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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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

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

Leopard seals, some of the loneliest animals in Antarctica, may have more in common with us than we thought. A new study reveals that these massive, solitary predators spend hours underwater each day singing songs that echo the structure of the nursery rhymes we sing to children.



The discovery comes from researchers at <a href="https://www.unswcollege.edu.au/">UNSW Sydney</a>. The team analyzed old recordings of leopard seal calls and found striking similarities in the structure of their songs and the predictability of human rhymes.



“Leopard seal songs have a surprisingly structured temporal pattern,” said Lucinda Chambers, a PhD candidate at UNSW and the study’s lead author. 



“When we compared their songs to other studies of vocal animals and of human music, we found their information entropy - a measure of how predictable or random a sequence is - was remarkably close to our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reading-nursery-rhymes-to-babies-helps-them-quickly-learn-language/">nursery rhymes</a>.”



But don’t mistake the singing for lullabies. The seals aren’t crooning to their young. In fact, it’s the males who do most of the vocalizing, and their reasons have more to do with competition and courtship.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-leopard-seals-spend-spring-days">How leopard seals spend spring days</h2>



Leopard seals live in the icy waters around Antarctica. They're apex predators who spend most of their lives alone. But during spring, from late October to early January, something changes.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-reveal-new-features-of-the-elusive-leopard-seal/">Male seals</a> begin a daily ritual. They swim beneath the pack ice and sing. For hours on end, they alternate two minutes underwater with two minutes at the surface, cycling through this pattern up to 13 hours a day.



Study co-author Professor Tracey Rogers from UNSW began recording leopard seal songs in the 1990s.



“They’re incredibly committed. It’s big business for them," said Professor Rogers. "They’re like the songbirds of the Southern Ocean. During the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fascinating-mating-behaviors-of-leopard-seals-revealed/">breeding</a> season, if you drop a hydrophone into the water anywhere in the region, you’ll hear them singing.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-songs-that-carry-across-long-distances">Songs that carry across long distances</h2>



These aren’t random noises. The calls are composed of five core sounds shared by the population. What makes each seal’s song unique isn’t the sound itself, but the order and structure.



“You can’t tell them apart by how the call sounds. It’s the order and pattern that matters," explained Professor Rogers.



"They’ve stylized it to an almost boring degree, which we think is a deliberate strategy, so their call carries a long distance across the ice.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-purpose-of-the-leopard-seal-calls">Purpose of the leopard seal calls</h2>



Male leopard seals are spread far apart on the sea ice, but their voices carry. A single call can travel long distances <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephant-seals-use-sonar-signals-to-dine-deep-underwater/">underwater</a>. That’s useful during breeding season, when females are only in heat for a few days each year.



“The greater structure in their songs helps ensure that distant listeners can accurately receive the message and identify who is singing,” noted Chambers.



The singing might help attract mates, but it also sends a signal to rivals. These underwater performances could be about love - or territory.



“It’s a bit of a dual message,” said Professor Rogers. “It could be a ‘this is my patch’ to other males and also a ‘look how strong and lovely I am’ to the females.”



“It’s like they’re saying, ‘I'm the biggest and the strongest, look how long and how loud I can sing,'" said Chambers. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-features-of-leopard-seal-songs">Features of leopard seal songs</h2>



To better understand how leopard seal songs compare to other species, the researchers analyzed entropy - essentially how repetitive or predictable a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seals-have-a-surprising-sense-of-rhythm/">sound</a> sequence is.



They compared recordings from 26 male leopard seals to vocal sequences from humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, squirrel monkeys, and several types of human music, including baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary, and Beatles songs.



What stood out was how closely the leopard seal songs matched the structure of nursery rhymes.



“Nursery rhymes are simple, repetitive and easy to remember - that’s what we see in the leopard seal songs,” said Chambers.



“They’re not as complex as human music but they aren’t random either. They sit in this sweet spot that allows them to be both unique and highly structured.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-each-seal-has-its-own-signature-song">Each seal has its own signature song</h2>



The sound recordings analyzed in the study were from the 1990s, when Professor Rogers would bike across Antarctica to the ocean's edge, mark individual seals with dye, and return at night to record their songs.



“They sing at night, so I would mark them during the day and go back out at night to visit each of the seals to get recordings from different males,” she said.



While all the seals use the same five calls, each male puts them in a distinct order - creating a kind of signature.



“We think it’s a bit like each seal having its own name,” explained Chambers. “They’re all using the same alphabet of five sounds - but the way they combine them creates a pattern that’s individually distinctive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-evolving-story">An evolving story </h2>



With today’s tools, the researchers want to return to Antarctica and investigate what has changed.



According to Chambers, the next step is to use mathematical models to test whether leopard seals use their songs like dolphins use signature whistles - to announce individual identity.



“We want to know if new call types have emerged in the population,” she said. “And if patterns evolve from generation to generation."



“We’d love to investigate whether their ‘alphabet’ of five sounds has changed over time.”



It turns out that in the coldest, quietest places on Earth, animals are still finding ways to be heard - and remembered.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-11008-8">Scientific Reports</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Leopard seals sing songs underwater that are strikingly similar to nursery rhymes

Leopard seals, some of the loneliest animals in Antarctica, may...

Urbanization may seem harmless at first glance. Yet beneath the pavement and concrete lies a growing crisis. A new study from the <a href="https://sheffield.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sheffield</a> reports that urban areas support 43 percent fewer pollinating insect species. These losses have consequences for both ecosystems and crop yields.



Researchers sampled allotment sites across Sheffield, Leeds, and Leicester. These plots varied in proximity to city centers. The closer they were to concrete-heavy areas, the fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-bee-day-2025-protecting-the-pollinators-that-feed-the-world/">pollinators</a> they supported. Insect abundance and richness fell sharply in built-up zones.



Bees often dominate the conversation. But this study highlights that moths and hoverflies also matter. These two groups of pollinating insects showed higher sensitivity to urbanization than bees. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-some-insect-pollinators-struggle">Why some insect pollinators struggle</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-are-disappearing-and-its-bad-news-for-plants/">Bees</a> tend to persist in urban areas due to their simpler needs. They depend mainly on flowers for both adult and larval food. Urban greenspaces often provide these resources in abundance. 



Social bees, like honeybees and bumblebees, show strong adaptability because of their generalist foraging behaviour and long flight ranges.



Moths and hoverflies, in contrast, need diverse resources. Many hoverflies breed in stagnant water or rely on prey for their larvae. Moths require tree cover for daytime roosting and specific plants for their caterpillars. These features are often lacking in urban environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trees-help-insect-pollinators-survive">Trees help insect pollinators survive</h2>



The study confirmed that habitat type shapes pollinator survival. Semi-natural habitats supported all three major insect groups, but tree canopy cover had a uniquely strong effect on moths. Moth species richness and abundance rose significantly with increasing tree cover.



Gardens, however, had no consistent effect. Although common in cities, their quality varies widely. Many gardens include lawns, paving, or ornamental plants not suitable for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-dangers-threaten-the-survival-of-bees-and-pollinators/">pollinators</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-layout-influences-insect-declines">Urban layout influences insect declines</h2>



Urban landscapes form a mosaic of impervious surfaces, fragmented greenspaces, and isolated habitats. These patterns influence how different pollinators respond. 



Hoverflies and moths saw the steepest declines in areas with high impervious surface cover.



For every 10 percent increase in concrete or tarmac, species richness dropped by up to 7.5 percent. 



