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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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World's smallest pacemaker is set to revolutionize heart health

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

Antibiotic resistance is rising. Infections spread unchecked as old treatments fail. The next solution may come not from labs, but from swamps and forests. Frogs - ancient survivors of earth’s changing ecosystems - have evolved powerful natural defenses. These defenses may hold the key to future antibiotics.



Frogs thrive in environments teeming with microbes. Yet, they rarely suffer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-pass-down-their-memories-to-fight-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infections</a>. That mystery has long intrigued researchers. Could frogs be carrying biological secrets that might save human lives?



​A new study led by&nbsp;Professor Cesar de la Fuente&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upenn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;believes the answer is yes.&nbsp;His team is tapping into the molecular defenses of frogs to design synthetic antibiotics that may defeat drug-resistant bacteria.​



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frog-evolution-shaped-powerful-antibiotics">Frog evolution shaped powerful antibiotics</h2>



Frogs have existed for over 200 million years. They have spread across continents and climates, adapting to jungles, rivers, deserts, and subarctic forests. Living in moist, microbe-rich environments, frogs constantly face bacterial threats. 



To survive, many species evolved antimicrobial peptides in their skin. These natural compounds kill harmful bacteria on contact. Unlike traditional antibiotics, they do not easily trigger resistance.



One frog species, Odorrana andersonii, has become the focus of research. It produces a peptide known as Andersonnin-D1. Chinese scientists first identified it in 2012. 



Despite its strength against bacteria, the peptide clumps together, making it less effective and more toxic. Because of this flaw, it cannot be used in clinical medicine without modification.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mission-to-rebuild-nature-s-blueprints">Mission to rebuild nature’s blueprints</h2>



Professor Cesar de la Fuente’s lab works at the intersection of biology, engineering, and synthetic chemistry. His team looks for inspiration in nature’s forgotten corners. 



Their earlier work explored ancient DNA from extinct animals like the woolly mammoth and Neanderthals. They also investigated the human gut microbiome, home to countless natural compounds.



“Each study is motivated by imagining environments where evolution would spur the creation of antibiotics,” said de la Fuente.



“Amphibians live in very microbe-rich environments. They very rarely get infected despite being surrounded by microbes, so they must produce antimicrobial compounds.”



Inspired by this evolutionary logic, the team set out to redesign Andersonnin-D1. The goal was to remove its dangerous tendencies while keeping its bacterial-fighting power.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-frog-antibiotics-in-the-lab">Improving frog antibiotics in the lab</h2>



Using structure-guided design, the researchers altered the chemical structure of Andersonnin-D1. This approach allows experts to make small, deliberate changes to a molecule’s sequence and observe the effects.



Marcelo Torres is a research associate in the de la Fuente lab and co-author of the paper.



“With structure-guided design, we change the sequence of the molecule. And then we see how those mutations affect the function that we are trying to improve," said Torres.



This method generated several synthetic peptides. These versions kept the strong <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cigarette-waste-fuels-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antimicrobial effect</a> but avoided the clumping that caused toxicity in the original. 



Each design aimed for maximum precision, producing molecules more suitable for real-world use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-the-molecules-to-the-test">Putting the molecules to the test</h2>



Designing new&nbsp;frog-based&nbsp;antibiotics is only the beginning. To prove their value, the synthetic peptides had to succeed in rigorous lab tests. 



The team exposed the molecules to a range of harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-resistance-could-cause-a-health-crisis-globally/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a>. The results were promising. In preclinical models, the peptides matched the strength of polymyxin B - a last-resort drug used when others fail.



More importantly, these synthetic antibiotics showed low toxicity. They left human cells unharmed and did not disrupt beneficial gut bacteria. This makes them more targeted and less harmful than many existing drugs. The lab tested the peptides in both simple and complex bacterial communities.



“Those experiments are very difficult to set up because you need to grow different bacteria at once,” says de la Fuente. “We had to come up with the specific ratio of each bacterium to have a sustained community.”



These community-based models better reflect the conditions of real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antimicrobial-resistance-could-cause-39-million-deaths-by-2050/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infections</a> in the human body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steps-toward-clinical-use">Steps toward clinical use</h2>



If additional studies continue to show strong results, the team will prepare for Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies. 



These tests assess safety and efficacy before a drug can be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Only after passing these stages can the peptides move into clinical trials involving human patients.



“We are excited that frogs - and nature in general - can inspire new molecules that could be developed into antibiotics,” said de la Fuente. “Thanks to the power of engineering, we can take those natural molecules and turn them into something more useful for humanity.”



This line of research represents a fusion of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-plays-an-overlooked-role-in-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary biology</a> and advanced engineering. It shows how careful study of nature’s own defenses can guide the creation of life-saving medicines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-s-role-in-innovation">Nature’s role in innovation</h2>



The research was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania’s <a href="https://www.seas.upenn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Engineering and Applied Science</a>. It was supported by funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIH</a>), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (<a href="https://www.dtra.mil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DTRA</a>), <a href="https://us.pg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Procter &amp; Gamble</a>, and the <a href="https://www.aiche.org/giving" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AIChE Foundation</a>.



The study is not just about frogs or antibiotics. It reflects a larger movement in science. Instead of only inventing new molecules from scratch, researchers are increasingly exploring the solutions that evolution already tested over millions of years.



Nature, shaped by survival, often creates molecules more elegant and efficient than anything built by human hands.



In this case, one frog’s molecular defense may lead to a major medical breakthrough. As the world searches for new antibiotics, it may be ancient animals - and the researchers who study them - that help protect our future.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.02.007" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trends in Biotechnology</a>.



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Frogs lead the way in developing new antibiotics

Antibiotic resistance is rising. Infections spread unchecked as old treatments...

We often think parenting begins after birth - diapers, lullabies, and sleepless nights. But what if a mother’s bond with her baby starts much earlier, long before the baby is born?



A recent study led by Dr. Nora Medina from <a href="https://www.jefferson.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomas Jefferson University</a> suggests just that. 



Dr. Medina and her colleagues at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a> have shed light on how the emotional connection between mother and child during pregnancy lays the groundwork for future relationships.



This work goes beyond traditional research, which often begins after the child is born. By tracing bonds from the prenatal stage, Medina reveals new insight into how early experiences influence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moms-health-shapes-how-well-an-embryo-develops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parenthood</a>. 



Her study focuses on a group often overlooked or misjudged - young, low-income, racially diverse mothers - and highlights their emotional resilience and strength. In doing so, she challenges long-held assumptions about who makes a good parent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mother-child-bond-begins-before-birth">Mother-child bond begins before birth</h2>



Dr. Medina and her team followed 160 women from pregnancy through their children’s toddler years. The mothers came from racially diverse backgrounds and faced economic challenges. Yet within this group, the researchers discovered powerful stories of connection, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-care-linked-to-the-evolution-of-longer-lifespans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotion, and care</a>.



Mothers who reported feeling emotionally connected to their babies during pregnancy later had stronger, more positive relationships with them. They interacted with greater sensitivity and warmth. These bonds weren’t fleeting emotions - they predicted lasting patterns in how mothers related to their toddlers over time.



On the other hand, mothers who had difficult experiences with their own parents struggled more to connect prenatally. 



These women often expressed frustration and anger in their early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-chili-during-pregnancy-may-actually-be-a-good-idea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parenting</a>. The study reveals how cycles of emotional distance can repeat — but also how they can be identified and changed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bonding-shapes-how-motherhood-begins">Bonding shapes how motherhood begins</h2>



Most parenting studies begin after childbirth. They examine how parents behave, what support systems they use, and how children respond. But Medina’s work shifts that focus to pregnancy itself - a time often treated as purely medical.



Her research fills a critical gap. The prenatal period isn’t just about physical development. It’s also an emotional window, where a parent begins forming their sense of identity and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-of-your-energy-comes-from-mom-not-dad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">connection</a>. 



