model works with only nine odor descriptors. Adding more would require a larger training set and better data curation. Also, standardizing scent language across datasets remains a hurdle.



Still, the network can expand. It can potentially integrate natural language inputs using embedding tools like fastText. That would allow users to describe a scent in plain words - and get a fragrance back.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-can-now-customize-scents">AI can now customize scents </h2>



The model proves that scent creation can be automated, validated, and customized. By using mass spectrometry data as input and blending essential oils as output, OGDiffusion creates a closed loop of design and realization.



The vision is clear: computers not only see and hear - they can now "smell" in a meaningful way. And soon, you might design your own perfume with a few words and clicks. That’s more than a technical win - it’s a sensory revolution.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10943150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IEEE Access</a>.



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AI can now create custom fragrances from scent labels

Scent plays a vital role in how we experience the...

Wine is more than a beverage in Italy. It’s a cultural emblem, a historical constant, and an agricultural marvel. From rustic vineyard rows in the hills of Tuscany to sophisticated wine cellars beneath Rome, the Italian wine and grapes story is celebrated.



But few realize that this tale took shape over millennia. The wine we sip today results from thousands of years of patient transformation.



A new study published in the journal PLOS One uncovers this complex history. Led by Mariano Ucchesu from the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=University+of+Montpellier&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Montpellier</a>, the research team analyzed 1,768 grape seeds from 25 archaeological sites across Italy and San Marino.



These seeds spanned from the Early Neolithic to the Medieval period, covering around 7,000 years. 



Using geometric morphometrics, the team compared ancient seeds to modern wild and cultivated grapes to track their evolution. What emerged was a slow, regionally varied shift from wild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-grapes-every-day-can-transform-your-muscles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grape</a> gathering to systematic cultivation and winemaking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-italians-used-wild-grapes-for-wine">Early Italians used wild grapes for wine</h2>



The oldest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/resveratrol-may-boost-female-fertility-naturally/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grape</a> seeds, from the Early Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, show no signs of domestication. Most seeds resembled those of modern wild grapevines, suggesting early communities did not yet cultivate vines. 



Instead, people gathered berries from naturally growing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/death-of-the-dinosaurs-helped-grapes-conquer-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a>. These seeds, preserved in waterlogged conditions, remained intact and highly informative.



In these early phases, no domestic-type seed was identified. The study used advanced linear discriminant analysis, trained on a balanced modern reference set, to classify seeds with over 95% accuracy. 



Most pips from La Marmotta (Lazio) and Canàr di San Pietro in Polesine (Veneto) were wild. Even in the Middle Bronze Age, sites across Toscana, Marche, and Emilia Romagna showed only four domestic pips out of 142 examined - a number too small to indicate established cultivation.



This supports a picture of grape use as primarily foraged rather than grown. The absence of consistent domestic traits in northern and central Italy during this period points to a society still reliant on nature’s offerings rather than intentional farming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-point-in-grape-cultivation">Turning point in grape cultivation </h2>



One site, however, told a different story. Sa Osa in Sardinia revealed a turning point. 



By the end of the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1300–1100 BC), nearly half the seeds from this site were domestic in shape and size. This marks the first significant appearance of cultivated grapes in the western Mediterranean.



The domestic seeds from Sa Osa showed a distinct morphology. They were longer and more elongated, with features typical of modern cultivated grapes. 



Paleogenetic analysis revealed that some seeds shared chlorotypes with modern Armenian varieties. This suggests eastern Mediterranean grapevines reached Sardinia through trade or migration.



Several hypotheses exist to explain this. Local communities may have begun their own domestication process. Alternatively, they may have imported fully domesticated plants. 



Or perhaps there was a blend - cultivated grapes from the east mixed with Sardinian wild varieties, creating new hybrids. Evidence of wine residue in Bronze Age Sardinian pottery supports the idea that these grapes were used not just for eating, but for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-production-in-a-warming-world-the-winners-and-losers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fermentation</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-exchange-and-early-viticulture">Cultural exchange and early viticulture</h2>



Sardinia’s role in early viticulture may have depended on its strategic location. The island maintained trade connections with the Mycenaeans and Minoans during the Bronze Age. 



These interactions likely carried not only goods but also agricultural knowledge. Techniques for pruning, vine training, and fermentation could have spread westward with sailors and merchants.