These declines occurred across different scales - within 250, 500, and 1,000 meters of the sampling sites. The loss of moth and hoverfly abundance was especially strong at closer ranges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollinators-do-more-than-pollinate">Pollinators do more than pollinate</h2>



Pollination is just one part of the ecological role these insects play. Hoverfly larvae, for instance, prey on crop pests like aphids. 



Moths help recycle nutrients through their feeding and contribute to food chains. Birds and bats feed on them, linking lower and higher levels of the ecosystem.



The loss of moths and hoverflies doesn’t only threaten pollination. It weakens entire ecosystems. Without them, pest control declines. Nutrient cycling slows. Predators struggle to find food.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-redesigning-cities-for-insects">Redesigning cities for insects</h2>



To reverse this trend, cities must do more than plant flowers. They must support a variety of habitats. Increasing tree cover, preserving semi-natural green areas, and reducing fragmentation can help. 



The study urges planners and policymakers to consider the varied needs of pollinator groups.



“All pollinating insects struggle to find suitable food and habitat in cities,” said study co-author Stuart Campbell. “The greater sensitivity of hoverflies and moths to urbanization might be due to their ecological requirements.



“All of these species need flowers to feed on, but moths also require tree and shrub canopies, and food plants for their caterpillars, while many hoverflies require stagnant water to breed."



"These are all habitat characteristics that can be much harder to find in more heavily built up areas, and we will need to consider these features in order to conserve such a diverse group of insects for future generations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moths-and-hoverflies-need-attention">Moths and hoverflies need attention</h2>



Study lead author Emilie Ellis noted that the scale of the threat to many pollinator <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinator-decline-is-a-direct-threat-to-food-security/">species</a> remains relatively unknown due to a global focus on bees. 



"However moths and hoverflies are just as important for our ecosystems, and our results show they may be particularly vulnerable in urban habitats,” said Ellis. 



Understanding insect needs can help protect them. Cities must consider more than floral density. Structural vegetation like trees and complex ground cover matter too. So do aquatic features and undisturbed soils.



Urbanization affects insect pollinators in complex ways. While bees survive on city flowers, moths and hoverflies face harsher challenges. 



This study highlights the urgent need for diverse, well-structured greenspaces. Pollinators don’t all need the same things. But all need us to pay attention.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0102" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Urbanization causes massive decline in insect pollinators

Urbanization may seem harmless at first glance. Yet beneath the...

About 56 million years ago, Earth slipped into the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a sudden global warming pulse that pushed temperatures up by at least 5°C (9°F). In the badlands of what is now Wyoming, one mid-sized predator, Dissacus praenuntius, found itself confronting a landscape in flux.



A new study led by <a href="https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rutgers University</a> suggests the animal’s solution was unexpected: when prey became scarce, it started crunching bones.



“What happened during the PETM very much mirrors what's happening today and what will happen in the future,” said Andrew Schwartz, the Rutgers anthropology doctoral student who led the research.



The work combines field excavations in the Bighorn Basin with a forensic technique called dental microwear texture analysis (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128155998000071" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DMTA</a>). 



By reading microscopic pits and scratches on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tooth-enamel-analysis-suggests-early-eurasians-were-multiple-species-paranthropus-robustus/">fossil teeth</a>, the team reconstructed what the animal was chewing in the weeks before it died; tougher, deeper marks usually point to hard items such as bone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dissacus-praenuntius-ate-bones">Dissacus praenuntius ate bones</h2>



Dissacus praenuntius was roughly the size of a modern coyote and, at first glance, looked like a lanky wolf. But it walked on tiny hooves and belonged to an archaic lineage known as mesonychids.



“They looked superficially like wolves with oversized heads,” Schwartz said, describing them as super weird mammals "Their teeth were kind of like hyenas. But they had little tiny hooves on each of their toes.”



Before the planet heated up, DMTA shows the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bastetodon-fearsome-predator-was-once-king-of-the-ancient-egyptian-forests/">predator</a> had a diet which resembled that of today’s cheetahs: mostly soft but sinewy meat. Once the PETM began, everything changed.



“We found that their dental microwear looked more like that of lions and hyenas,” Schwartz said. “That suggests they were eating more brittle food, which were probably bones, because their usual prey was smaller or less available.”



The microwear evidence dovetails with other signs of environmental stress. Earlier work has shown many mammal species shrank <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleocene%E2%80%93Eocene_Thermal_Maximum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">during the PETM</a>, and Dissacus appears to have followed that trend - smaller bodies need less food.



While scientists once blamed this shrinkage solely on heat, the new findings strengthen the case that limited nutrition was a major driver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptability-drove-survival-success">Adaptability drove survival success</h2>



“One of the best ways to know what's going to happen in the future is to look back at the past,” Schwartz said. “How did animals change? How did ecosystems respond?”



For Schwartz, the PETM offers a natural experiment on how warming reshapes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whales-reveal-a-toxic-threat-to-arctic-food-webs/">food webs</a>. The lesson, he argues, is that dietary flexibility can make or break a species.



“In the short term, it’s great to be the best at what you do,” he said. “But in the long term, it’s risky. Generalists, meaning animals that are good at a lot of things, are more likely to survive when the environment changes.”



That principle is visible today. “We already see this happening,” Schwartz said. “In my earlier research, jackals in Africa started eating more bones and insects over time, probably because of habitat loss and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-the-largest-threat-to-u-s-endangered-species/">climate stress</a>.”



Pandas, koalas, and other extreme specialists lack that wiggle room and could therefore be more vulnerable as habitats fragment or shift.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wyoming-s-ancient-badlands">Wyoming’s ancient badlands</h2>



To trace Dissacus praenuntius through time, the team zeroed in on the Bighorn Basin, one of the rare places where sedimentary layers preserve an almost year-by-year record across the PETM. 



Field crews collected dozens of jaws and isolated teeth from successive strata, then scanned their chewing surfaces under high-resolution confocal microscopes.



Sophisticated software converted the textures into numerical values capturing roughness, complexity, and orientation - clues to the animal’s final meals.



Professor Robert Scott, a co-author on the paper, notes that DMTA is revolutionizing paleontology because it captures dietary snapshots just weeks or months before death, unlike isotope analyses that average years.



The method revealed a clear pattern: before the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-global-warming-event-sheds-light-on-earths-future/">thermal maximum</a>, tooth surfaces carried long, shallow scratches characteristic of slicing flesh; during and after, they showed deeper pits and gouges typical of bone fragmentation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dissacus-praenuntius-faded-away">Dissacus praenuntius faded away</h2>



Despite this adaptive flair for bones, Dissacus praenuntius did not make it through the next 15 million years. Bigger, better-equipped carnivores eventually displaced it, and the shifting vegetation of post-PETM North America favored more agile hunters.



Still, its bone-crunching episode underscores how rapidly predators can recalibrate their behavior when climate jolts prey supply.



Schwartz hopes insights like these will aid modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-conservation-can-help-stabilize-the-climate/">conservation biology</a> by spotlighting which species could be climate winners or losers.



The study also signals the importance of preserving continuous fossil sites: without the Bighorn Basin’s layered rocks, the dietary flip would have remained invisible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-fossils-global-lessons">Local fossils, global lessons</h2>



Schwartz traces his fascination with fossils to childhood trips along New Jersey’s waterways with his father, an amateur collector. Now close to completing his Ph.D., he is eager to show the broader public how deep time research can illuminate future challenges.