When that early bond feels strong, it can shape everything that comes after - from how a mother soothes her baby to how she sees herself in the role of a parent.



These findings suggest we need to rethink when parenting really begins. Pregnancy isn’t just preparation - it’s the beginning of a relationship.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-mothers-can-build-strong-early-bonds">Young mothers can build strong early bonds</h2>



In addition to emotional insights, Dr. Medina’s study takes on harmful cultural stereotypes. Young, low-income mothers often carry the burden of negative assumptions. They are seen as disengaged or incapable. Medina wanted to counter that image with data from real lives.



“Parenting is challenging, and young, low-income mothers face additional stressors,” said Dr. Medina. “I focused on studying mother-infant relationships within this population to produce findings that may inform parenting support programs more closely aligned with the lived experiences of young, low-income mothers.”



The results contradict common misconceptions. The majority of participants reported strong prenatal connections. They continued to show care, attentiveness, and love as their children grew. 



This group, often painted in broad and negative strokes, revealed themselves as thoughtful, emotionally aware parents - navigating hardship with strength.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-support-and-the-mother-baby-bond">Early support and the mother-baby bond</h2>



Dr. Medina believes our systems need to support mothers earlier in the journey. Too often, interventions wait until problems appear. Instead, she proposes we begin during pregnancy, when emotional connections are forming.



Dr. Medina suggests that support to promote strong parent-child relationships should begin during pregnancy. Interventions should help young mothers explore their past relationship experiences and recognize how they shape their expectations of parenthood. 



Programs that incorporate perinatal social workers or doulas could help facilitate these discussions and encourage healthier attachment patterns.



Support during pregnancy allows mothers to reflect on their own emotional histories. It also helps them build a sense of confidence and preparedness. 



Early conversations about relationships, expectations, and past trauma can have lasting effects on parenting style and connection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-access-remains-the-greatest-challenge">Access remains the greatest challenge</h2>



While the research offers clear solutions, one problem remains - access. Despite the promising insights, Dr. Medina says funding remains a key barrier to accessibility of such support programs.



Moving forward, she hopes to further investigate how familial and community-based support can help strengthen early mother-child bonds and improve long-term outcomes for young mothers and their children.



Her hope lies in community support networks - systems already embedded in many families’ lives. These local connections may offer flexible, culturally grounded ways to support young mothers. 



Medina’s future research will explore how family structures and neighborhood ties can reinforce early attachment.



Dr. Medina’s study invites us to expand our understanding of what it means to parent. Parenthood doesn’t begin with birth - it begins with emotion, intention, and connection. Her work reminds us that even in challenging circumstances, strong relationships can take root early.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/imhj.22162" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Infant Mental Health Journal Infancy and Early Childhood</a>.



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Mothers start bonding with their baby before delivery

We often think parenting begins after birth - diapers, lullabies,...

Ever heard of a rule that's been around for so long, everyone just assumes it's unbreakable? Well, a team of scientists is turning that notion on its head by proving wrong a key rule of organic chemistry.



Neil Garg, a distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry, is leading the charge to rewrite a fundamental principle that's been part of organic chemistry for the past hundred years.



In a recent study published in Science, Garg and his colleagues at <a href="https://www.ucla.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA</a> revealed that Bredt's rule - a staple in chemistry textbooks since 1924 - might not be as ironclad as we've been led to believe.



But before we get into how they're shaking things up, let's take a step back and understand what this rule is all about.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-exactly-is-bredt-s-rule">What exactly is Bredt's rule?</h2>



According to Bredt's rule, you can't have a double bond at the bridgehead position of a small, bridged ring system -- a kind of molecular structure that looks like two rings sharing some atoms. 



Imagine trying to fit a double bond in a tight space - it just doesn't work because the molecule becomes too strained and unstable.



In these small ring systems, the atoms are connected in such a way that there's not enough room for the flat shape of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/capturing-carbon-directly-from-the-air-is-now-much-more-efficient-thanks-to-new-material/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">double bond</a>. 



The angles get all messed up, and the molecule would be forced into an awkward position. It's kind of like trying to bend a straight stick into a circle without breaking it - it just doesn't work that way.



Bredt's rule has been a guiding principle for chemists studying organic molecules, especially those known as olefins.



Olefins are compounds featuring a double bond between two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-detect-molecules-that-store-carbon-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon atoms</a>, and they usually have a flat, planar structure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-bredt-s-rule-upside-down">Turning Bredt's rule upside down</h2>



Garg's team decided to challenge that assumption. 



Instead of accepting the limitations imposed by this long-standing rule, they set out to prove that these molecules, called anti-Bredt olefins (ABOs), can indeed be created and used.



"People aren't exploring anti-Bredt olefins because they think they can't," Garg pointed out.



Using a clever approach, the researchers treated certain molecules known as silyl (pseudo)halides with a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-water-fluoridation-still-effective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fluoride source</a>. This reaction was designed to produce the elusive ABOs. 



Since these molecules are highly unstable and tend to fall apart quickly, the team included another chemical to "trap" them. 



This way, they could capture the ABOs long enough to study them and even use them to make new, valuable compounds.



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



Anti-Bredt olefins, or ABOs, are a bit of a chemistry oddity. 



Normally, double bonds don’t like to hang out at the bridgehead position of a bicyclic compound - that’s where Bredt’s Rule comes in. 



It says that putting a double bond at a bridgehead is usually too strained, especially in small or medium-sized rings. 



The atoms just can’t line up the way they need to for a stable double bond. But anti-Bredt olefins break that rule. 



They do have a double bond at the bridgehead, and they manage to exist anyway - sometimes even with surprising stability.



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



By showing that ABOs can be generated and utilized, the team is opening up new possibilities for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-could-revolutionize-drug-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drug discovery</a>.



"There's a big push in the pharmaceutical industry to develop chemical reactions that give three-dimensional structures like ours because they can be used to discover new medicines," Garg explained. 



The ability to create these unique molecular structures means scientists can explore a whole new realm of compounds that were previously off-limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-rules-need-to-be-challenged">More "rules" need to be challenged</h2>



Garg's work doesn't just break a rule -- it invites the entire scientific community to rethink how we approach long-held beliefs. 



"We shouldn't have rules like this -- or if we have them, they should only exist with the constant reminder that they're guidelines, not rules. It destroys creativity when we have rules that supposedly can't be overcome," he said.



By challenging Bredt's rule, the team is advocating for a more flexible and innovative approach to chemistry. 



They're reminding us that science is always evolving, and what we consider impossible today might just be tomorrow's breakthrough.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-needs-more-creativity">Science needs more creativity</h2>



What does this mean for budding chemists and researchers? 



It's a call to question assumptions and push boundaries. If a century-old rule can be upended, who knows what other "impossible" feats are within reach?



"What this study shows is that contrary to one hundred years of conventional wisdom, chemists can make and use anti-Bredt olefins to make value-added products," Garg noted. 



It's not just about breaking a rule; it's about expanding the toolkit scientists have to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges, like developing new medications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-garg-and-bredt-s-rule">What's next for Garg and Bredt's rule?</h2>



This discovery is a stepping stone to numerous possibilities in organic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and basically any other field of study.



By demonstrating that ABOs can be both generated and trapped effectively, Garg's team has laid the groundwork for future research that could lead to significant advancements in medicine.



So, the next time you hear someone say, "You can't do that," remember that sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective and a willingness to challenge the status quo. 



Who knows? You might just be the one to rewrite the next chapter in the science books.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq3519" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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100-year-old chemistry rule proven false, updating textbooks comes next

Ever heard of a rule that's been around for so...

California,Wildflower,Super,Bloom,In,Carrizo,Plain,National,Monument,-

Flowers are more than just a sign of spring - they’re part of a natural rhythm shaped by light, temperature, and rainfall. Scientists are now studying that rhythm to better understand how our planet is changing.