“The appearance of the first domesticated grapes during the Bronze Age, in Italian archaeological contexts, points to a long-standing tradition of Italian wine heritage within the broader landscape of Western Europe,” noted the researchers.



At Terramara Santa Rosa di Poviglio in Emilia Romagna, researchers found pollen matching female wild grapevines. This pollen came from flowers with inaperturate grains, a trait of uncultivated plants. 



Its presence suggests people may have been managing or cultivating wild grapevines nearby - an early, experimental form of agriculture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expansion-of-grape-farming">Expansion of grape farming</h2>



By the 4th century BC, Italy’s grape story had evolved. At Etruscan sites in Emilia Romagna, most seeds were domestic. This shows that true viticulture had taken root. Grape cultivation wasn’t just experimental - it was widespread and sophisticated.



Evidence from Cetamura in Tuscany backs this up. Genetic testing showed links between Etruscan grape seeds and both wild and domestic varieties. Morphometric analysis also aligned these seeds with modern cultivated grapes. 



The Etruscans not only grew grapes but made and traded wine extensively. Their amphorae have been found across France, Spain, and North Africa.



This period marks a major shift in both grape farming and wine culture. Grapes were chosen for specific traits, possibly including flavor, productivity, and resistance. These communities were no longer passive gatherers of fruit. They were actively shaping grape biology and wine traditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-romans-blended-wild-and-domestic-vines">Romans blended wild and domestic vines</h2>



Viticulture flourished under Roman rule. Between the 1st and 6th centuries AD, archaeological sites show a clear dominance of domestic grape seeds. However, wild seeds did not disappear. In places like Domagnano and Cervia, a significant number of wild or intermediate seeds were found alongside cultivated ones.



This mix points to a deliberate practice. Roman farmers may have cultivated wild vines to create new varieties through introgression. This genetic blending could result in grapes with novel traits—perhaps better suited to different soils or climates.



Interestingly, during Roman times, the difference in shape and size between wild and domestic seeds narrowed. This supports the idea that even wild-looking seeds were cultivated, though not fully transformed. 



Wine was a booming industry, and farmers likely tried every possible way to enhance their yields and flavors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grapes-and-wine-became-fully-domesticated">Grapes and wine became fully domesticated</h2>



The Medieval period (8th–14th centuries AD) marked a high point in grape domestication. 



Seeds from this era were almost entirely domestic in both shape and size. Sites in Trentino-Alto Adige, Emilia Romagna, and Sardinia all showed this trend.



These seeds closely resembled modern cultivated grapes, suggesting that experimental phases had ended. Farmers had identified and preserved varieties that worked well. Wild vines were no longer widely used. Grape cultivation had become standardized and entrenched in Italian agriculture.



Seed morphology over time supports this. Domestic seeds grew longer and more elongated. Wild seeds, when cultivated, also grew larger than their wild-growing counterparts. But by the Medieval period, the distinction between wild and domestic seeds was wide again, showing that viticulture had settled into a clear direction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-of-patience-and-innovation">A legacy of patience and innovation</h2>



“This research has made it possible, for the first time, to trace the history of the origins of viticulture in Italy,” the authors write. 



“The appearance of the first domesticated grapes during the Bronze Age, in Italian archaeological contexts, points to a long-standing tradition of Italian wine heritage within the broader landscape of Western Europe.”



Supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program and the ANR MICA project, the study shows how cultural exchange, experimentation, and adaptation shaped Italy’s wine landscape. It emphasizes that domestication is not a moment, but a slow evolution.



“This research was made possible thanks to funding received through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Curie Fellowship (2021–2023 n. Agreement-101019563-VITALY) and supported by the ANR MICA project (grant agreement ANR-22-CE27-0026),” noted the study authors. 



”The successful outcome of the research is also due to the valuable collaboration of the archaeobotanical colleagues from CNRS-ISEM in Montpellier and all the Italian colleagues who generously provided the archaeobotanical materials, valuable advice and suggestions for this research.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-italian-grapes-evolved-to-wine">Italian grapes evolved to wine</h2>



The domestication of grapes in Italy was not a single event. It unfolded over thousands of years, shaped by geography, trade, and curiosity. From wild vines gathered by Neolithic foragers to the disciplined vineyards of Medieval monks, the grape’s journey mirrors Italy’s own transformation.