&nbsp;“If I see a kid in a museum looking at a dinosaur, I say, ‘Hey, I’m a paleontologist. You can do this, too.’”



That encouragement matters because, as Earth barrels toward PETM-like CO₂ levels, society will need scientists who can decode past crises to steer us through the next one. 



The tale of a jackal-sized mammal gnawing harder fare in a hothouse world is more than a curiosity; it is a mirror held up to our own warming century. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031018225003748?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology</a>



Image Credit: ДиБгд, CC BY 4.0 &lt;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Ancient predator had a gut-wrenching strategy for adapting to climate shock

About 56 million years ago, Earth slipped into the Paleocene-Eocene...

What if measuring plant growth didn’t require cutting leaves or investing in costly tools? A new plant technique makes that possible - using nothing more than a standard video camera. 



This method turns simple footage into detailed 3D models that can accurately estimate a plant’s total leaf area. It’s low-cost, easy to apply, and precise enough to handle even small crops like dwarf tomatoes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconstructing-plants-in-3d">Reconstructing plants in 3D</h2>



The study was led by Dmitrii Usenko, a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at <a href="https://en.huji.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrew University</a>, working with Dr. David Helman of Hebrew University and Dr. Chen Giladi of Sami Shamoon College of Engineering. 



The method uses structure-from-motion (SfM), a technique from computer vision that reconstructs 3D shapes from video. It’s a smart workaround for the expensive equipment usually required to measure plant traits in detail.



Rather than relying on LiDAR or multispectral cameras, the team used simple video clips filmed from different angles. These were then transformed into 3D point clouds. 



From that, the researchers extracted features and trained <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-could-help-save-mangrove-forests/">machine learning</a> models to estimate leaf area.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cameras-to-help-protect-plant-growth">Cameras to help protect plant growth</h2>



“Accurate measurement of total leaf area is crucial for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-finally-learn-what-makes-plants-roots-grow-faster-and-stronger-autophagy/">plant growth</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/things-you-forgot-in-high-school-photosynthesis-in-plants/">photosynthesis</a>, and water use,” explained Dr. Helman. “But traditional approaches often require destructive sampling or costly, inaccessible equipment."



"Our model brings accessibility and accuracy together in a way that could benefit both smallholder farmers and large‑scale agricultural operations.”



To test their method, the team collected over 300 video clips of dwarf <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tomato-plants-talk-to-one-another-to-signal-danger/">tomato</a> plants grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. 



Each clip captured the plant from multiple angles, allowing the software to reconstruct a detailed 3D model of its structure. They then trained machine learning models to connect that 3D data to real measurements of leaf area.



The results were impressive. The best-performing model achieved a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.96 - a strong indicator of predictive accuracy. Even when leaves overlapped or the plant moved slightly during filming, the model remained reliable.



That kind of consistency is critical if the method is going to be used outside the lab, where conditions are far less controlled.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smart-tech-for-any-farmer">Smart tech for any farmer</h2>



The new method isn’t limited to tomatoes. Since it only requires a standard RGB camera and structure-from-motion techniques, it can be adapted to many other crops with similar results.



That makes it a flexible solution for farms growing everything from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/leafy-green-vegetables-improve-muscle-strength/">leafy greens</a> to fruiting plants—especially in places where access to advanced imaging tools is limited or too costly.



Even more promising, the software developed for the study is open source. That means researchers, agronomists, and even tech-savvy farmers can modify it, build on it, and tailor it to their own crops or growing conditions. 



It opens the door to community-driven improvements and broader adoption in both research and real-world farming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-affordable-tools-for-better-farming">Affordable tools for better farming</h2>



“By reducing the cost barrier to accurate plant monitoring, we hope to democratize access to precision agriculture,” said Usenko. “This is a small but meaningful step toward smarter, more sustainable farming.”



That human perspective underlines the goal: make precision <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmers-adopt-regenerative-agriculture-better-soil-health/">agriculture</a> - once reserved for big, high-tech operations - available to everyone. 



Until now, tools that help monitor crops closely have often been out of reach for smallholder farmers or those in lower-income regions. But by cutting costs and simplifying the process, this method brings advanced monitoring within reach for more people. 



It’s about leveling the playing field so that better farming decisions aren’t limited by access to expensive tools - but guided by practical, affordable solutions.



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



Plant monitoring doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. This research demonstrates that with the right method, even basic tools such as video cameras can reveal&nbsp;in-depth&nbsp;information&nbsp;regarding plant health and growth. 



The study brings us one step closer to a future where monitoring crops is easier, more affordable, and more accurate -regardless of farm size or budget.



As more growers and researchers adopt and adapt this technique across different crops, it could transform how plant data is collected on a global scale. 



Better insights into plant growth mean smarter, more sustainable cultivation - and that benefits farms, food systems, and communities worldwide.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168169925007331?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Computers and Electronics in Agriculture</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Standard cameras can now track plant growth in 3D

What if measuring plant growth didn’t require cutting leaves or...

Anyone who has ever scanned a party guest list for a familiar face will sympathize with female mountain gorillas. When it comes time to leave home and join another troop, they too prefer a little social security.



A new study shows that dispersing females routinely pick groups that contain females they have lived with before, while steering clear of males from their childhood homes.



The findings emerged from more than two decades of near-daily monitoring by the <a href="https://gorillafund.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund</a> in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.



By piecing together the life histories of dozens of animals across many overlapping groups, researchers from the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Zurich</a>, the Fossey Fund, and collaborating institutions were able to ask a deceptively simple question: How do females decide where to go?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-gorillas-avoid-familiar-males">Female gorillas avoid familiar males</h2>



Early analyses revealed what did not matter. For instance, widespread group traits such as group size or sex ratio did not seem to matter. 



Instead, past <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-gorillas-get-sick-from-being-too-social/">social experience</a> loomed large. Females almost never joined a group that housed males they had grown up with.



“Because female mountain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-gorillas-climb-trees-despite-their-massive-size/">gorillas</a> do not know with certainty who their fathers are, they might rely on a simple rule like ‘avoid any group with males I grew up with,’ as the likelihood of them being related will be higher than with males they did not grow up with,” said lead author Victoire Martignac, a Ph.D. student at the University of Zurich.



That rule is context-dependent, not merely a function of familiarity. Female gorillas may encounter many males on the forested slopes as they move between troops, yet they single out those childhood companions for avoidance.



“This really tells us that it’s not just who they know that matters but how they know them,” Martignac said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-friends-as-social-insurance"><a></a>Old friends as social insurance</h2>



Far more attractive than familiar males were familiar females. The study found that the presence of even one former denmate dramatically increased the odds that a female would choose a particular destination.



The effect was strongest when the pair had shared at least five years in the same troop and had seen each other within the last two. Those long-standing bonds appear to buffer the risks of immigration.



“Going into a new group could feel pretty scary, with individuals usually entering at the bottom of the social hierarchy," said Robin Morrison, the senior author on the study. "A familiar female might help reduce this, providing a social ally.” 



“It could also act like a recommendation from a friend - if a female they know has chosen to stay in this group it could indicate positive things about the group as a whole or the dominant male leading that group.”



These results challenge the assumption that multiple dispersals undermine the value of social investment. Instead, they reveal a network of relationships that stretches well beyond any single troop. Females may spend years apart, yet the memory of past <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-single-cells-to-complex-life-was-cooperation-the-first-step/">cooperation</a> still shapes their future moves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gorilla-behavior-mirrors-humans">Gorilla behavior mirrors humans</h2>



The parallels with our own species are hard to miss. “This mirrors a key aspect of human societies: the existence of strong ties between different social groups,” Martignac noted. 



