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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

City life has always had a reputation for being fast. A new study shows just how much faster it's become. The researchers found that from 1980 to 2010, the average walking speed in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia rose by 15 percent. 



Meanwhile, the number of people lingering in public spaces dropped by 14 percent. Fewer people are slowing down to talk, relax, or meet others.



The research comes from scientists at the <a href="https://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT), Yale University, the University of Hong Kong, Michigan State University, and Harvard University. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-decades-of-data-reveal">What decades of data reveal</h2>



The team used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-used-to-locate-sources-of-heavy-pollution/">machine learning</a> to analyze how public spaces are used differently today than they were 40 years ago.



The researchers worked with old footage captured by William Whyte, a well-known urbanist who spent the late 1970s and early 1980s studying public spaces in major cities. 



Whyte filmed four key spots: Boston's Downtown Crossing, New York’s Bryant Park, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Philadelphia’s Chestnut Street. 



In 2010, researchers went back to those same locations at the same times of day to shoot updated footage for comparison.



“Something has changed over the past 40 years,” said MIT professor of the practice Carlo Ratti. “How fast we walk, how people meet in public space - what we’re seeing here is that public spaces are working in somewhat different ways, more as a thoroughfare and less a space of encounter.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fewer-interactions-in-city-spaces">Fewer interactions in city spaces</h2>



The study used AI and computer vision to identify patterns in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/distracted-walking-texting-puts-pedestrians-at-risk/">pedestrian</a> behavior. One surprising constant: the number of people walking alone didn’t really change - from 67% in 1980 to 68% in 2010. 



At the same time, the percentage of individuals who entered a space and then joined a group dropped from 5.5% to just 2 percent. “Perhaps there’s a more transactional nature to public space today,” said Ratti.



That shift reflects how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-digital-technology-influence-our-sense-of-self/">technology</a> has changed the way we navigate social life. Plans are often made ahead of time, and people tend to move with more purpose through public spaces.



“When you look at the footage from William Whyte, the people in public spaces were looking at each other more,” said Ratti. 



“It was a place you could start a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brief-conversations-with-strangers-boost-life-satisfaction/">conversation</a> or run into a friend. You couldn’t do things online then. Today, behavior is more predicated on texting first, to meet in public space.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meeting-spaces-for-city-people">Meeting spaces for city people </h2>



Another possible reason for the shift? Starbucks - and places like it. Meeting up in an air-conditioned café is now the go-to move, far more appealing than hanging out on a hot or windy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-environments-and-sidewalks-improve-heart-health/">sidewalk</a>.



According to the study authors, the proliferation of coffee shops and other indoor venues may be pulling people away from lingering in outdoor public areas.



That’s a major change from 1980, when large coffee chains were rare or nonexistent. Now, those third spaces are everywhere - and they’re often designed specifically to draw people in and keep them there.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-designing-better-city-spaces">Designing better city spaces </h2>



The research doesn’t just document a shift - it could shape how cities are designed in the future. Planners might use these insights to rethink how public spaces are built and how people move through them.



“Public space is such an important element of civic life, and today partly because it counteracts the polarization of digital space,” said Arianna Salazar-Miranda of Yale University. “The more we can keep improving public space, the more we can make our cities suited for convening.”



The team hopes this is just the beginning. Building on this study, researchers aim to broaden their understanding of how people interact with public environments.



“We are collecting footage from 40 squares in Europe,” said Fabio Duarte of MIT. “The question is: How can we learn at a larger scale? This is in part what we’re doing.”



The future of public space may depend on learning from its past - and adjusting to how people use it today.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2424662122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Fewer people are stopping to talk in city spaces

City life has always had a reputation for being fast....

The deep sea holds mysteries we’ve barely begun to understand. It’s vast, dark, cold, and alive with astonishing biodiversity. Beneath its crushing pressures lie mineral-rich fields containing metals that are vital to emerging technologies. 



These include cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese, which are crucial for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and advanced electronics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targets-for-deep-sea-mining">Targets for deep-sea mining</h2>



Now, international companies are eyeing this remote frontier for large-scale mining. Their target is polymetallic nodules, potato-sized lumps that are scattered across the ocean floor, especially in the central Pacific. These nodules formed over millions of years. 