Today, each glass of Italian wine carries that deep past. With every sip, you taste the result of ancient selections, cross-regional exchanges, and countless seasons of change. The story of the Italian grape is, in essence, the story of civilization itself - patient, rooted, and ever evolving.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0321653" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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How grapes became wine in Italy over 7,000 years

Wine is more than a beverage in Italy. It’s a...

Many people go through upsetting events that leave them stuck with a lingering sense of panic, nightmares, or restlessness. These signs often point toward post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that can damage relationships, block progress at work, and disrupt sleep - though meditation may offer a path toward <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-meditation-and-critical-thinking-matter-in-the-age-of-ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healing</a>.



After repeated evidence that certain mind-based practices can soothe distressed veterans, college students, and others, experts at <a href="https://www.miu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maharishi International University</a> have stepped forward to share their findings.



“I’ve served in war zones and seen how PTSD ravages lives long after the battle ends. This research shows transcendental meditation (TM) offers a safe, scalable, and profoundly effective solution - often with results in just a few weeks,” noted Dr. Brian Rees, a co-author of the study and former U.S. Army Medical Corps officer. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-the-danger-ends-ptsd-lingers">When the danger ends, PTSD lingers</h2>



Most health professionals recognize that PTSD <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26741477/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starts</a> when people experience or see dangerous events, including assaults, accidents, or other shocks. The brain often stays in a fight-or-flight mode, which can make day-to-day life hard to bear.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-rewires-the-emotional-centers-of-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Therapeutic</a> methods commonly rely on talking about past traumas or reliving them under guided conditions. While these approaches can help some people, they may feel unsettling to others who prefer gentler methods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quick-relief-for-ptsd">Quick relief for PTSD</h2>



The new meta-analysis reviewed 15 separate investigations involving over 1,200 subjects. In each study, <a href="https://www.tm.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transcendental meditation</a> led to a noticeable drop in PTSD symptoms faster than inactive comparisons or standard support programs.



“I have 13 years of experience teaching TM in an army hospital to over 300 active-duty soldiers with PTSD and traumatic brain injury issues,” said Dr. Vernon Barnes, an expert in the Georgia Prevention Institute at Augusta University.



”The experience of providers I have worked with is that patients who get TM after therapy recover faster and more completely than those who do not.”



Studies suggest that TM addresses deep-rooted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-slows-biological-aging-at-the-molecular-level/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tension</a> without forcing someone to relive disturbing moments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speed-matters-in-recovery">Speed matters in recovery</h2>



In many of the reviewed studies, results showed up fast - sometimes within days or weeks.



South African college students, for example, experienced a 14-point drop in PTSD symptoms in just two weeks, a change large enough to be clinically significant.



Rapid progress matters because people suffering from PTSD often struggle with motivation, consistency, or even the hope that things can improve. Seeing early success can encourage them to stick with the practice long enough to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-deep-meditation-experiences-feel-timeless-no-past-no-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experience</a> more lasting relief.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healing-ptsd-without-reliving-trauma">Healing PTSD without reliving trauma</h2>



Transcendental meditation uses a simple technique of settling into quieter levels of thought for a short period, twice a day.



This can produce calm breathing, lower heart rate, and reduce emotional flare-ups. People of varying backgrounds and ages appear to benefit, whether they’ve witnessed combat, faced severe physical harm, or endured natural catastrophes.&nbsp;



“I saw people burst into tears of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relief</a> during their very first meditation. One man I taught was so traumatized from war - and then the earthquake - that he did not speak,” said Dr. David Orme-Johnson, professor of psychology at Maharishi International University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-impact-on-health">Broader impact on health</h2>



Long-term <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33334335/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a> can magnify the odds of heart complications, immune system problems, and emotional burnout. By easing tension and jumpiness, transcendental meditation may indirectly help other areas of well-being.



Along with professional counseling, TM adds another tool for those wishing to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27537781/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduce dependence on medications</a> or talk-focused therapies. Some clinicians regard it as an additional support to standard treatments, especially when patients feel overwhelmed by repeated trauma recollections.



Research <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0081246314547124" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">groups</a> note the need for longer studies that follow participants beyond just a few months. Scientists want to confirm that any relief holds steady over time and across different populations.