Humans hop between schools, jobs and cities, leaning on old friends for introductions and support. Mountain gorillas, it seems, deploy a comparable strategy as they navigate a landscape of fluid fission-fusion societies.



Such flexibility brings evolutionary payoffs. By avoiding males from their natal group, females limit the risk of inbreeding and spread genetic diversity across the Virunga Massif.



By following trusted female acquaintances, they ease the social costs of joining a new hierarchy, increasing their chances of reproductive success. In turn, those decisions influence the genetic and social architecture of the entire population.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-lives-over-decades">Tracking lives over decades</h2>



Untangling these threads required patience. “Being to track not only where individuals are from but also where they go, and to construct their whole social history in such detail, is only possible because of decades of data collection,” said Tara Stoinski, the president and chief scientific officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.



“With just a few years and a few groups, all of these inter-group ties and extended networks would be invisible to us. This really highlights the value of long-term observations on multiple groups in better understanding the evolution of sociality.”



The Fossey Fund’s continuous presence allowed researchers to code every male and female gorilla ever met, how long they co-resided, and when they last saw each other. 



The resulting dataset revealed the subtle calculations behind each female’s leap into the unknown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gorilla-behavior-guides-protection">Gorilla behavior guides protection</h2>



Understanding how gorillas choose new homes matters for their conservation. As habitat fragments and human pressures mount, facilitating safe dispersal corridors could help maintain the social and genetic fabric that keeps populations viable.



More broadly, the study invites scientists to rethink dispersal as a deeply social process - one that both dissolves and forges bonds, shaping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-rumbles-to-rituals-scientists-map-the-cultures-of-the-animal-kingdom/">animal societies</a> in ways that resonate with our own.



In other words, when a female gorilla trudges across a lava flow to join strangers in the next valley, she is not rolling the dice. 



She is following the whisper of memory, looking for an old friend in an unfamiliar crowd - proof that friendship can span forests, decades, and even species.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0223" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Female gorillas rely on old friends to choose new homes

Anyone who has ever scanned a party guest list for...

Light just landed in Earth telescopes after traveling for 13.3 billion years. Astronomers have confirmed a black hole in a tiny galaxy named CAPERS-LRD-z9, observed only 500 million years after the Big Bang - when the universe was just 3% of its current age. 



That single result opens a rare window into how early galaxies worked and how fast their darkest hearts could grow.



This object sits in a period when gas, stars, and black holes were taking shape under new rules. Seeing it at all is a small miracle of precision spectroscopy and patient sky surveys. It’s also a timely reminder that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hundreds-of-galaxies-illuminate-the-early-universe/">early universe</a> had surprises tucked into every corner.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-capers-lrd-z9-pushes-today-s-tech">CAPERS-LRD-z9 pushes today's tech</h2>



“When looking for black holes, this is about as far back as you can practically go. We’re really pushing the boundaries of what current technology can detect,” enthused Anthony Taylor, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin's <a href="https://astronomy.utexas.edu/research/cosmic-frontier-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cosmic Frontier Center</a>. She's the lead researcher on the team that made this discovery. 



Their research was published on Aug. 6 in the Astrophysical Journal.



“While astronomers have found a few, more distant candidates,” added Steven Finkelstein, a co-author on the paper and director of the Cosmic Frontier Center, “they have yet to find the distinct spectroscopic signature associated with a black hole.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-spectroscopy-shows">What spectroscopy shows</h2>



With <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/spectroscopy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spectroscopy</a>, astronomers split light into its component wavelengths and read the physical story inside. 



For black holes, they look for fast gas whipping around the object: light stretched to redder wavelengths on the far side and squeezed to bluer wavelengths on the near side. 



“There aren’t many other things that create this signature,” explained Taylor. “And this galaxy has it!”



Those fingerprints are the key to turning a promising candidate into a confirmed detection. In this case, they also tie the galaxy’s unusual color and brightness to the activity of a central black hole rather than to a giant crowd of newborn stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-telescope-and-capers-lrd-z9">Webb Telescope and CAPERS-LRD-z9</h2>



The team used data from the James Webb Space Telescope’s <a href="https://www.stsci.edu/jwst/phase2-public/6368.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CAPERS</a> (CANDELS-Area Prism Epoch of Reionization Survey) program for its search. 



Launched in 2021, JWST provides the most far-reaching views of space available, and CAPERS offers observations at the outermost edge. 



“The first goal of CAPERS is to confirm and study the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zhulong-torch-dragon-the-oldest-known-spiral-galaxy-in-the-universe/">most distant galaxies</a>,” said Mark Dickinson, a co-author on the paper and the CAPERS team lead. 



“JWST spectroscopy is the key to confirming their distances and understanding their physical properties.”



Initially seen as an interesting speck in the program’s imagery, CAPERS-LRD-z9 turned out to be part of a new class of galaxies known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-little-red-dots-found-in-the-early-universe-webb-telescope/">Little Red Dots</a>. 



Present only in the first 1.5 billion years of the universe, these galaxies are very compact, red, and unexpectedly bright.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-red-galaxy-s-secret">Tiny red galaxy’s secret</h2>



“The discovery of Little Red Dots was a major surprise from early <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a> data, as they looked nothing like galaxies seen with the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a>,” explained Finkelstein. “Now, we’re in the process of figuring out what they’re like and how they came to be.”



CAPERS-LRD-z9 sharpens that picture. Its brightness points to intense energy output, but at such early times, packing enough stars to explain it is unlikely. 



Black holes, on the other hand, radiate strongly as they heat and compress the gas they consume, and the spectrum here lines up with that scenario.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-color-skews-red">Why the color skews red</h2>



The newfound galaxy may also help explain the distinct red color that defines <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/early-universe-s-little-red-dots-may-be-black-hole-stars" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Red Dots</a>. The team points to a thick cloud of gas around the black hole that shifts the light toward redder wavelengths as the light passes through. 



“We’ve seen these clouds in other galaxies,” explained Taylor. “When we compared this object to those other sources, it was an excellent match.”



That same cocoon of material can both hide and highlight the black hole’s presence, depending on how the light escapes. Here, it helped seal the case.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-monster-mass-measured">Early monster mass, measured</h2>



This galaxy is also notable for the size of its central black hole. The estimate is as high as 300 million times the mass of the sun - up to half the mass of all the stars in its host galaxy. 



Finding such a heavy object so soon after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ground-based-telescopes-detect-light-from-the-cosmic-dawn/">cosmic clock</a> started keeps the pressure on theories of early growth. 



“This adds to growing evidence that early black holes grew much faster than we thought possible,” said Finkelstein. “Or they may have started out far more massive than our models predict.”



Those numbers matter because later black holes have eons to feed and collide. In the first few hundred million years, there isn’t much time. A result like this clamps down the options for how these giants get started.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-capers-lrd-z9">What’s next for CAPERS-LRD-z9</h2>



To keep the momentum, the team aims to gather higher-resolution JWST observations. That follow-up could tease apart the gas motions, map the obscuring cloud, and test ideas about how Little Red Dots are built. 



“This is a good test object for us,” said Taylor. “We haven’t been able to study early black hole evolution until recently, and we are excited to see what we can learn from this unique object.”