Some businesses claim they can harvest the nodules with little environmental damage. Scientists, however, are sounding the alarm. 



At a recent meeting of the International Seabed Authority (<a href="https://www.isa.org.jm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISA</a>) in Kingston, Jamaica, researchers presented troubling data. They questioned whether deep-sea ecosystems could ever recover from mining <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jadarite-described-as-earths-kryptonite-twin-has-potential-to-replace-fossil-fuels/">disruption</a>. 



This conversation arrives as nations push forward to finalize rules for commercial seabed extraction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mining-may-cause-deep-sea-damage">Mining may cause deep sea damage</h2>



The DEEP REST project, led by European scientists, has spent years examining seafloor restoration. “If we remove nodules from the seabed, we do not know what we lose, only that it's lost forever,” the researchers concluded.



Jozee Sarrazin, a researcher at the French Institute for Ocean Science (<a href="http://eulacfoundation.org/en/french-institute-ocean-science-ifremer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ifremer</a>), explained the scope of the problem. 



“So far, all the restoration operations we have attempted within our DEEP REST project have been short-term. And what we observed is that, in the given time, that is to say a few years, the ecosystems do not recover,” she said.



The DEEP REST team emphasized that the long-term prospects remain uncertain. “If restoration is possible, it will take a very long time, and at the moment we don't have the data to be able to say if that will be 100 years or 1000 years,” Sarrazin said.



These findings question the very foundation of the seabed mining industry's environmental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-investing-in-asteroid-mining-make-you-a-billionaire/">claims</a>. The damage may not just last centuries. It might never heal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-life-depends-on-nodules">Ocean life depends on nodules</h2>



Though hostile in appearance, the deep sea teems with life. Far from being barren, the abyss is likely home to millions of unknown species. Creatures survive without sunlight, relying instead on chemical reactions, organic matter from above, and symbiotic relationships.



Among these residents are sponges, soft corals, sea anemones, and countless microorganisms. They depend on the hard surface of polymetallic nodules to anchor themselves in soft <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gold-mining-causes-long-lasting-damage-in-the-amazon-rainforest/">sediment</a>. Without these nodules, many species cannot survive.



Matthias Haeckel, from the German research center GEOMAR, highlighted this critical dependency. “The fauna only exists in these areas because they need the hard substrate of the nodule to attach,” Haeckel said during his presentation of the MiningImpact project in Jamaica.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mining-causes-damage-to-sea-life">Mining causes damage to sea life</h2>



Mining techniques involve vacuuming up nodules while releasing plumes of sediment. These activities disturb a wide radius around each site. 



The MiningImpact study found that this approach decreases population densities and biodiversity while impairing ecosystem <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-impacts-marine-life-for-decades/">function</a>.



The nodules themselves are not replaceable within any human timeframe. “To make the story short, in the end, we're talking about recovery times of thousands of years,” said Haeckel. These timescales stretch far beyond any meaningful conservation plan.



The process does more than displace marine life. It affects how nutrients cycle, how species interact, and how habitats maintain balance. With no way to predict full outcomes, many researchers urge restraint.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-damage-remains-despite-mining-trials">Damage remains despite mining trials</h2>



Some scientists are testing whether restoration can be engineered. “We designed artificial nodules made of deep-sea clay and we placed them at different sites,” noted Sabine Gollner, a biologist at the <a href="https://www.nioz.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Netherlands</a> Institute for Sea Research.



These nodules mimic the natural substrates that marine organisms need. But results take time. 



“When you take into account the slow growth rates in the deep sea, the slow processes, it will take quite some more years to find out if restoration is effective and to what degree,” Gollner noted.



Even with creative ideas and dedicated research, restoration remains hypothetical. No one can yet claim success at bringing back lost deep-sea ecosystems. And until long-term data become available, every mining operation risks doing irreversible damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-areas-should-remain-untouched">Some areas should remain untouched</h2>



One type of deep-sea habitat holds particular value: hydrothermal vents. These underwater geysers release heated, mineral-rich water through cracks in the seafloor. The ecosystems built around them are among the most unique on Earth.



Massive sulfide deposits near these vents are rich in metals, making them tempting targets for mining. But scientists caution that damage here would be catastrophic. 



“If we extract massive sulfides near active vents, we know what we lose, and we must prevent loss,” the DEEP REST study concluded.