They also suggest scaling meditation alongside existing medical care. This may include more training in community centers, hospitals, and universities, where people can maintain regular sessions without financial hurdles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meditation-could-reshape-ptsd-care">Meditation could reshape PTSD care</h2>



These projects highlight a new option that doesn’t demand rehashing frightening experiences. They point to a technique that goes easy on the nervous system and often produces improvements in less than a month.



Experts believe that future research with bigger volunteer pools will confirm the potential of transcendental meditation as a widely accepted practice. They say that combining it with other counseling methods may make a difference for those whose PTSD has not responded to established approaches.



Transcendental meditation may also reduce the burden on overloaded mental health systems by offering a self-managed option that doesn’t require licensed clinicians for every session. That could make it easier for communities with limited access to therapy to still receive meaningful support.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/4/659" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medicina</a>.



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Meditation can rapidly reduce PTSD without revisiting trauma

Many people go through upsetting events that leave them stuck...

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia conditions do not simply rob individuals of memory; they also exact an extraordinary cost on families and on the nation as a whole.



A newly released estimate from researchers at the <a href="https://usc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southern California</a> (USC) concludes that the total monetary burden of dementia in the United States will reach roughly&nbsp;$781 billion in 2024.



That figure surpasses the annual revenues of many Fortune 500 companies and amounts to more than three percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-pays-and-how-much">Who pays, and how much?</h2>



Although various organizations have attempted to calculate dementia costs in past years, the USC‐led project aims to be the most comprehensive to date. 



The effort, supported by a multi‐year cooperative agreement with the <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/">National Institute on Aging</a>, combines detailed medical claims with large, nationally representative surveys and then applies a sophisticated simulation technique known as dynamic microsimulation.



The result is not only a single headline statistic but also a granular picture of who shoulders which costs, how those burdens change as patients age, and how new treatments or policies might shift the outlook over time.



Julie Zissimopoulos co-directs the <a href="https://schaeffer.usc.edu/programs/center-for-health-policy-and-economics/aging-and-cognition/">Aging and Cognition program</a> at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy &amp; Economics and serves as principal investigator of the U.S. Cost of Dementia project. She noted that the goal is to give decision makers the kind of data they need to design smarter interventions.



“Having a better understanding of who bears these costs and how they change over time can inform evidence-based policies that may ultimately reduce the financial impact of dementia,” explained Zissimopoulos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-the-dementia-model">Building the dementia model</h2>



The research rests on several interlocking data sets. One is the <a href="https://hrs.isr.umich.edu/about">Health and Retirement Study</a>, a biennial survey of more than 20,000 Americans over age fifty that collects information on income, wealth, health status, and family structure.



Another is de-identified administrative data from the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/">Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</a>, which capture hospitalizations, physician visits, prescription drug use, and long-term‐care claims.



By merging these resources and running them through dynamic microsimulation, the team can project how a representative cohort of older Americans will move through different health states, how their care needs will evolve, and how each phase translates into dollars.



The headline number of $781 billion covers several major domains of expense. Direct medical and long-term‐care cost for dementia patients - hospital stays, outpatient visits, skilled nursing facilities, home health aides, and other services - adds up to approximately $232 billion in 2024.



Out-of-pocket payments by patients and their families account for 22% of that sum, or about $52 billion. 



Medicare remains the single largest payer at $106 billion, while Medicaid, which picks up many nursing-home charges for low-income or exhausted‐asset households, spends about $58 billion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dementia-cost-beyond-medical-bills">Dementia cost beyond medical bills</h2>



Yet medical bills, staggering as they are, represent only the visible part of the iceberg. The USC model attaches a monetary value to <a href="https://www.cms.gov/">quality-of-life</a> losses for both patients and caregivers. 



Economists do this by using survey data on health-related quality of life and applying standard “willingness‐to‐pay” techniques to convert utility losses into dollar terms.



By that yardstick, patients with dementia together lose an estimated $302 billion worth of well-being this year, while family caregivers forfeit an additional $6 billion.



Caregivers also surrender work hours. The model finds that friends and relatives will provide roughly 6.8 billion hours of unpaid care in 2024 - time that could otherwise be spent in the labor force or on personal pursuits. Using average wages to monetize that devotion yields an additional $233 billion. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enormous-economic-toll">Enormous economic toll </h2>



On top of those unpaid hours are lost wages from people who reduce their schedules or quit altogether to look after loved ones; those forfeited earnings amount to $8.2 billion.