As CAPERS adds more galaxies like this to the ledger, patterns should emerge: how common such massive black holes were, how they shaped their hosts, and how quickly their neighborhoods changed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-stars-return-to-black-holes">When stars return to black holes</h2>



Another recent study spotlights a different kind of black hole behavior closer to home in time. It reports the first spectroscopic proof of a repeated partial tidal-disruption event (<a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/adcc19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pTDE</a>).



This phenomenon is a case where a star on an elongated orbit loses some of its outer layers each time it loops near a galaxy’s central black hole, then survives to return. The authors nicknamed the source “the unluckiest star.”



The flare first appeared in data from the <a href="https://www.ztf.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zwicky Transient Facility</a>, then the same galaxy brightened again 2 years later in the same spot with nearly the same temperature, about 26,000 K, and only a slightly lower peak brightness. 



Spectra taken during both flares showed matching <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68539-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydrogen Balmer lines</a> and N III features. No significant X-ray, radio, or mid-infrared signals were seen, strengthening the pTDE interpretation by ruling out common look-alikes. 



The spectroscopic match points to a 2-year return time and provides a clean example of a “repeat offender.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-capers-lrd-z9-matters">Why CAPERS-LRD-z9 matters</h2>



One result nails down a supermassive black hole when the universe was 3% of its current age; the other shows a black hole slowly peeling a star on a 2-year clock in the more recent universe. 



Together they highlight how black holes shape galaxies across time - by lighting up their surroundings, by altering the color and brightness of compact early systems, and by stripping material from stars in measured bites.



Each data point tightens constraints on theory. CAPERS-LRD-z9 shows how massive black holes already were 13.3 billion years ago. 



The pTDE case clarifies how black holes feed in steps, with spectral line matches serving as a decisive test. Different eras, different tools, same goal: use light to pin down the unseen.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ade789" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astrophysical Journal</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Earliest confirmed black hole ever discovered is a true monster from the dawn of time

Light just landed in Earth telescopes after traveling for 13.3...

Most people wouldn’t expect a quiet walk in the park today to feel so different from one in the early '90s - but a butterfly watcher would. Fewer flutter past, and some species don’t show up at all.



That hunch is backed by numbers. Scientists spent decades tracking butterfly populations across the Midwest - recording over 4.3 million sightings in all. The results show a steady, widespread decrease in abundance, with nearly half of the 136 species declining.



These results come from a study led by researchers at <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>. Their findings paint a sobering picture of how butterfly biodiversity is shifting in the heart of the country.



“We expected to find that at least some species had done well over the past 32 years,” said lead researcher Wendy Leuenberger.



Instead, the numbers tell a different story. For every 10 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-species-are-declining-fast-across-the-united-states/">butterfly species</a> in a Midwest county in 1992, only nine remain today. And in terms of individuals, populations have declined by 40 percent. The loss touches rare and familiar species alike.



“You would have such a different experience taking a walk to look at butterflies in 1992 as compared to 2023,” Leuenberger said. 



“While most of the common species like monarchs and cabbage whites are still present, you wouldn’t see nearly as many of them as in 1992. You’re less likely to spot rare species as well. These are all changes that have occurred during my lifetime, which is humbling.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-butterfly-data">Decades of butterfly data</h2>



The study is based on a massive dataset - over 90,000 hours of butterfly surveys conducted by volunteers across the U.S. Midwest. The time span of the data stretches from 1992 to 2023, offering one of the most complete overviews of butterfly population trends in North America.



This work builds on a national study published earlier this year in Science, which found similar butterfly declines across the country between 2000 and 2020. But by looking a decade further back, the MSU team had a chance to see how patterns of decline started even earlier.



Though this study didn’t focus on the exact causes of the decline, the timeline overlaps with several key changes in the environment. Neonicotinoid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-decline-in-american-midwest-linked-to-insecticides/">insecticides</a> became widely used starting in the mid-1990s. 



At the same time, shifts in weather patterns due to climate change also began to take hold - including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-winters-may-reshape-global-plant-communities/">warmer winters</a>, drier summers, and more erratic rainfall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-butterflies-are-the-same">Not all butterflies are the same</h2>



Butterflies aren’t one-size-fits-all when it comes to their responses to stress. Some migrate long distances. Others stay in one place their whole lives. 



Some butterflies are picky about where they live or what they eat, while others are more flexible. Even how they survive the winter - as an egg, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-caterpillars-defend-their-territory-without-a-fight/">caterpillar</a>, or an adult - affects their chances of survival.



“Traits affect how resilient butterflies are to change,” Leuenberger explained. “For instance, ones that only have a single generation a year don’t do as well as multi-generational butterflies.”



That kind of variation matters. Conservation strategies that help one species might not help another. That’s why this study focused on details - not just overall trends - to understand which types of butterflies are declining the most, and how fast.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-rare-long-term-view">A rare, long-term view</h2>



According to MSU’s senior author Elise Zipkin, the Midwest plays a key role in butterfly research.



“We are lucky to be working in the midwestern U.S., an area with the highest density of butterfly surveys of anywhere in North America,” said Zipkin, Red Cedar Distinguished Professor and director of MSU’s Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program. 



“Volunteer scientists use the same protocols week after week and year after year. Without their invaluable efforts, we would not know how butterflies are faring and what we can do to reverse declines.”



This consistency gives scientists a rare long-term view of how these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/">insects</a> are doing, and that view is essential. Butterflies aren’t just pretty to look at. As caterpillars, they are prey for many species of birds. 



As adults, they pollinate flowers which develop into fruits and vegetables. What happens to them is often a warning sign for what’s happening to other insects - and the ecosystems that depend on them.



“Humans rely on insects more than we realize,” said Leuenberger. “We need to figure out how we can protect them before it’s too late.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2501340122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Butterfly populations are disappearing - and it's happening fast

Most people wouldn’t expect a quiet walk in the park...

Most of us learn to ride bikes as children, then gradually move away from cycling as we get older, choosing other forms of exercise to incorporate into our daily health routines. However, we all may want to reconsider that decision.



A recent study that tracked 82,297 commuters for 18 years found that people who chose pedals over engines were about 50 percent less likely to die from cancer or cerebrovascular disease, a term that covers strokes and other blood-vessel problems in the brain.



The same research linked daily cycling with much better health outcomes across the board - a 47 percent drop in deaths from any cause, and a 24 percent decline in cancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-molecular-switch-revert-method-turns-cancer-cells-into-normal-cells/">diagnoses</a>. 



Catherine Friel of the <a href="https://www.gla.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Glasgow</a>, who led the project with colleagues from Edinburgh, says the evidence points to cycling as a powerful health habit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commuting-cycling-and-health">Commuting, cycling, and health</h2>



Researchers drew their sample from the <a href="https://sls.lscs.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scottish Longitudinal Study</a>, a census-based record that includes people aged 16 to 74. 



Participants reported their main commute mode in 2001, creating three groups: cyclists, walkers and non-active travelers.



Hospital admissions, prescription records and death certificates were then linked to each person. This approach allowed the team to calculate the hazard ratio, a statistic that compares the likelihood of an event in one group to another over time.



Covariates such as age, income, prior illness and distance to work were adjusted in the models. By controlling these factors, the analysts aimed to isolate the effect of the commute itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cycling-lowers-cancer-boosts-heart-health">Cycling lowers cancer, boosts heart health</h2>



Cyclists showed a hazard ratio of 0.53 for all-cause mortality, meaning a 47 percent lower risk than car or bus riders. 