These sites support specialized creatures found nowhere else. Their removal would erase entire evolutionary pathways. The vents also play a role in regulating global chemistry and microbial activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mining-rules-ignore-long-term-damage">Mining rules ignore long-term damage</h2>



The ISA continues negotiating the international mining code. Scientists urge that these rules must include restoration principles, but also acknowledge a hard truth. 



“It's good to include it but with a clear statement that at this moment in time, it cannot be taken into account to reach agreed environmental goals,” said Gollner. “For example, a contractor shouldn't be allowed to use that argument to mine a larger area.”



Until the world better understands the deep sea, calls for caution continue to grow. The rush for critical minerals may lead us to destroy what we do not yet comprehend. 



Mining the seafloor risks losing lifeforms and systems shaped over eons, all for short-term technological gain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-lies-ahead-for-the-deep">What lies ahead for the deep</h2>



The deep ocean holds scientific wonder, ecological value, and untapped biodiversity. Once disrupted, it may never return to its natural state. With mining rules still under negotiation, the time to ask hard questions is now.



Can we afford to treat the seafloor as a resource deposit? Or should we recognize it as a living system, still largely uncharted, and protect it accordingly? The world must decide before the damage becomes permanent.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08921-3">Nature</a>.



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Deep-sea ecosystems may never heal from mining damage

The deep sea holds mysteries we’ve barely begun to understand....

Climate change often appears gradual, but abrupt shifts may occur with little warning. Recent research reveals that sensitive subsystems - such as sea ice, permafrost, and rainforests - can suddenly tip into new states. 



These changes pose serious risks to ecosystems, water resources, and human populations.



"Abrupt shifts" refer to rapid, large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-winters-are-starting-to-look-more-like-spring/">changes</a> within a decade or less. These include sudden snow loss on the Tibetan Plateau, permafrost thaw, or sea ice collapse. Once triggered, these events may unfold faster than society can adapt.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-scientists-found-fast-changes">How scientists found fast changes</h2>



To detect these changes, the researchers applied Canny edge detection, a method from computer vision, to climate model data. The team scanned 82 environmental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-winters-are-no-longer-frozen-and-thats-a-problem/">variables</a> across 57 CMIP6 climate models.



The goal was to identify sharp changes in variables like sea surface salinity, snow cover, and carbon storage. 



Each model simulated a future where carbon dioxide rose by one percent per year for 140 years, reaching four times the pre-industrial level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-models-show-sudden-changes">Many models show sudden changes</h2>



The study from <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utrecht University</a> found that vulnerable regions included the Arctic, the Tibetan Plateau, and the North Atlantic subpolar gyre. In contrast, the Indian, West African, and South American monsoons remained relatively stable across most models. 



Subsystems showing more consistent abrupt changes included Arctic summer and winter sea ice, Antarctic sea ice, the North Atlantic subpolar gyre, land permafrost, and snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau.



Even systems not officially recognized as tipping elements experienced abrupt changes in several models, suggesting wider potential for sudden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-climate-will-permanently-change-by-2050-scientists-warn/">climate shifts</a> than previously thought.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fast-cooling-in-the-north-atlantic">Fast cooling in the North Atlantic </h2>



Multiple climate models are detecting early signs of abrupt shifts in major Earth systems. In the North Atlantic subpolar gyre, surface waters are freshening and cooling, weakening ocean convection and disrupting currents like the AMOC. 



Twenty-four models showed abrupt temperature or salinity changes here - sometimes at just 0.5°C above preindustrial levels.



Over the Tibetan Plateau, 12 models showed rapid changes in snow-related variables. Upwelling shortwave radiation - a stand-in for albedo - shifted in 11 models, alongside sharp declines in snow depth and coverage. 



These changes could foreshadow glacier retreat, though most models don’t fully simulate glaciers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-and-forest-changes">Permafrost and forest changes</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/permafrost-is-becoming-a-source-of-global-warming/">Permafrost</a> in northern Asia may also thaw faster than expected. Nineteen models showed abrupt losses of frozen soil moisture across areas totaling over one million square kilometers (386,000 square miles), suggesting thawing could happen regionally even if localized shifts appear minor.