Dana Goldman, founding director of the <a href="https://schaeffer.usc.edu/">USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy &amp; Government Service</a> and co-principal investigator on the study, emphasized the stakes. 



“This research demonstrates the enormous toll dementia places on patients, their families, and care partners," she said. "But it also points to the potential value of developing ways to prevent and treat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-a-brain-disease/">Alzheimer’s</a> and related diseases that cause dementia.” 



Goldman noted that even modest delays in disease progression could yield huge economic dividends, not to mention immeasurable relief for families.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-dementia-dashboard">Dynamic dementia dashboard</h2>



The study arrives at a moment of rapid change in dementia care. <a href="https://www.fda.gov/">The Food and Drug Administration</a> has recently approved anti-amyloid drugs that, for the first time, appear to slow cognitive decline in certain patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-blood-test-can-track-the-progression-of-alzheimers/">Blood-based biomarkers</a> promise cheaper and earlier detection, potentially moving diagnosis up by years.



Policymakers, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies are grappling with how to pay for these innovations and how to ensure equitable access. By updating the cost model annually, the experts hope to provide a real-time dashboard that will let stakeholders see how emerging therapies or policy reforms shift both costs and benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planning-for-dementia-costs">Planning for dementia costs </h2>



Future reports will incorporate additional cost categories - legal fees, home modifications, transportation expenses, and mental-health impacts - aiming for the most exhaustive ledger yet of dementia’s drain on society. 



For now, the $781 billion estimate stands as a stark reminder that the disease is not just a clinical challenge but an economic tsunami, already cresting and bound to grow as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-25-years-of-research-revealed-about-brain-aging/">aging</a> population swells. 



Evidence-based planning, the researchers argue, is the only way to blunt the tide.



More information about the costs of dementia in the U.S. can be found <a href="https://schaeffer.usc.edu/research/the-cost-of-dementia-in-2025/">here</a>.



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Dementia is a growing global health crisis with a staggering cost

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia conditions do not simply rob...

The Sun’s newest portrait is not the fiery disc we remember from textbooks. Instead, it sprawls across a mosaic so detailed that you could stack a dozen Earths end to end inside a single pixel and still have room to spare. 



The yellow filaments and bright arcs in this view are bubbles of million-degree plasma caught in magnetic loops that stretch thousands of miles above the surface.



That view comes from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Orbiter</a> spacecraft, now five years into a planned seven-year tour of duty. 



On March 9, 2025, it aimed its Extreme Ultraviolet Imager at the Sun from about 48 million miles away, gathering 200 separate frames over four and a half hours. 



Technicians stitched those frames into the widest high-resolution ultraviolet image of our star to date - 12,544 pixels on a side.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-orbiter-captures-the-sun">Solar Orbiter captures the Sun</h2>



Solar Orbiter left Earth on February 10, 2020, riding an Atlas V rocket. Built by the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>) with key help from NASA, the craft carries ten instruments designed to work as a team, pairing full-disk pictures with on-the-spot particle counts and magnetic-field readings. 



In late 2021, it began routine science operations and has since looped ever closer to the Sun, stealing bits of speed from Venus to tip its orbit for future polar flybys.



The <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/01/Solar_Orbiter_s_instruments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extreme Ultraviolet Imager</a> does its job while the spacecraft bakes in sunlight almost 15 times stronger than what we feel on Earth. 



For the March 9 shoot, mission controllers pointed Solar Orbiter 25 different ways in a 5-by-5 grid. 



At each stop, the camera captured six tight shots and two wider ones at a wavelength of 17.4 nanometers, light invisible to our eyes but perfect for tracing plasma at 1.8 million °F.



The craft sat 11.4 degrees below the solar equator, far enough off-center to reveal the corona’s towering loops yet close enough that every pixel represented roughly 185 miles. 



The finished file measures 12,544 × 12,544 pixels - about 7,505 pixels across the Sun’s 870,000-mile diameter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zooming-in-on-the-sun-s-surface">Zooming in on the Sun's surface</h2>



During each close approach, Solar Orbiter swoops to within 0.28 astronomical units, roughly 26 million miles from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/team-creates-video-showing-the-sun-in-gamma-rays-over-a-14-year-period/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun’s surface</a>. 