A recent study has shown that wildflowers in California can be tracked from above using aircraft and space-based tools. 



The technology, originally designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPL</a>), picks up subtle changes in color that occur during a plant’s life cycle.



These findings could offer a new way for farmers and natural-resource managers to monitor the health and timing of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-of-life-created-for-flowering-plants-using-400-million-specimens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flowering plants</a>, which are essential to ecosystems and agriculture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-seasonal-plant-life">Monitoring seasonal plant life</h2>



Scientists from the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland-College Park</a> and NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> teamed up to test how remote sensing could capture large-scale flowering patterns.



They surveyed thousands of acres of protected land using a high-tech tool called an imaging spectrometer. 



Built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the instrument was mounted on a plane and scanned the land below as the plane flew along.



It recorded light in hundreds of narrow wavelength bands, far beyond what the human eye can see. This allowed it to map out the extent of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-blooming-92-days-earlier-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blooming</a> and fading flowers over several months.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/wildflowers_monitoring_imaging-spectrometer_airplane_nasa_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/wildflowers_monitoring_imaging-spectrometer_airplane_nasa_1s.webp" alt="In this illustration, an imaging spectrometer aboard a research plane measures sunlight reflecting off California coastal scrub. In the data cube below, the top panel shows the true-color view of the area. Lower panels depict the spectral fingerprint for every point in the image, capturing the visible range of light (blue, green, and red wavelengths) to the near-infrared (NIR) and beyond. Spatial resolution is around 16 feet (5 meters). Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1963384"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In this illustration, an imaging spectrometer aboard a research plane measures sunlight reflecting off California coastal scrub. In the data cube below, the top panel shows the true-color view of the area. Lower panels depict the spectral fingerprint for every point in the image, capturing the visible range of light (blue, green, and red wavelengths) to the near-infrared (NIR) and beyond. Spatial resolution is around 16 feet (5 meters). Click to enlarge Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



It was the first time the instrument had been deployed to track vegetation steadily through the growing season, making this a "first-of-a-kind study,” according to David Schimel, a research scientist at JPL.



The study of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-butterfly-migration-sparked-by-a-surge-in-vegetation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vegetation</a> in relation to seasons is known as phenology and it is important to botanists and agriculturalists alike. From wildflowers to crops, most flowering plants are triggered by shifts in weather and daylight length. 



In addition, scientists are increasingly focused on this connection to monitor how ecosystems respond to warmer temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-flowers-are-hard-to-track">Why flowers are hard to track</h2>



Field surveys and time-lapse photography have long been used to monitor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildflowers-are-self-fertilizing-to-deal-with-a-lack-of-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildflower</a> life histories. But those methods only offer a limited view.



“One challenge is that, compared to leaves or other parts of a plant, flowers can be pretty ephemeral,” said Yoseline Angel, a scientist from the University of Maryland-College Park and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “They may last only a few weeks.”



That fleeting nature makes it tough to gather reliable data, especially across large areas. Angel and her team turned to one of the most distinct traits of flowers - their color - as a way to study the timing of blooming from the sky.



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



The bright colors of flowers come from pigments that fall into three main groups. Carotenoids and betalains create yellow, orange, and red tones. Anthocyanins are behind the deep reds, purples, and blues. 



These pigments absorb and reflect light in unique ways, creating a “spectral fingerprint.” Using spectrometers, researchers can therefore scan light patterns to identify plants and even track changes as they grow and bloom. 



These tools have been used for decades to study Earth and other planets, but now they’re being fine-tuned to observe the seasonal changes in flowering plants.



In 2022, a spectrometer called <a href="https://avirisng.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AVIRIS-NG</a> (Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer – Next Generation) flew over two nature preserves in Santa Barbara County: the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve and the Sedgwick Reserve.



Among the native plants monitored were Coreopsis gigantea and Artemisia californica. The scans ran from February to June.



The team developed a method to differentiate the flower signals from soil, leaves, and shadows. In doing so, they captured 97% of the spectral differences among those features and were able to pinpoint flowering stages with 80% accuracy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-wildflowers-to-agriculture">From wildflowers to agriculture</h2>



This method could one day help track flowering plants across the globe. 



Since flowers make up nearly 90% of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-plant-species-remain-unphotographed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant species</a> on land, this kind of remote sensing could support a wide range of work - from ecology to food production.



A key goal, Angel noted, is to support farmers and land managers who rely on flowering plants - along with the insects and pollinators that depend on them. These plants are vital for producing fruits, nuts, cotton, and even many medicines.



She’s now applying the same technique to data from <a href="https://earth.jpl.nasa.gov/emit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMIT</a> (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation), another NASA instrument that operates from the International Space Station.



While EMIT’s main purpose is to study mineral dust in dry regions, it can also detect plant pigments. 



By combining this space-based data with weather and environmental information, researchers may one day be able to predict events like <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/poppy-superbloom-in-the-california-desert/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">superblooms</a> - rare bursts of flowers in the desert that follow heavy rains.



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



Superblooms are nature’s way of showing off. They happen when a rare combo of perfect weather conditions - like heavy rains after a long drought - triggers wildflowers to explode across a landscape in crazy, vibrant color. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/superbloom_carrizo-plain-national-park_california_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/superbloom_carrizo-plain-national-park_california_1s.webp" alt="Wildflower super bloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument - one of the best place to see wildflowers in California" class="wp-image-1963388"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wildflower super bloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument - one of the best place to see wildflowers in California. Click to enlarge.</figcaption></figure>



Think entire valleys carpeted in orange poppies, purple lupines, and yellow goldfields, stretching as far as the eye can see. 



These blooms don’t just pop up anywhere; they’re most famous in arid places like California’s deserts, where wildflowers lie dormant in the soil, waiting years - sometimes decades - for just the right moment to wake up and party.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-citizen-science-and-the-joy-of-flowers">Citizen science and the joy of flowers</h2>



Angel said one of the most rewarding parts of her research is seeing how much people love flowers. 



“I have social media alerts on my phone,” she added, sharing how she stays updated on wildflower sightings around the world.



As flowers continue to signal the pulse of the planet, new technologies are helping us pay closer attention - from the ground, the air, and even from space.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70127" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosphere</a>.



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NASA tracks changes in seasonal flower cycles and migration patterns from the air

Flowers are more than just a sign of spring -...

Deep in the galaxy’s central molecular zone (CMZ), surrounding the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s center, clouds of dust and gas swirl amid energetic shock waves.&nbsp;



Now, a collaboration of international astronomers - using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (<a href="https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ALMA</a>) - has greatly sharpened our view of these processes by a factor of 100.



The team has uncovered an unexpected class of long, narrow filaments within this turbulent region, giving fresh insight into the cyclical formation and destruction of material in the CMZ.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-shock-generated-turbulence">Tracking shock-generated turbulence</h2>



Although researchers have long recognized the CMZ as a zone filled with ever-churning dust and gases, the driver behind these dynamic flows of matter had remained murky. 



Molecules in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">molecular clouds</a> serve as markers of different phenomena, with silicon monoxide (SiO) standing out as a tracer of shock waves.&nbsp;



By capitalizing on ALMA’s high sensitivity to identify multiple molecular emission lines, a team led by Kai Yang of <a href="https://en.sjtu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shanghai Jiao Tong University</a> has managed to map these slender filaments at an unprecedentedly fine scale. 



The findings reveal a striking interaction between shock-generated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-microscopic-noises-could-trigger-spontaneous-turbulence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">turbulence</a> and the newly observed structures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-a-turbulent-environment">Observing a turbulent environment</h2>



Because the CMZ lies so close to our galaxy’s central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-ways-black-hole-unleashes-mysterious-flares/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>, it endures intense gravitational forces and frequent disturbances, making the environment especially dynamic. 