Even forests may not be immune. While slow to respond and harder to model, the Amazon and boreal forests showed sudden changes in vegetation indicators like leaf area index and carbon fluxes in up to five models, hinting at potential tipping points in these ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-abrupt-sea-ice-changes">Abrupt sea ice changes</h2>



Sea ice showed some of the clearest abrupt shifts. Arctic summer ice, often seen as stable, experienced large abrupt shifts in 17 models. Winter sea ice showed abrupt losses in 21 models. 



Antarctic sea ice had fewer shifts, but 11 models showed area losses greater than 0.5 million square kilometers (193,000 square miles).



Barents sea ice, above Scandinavia and Russia, showed abrupt shifts in 43 models. Eighteen of them had large-area losses, beginning as early as 0.5°C above preindustrial levels. Two models had losses over 0.5 million square kilometers (193,000 square miles).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-heat-means-more-arctic-sea-ice-shifts">More heat means more Arctic sea ice shifts</h2>



The more a model simulated warming, the more abrupt shifts it showed. At 1.5°C, matching the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/u-s-withdraws-from-the-paris-treaty-as-trump-declares-energy-emergency/">Paris Agreement</a> limit, six of ten subsystems already showed sudden changes. This included the Arctic, North Atlantic, and Tibetan Plateau.



Models with higher climate sensitivity reached tipping conditions sooner. Shifts often happened between 0.5°C and 5°C, depending on the system.



Barents sea ice showed changes at lower warming than Antarctic sea ice or Arctic winter sea ice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-abrupt-changes-may-be-missed">Some abrupt changes may be missed</h2>



Edge detection works well for fast transitions but misses slow-moving collapses. The models used do not simulate all systems fully, such as Greenland’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/glacier-in-antarctica-that-could-drown-cities-is-breaking-apart/">ice sheet</a>. So actual risks may be higher.



Also, fast warming in the models may mask slower but real-world patterns. The current CO₂ increase is slower than in the simulation, so future studies must adjust for that.



Even at 1.5°C of warming, many systems show abrupt shifts in multiple models. Monsoon systems may resist change, but polar and high-altitude regions respond fast.



This study does not predict precise tipping points, but it reveals just how close we might be. The next big change in our climate might not come gradually. It may hit all at once.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025AV001698" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AGU Advances</a>.



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Abrupt collapse of Arctic sea ice may come with little warning

Climate change often appears gradual, but abrupt shifts may occur...

People with dementia often wait too long for a diagnosis. A new global study by UCL found that the average time from the first symptoms to diagnosis is 3.5 years. 



For early-onset dementia, the delay stretches to 4.1 years. These delays worsen access to care and lead to missed opportunities for support.



Researchers analyzed 13 studies from Europe, the US, Australia, and China, covering over 30,000 participants. They tracked the time from when symptoms first appeared - noticed by families or patients - to the formal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-confirmed-as-a-major-risk-factor-for-dementia/">diagnosis</a> by clinicians.



This is the first comprehensive review to measure this diagnostic gap across countries and dementia types.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-dementia-goes-undiagnosed">Why dementia goes undiagnosed</h2>



“Timely diagnosis of dementia remains a major global challenge, shaped by a complex set of factors, and specific healthcare strategies are urgently needed to improve it,” said lead author Dr. Vasiliki Orgeta from the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/psychiatry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL Division of Psychiatry</a>.



Though early symptoms may appear subtle, many families delay action. People often mistake the signs for normal aging. In several countries, general practitioners refer patients to memory clinics, but often only after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-particular-sleep-stage-slow-wave-deep-is-most-important-for-preventing-dementia/">symptoms</a> become severe.



The diagnostic process itself is slow. Even in countries with established memory clinics, delays persist. On average, patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) waited 4.2 years. 



Those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) faced a 3.6-year delay. The longest delays occurred in younger people with FTD, who waited 4.7 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-people-wait-longer">Young people wait longer</h2>



Younger patients face unique challenges. Their symptoms are unexpected and often misdiagnosed as stress or mental health issues. 



Two studies linked younger age directly to longer delays. Several others found that people with young-onset dementia saw multiple doctors before receiving a diagnosis.



Specialist services helped. In one Australian study, people who accessed a dedicated young-onset dementia clinic got diagnosed faster.