From that vantage point, the probe can watch bright magnetic knots bubble up, twist, and snap, then match those events to bursts of charged particles that its own detectors sample minutes later. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2025/04/solar_orbiter_s_widest_high-res_view_of_the_sun/26672644-4-eng-GB/Solar_Orbiter_s_widest_high-res_view_of_the_Sun.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sun_Solar-Orbiter_widest-view-yet_ESA_1s.webp" alt="The image you see here combines a whopping 200 individual images into the widest high-resolution view of the Sun yet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1967019"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The image you see here combines a whopping 200 individual images into the widest high-resolution view of the Sun yet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA</figcaption></figure>



These coordinated observations help explain how solar storms gain the punch that sometimes knocks out satellites or triggers blackouts on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-orbiter-and-the-poles">Solar Orbiter and the poles</h2>



Each gravity assist at Venus tilts the craft’s path a little higher above the ecliptic. By the end of the decade, the orbit should stand 33 degrees above the solar equator, offering humanity’s first sustained look at the poles.



Early images have already shown magnetic arches plunging back under the surface like the roots of a huge tree - clues to how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-sun-has-officially-reached-its-solar-maximum-period-in-this-solar-cycle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11-year sunspot cycle</a> resets itself and why the corona flares so intensely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



Solar weather is no abstract threat. When a blast of energetic particles sweeps past our planet, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronauts-can-survive-mars-space-journey-but-their-kidneys-will-be-permanently-damaged/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">astronauts retreat to shielded modules</a>, airlines reroute polar flights, and grid operators brace for geomagnetically induced currents.



By tracing a jet from the Sun’s face to the space around the craft, scientists can now link surface disturbances to the gusts that slam our magnetosphere about two days later. 



Those links sharpen the lead time on solar-storm warnings, buying engineers precious hours to protect hardware.



The March 9 mosaic also hints at smaller, faster events. In March 2023, the mission spotted brief plasma jets - each no wider than Texas - shooting out of tiny sunspots. 



Mapping those jets back to magnetic tangles in the photosphere suggests that even modest disturbances can pump significant heat into the corona, a step toward solving the long-standing mystery of why the outer atmosphere blazes far hotter than the visible surface below.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-orbiter-and-the-road-ahead">Solar Orbiter and the road ahead</h2>



Solar Orbiter and NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/parker-solar-probe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parker Solar Probe</a> already leapfrog one another, one providing panoramic snapshots, the other flying through the very plasma on display. 



As Solar Orbiter climbs toward higher latitudes, those tandem passes will paint the most complete picture yet of our star’s weather engine. 



The next close flyby comes later this year, and every pass brings the craft a little closer - both in miles and in insight - to the forces that light our skies and occasionally rattle our technology.



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Widest high-resolution photo of the Sun ever captured

The Sun’s newest portrait is not the fiery disc we...

Over the past few years, more people across the United States have been experimenting with psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in “magic mushrooms.” 



This increase in psilocybin use has drawn attention from health experts, who note that many users face challenges such as mental illness or chronic pain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sharp-rise-in-psilocybin-use">Sharp rise in psilocybin use </h2>



Some U.S. states have started softening their policies around the use of psilocybin, which appears to match the timing of its recent surge in popularity. This increase also coincides with a jump in poison center calls, suggesting that not everyone understands the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-are-the-most-popular-psychedelic-drug/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">substance</a> or its risks.



“We found that, since 2019, the number of people using psilocybin has gone up sharply,” said Dr. Karilynn Rockhill, a researcher at the <a href="https://coloradosph.cuanschutz.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado School of Public Health</a>. 



Dr. Rockhill led a project that tracked psilocybin use patterns across several age groups and geographic areas.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psilocybin-use-across-all-ages">Psilocybin use across all ages</h2>



Young adults show the largest expansion in psilocybin experimentation. Older adults are not too far behind. 



Looser restrictions and rising social acceptance might encourage some to view psilocybin as a quick fix for depression or anxiety. 



Experts note that certain individuals appear to be self-treating serious conditions. They worry that casual use without medical guidance can create <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-psilocybin-mushrooms-got-their-magic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complications</a>. 