The narrow filaments now identified confirm that shock waves play a considerable role, stirring and redistributing material.



“When we checked the ALMA images showing the outflows, we noticed these long and narrow filaments spatially offset from any star-forming regions," Kai Yang explained.



"Unlike any objects we know, these filaments really surprised us. Since then, we have been pondering what they are."



These “slim filaments” emerged unexpectedly in the SiO emission lines - together with lines from eight other molecules - and present velocities along our line of sight that do not align with other, previously known filaments or outflows. 



On top of that, they display no correlation with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-map-reveals-that-the-milky-ways-dust-has-very-unusual-properties/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dust</a> emission and apparently lack hydrostatic equilibrium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-space-tornadoes-and-violent-gas-flow">Space tornadoes and violent gas flow</h2>



“Our research contributes to the fascinating Galactic Center landscape by uncovering these slim filaments as an important part of material circulation,” said Xing Lu, a research professor at the <a href="http://english.shao.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shanghai Astronomical Observatory</a> and a corresponding author on the paper.



One interpretation is that these filaments act like channels for gas flow, and facilitate the integration or removal of shock-released molecules from the surrounding environment.



“We can envision these as space tornados: they are violent streams of gas, they dissipate quickly, and they distribute materials into the environment efficiently,” Lu added. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/space-tornadoes_discovered_center-milky-way_credit-Astronomy-Astrophysics_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/space-tornadoes_discovered_center-milky-way_credit-Astronomy-Astrophysics_1s.webp" alt="Slim filaments in the CMZ. Credit: Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics (2025)" class="wp-image-1963330"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Slim filaments in the CMZ. Credit: Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics (2025). Click to enlarge.</figcaption></figure>



Determining exactly what triggers these filaments remains open to investigation, yet their presence points to a strong link with ongoing shock processes, according to the research team.



Based on several pieces of evidence - the detection of the SiO 5-4 rotational transition in ALMA data, the presence of CH3OH masers, and the abundances of complex organic molecules - the researchers inferred that these structures are shock-driven. 



Each shock event appears to release SiO and other organic compounds, injecting them into the interstellar medium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-space-tornadoes-emerge">How space tornadoes emerge</h2>



Yichen Zhang is a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a corresponding author of the paper.



"ALMA’s high angular resolution and extraordinary sensitivity were essential to detect these molecular line emissions associated with the slim filaments, and to confirm that there is no association between these structures with dust emissions,” said Zhang. 



“Our discovery marks a significant advancement, by detecting these filaments on a much finer 0.01 parsec scale to mark the working surface of these shocks.”



Understanding how these structures emerge offers a deeper look at CMZ dynamics. First, the hypothesized shock waves create filaments that emit certain molecular lines, distributing molecules such as CH3OH, CH3CN, and HC3N into the local environment. 



Next, the filaments decay, releasing newly shock-released materials across broader regions. 



Finally, the molecules, once again free in the gas phase, eventually re-freeze onto dust grains, preserving an equilibrium between depletion and replenishment in the CMZ. 



If these slim filaments are as common as the sample suggests, this cyclical process might be significant for the broader region’s matter budget.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vital-conduits-for-recycling-matter">Vital conduits for recycling matter</h2>



“SiO is currently the only molecule that exclusively traces shocks, and the SiO 5-4 rotational transition is only detectable in shocked regions that have both relatively high densities and high temperatures," Yang continued. 



"This makes it a particularly valuable tool for tracing shock-induced processes in the dense regions of the CMZ."



Such revelations cast the CMZ in a new light, highlighting shock waves as a central driver in reconfiguring dust, gas, and molecules. 



By fueling cyclical changes in chemical composition, these "space tornadoes" presumably leave their imprint on the formation and dissolution of clouds that might spawn new stars - or even feed material into the supermassive black hole.



With future ALMA surveys of multiple SiO transitions and wide-ranging observations over the CMZ, astronomers aim to corroborate the filaments’ shock origin and map their potential distribution across this turbulent galactic region.&nbsp;



These efforts, combined with advanced simulations, may confirm or refine the emerging hypothesis that “slim filaments” serve as vital conduits for recycling matter in and around the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>’s center, thus shaping the environment in which stars and black holes interact.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202453191" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</a>.



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'Space tornadoes' discovered at the center of our galaxy

Deep in the galaxy’s central molecular zone (CMZ), surrounding the...

The European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled the first survey data from its Euclid mission. The images feature a spectacular collection of galaxies, clusters, and deep cosmic fields. 



This first, massive Euclid data release previews what will soon become one of the largest cosmic maps ever created.



Three deep field mosaics highlight hundreds of thousands of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strange-signals-from-the-center-of-our-galaxy-hint-at-a-new-kind-of-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a>. Their shapes, brightness, and distributions offer a rich visual of the cosmic web. 



Each observation captures active galactic nuclei and rare, short-lived celestial events.



These glimpses already provide hints about the unseen forces shaping our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxy-found-in-the-early-universe-that-shouldnt-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universe</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-euclid-maps-26-million-galaxies">Euclid maps 26 million galaxies</h2>



The Euclid mission mapped 63 square degrees of galaxy-filled sky in just one week.



That area equals 300 full Moons. <a href="https://youtu.be/rXCBFlIpvfQ?si=jV1erYHoOnb-ggqy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">It captured more than 26 million galaxies</a>, including quasars up to 10.5 billion light-years away. The plan is for Euclid to scan each of the three deep regions 30–52 times before 2030.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Euclid_Galaxies-in-different-shapes_ESA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Euclid_Galaxies-in-different-shapes_ESA_1s.webp" alt="This image shows examples of galaxies in different shapes, all captured by Euclid during its first observations of the Deep Field areas. Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1963131"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image shows examples of galaxies in different shapes, all captured by Euclid during its first observations of the Deep Field areas. Credit: ESA</figcaption></figure>



The final sky map will cover one-third of the sky, around 14,000 square degrees. 



These repeat passes will build an incredibly detailed 3D cosmic atlas that will help researchers explore how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/andromeda-galaxy-shows-signs-of-violent-past-collisions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies formed</a> and how dark matter shaped their journey.



“We are unlocking a treasure trove of information for scientists to dive into,” stated Professor Carole Mundell, director of science at the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-euclid-reveals-galaxy-web-structure">Euclid reveals galaxy web structure</h2>



Each new observation sharpens our view of the universe's large-scale structure. 



Filaments of normal and dark matter stretch across space like a vast web. These filaments are where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-radiation-may-actually-be-a-catalyst-for-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> formed and evolved. 



Euclid’s visible and near-infrared instruments offer precision in measuring the shapes and distances of these galaxies.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Euclid_Deep-Field-South_70x-zoom_ESA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Euclid_Deep-Field-South_70x-zoom_ESA_1s.webp" alt="This image shows an area of Euclid’s Deep Field South. The area is zoomed in 70 times compared to the large mosaic. Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1963129"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image shows an area of Euclid’s Deep Field South. The area is zoomed in 70 times compared to the large mosaic. Credit: ESA</figcaption></figure>



“Just think of the discoveries that await us,” noted Valeria Pettorino, an astrophysicist who works on the Euclid Project.



ESA scientists expect these images to refine our understanding of dark matter and dark energy. Together, these two invisible components make up 95% of the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-classifying-galaxies-by-shape-and-features">Classifying galaxies by shape and features </h2>



Euclid’s massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spherex-will-scan-the-galaxy-to-look-for-lifes-ingredients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> dataset requires fresh strategies. Every day, it sends back 100 GB of data. 



Scientists use AI models and citizen science to process this flood of information. A key result is a new catalogue of over 380,000 galaxies classified by shape and features.