“Our work highlights the need for a clear conceptual framework on time to diagnosis in dementia, developed in collaboration with people with dementia, their caregivers, and supporters,” Dr. Orgeta added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waiting-for-dementia-diagnosis">Waiting for dementia diagnosis</h2>



Race, income, and education also played a role. One study from the US found that Black participants experienced longer delays compared to white participants.



This difference was partly due to income and education levels. Lower educational attainment and lack of insurance contributed to these diagnostic gaps.



Female patients, in some studies, were also more likely to wait longer. People without functional impairments tended to get delayed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-of-dementia-is-much-higher-than-previously-thought/">diagnoses</a> too. This shows that visible symptoms often trigger action - but subtle or early signs may not.



“Symptoms of dementia are often mistaken for normal aging, while fear, stigma, and low public awareness can discourage people from seeking help,” said study co-author Dr. Phuong Leung.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-type-of-dementia-often-missed">One type of dementia often missed</h2>



Frontotemporal dementia is harder to detect. It may present as behavioral or language issues rather than memory loss. In some studies, FTD patients were younger and had fewer memory symptoms than those with AD. This complexity caused doctors to misread symptoms or delay referrals.



“Within healthcare systems, inconsistent referral pathways, limited access to specialists, and under-resourced memory clinics can create further delays," said Professor Rafael Del-Pino-Casado from the University of Jaén in Spain.



"For some, language differences or a lack of culturally appropriate assessment tools can make access to timely diagnosis even harder.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speeding-up-detection">Speeding up detection</h2>



The review recommends setting up specialist services for young-onset dementia. These centers can reduce diagnostic delays and improve access to support. 



It also urges global efforts to improve training for doctors, awareness campaigns for the public, and policy frameworks to define acceptable diagnostic timelines.



“To speed up dementia diagnosis, we need action on multiple fronts," said Dr. Orgeta. "Public awareness campaigns can help improve understanding of early symptoms and reduce stigma, encouraging people to seek help sooner."



"Clinician training is critical to improve early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dementia-is-a-growing-global-health-crisis-with-a-staggering-cost/">recognition</a> and referral, along with access to early intervention and individualized support so that people with dementia and their families can get the help they need."



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



Many people still believe dementia only affects older adults, a misconception that leaves younger patients undiagnosed and delays treatment, reducing quality of life.



The report calls for more large-scale studies and standard definitions of diagnostic intervals. Without accurate timelines, policy and planning efforts will fall short.



The authors argue for immediate investment in research, inclusive care systems, and better diagnostics. With the right steps, future generations could receive dementia diagnoses faster - and live better for longer.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.70129" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry</a>.



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Dementia is going undiagnosed for years, especially in young patients

People with dementia often wait too long for a diagnosis....

Environmental concerns can sometimes feel especially urgent - and World Nature Conservation Day is one of those times. 



Observed each year on July 28, this occasion serves as a reminder of the vital role nature plays in our lives and how fragile that support has become.



Forests purify the air we breathe. Rivers nourish ecosystems and communities alike. But the balance is shifting. Temperatures are rising, habitats are shrinking, and pollution is spreading. These changes signal an urgent need for action.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-conservation-nbsp-around-the-world">Nature conservation&nbsp;around the world</h2>



Though people have protected nature for centuries, the official celebration of this day began in the late 1900s. It arose in response to rapid environmental loss.



Since then, the initiative has grown worldwide. <a href="https://wildlifeday.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communities</a> hold awareness campaigns and workshops. People plant trees and attend talks. The core message stays the same. A healthy planet means a healthy future for all.



Nature’s health determines our survival. We depend on clean air, fertile soil, and fresh water. Nature gives us food, medicine, and mental peace. 



If ecosystems collapse, everyone suffers. World Nature Conservation Day is not about charity or good intentions. It is about preserving what keeps us alive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smart-tools-for-wildlife-protection">Smart tools for wildlife protection</h2>



Nature is under threat, and illegal hunting remains one of the most serious dangers. Species like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-era-in-wildlife-conservation-how-ai-will-help-protect-elephants/">elephants</a> are often targeted for their tusks - putting entire populations at risk of extinction.



To stop this, experts have created a smart tool called PoachNet. It’s a digital system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and GPS location data.