These worries become more pressing when poison center data reveal an uptick in calls from across the age spectrum.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-health-and-psilocybin-use">Mental health and psilocybin use</h2>



Psilocybin has drawn attention for potential <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27909165/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">benefits</a> in addressing PTSD, substance use disorders, and other challenges. Medical providers, however, warn that its use in these circumstances remains investigational.



People experiencing depression or anxiety sometimes turn to magic mushrooms if they lack immediate professional support.



“Public views on psilocybin are shifting. However, that means we also need to make sure people understand the risks, know how to use it safely if they choose to, and that health care systems are prepared,” said Dr. Joshua Black, a senior scientist at Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, which is a division of Denver Health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-people-are-calling-poison-centers">More people are calling poison centers</h2>



The steep increase in poison center calls, signals that many users do not fully grasp the substance’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/confirmed-magic-mushrooms-can-effectively-treat-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a>. Some calls involve disorientation or panic, which can be risky in certain settings.



Others reflect confusion about dosage or harmful interactions with existing prescriptions. Researchers suggest that hospitals and emergency departments might be under-reporting these cases. 



A gap in hospital coding means psilocybin-related visits can slip by unnoticed. That hampers public health agencies that are trying to gauge what’s really happening.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poor-tracking-hides-health-impacts">Poor tracking hides health impacts</h2>



Officials have discovered that current systems for recording hallucinogen-related issues are not keeping up with the changing landscape. Inaccurate data collection may keep local clinics in the dark about how often patients arrive in crisis. 



Health systems need reliable metrics for policy decisions. Some <a href="https://psychedelicalpha.com/data/psychedelic-laws" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">states</a> have already drafted policies allowing controlled use of psilocybin for medical study.



Others weigh more permissive models. Researchers stress that consistent tracking and standard coding practices can help officials measure any shifts in harm or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-magic-mushrooms-evolve-to-contain-psilocybin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">misuse</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-education-for-better-outcomes">Education for better outcomes</h2>



Experts call for straightforward educational materials about psilocybin. Too many new users jump in without guidance, and that raises the risk of harmful experiences. 



Medical offices, online platforms, and community centers could play a role in distributing simple facts. A deeper conversation among doctors, public health leaders, and policymakers might also help. 



If people choose to explore psilocybin, they should know its possible <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mushroom-magic-new-species-discovered-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a>. Broad awareness can reduce unintentional injuries and keep poison centers from bearing the brunt of emergencies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-responsible-research">Importance of responsible research</h2>



Scientific studies on psilocybin are expanding, driven by interest in its potential therapeutic use. A handful of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27909164/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clinical trials</a> suggest it can relieve specific mental health symptoms under controlled conditions.



Still, experts advise caution until results are replicated and reviewed. Researchers hope to see more large-scale trials in the near future.



Trials help to confirm safety profiles, determine effective doses, and better understand who could benefit most. Once there is enough valid evidence, health authorities can make informed decisions about approving psilocybin-related therapies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-hope-and-risks">Balancing hope and risks</h2>



Fans of magic mushrooms highlight experiences of spiritual or introspective growth. Others cite anecdotal relief from depression or chronic pain. 



Medical professionals respond that each user brings a unique history, including mental health factors, that might heighten risks. Some also worry that blanket decriminalization could send the wrong message.



Substance misuse can surface if people jump into using potent compounds without a plan or supervision. Encouraging responsible decisions goes hand in hand with exploring psilocybin’s possible upsides.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-psilocybin-safety">The future of psilocybin safety</h2>



A lack of comprehensive tracking tools prevents health facilities from planning for potential surges in psilocybin-related visits. Researchers urge policy revisions that integrate consistent psilocybin coding. Clear codes would allow doctors to pinpoint frequent complications and stock resources accordingly.



Hospitals operating in regions where psilocybin use is on the rise might train staff to handle its distinct side effects. This includes mental health professionals equipped with therapy insights, and emergency teams ready for psychedelic crises.



Supporters of psilocybin believe momentum will continue as studies gain traction and more states debate legalization. Experts will watch these policy shifts in real time.



Community programs or peer education campaigns may help encourage careful exploration of psilocybin rather than spur-of-the-moment decisions.



The study was published in the <a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annals of Internal Medicine</a>.



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Increased use of psilocybin in U.S. raises health concerns

Over the past few years, more people across the United...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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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