“AI is a fundamental and necessary part of our process,” noted Mike Walmsley, a Euclid Consortium scientist based at the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Toronto</a>, Canada, who has been heavily involved in astronomical deep learning algorithms for the past decade. .



The Zoobot algorithm, trained by nearly 10,000 volunteers, now classifies galaxies by traits like spiral arms and mergers. This first catalogue is just 0.4% of what Euclid is expected to deliver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gravitational-lenses-reveal-hidden-matter">Gravitational lenses reveal hidden matter</h2>



When light travels to us from faraway galaxies, it doesn't always move in a straight line. If it passes through matter - like a galaxy or a cluster of galaxies - on the way, the light gets bent. 



This bending is called gravitational lensing. It's a natural effect caused by gravity and helps scientists detect dark matter, which we can't see directly.



Using artificial intelligence and help from human volunteers, Euclid has already found 500 possible examples of strong gravitational lenses. Most of these had never been seen before.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Euclid_strong-gravitational-lenses-captured_deep-field-south_ESA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Euclid_strong-gravitational-lenses-captured_deep-field-south_ESA_1s.webp" alt="This image shows examples of gravitational lenses that Euclid captured in its first observations of the Deep Field areas. Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1963167"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image shows examples of gravitational lenses that Euclid captured in its first observations of the Deep Field areas. Credit: ESA</figcaption></figure>



By the end of the mission, it is anticipated that Euclid will find about 100,000 strong lenses. That’s a hundred times more than we currently know. 



Each one gives scientists a powerful tool to study how dark matter is spread out across the Universe and how galaxies are shaped by it.



“We are combining the strengths of Euclid, AI, citizen science, and experts into a single discovery engine,” said Pierre Ferruit, ESA’s Euclid mission manager.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-the-euclid-mission">What’s next for the Euclid mission</h2>



By March 2025, Euclid had already scanned 2,000 square degrees of the sky, packed with galaxies. That’s about 14% of its total planned survey. This work is just the start. 



The mission will share its first full set of cosmology data in October 2026. That upcoming release will include many repeated observations of three special regions called deep fields. 



These repeated scans will give scientists a clearer, more detailed view of those distant parts of the Universe.



Euclid launched in July 2023. It began regular science work in February 2024. ESA built the spacecraft with support from NASA and companies like Thales Alenia Space and Airbus. 



The mission is backed by the Euclid Consortium, a global team of over 2,000 scientists from 15 countries.



You can now explore the first deep field images through the <a href="https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/esdc/esasky" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESASky</a> platform. This is just the beginning. Euclid will continue to uncover the hidden structure of the cosmos.



Details of the latest Euclid Project images are available in this ESA <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid/Euclid_opens_data_treasure_trove_offers_glimpse_of_deep_fields" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release.</a>



Image Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by M. Walmsley, M. Huertas-Company, J.-C. Cuillandre



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26 million galaxies captured in vivid deep field photos in just one week

The European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled the first survey...

In the heart of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean, lies a fascinating geological wonder - the Great Blue Hole. This vast, circular sinkhole bears an uncanny resemblance to a giant oceanic eye gazing up at the sky.



Nestled in the turquoise waters of the atoll, about 43 miles from the coast of Belize, this dark circular pit is surrounded by coral and contains sediments that tell a story about centuries of storms.



The Great Blue Hole began as a limestone cave on a dry island. During the last ice age, its roof collapsed, leaving it open to the elements. 



Today, this underwater cave plunges to a depth of 410 feet, spans 980 feet, and is one of the most fascinating places to scuba dive.



As glaciers melted and sea levels rose, the cave filled with water, turning it into a natural vault of sediment that has quietly recorded the passage of time.



In the summer of 2022, a team of scientists from <a href="https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goethe University Frankfurt</a> led a mission to explore this hidden archive. 



Funded by the German Research Foundation, the researchers brought a drilling platform out to sea and extracted a 30-meter-long sediment core from the bottom of the Great Blue Hole.



The analysis, carried out by researchers from the universities of Frankfurt, Cologne, Göttingen, Hamburg, and Bern, has given new insight into storm history and climate change in the southwestern Caribbean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-storm-record-written-in-sediment">Storm record written in sediment</h2>



Roughly 7,200 years ago, the limestone island that once held the Great Blue Hole was overtaken by the sea. Since then, layers of sediment have quietly accumulated at the bottom of the underwater cave.



These layers act like a natural time capsule, offering a window into 5,700 years of storm activity. Each layer records the passing of time, just as is found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/californias-weather-extremes-found-in-600-year-old-tree-rings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree rings</a>.



“Due to the unique environmental conditions – including oxygen-free bottom water and several stratified water layers – fine marine sediments could settle largely undisturbed in the Great Blue Hole,” said Dr. Dominik Schmitt, a researcher in the Biosedimentology Research Group at Goethe University Frankfurt.



“Inside the sediment core, they look a bit like tree rings, with the annual layers alternating in color between gray-green and light green depending on organic content.”



But not all layers are the same. Some are made up of coarser, lighter-colored particles. 



These event layers, called tempestites, formed when powerful waves from hurricanes and tropical storms swept coarse material from the atoll’s outer reef into the hole. 



“The tempestites stand out from the fair-weather gray-green sediments in terms of grain size, composition, and color, which ranges from beige to white,” Schmitt added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-climate-patterns">Long-term climate patterns </h2>



The team identified and dated 574 individual storm events that were preserved in the sediment core. This detailed storm record stretches far beyond the reach of written or instrumental history, which only covers about 175 years. 



The results offer a unique look into long-term climate patterns and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-propose-adding-a-category-6-to-the-current-hurricane-intensity-scale/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hurricane</a> behavior in the region.



The data paints a clear picture: storm activity in the southwestern Caribbean has steadily risen over the past 6,000 years.



“A key factor has been the southward shift of the equatorial low-pressure zone. Known as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-rains-will-shift-northward-in-the-coming-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intertropical Convergence Zone</a>, this zone influences the location of major storm formation areas in the Atlantic and determines how tropical storms and hurricanes move and where they make landfall in the Caribbean,” Schmitt said.



The researchers also discovered a connection between sea surface temperatures and storm frequency. Warmer waters matched up with periods of increased storm activity. 



“These shorter-term fluctuations align with five distinct warm and cold climate periods, which also impacted water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic,” Schmitt noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-warning-from-the-storm-record">A warning from the storm record</h2>



Historical averages suggest that the Great Blue Hole experienced between four and sixteen major storms per century. However, the sediment record shows that nine storms have already occurred in just the past 20 years.



“Our results suggest that some 45 tropical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-heat-fueled-unexpected-and-deadly-storms-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storms</a> and hurricanes could pass over this region in our century alone. This would far exceed the natural variability of the past millennia,” said Prof. Eberhard Gischler of Goethe University Frankfurt.



The team emphasizes that natural climate changes alone cannot explain this dramatic increase. Instead, they point to human-driven global warming. 



The rise in ocean temperatures and the growing strength of La Niña events are creating the perfect conditions for more frequent and more intense storms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sediment-core-with-a-message">A sediment core with a message</h2>



The Great Blue Hole, once thought to be a quiet underwater marvel, is now telling a louder story - one of climate shifts and increasing storm risk.



As the sediment layers continue to build, so does the urgency to address the accelerating pace of extreme weather. 



This research reminds us that history, especially the kind written in mud and sand, still has much to teach us.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads5624" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Sediment in the Great Blue Hole reveals an alarming storm record

In the heart of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, off the...

Recently, astronomers made an astonishing discovery -- a mysterious and powerful burst of radio waves reached Earth after traveling through space for 8 billion years. Dubbed FRB 20220610A, it is one of the most distant and energetic radio signals ever observed.



Fast radio bursts (FRBs), including this particular one, are extremely intense flashes of radio waves that last only milliseconds, yet their origins remain a source of great intrigue and perplexity. 