PoachNet studies patterns and predicts where poachers are most likely to strike next. The system then alerts local conservation teams, so they can act quickly and protect the animals.



This approach demonstrates how technology can protect wildlife before harm occurs. PoachNet isn’t just reactive - it’s proactive, working to stop threats before they happen.



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



Protecting animals isn't only about keeping them safe from harm. It also means learning how they live, move, and interact with their environment. Recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracking-caribou-movement-patterns-can-transform-conservation/">caribou research</a> is a good example of this idea in action.



Scientists are using GPS tracking devices to study individual caribou. These trackers show where each animal travels over time. 



What the experts discovered is that not all caribou move the same way. Each group has its own pattern, and that means each group needs a different kind of protection.



This research helps conservationists design special paths, called migration corridors, so caribou can move safely across the land. It also helps keep them away from busy roads and industrial areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guarding-the-oceans">Guarding the oceans </h2>



Protecting the ocean is difficult, especially because it's so large and hard to monitor. Marine conservation often struggles with enforcing rules, like fishing bans, in remote areas. Many people believe it’s too hard to stop illegal activity in such vast waters.



But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-marine-protected-areas-working-satellites-reveal-the-truth/">recent research</a> shows that ocean protection is possible. Scientists studied over 1,000 marine protected areas using satellites and artificial intelligence (AI). These tools helped them track ship movements, even those trying to hide.



The researchers discovered that in places with strict fishing bans, illegal activity dropped. The radar technology detected hidden ships, and this allowed for better enforcement. The results prove that smart tools can make a big difference



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tagging-rays-to-help-save-them">Tagging rays to help save them</h2>



Conservation sometimes means learning about animals we rarely see. Rays are one such example. They move in ways that make them hard to track. 



For a long time, scientists couldn't follow rays closely because old tracking devices would fall off too soon.



That problem changed with the creation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracking-endangered-rays-a-new-chapter-in-marine-conservation/">new biologging tags</a>. These tags are advanced tools that include cameras, sensors, and machine learning. They stay attached longer and collect detailed information.



With these tools, scientists now know where rays swim, how they find food, and how they interact with other rays. This information helps create better marine protection plans, such as safe zones where rays can live without threats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-world-nature-conservation-day">Significance of World Nature Conservation Day </h2>



Every action taken to protect nature - whether it involves tracking the hidden journeys of rays or studying the migration of caribou - plays an important role. No effort is too small when it comes to preserving the delicate balance that supports all life on Earth.



World Nature Conservation Day 2025 serves as a powerful reminder that protecting nature is not just about preserving beauty or wildlife. It is directly connected to our own future, health, and stability. When we care for nature, we care for ourselves.



The latest conservation research - from animal protection to smart ocean monitoring - shows how compassion and innovation can go hand in hand. We’re entering an era where conservation is no longer passive but dynamic, creative, and action-driven.



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World Nature Conservation Day 2025: A healthy future for all

Environmental concerns can sometimes feel especially urgent - and World...

About half of the dogs in the United States are overweight. That might not surprise you if your pup constantly begs for treats. But the reasons behind canine obesity go deeper than a dog’s appetite.



A recent study by scientists at <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M University</a>, in collaboration with the Dog Aging Project, points to a more complicated picture.



The study suggests that dog obesity is shaped by a complex mix of factors including breed, living environment, food motivation, and whether it’s the owner or the veterinarian who recognizes the issue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breed-influences-dog-obesity-risk">Breed influences dog obesity risk</h2>



The researchers looked at data from dog owners and veterinarians, using survey responses and medical records to track patterns in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canine-personality-traits-are-not-strongly-influenced-by-breed/">canine</a> weight. One major takeaway: breed groups matter.



Dogs from active breed groups - like retrievers, spaniels, and setters - were about 10% more likely to have a strong drive for food than other dogs.



“Our study confirmed that dogs in the sporting group - which in our study group were largely Labrador retrievers and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/golden-retrievers-and-all-dog-breeds-will-live-longer-lives-thanks-to-science/">Golden retrievers</a> - have a greater likelihood to have high food motivation,” said Dr. Kate Creevy, Dog Aging Project chief veterinary officer. 