They also recorded a 30 percent reduction in prescriptions for cardiovascular disease medications, a practical marker of lower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tool-that-determines-your-heart-age-as-compared-to-your-actual-age/">heart</a> strain.



Walking to work helped too, but less dramatically. Pedestrians lowered their odds of any hospital stay by 9 percent and their need for heart-related drugs by 10 percent. The smaller edge likely reflects shorter distances and gentler intensity.



“Clearly and consistently lower risks of adverse outcomes were identified among active commuters,” stated Friel. The pattern held across age groups and income brackets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-health-matters-too">Mental health matters too</h2>



Prescription data revealed a 20 percent dip in anxiety and depression medication among cyclists. Walking offered a modest 7 percent benefit. Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that lift mood, which explains part of this trend.



Commuting under one’s own power can also reduce daily stress by eliminating traffic jams and offering social contact on bike paths. These softer factors, though more difficult to quantify, likely add to the mental boost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-road-risks-must-be-considered">Road risks must be considered</h2>



The downside is safety. Cyclists in the study were nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized after a traffic crash. Over the full 18 years, 83 serious injuries were recorded among riders.



“Existing studies confirm that the health benefits far outweigh the risk of injury,” said Luis Cereijo Tejedor of the <a href="https://www.uam.es/uam/en/studyabroad" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Autonomous University of Madrid</a>, who was not involved in the work. He called for better bike lanes and lower urban speed limits to narrow the gap.



Even with the injury burden, the mortality advantage persisted. That result echoes earlier U.K. research that tracked 300,000 people for 25 years, and that also showed cycling was protective despite occasional crashes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cycling-beats-walking-for-longevity">Cycling beats walking for longevity</h2>



Cycling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/active-commuting-cycling-to-work-linked-to-enormous-health-benefits/">typically</a> covers longer distances than walking, pushes the heart rate higher and can replace sedentary car trips entirely. 



A six-mile (9.7-kilometer) ride, common in Scottish cities, meets the 150-minute weekly exercise target in just a few commutes.



Riders also avoid the stop-and-go traffic that limits brisk walking in crowded downtown cores. Consistent moderate effort, rather than short bursts, appears to drive the biggest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-one-thing-about-this-everyday-task-cuts-heart-disease-risk-in-half/">cardiovascular gains</a>.



E-bikes may widen access by flattening hills and reducing sweat. Early <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214140522001955" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> suggest electrified cycling still counts as moderate exercise because riders pedal continuously, albeit with assistance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-policy-implications">Policy implications</h2>



Governments seeking to cut medical costs see active travel as a low-budget intervention. The Dutch mileage subsidy of $0.24 per kilometer and the French rebate of up to $930 per year have nudged thousands onto bikes.



Scotland plans to spend about $400 million annually on bike and walking infrastructure by 2026. Friel’s data offer local proof that such investments pay off in health savings as well as carbon cuts.



Remote work complicates the picture. Fewer commutes mean fewer chances to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/just-5-minutes-of-daily-exercise-can-lower-blood-pressure/">exercise</a> in transit, so planners now talk about “everyday mobility,” encouraging errands, school runs and leisure trips by bike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-cycling-shifts-big-health-gains">Small cycling shifts, big health gains</h2>



Not everyone can pedal the full distance to work, but mixing modes helps. Parking the car a mile away or leaving the bus two stops early still adds regular activity.



Shifting even 10 percent of daily trips to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/car-tires-are-a-big-source-of-microplastics-pollution-but-what-about-mountain-bikes/">bicycles</a> could save thousands of lives, according to modeling studies from England and Wales. Each avoided chronic disease means fewer hospital beds and lower insurance premiums.



Urban designers note that safer streets benefit walkers and wheelchair users too. Wider sidewalks, raised crossings and protected lanes create environments where active travel feels normal rather than heroic.



The study is published in <a href="https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/2/1/e001295" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMJ Public Health</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

People who ride bikes daily are 50% less likely to die from cancer and heart disease

Most of us learn to ride bikes as children, then...

A mother’s genes may influence a child’s weight more strongly than a father’s genes. This is the conclusion of a major study led by researchers at University College London. 



The analysis combines deep genetic data with insights from the Millennium Cohort Study, which tracked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-spaces-have-a-major-impact-on-child-development/">children</a> in the UK from birth to age 17.



The researchers examined how parental BMI and genetics affected children’s weight, diet, and birthweight. They analyzed data at six stages: ages 3, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 17.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moms-affect-kids-beyond-just-genes">Moms affect kids beyond just genes</h2>



The researchers used Mendelian Randomization (MR) with polygenic scores to untangle direct inheritance from indirect effects. These indirect effects are called “genetic nurture.” 



A parent’s genes may shape a child’s weight not through inheritance, but by creating a certain environment - through eating habits, health during pregnancy, or household norms.



“Mothers’ genetics appear to play an important role in influencing her child’s weight over and above the child’s genetics,” explained Dr. Liam Wright from the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a>.



“In addition to the genes mums directly pass on, our findings suggest that maternal genetics are instrumental in shaping the environment in which the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-curiosity-starts-young-and-helps-us-survive/">child</a> develops, therefore indirectly influencing the child’s BMI too.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dads-mostly-pass-down-genes-only">Dads mostly pass down genes only</h2>



Both parents’ BMI were initially linked to higher BMI in children. But when adjusted for genetic transmission, only the mother’s BMI remained consistently associated. 



The father’s BMI, in contrast, showed little to no effect once inherited genes were taken into account.



This suggests that prior studies linking fathers’ weight to children’s weight may have overestimated the impact. Those links likely came from shared <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-disasters-are-fueling-a-child-exploitation-crisis/">genes</a> rather than parenting behaviors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pregnancy-and-child-s-future-weight">Pregnancy and child's future weight</h2>



The study supports the "developmental overnutrition hypothesis." This theory says that high maternal BMI can affect the fetus by exposing it to higher levels of glucose, fatty acids, and inflammatory signals. This may permanently alter appetite control and fat storage.



Birthweight data backs this up. Children of mothers with higher BMI had higher birthweights, regardless of genetics. The link was not observed for fathers. 



This connection could reflect how the prenatal environment contributes to long-term weight trends, noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mom-s-weight-linked-to-child-s-diet">Mom's weight linked to child’s diet</h2>



Mother’s BMI was linked to poorer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/screen-time-and-mental-health-a-vicious-cycle-for-kids/">child</a> diets, especially during adolescence. Children of mothers with higher BMI reported eating more fast food and sugary drinks and less fruit. These effects were subtle but present even after accounting for direct inheritance.



Interestingly, father's BMI showed almost no consistent link to children’s diets. Even where slight effects appeared - like at age 14 - they were weaker than the maternal patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-big-is-the-genetic-nurture-effect">How big is the genetic nurture effect?</h2>



The indirect effects of maternal genetics were found to be between 20 and 50 percent the size of direct inherited effects. That is a significant influence. For diet, the effect of the mother’s genes sometimes exceeded that of the child’s own.



These patterns reinforce the idea that maternal influence is not just about passing on DNA. It includes how mothers eat, behave, and care for themselves and their children - during pregnancy and beyond.



“This isn’t about blaming mothers, rather, supporting families to make a meaningful difference to children’s long-term health. Targeted interventions to reduce maternal BMI, particularly during pregnancy, could reduce the intergenerational impacts of obesity,” said Dr. Wright.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-policy-and-families">Why this matters for policy and families</h2>



This research shows that helping mothers achieve healthier weights could benefit their children - now and decades later. 