Although astronomers are getting closer to understanding these enigmatic energy bursts, there is still much debate in the field as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-bursts-traced-to-chaotic-magnetospheres-of-neutron-stars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">each new discovery</a> adds a new twist.



The nature of these signals challenges our understanding of the universe, as they can originate from regions <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-bursts-from-space-may-be-signs-of-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">far beyond our Milky Way galaxy</a>, hinting at processes and events that we are only beginning to comprehend.



Dr. Stuart Ryder, an esteemed astronomer at <a href="https://www.mq.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Macquarie University</a> in Australia, is among the dedicated team of scientists working diligently to unravel the mysteries surrounding this cosmic enigma.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-fast-radio-bursts-frbs">Understanding fast radio bursts (FRBs)</h2>



Researchers speculate that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farthest-known-fast-radio-burst-traced-to-rare-cluster-of-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">these cosmic events</a> might be linked to magnetars, the highly energetic remnants left behind by exploding stars.



Astronomers deployed the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (<a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/projects/askap/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ASKAP</a>) to detect the burst and track down its origin. 



"We used ASKAP’s radio dishes to skillfully pinpoint where the burst came from," says Dr. Ryder. 



The reveal didn't end there. The team also located the source galaxy using the European Southern Observatory’s <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Very Large Telescope</a>, discovering it to be older and more distant than any other FRB source found to date. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pinpointing-location-of-frb-20220610a">Pinpointing location of FRB 20220610A</h2>



The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope confirmed it came from a distant location, and it was four times more energetic than closer FRBs. 



Researchers relied on Hubble’s clarity to pinpoint the burst’s origin. 



"It required Hubble's keen sharpness and sensitivity to pinpoint exactly where the FRB came from," said lead author Alexa Gordon of <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a> in Evanston, Illinois. 



"Without Hubble's imaging, it would still remain a mystery as to whether this was originating from one monolithic galaxy or from some type of interacting system. It's these types of environments - these weird ones - that are driving us toward better understanding the mystery of FRBs."



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/radio-burst_8-billion-years_FRB-20220610A_Hubble-locates-origin_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/radio-burst_8-billion-years_FRB-20220610A_Hubble-locates-origin_NASA_1s.webp" alt="A Hubble Space Telescope image of the host galaxy of an exceptionally powerful fast radio burst, FRB 20220610A. Hubble’s sensitivity and sharpness reveals a compact group of multiple galaxies that may be in the process of merging. They existed when the universe was only 5 billion years old. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Alexa Gordon" class="wp-image-1963342"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A Hubble Space Telescope image of the host galaxy of an exceptionally powerful fast radio burst, FRB 20220610A. Hubble’s sensitivity and sharpness reveals a compact group of multiple galaxies that may be in the process of merging. They existed when the universe was only 5 billion years old. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Alexa Gordon</figcaption></figure>



Hubble’s crisp images hint that up to seven galaxies in this region may be merging, which is pretty intriguing. 



Co-investigator Wen-fai Fong, also of Northwestern, says scientists want to figure out what kicks off these bursts, who (or what) their progenitors are, and where they form. 



According to Fong, Hubble’s view of these unexpected environments gets us one step closer to solving the mystery behind these powerful flashes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weighing-the-universe-with-frbs">'Weighing' the universe with FRBs</h2>



Believe it or not, these fleeting cosmic fireworks could help us 'weigh' the universe. There's a discrepancy between the amount of normal matter we can detect and what cosmologists theorize should exist. Could the answer be outside our visual spectrum? 



"More than half of the normal matter that should exist today is missing," says Professor Ryan Shannon. He suggests that this 'missing' matter might be hiding in the vast spaces between galaxies, where it's too hot and diffuse to see with conventional methods.



Enter FRBs. Their unique ability to 'sense' the ionized material in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-alien-radio-signals-may-be-caused-by-starquakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearly empty space</a> allows scientists to measure the matter located between galaxies. 



This method, established in 2020 by the late Australian astronomer Jean-Pierre Macquart, is now known as the Macquart relation. 



"This detection confirms the Macquart relation, even for bursts halfway across the known universe," adds Ryder.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-telescopes-will-soon-join-the-search">New telescopes will soon join the search</h2>



Nearly 50 FRBs have been traced back to their origins, and about half were discovered using the ASKAP telescope. 



Despite the unknown causes of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/glitching-star-explains-cosmic-radio-bursts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enormous bursts</a>, one thing is certain: FRBs are common events in the cosmos and have enormous potential for advancing our understanding of the universe.



Professor Shannon believes that future radio telescopes, currently under construction, will detect thousands more FRBs. 



"FRBs are common and hold great promise," he says. "We could use them to create a new map of the universe's structure and answer big questions about cosmology."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-missing-matter-mystery">Missing matter mystery</h2>



The universe is enormous, and much of it still baffles us, especially the disparity between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/origins-of-matter-discovered-by-recreating-the-big-bang/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">observable and theoretical matter</a>. 



This "missing matter" refers to a significant amount that should be there according to our current models of cosmic evolution but hasn’t been seen. 



It turns out that visible matter -- like stars, planets, and galaxies -- makes up only about 5% of the universe's total mass-energy content. 



The other 95% is thought to be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-matter-may-consist-of-particles-that-travel-faster-than-light/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-energy-is-ripping-the-universe-apart-but-we-arent-sure-how/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark energy</a>, which we can’t directly detect. This gap raises some big questions about how the universe is structured and behaves.



Figuring out what this missing matter is and where it’s located is key to getting a complete picture of cosmic evolution and fine-tuning our models of how the universe works. 



Fortunately, the discovery of FRBs and their ability to trace hidden matter could revolutionize how we understand the cosmos. 



As Professor Shannon points out, even in nearly empty space, FRBs can 'see' electrons and measure the matter present.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exciting-future-of-frb-research">Exciting future of FRB research</h2>



With more advanced radio telescopes on the horizon, the future of FRB research is looking bright. Each new detection brings us closer to unveiling the secrets of these powerful cosmic events. 



Beyond mapping the universe's structure, FRBs could guide us to fundamental questions about the inner workings of the universe -- aligning us closer with the cosmic forces and events that shape our cosmos.



Despite our growing knowledge base, FRBs remain one of the universe's great mysteries. As researchers venture deeper into the study of these cosmic flashes, one thing becomes clear: we still know very little about the universe in which we live.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf2678" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Deep space radio burst reaches Earth after an 8 billion year journey

Recently, astronomers made an astonishing discovery -- a mysterious and...

In the forests of Tanzania, chimpanzees have long been known to fish for termites using handmade tools crafted from local plants. But what makes this behavior even more fascinating is how carefully they seem to choose the materials for their tools.



New research now shows that these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primates-face-an-uncertain-future-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primates</a> are not just grabbing any nearby stick to poke into a termite nest - they’re making smart choices based on how flexible and effective the material is.



This discovery comes from a collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Oxford’s <a href="https://www.anthro.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Anthropology</a> and Museum Ethnography, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, the Jane Goodall Institute in Tanzania, the University of Algarve, the University of Porto in Portugal, and the University of Leipzig.



The study sheds light on the technical thinking behind chimpanzee tool use, a largely invisible part of primate evolutionary history.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzees-prefer-flexible-tools-for-fishing">Chimpanzees prefer flexible tools for fishing</h2>



To eat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/termites-are-natures-architects-building-well-ventilated-nests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">termites</a>, chimpanzees must first catch them. The primates use thin plant probes to pull the insects carefully out of narrow, winding tunnels inside termite mounds.



The team proposed that flexible tools would work better in these tight spaces than rigid sticks. To test this, lead author Alejandra Pascual-Garrido brought a portable mechanical tester to Gombe Stream National Park. She measured the amount of force it took to bend different plant materials.



The results were striking. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-can-sense-when-something-touches-them-despite-not-having-nerves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plants</a> that the chimpanzees actually used were much more flexible than those that were available but ignored. 



On average, unused plants were 175 percent more rigid. Even among plants growing side-by-side near the termite mounds, the ones that were repeatedly used produced significantly more flexible tools.



“This is the first comprehensive evidence that wild chimpanzees select tool materials for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-have-a-peak-season-for-termite-fishing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">termite fishing</a> based on specific mechanical properties,” said Pascual-Garrido, who has been studying chimpanzee tool-making in Gombe for over ten years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shared-preferences-across-africa">Shared preferences across Africa</h2>



Interestingly, the same plant species used by chimpanzees in Gombe such as Grewia - are also used by other chimpanzee populations living thousands of kilometers away.



This pattern suggests that the mechanical qualities of these plants are so useful that they’ve become common knowledge among different chimpanzee groups. It also hints that this knowledge might be deeply embedded in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzee-cultures-are-more-complex-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chimpanzee culture</a>.



Their choices suggest a kind of natural logic. Chimpanzees may have what scientists call a “folk physics” - an intuitive understanding of which materials will get the job done.



Their knack for selecting the right plant isn’t just done by trial and error. It’s a skill. And it's one that might reflect the kind of thinking our early human ancestors used when building their own tools.



“This novel approach, which combines biomechanics with animal behaviour, helps us better understand the cognitive processes behind chimpanzee tool construction and how they evaluate and select materials based on functional properties,” said Pascual-Garrido.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-questions-about-chimpanzees">New questions about chimpanzees </h2>



The research opens up more questions than it answers. How do young chimpanzees learn which materials to use? Do they copy their mothers? And do they apply the same rules when choosing tools for other jobs - like collecting ants or honey?



“This finding has important implications for understanding how humans might have evolved their remarkable tool using abilities,” explained Adam van Casteren from the Department of Human Origins at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.



“While perishable materials like wood rarely survive in the archaeological record, the mechanical principles behind effective tool construction and use remain constant across species and time.”



These behaviors also raise questions about memory, experience, and even innovation in non-human primates. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-about-early-humans">Clues about early humans</h2>



Understanding how chimpanzees refine their techniques over time could reveal a primitive form of trial-and-error learning that mirrors early human problem-solving.



By studying chimpanzees and their preferences for certain types of materials, researchers hope to uncover clues about how early humans may have started crafting implements long before stone tools appeared in the archaeological record.



It’s a small but meaningful step toward understanding the roots of human intelligence - through the eyes, and hands, of our closest extant relatives.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)00419-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004225004195%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iScience</a>.



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Chimpanzees have tool-making skills similar to human engineers

In the forests of Tanzania, chimpanzees have long been known...

Why is a good night’s sleep so crucial for a sharp memory? A team of neuroscientists has taken a major step toward answering this question.&nbsp;



By monitoring brain activity in rats for up to 20 hours after a learning task, they discovered that sleep reorganizes neural patterns in a way that helps memories take hold and prepares the brain for new information.&nbsp;



The study, led by researchers from the <a href="https://ista.ac.at/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Science and Technology Austria</a> (ISTA), offers new insights into how the brain engraves long-term memories during times of rest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-brain-cell-activity-during-sleep">Monitoring brain cell activity during sleep</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-is-essential-for-memory-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sleep</a>’s role in helping animals remember things - like where food is hidden - has long been known. But scientists still don’t fully understand how this happens at the neuronal level.&nbsp;



To investigate, the ISTA team focused on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-have-remarkable-spatial-memory-and-sense-of-direction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spatial memory</a>, by training rats to locate food rewards in a maze while recording brain activity using a wireless system.&nbsp;



The setup allowed them to monitor hippocampal neurons, which play a key role in spatial navigation and learning, for up to 20 continuous hours of sleep following the task.



“We showed that the neuronal assemblies in the early stages of sleep reflect recently learned spatial memories. However, as sleep progresses, neuronal activity patterns gradually transform into those seen later, when the rats awaken and remember the locations of their food rewards,” explained Professor Jozsef Csicsvari, the senior author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hippocampus-as-a-map-maker">The hippocampus as a map maker</h2>



Earlier research has shown that the hippocampus creates internal “maps” of an animal’s environment by firing specific neurons at specific locations. These mental maps are updated during learning and become especially focused around important activities, like where food is found.&nbsp;



The hippocampus continues to play a vital role during sleep by replaying memory traces, a process called reactivation.



Previous work by the Csicsvari group showed that the more frequently the hippocampus reactivated a reward location during sleep, the better the animal remembered it later. When this replay was blocked, the rats struggled to recall the location - suggesting that reactivation is key to cementing memory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-patterns-shift-during-sleep">Memory patterns shift during sleep</h2>



Until now, such studies were limited to short sleep sessions lasting just a few hours. In the new study, the team extended the recordings to cover a full overnight sleep.&nbsp;



The extended monitoring revealed a previously unseen phenomenon: memory-related neural patterns shifted gradually during sleep.



“Our findings were unexpected,” said co-first author Lars Bollmann. “We showed that the activity patterns of neurons linked to the reward locations reorganized during the long sleep.”



Initially, when the rats entered sleep, the same neurons that were active during learning remained active, forming what the researchers called a “stable subgroup.”&nbsp;



But as sleep progressed, some of these neurons stopped firing and new neurons took their place. By the end of the sleep period, the firing pattern had evolved to resemble the one seen when the rats successfully remembered the reward locations the next day.



This representational shift occurred specifically during non-REM sleep, the researchers found, while REM sleep seemed to prevent or counteract this reorganization.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-room-for-new-memories">Making room for new memories</h2>



What’s the point of this neural reshuffling? The researchers suggest it could be a way for the brain to optimize its memory storage.



“It is possible that memory representations must be formed quickly during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-learning-how-the-brain-stores-new-information/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learning</a> but that such representations are not optimal for long-term storage,” Csicsvari explained.&nbsp;



“Therefore, a process may take place in sleep that optimizes these representations to reduce brain resources to store a specific memory.”



In other words, by trimming down the number of neurons needed to represent a particular memory, the brain may free up resources for encoding new experiences.&nbsp;



Supporting this idea, the researchers found that fewer neurons were linked to a given reward location after sleep than before.



“Any new memories must find a way to be integrated into existing knowledge,” Csicsvari adds. “Frequent repetitions of the new memories as well as partial change in the neuronal code may thus help optimize their integration into existing memory representations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-sleep-and-memory">Understanding sleep and memory</h2>



This study marks a significant advance in understanding how sleep strengthens memory. By showing that the brain reorganizes memory representations over the course of sleep - and by linking these shifts to improved recollection - the research sheds light on one of the most essential functions of sleep.



While the findings come from animal models, they offer promising avenues for future research into human memory and the consequences of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-sex-differences-in-sleep-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep disorders</a>.&nbsp;



As scientists continue to explore how memories evolve overnight, they may eventually uncover strategies for enhancing learning, supporting brain health, and even treating memory-related conditions.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2025.02.025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neuron</a>.



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Sleep rewires the brain to strengthen memories

Why is a good night’s sleep so crucial for a...

Sharks have roamed the oceans for millions of years. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth make them top predators that are capable of influencing entire marine ecosystems. 



However, understanding what they eat and where they feed remains difficult. This is especially true for rare or protected species where direct sampling poses legal and ethical challenges.



Traditionally, scientists study shark diets by examining their teeth. But collecting samples from live sharks can be risky, costly, and often impossible, especially when dealing with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-great-hammerhead-sharks-rarely-leave-home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threatened species</a>. 



Yet, every opportunity to gather data matters. That’s where the past meets the present - inside the drawers and display cases of museums.



A new study led by researchers from Flinders University has found that preserved shark jaws - often considered to be static relics - can be a powerful scientific resource. 