The results of the study highlight the need for maternal-focused health programs during and before pregnancy. These programs can reduce long-term risks for the next generation.



At the same time, the research challenges assumptions about how fathers influence their children’s health. The findings emphasize the importance of using genetically informed methods when exploring these questions.



As childhood obesity continues to rise, understanding these hidden influences becomes essential. This study brings new clarity - and new directions for preventing obesity from one generation to the next.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.07.24303912v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Genetics</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Mother’s genes may hold the key to childhood obesity

A mother’s genes may influence a child’s weight more strongly...

Most stars are not alone. They live in binary or multiple star systems. These close companions often disturb the formation and survival of planets, but an unusual planet has defied that logic.



An international team led by Professor Man Hoi Lee and MPhil student Ho Wan Cheng at the <a href="https://www.hku.hk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hong Kong</a> has confirmed a planet in the binary star <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturns-rings-will-vanish-from-sight-in-2025/">system</a> Nu Octantis. What makes it unique is its retrograde orbit - moving opposite to the binary’s motion. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planet-found-in-nu-octantis-system">Planet found in Nu Octantis system</h2>



The system Nu Octantis consists of two stars. The primary, Nu Oct A, is a subgiant about 1.6 times the Sun’s mass. The secondary, Nu Oct B, has about half the Sun’s mass. The stars complete an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-planet-named-enaiposha-is-unlike-anything-in-our-solar-system/">orbit</a> every 1,050 days.



In 2004, Dr. David Ramm found a strange signal while pursuing his Ph.D. at the <a href="https://www.canterbury.ac.nz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Canterbury</a>. The signal pointed to a possible planet nearly twice Jupiter’s mass. It orbited nu Oct A every 400 days.



But its orbit could only be stable if it was retrograde. That idea went against accepted theories and lacked observation support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planet-moves-in-the-wrong-direction">Planet moves in the wrong direction</h2>



To settle this puzzle, the team used new high-precision data from the HARPS spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory (<a href="https://www.eso.org/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESO</a>). Their results confirmed the planet’s presence.



“We performed an analysis of the new and archival radial velocity data spanning 18 years and found stable fits that require the planetary orbit to be retrograde and nearly in the same plane as the binary orbit,” said Cheng. This marks the first confirmed case of such a planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nu-octantis-has-a-white-dwarf-star">Nu Octantis has a white dwarf star</h2>



Understanding Nu Oct B was key to solving the mystery. Its mass allowed for two possibilities - it could either be a small main-sequence star or a white dwarf.



Most stars, like our Sun, spend their lives fusing hydrogen into helium. After exhausting their fuel, they collapse into remnants. If their mass is below a certain limit, they become white dwarfs. These are Earth-sized but have mass similar to the Sun.



To investigate Oct B’s nature, the team used SPHERE at ESO’s <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Very Large Telescope</a>. It didn’t detect the star, which meant Nu Oct B is extremely faint - a white dwarf.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nu-octantis-over-billions-of-years">Nu Octantis over billions of years</h2>



The lack of light from Nu Oct B confirmed that the system had changed dramatically over billions of years. The team then explored how this binary started out.



“We found that the system is about 2.9 billion years old and that Nu Oct B was initially about 2.4 times the mass of the Sun and evolved to a white dwarf about 2 billion years ago,” said Cheng. 



“Our analysis showed that the planet could not have formed around Nu Oct A at the same time as the stars.” This meant the planet had to form later, after Nu Oct B became a white dwarf.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-second-generation-planet">A second-generation planet?</h2>



The study opened new ideas about planetary formation. According to Professor Man Hoi Lee, the planet may have formed from material ejected by Nu Oct B as it evolved. 



Or it could be captured from a prograde orbit around the binary into a retrograde orbit around Nu Oct A, noted Professor Lee.



“We might be witnessing the first compelling case of a second-generation planet; either captured, or formed from material expelled by Nu Oct B,” said Dr. Trifon Trifonov of Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg and <a href="https://www.uni-sofia.bg/eng" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski</a>. "It lost more than 75 percent of its primordial mass to become a white dwarf."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-techniques-new-discoveries">New techniques, new discoveries</h2>



“The key to this exciting discovery was the use of several complementary methods to characterize the system in its entirety,” said Dr. Sabine Reffert of Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg.



The team combined long-term radial velocity data with modern imaging methods. They used two ESO-operated instruments: the HARPS spectrograph and SPHERE.



This study shows that planets can exist in unlikely places. Systems with evolved stars may still host planets. Astronomers will likely find more such oddities as their tools and methods improve.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09006-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Bizarre planet orbits backward around a dying star

Most stars are not alone. They live in binary or...

A plain lump of graphite has never looked so ambitious. By squeezing and heating it under brutal conditions, researchers in Beijing have coaxed carbon atoms to line up in an elusive hexagonal pattern that nature usually only forges during meteorite impacts. 



The result is a millimeter-wide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/real-diamonds-can-now-be-created-from-scratch-in-the-lab-in-just-15-minutes/">crystal</a> that pushes the limits of hardness and could soon change how industry cuts, drills, and polishes the world.



The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09343-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> comes from the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (<a href="https://hpstar.ac.cn/channels/3.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HPSTAR</a>), where hexagonal diamond, also called <a href="https://www.mindat.org/min-2431.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lonsdaleite</a>. has been the dream target for decades. 



Lead investigator Ho-Kwang Mao says the new sample is the purest and largest yet, a claim supported by detailed X-ray and electron-microscope checks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-shape-makes-it-stronger">Why shape makes it stronger</h2>



Hexagonal diamond keeps the same strong sp³ bonds as ordinary cubic diamond, but its layers stack in a different order. That shift removes the uniform shear planes that let cracks start in the cubic form. 



Materials <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301010422000969" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theorists</a> have long predicted that this rearrangement could raise indentation resistance by roughly 50 to 60 percent.



Hardness is usually reported with the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/vickers-hardness-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vickers</a> hardness test, which presses a diamond <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-50-years-science-has-created-the-toughest-diamond-on-earth-lonsdaleite/">pyramid</a> into the surface and records how much it indents. Cubic <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0577907317300011" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diamond</a> typically measures around 115 gigapascals on this scale. 



Simulations suggested that hexagonal diamond could sail past 150 GPa, but earlier laboratory attempts produced only nanoscopic, impure grains that were impossible to test.



Meteorites hinted at what was possible. Tiny lonsdaleite inclusions found in the <a href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013AGUFM.P41F1984N/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canyon Diablo</a> meteorite in 1967 revealed a form of carbon harder than any known material, but the fragments were so mixed with regular diamond that their true properties remained unclear for decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-hexagonal-diamond-was-made">How hexagonal diamond was made</h2>



Mao’s team started with single-crystal graphite, then ramped the pressure to 20 GPa and the temperature to 2,552°F (1,400°C) inside a multianvil press. Previous <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.09176" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> suggested that window favored a direct graphite-to-hexagonal transition, and experiments on related samples at the same pressure have confirmed stable lonsdaleite formation. 



The treated sliver, just under one millimeter (0.04 inches) across and seventy micrometers thick, survived decompression without reverting to softer forms.



“Once we know how to make it, anyone can produce it. It’s incredibly valuable,” said Mao after seeing the recovered crystal at the team’s Beijing lab.