Using teeth from sharks in historical collections, researchers can now study shark diets without touching a living specimen.



This breakthrough offers new hope for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-third-of-shark-species-face-extinction-despite-fishing-bans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine science</a> and conservation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-jaws-reveal-feeding-secrets">Shark jaws reveal feeding secrets</h2>



Shark teeth hold chemical signatures that reveal details of their past meals and feeding grounds. These signatures come from ratios of stable isotopes - naturally occurring variations of chemical elements. By examining these isotopes, scientists can piece together an animal’s ecological history.



Until now, scientists avoided using preserved jaws due to concerns that cleaning chemicals might have distorted the isotopes.



Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-sharks-face-growing-threats-despite-conservation-efforts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shark</a> jaws in museums and private collections have been treated with substances like ethanol, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide. These treatments whiten the teeth but were thought to possibly alter their chemical composition.



However, the new research shows otherwise. The team discovered that these chemicals do not affect the key isotopes used in diet studies. This means that thousands of jaws from past decades are now usable in ways previously thought impossible.



"Most shark jaws in museums and private collections are chemically treated, so understanding if, or how these treatments affect tooth isotopes is crucial," said Flinders research associate Dr. Lauren Meyer.



"Finding that preservation chemicals had no impact on isotope values opens the door for the use of jaws from historic collections across Australia and globally."



This discovery means scientists can study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-may-benefit-from-rising-temperatures-but-not-from-rising-co2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shark</a> diets without needing fresh tissue samples. It also significantly broadens the scope of possible studies, including comparative diet research across different eras and regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-clarity-through-isotope-testing">Chemical clarity through isotope testing</h2>



The study involved stable isotope analysis, which looks at carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotopes. These elements help identify where and what an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/megalodon-was-sleeker-and-longer-than-previously-imagined/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal</a> has been eating.



"The chemicals in teeth provide a story of what the shark has eaten and from where, whether that be sea lions in South Australia, or tuna in New South Wales," explained lead author Laura Holmes, from the Southern Shark Ecology Group in the College of Science and Engineering at <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a>.



The researchers partnered with the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at the <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tasmania</a>. 



The team tested teeth from three very different elasmobranchs: cownose rays, gummy sharks, and broadnose sevengill sharks.



Despite their structural differences, all samples held up under isotope testing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-species-now-within-scientific-reach">Rare species now within scientific reach</h2>



Access to historical jaws brings particular value when studying rare or threatened shark species. These species often cannot be sampled directly, but many have had jaws collected as trophies. 



With these now validated as reliable data sources, older specimens can help researchers understand long-term dietary trends.



"This is especially useful for rare or threatened species, for which standard tissue samples may not be readily available, but for which trophy jaws have been collected, such as white sharks, tiger sharks, and makos," said Dr. Meyer.



Older collections, such as those from the 1970s and 1980s, now offer a scientific window into the past. This information is crucial as many shark species face increasing pressure from human activities, climate change, and habitat degradation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applications-across-marine-life">Applications across marine life</h2>



While this study focused on sharks and rays, the implications go beyond these groups.



Other marine predators, such as killer whales, sperm whales, and fur seals, also have teeth stored in museum collections. These could be tested using the same methods, opening new research pathways.



"This study opens the door to use a tremendous resource of samples to untangle the current and historic diet and foraging habitats of complex predators - making the most exciting finding from this study the capacity for new research that is now possible," said Dr. Meyer.



These findings not only expand the toolkit for marine scientists but also enhance our understanding of ocean ecosystems over time. Every preserved tooth could tell a story. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113625001205?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Environmental Research</a>.



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Chemical clues from old shark jaws reveal diets and habitats

Sharks have roamed the oceans for millions of years. Their...

The feeling of fullness after a nice meal usually prevents us from eating more. This is a familiar experience for humans, but we are not alone. We share this with starfish and many other organisms as well.



New research indicates that the same message instructing us to eat no more has existed for more than 500 million years. The same molecule affecting our feeding behavior in this way also acts on starfish and other sea animals.



Researchers at <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a> have followed the evolutionary trail of a neurohormone named bombesin, which regulates appetite in humans. 



Collaborating with colleagues at the Institut Pasteur in Paris and the University of Warwick, the researchers discovered that this satiety-inducing peptide is much older than was thought, and is found in animals that lived before the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/over-half-of-the-worlds-vertebrates-reside-in-the-tropics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vertebrates</a> set foot on Earth.



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



Bombesin is a small peptide that helps regulate appetite by sending a message when it's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neurons-discovered-that-tell-us-when-to-stop-eating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">time to stop eating</a>. While it’s been studied in humans and other mammals, its origins were less understood - until now. 



Researchers discovered that a bombesin-like molecule is present in echinoderms like starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.



If you’re wondering about the unusual name, bombesin isn’t explosive. It’s named after the fire-bellied toad, Bombina bombina, where it was first identified in 1971. 



Scientists noticed that injecting this compound into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evolutionary-mystery-why-are-mammals-the-only-vertebrates-to-have-only-one-lower-jawbone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a> caused them to eat less and take longer between meals. This led to the idea that bombesin-like neurohormones are part of the body’s natural appetite control system.



Today, compounds that mimic bombesin are being explored as potential treatments for obesity, alongside well-known medications like Ozempic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-needle-in-a-haystack">A needle in a haystack</h2>



The research team began by searching for bombesin-like genes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-noise-can-be-fatal-to-marine-invertebrates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine invertebrates</a>. 



“It was a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Professor Maurice Elphick. “But eventually we discovered genes encoding a bombesin-like neurohormone in the genomes of starfish and their relatives.”



Once the gene was identified in the common starfish (Asterias rubens), scientists named the molecule ArBN. 



Collaborators at the University of Warwick used mass spectrometry to determine the exact structure of ArBN, which allowed the molecule to be synthesized for lab testing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-starfish-eat-or-not-eat">Watching starfish eat - or not eat</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/starfish-break-off-their-arms-to-evade-danger-and-regenerate-them-later/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starfish</a> feed in a bizarre and fascinating way: they push their stomachs out through their mouths to digest prey like mussels. The team wanted to know how ArBN affected this feeding behavior.



“When I tested ArBN, I saw that it caused contraction of the starfish stomach. This suggested that ArBN might be involved in stimulating stomach retraction when starfish stop feeding. And this is exactly what I found," explained Dr. Weiling Huang, who conducted the behavioral tests. 



"When I injected ArBN into starfish with their stomachs everted, it triggered the stomach to retract back into the mouth. What’s more, ArBN also delayed the initiation of feeding, as starfish injected with ArBN took longer to enclose a mussel compared to those injected with water.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-molecule-older-than-starfish">A molecule older than starfish</h2>



Understanding that bombesin-like molecules have been regulating feeding behavior since before the rise of vertebrates adds an important piece to the puzzle of how appetite evolved. 



“We can infer that this function extends back half-a-billion years to the common ancestor of starfish, humans, and other vertebrates,” said Professor Elphick.



But the implications go beyond biology textbooks. Some species of starfish are moving into new habitats due to climate change. In particular, these species are seeking cooler waters where shellfish farms are located, and may threaten aquaculture operations.



“One of the consequences of climate change is that some starfish species are invading cooler waters where shellfish are cultivated for human consumption,” said Professor Elphick.



“Discovering molecules that inhibit feeding in starfish could be useful in managing these invasions.”



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



This study connects two very different worlds: the sophisticated brain-gut interactions in humans and the slow, alien feeding behavior of starfish. Yet both rely on the same ancient molecule to know when it's time to stop eating.



As scientific discoveries reveal the biological links between species, the deep interconnectedness of all life becomes ever more apparent.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2420966122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Ancient molecule tells starfish and humans when to stop eating

The feeling of fullness after a nice meal usually prevents...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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