High-resolution transmission-electron micrographs showed a tightly interwoven mosaic of 100-nanometer crystals with almost no cubic contamination. Such texturing, while good for toughness, may have slightly lowered the first hardness reading.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-toughness-the-hard-way">Testing toughness the hard way</h2>



Indentation experiments on the fresh sample gave a Vickers value of 120 GPa, edging past the lower end of natural diamond tests yet still shy of the theoretical maximum. Mao believes purer starting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-second-largest-diamond-found-in-botswana/">graphite</a> and finer control of heating ramps will close that gap.&nbsp;



“Obviously, the deeper you go, the hotter it gets, [and] it could enable them to go deeper underground,” said James Elliott, a materials engineer at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> who was not involved in the project, when asked about geothermal boreholes.&nbsp;



Lab tests also suggest the new crystal rides comfortably above 2,012°F (1,100°C) before oxidation weakens it. This is far beyond the 1,292°F (700°C) ceiling that sends cubic diamond tooling to an early retirement. 



That thermal edge stems from the absence of easy slip planes, which normally open pathways for oxygen and metal attack.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-hexagonal-diamond-helps-drilling">How hexagonal diamond helps drilling</h2>



Geothermal wells must pierce miles of abrasive, heat-soaked rock. Today’s polycrystalline diamond compact cutters dull quickly once temperatures climb past 1,202°F (650°C), forcing costly tripping of drill strings for replacement heads. 



A cutter faced with hexagonal diamond could stay sharp for long enough to reach hotter reservoirs where supercritical water, and thus higher power output, awaits.



The same physics excites manufacturers of aerospace composites and semiconductor wafers. Silicon carbide, gallium nitride, and carbon-carbon brake disks chew through conventional diamond wheels because localized heating softens their edges. 



A tougher, hotter-running abrasive could slice these materials cleanly, saving coolant, energy, and scrap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mass-production-is-still-a-challenge">Mass production is still a challenge</h2>



Scaling production remains the missing piece. The Beijing pressure cell yields a crystal roughly the diameter of a fine mechanical pencil lead after several hours of run time. 



Mao’s group is filing patent paperwork while they hunt ways to pack bigger graphite seeds into arrays that can be transformed in a single press cycle.



Cost is another hurdle. High-pressure apparatus that can generate 20 GPa typically fills a room and draws kilowatts. Industry partners are experimenting with shock compression and laser-driven synthesis, but those routes currently create defective or mixed-phase outputs that fall short of tooling standards.



Material scientists also caution that Vickers hardness alone does not guarantee performance. Brittleness, fracture toughness, and chemical stability under lubricants all influence service life. 



Early signs look promising, yet toolmakers will demand years of wear data before swapping from established cubic diamond composites.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09343-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



-----



Like what you read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and Earth.com.



-----

Hexagonal diamond inspired by meteorites is the hardest yet

A plain lump of graphite has never looked so ambitious....

A faint bridge of starlight, stretching nearly a million light years, has emerged between two galaxies in the Abell 3667 cluster. Located 700 million light years from Earth, this remarkable feature shows stars in the act of being stripped from one galaxy and pulled into another. It offers direct optical evidence of a major galactic merger.



“This is the first time a feature of this scale and size has been found in a local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-may-be-inside-a-giant-void-in-the-universe-explains-hubble-tension/">galaxy</a> cluster,” said Anthony Englert, a Ph.D. candidate at <a href="https://www.brown.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a>. 



“We knew that it was possible for a bridge like this to form between two galaxies, but it hadn’t been documented anywhere before now. It was a huge surprise that we were able to image such a faint feature.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-faint-trail-of-stars">A faint trail of stars </h2>



Englert and his team used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the <a href="https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/ctio/victor-blanco-4m-telescope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Víctor M. Blanco Telescope</a> in Chile. By combining 28 hours of observations, they captured an ultra-faint trail of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dozens-of-ghost-galaxies-may-be-orbiting-the-milky-way/">stars</a>. 



The resulting image, stitched together from years of archived data, reveals an intergalactic bridge of light.



“Because Blanco has been imaging with DECam for the past decade, there is a ton of archival data available,” said Englert. “It was just a happy coincidence that so many people had imaged Abell 3667 over the years, and we were able to stack all of those observations together.”



The accumulation of data helped expose a process called intracluster light (ICL), where stars exist outside galaxies due to gravitational stripping.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-galaxies-merging-violently">Two galaxies merging violently</h2>



This ICL bridge shows that Abell 3667 is the product of two smaller galaxy clusters. Each has a brightest cluster galaxy (BCG), and they are now locked in a violent merger. 



Normally, a single BCG grows by pulling in stars from several smaller galaxies. But here, both BCGs are fighting for dominance.



Abell 3667 is a clear example of an aggressive merger. X-ray and radio observations had already suggested such activity, but this optical evidence confirms it. 



The smaller BCG is losing stars to the larger one, and their surrounding galaxies are also blending into one massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-watched-an-entire-galaxy-turn-on-the-lights-in-real-time-black-hole-awoke/">cluster</a>.



This merger didn’t start yesterday. Data suggests that Abell 3667 began forming about a billion years ago when the two smaller clusters collided.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-glimpse-of-what-s-to-come">A glimpse of what's to come</h2>



The discovery gives scientists a glimpse of what to expect from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which will soon begin a decade-long survey of the southern sky. 



The observatory uses a telescope twice the size of Blanco and carries the largest camera ever built for astronomy.



“Rubin is going to be able to image ICL in much the same way as we did here, but it’s going to do it for every single local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxygen-detected-in-the-most-distant-and-primitive-galaxy-ever-analyzed/">galaxy</a> cluster in the southern sky,” Englert said. “What we did is just a small sliver of what Rubin is going to be able to do. It’s really going to blow the study of the ICL wide open.”



The project, called the <a href="https://rubinobservatory.org/explore/how-rubin-works/lsst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Legacy Survey of Space and Time</a>, may change how we understand cluster formation, galaxy evolution, and cosmic structure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-bridge-confirms-merging-galaxies">Light bridge confirms merging galaxies</h2>



Intracluster light isn’t just beautiful - it’s also useful. Scientists believe its distribution matches the pattern of dark matter, which makes up most of the universe’s mass but doesn’t emit light.



“ICL is quite important for cosmology,” said Ian Dell’Antonio, professor of physics at Brown. “The distribution of this light should mirror the distribution of dark matter, so it provides an indirect way to ‘see’ the dark matter.”



The light, in a way, acts like a tracer. It maps gravitational forces where direct observation fails. That’s why the discovery of this bridge in Abell 3667 is more than just a visual marvel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxies-do-not-evolve-alone">Galaxies do not evolve alone</h2>



The Blanco Telescope and the upcoming Rubin Observatory are both operated by NOIRLab. This center runs America’s nighttime optical telescopes and is funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a>.



The Abell 3667 research received support from several U.S. institutions. The National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and NASA’s <a href="https://sites.brown.edu/rispacegrant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rhode Island Space Grant</a> all helped make it happen.



As stars travel across this light bridge, they also carry stories about the formation of cosmic giants and the secrets of dark matter.



What began as scattered archival images became one of the clearest signs yet that galaxies do not evolve alone - they collide, merge, and reshape the universe.



The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ade8f1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Faint glow reveals galaxies merging in deep space

A faint bridge of starlight, stretching nearly a million light...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



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



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



—–



Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



—–



Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.



—–

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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...

News coming your way