“Given that these are two of the most common breeds in the U.S., it is vital that both veterinarians and dog owners understand the diet management strategies necessary for achieving a healthy weight.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-environment">The role of environment </h2>



The study didn’t just stop at breed. Where a dog lives - and who it lives with - matters too. Dogs in urban areas and those in multi-dog homes were also more likely to have higher food motivation.



“It’s likely that these factors influence the amount of exercise that dogs get in addition to their access to food,” Creevy said. “Some dogs may seek food out of boredom, which may increase in environments where exercise and enrichment are less available." 



"Additionally, owners with multiple dogs may choose certain feeding practices - including free feeding - out of convenience, which can lead to more food being available.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-and-managing-a-dog-s-weight">Tracking and managing a dog's weight</h2>



Interestingly, the team also found that owners were more likely to watch their dog’s weight if they personally believed their dog was overweight. But if a vet noticed the weight issue and the owner didn’t, the owner was less likely to take action.



This disconnect might come down to a lack of familiarity with body condition scores (BCS) - a common tool vets use to assess fat accumulation in dogs.



“A BCS plays a key role in helping veterinarians communicate with owners about their dog’s weight, which is why we need to continue increasing use of these scores,” Creevy said. 



“Studies have shown that owners of dogs that are active in sports are more likely to know how to assess BCS, which suggests that owner motivation may play a role in learning how to apply BCS to help their dogs maintain a healthy weight.”



Even though it is standard practice, the study found that about a third of vet records didn’t include a BCS in the past year. That missing data can make it harder to track and manage a dog’s weight effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-weight-is-hard-even-for-dogs">Losing weight is hard - even for dogs</h2>



Knowing a dog is overweight is one thing. Helping them slim down is another. According to Creevy, previous research has shown that weight loss interventions for dogs are not always successful, especially if they’re not followed consistently.



“Sometimes there are issues in communication between the veterinarian and the owner, and given what we learned from this study, it’s also possible that some breeds require even stricter feeding practices," noted Creevy.



Weight loss plans that aren’t tailored or consistently followed can easily fall apart. That’s why expert guidance - and a plan that works for both the dog and the owner - is key.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-obese-dogs">Protecting obese dogs</h2>



If you think your dog may be overweight, the best step is to talk to an expert. A veterinarian can assess your dog’s body condition, suggest feeding guidelines, and help you create an exercise routine that makes sense for your pet.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/probiotics-help-overweight-dogs-shed-pounds/">Overweight dogs</a> are prone to numerous health problems, including skin disease, diabetes, and arthritis,” Creevy said. 



“It is imperative that veterinarians develop a better understanding of canine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-dogs-share-genes-linked-to-obesity/">obesity</a> and whether it may be linked to social, environmental, or demographic factors so that we can give every dog the best possible quality of life.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/86/5/ajvr.24.11.0358.xml">American Journal of Veterinary Research</a>.



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Why are so many dogs obese? A new study reveals the truth

About half of the dogs in the United States are...

You might sweat through a July afternoon, yet still feel drowsy right on schedule when evening falls. A new study shows that our internal clock stays on its 24-hour beat in the heat by subtly reshaping the daily rise and fall of gene activity.



The research was led by theoretical biophysicist <a href="https://ithems.riken.jp/en/members/gen-kurosawa">Gen Kurosawa</a> at the RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (<a href="https://ithems.riken.jp/en">iTHEMS</a>) in Japan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-temperature-speeds-reactions">Why temperature speeds reactions</h2>



Most chemical reactions run faster as the thermometer climbs. This is because heat lets molecules collide more often.



Left unchecked, the basic physics would cause every cellular process to speed up. Yet organisms show temperature compensation, keeping their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-color-of-light-impacts-our-internal-clocks-and-circadian-rhythms/">circadian rhythm</a> nearly the same.



Biologists use something called a Q10 value to measure how temperature affects reactions. Even a small 10°F increase can double the speed of many biological processes, showing just how unlikely it is for a body clock to stay completely stable.



This mystery has intrigued scientists who study biological clocks for decades and drives ongoing research into what keeps them so precise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-the-body-clock-steady">Keeping the body clock steady</h2>



The classic explanation comes from scientist Colin Pittendrigh. In 1954, he noticed that fruit flies kept emerging right on schedule, even when he changed the temperature in their chambers.



Pittendrigh's observation convinced researchers that the body clock carries built-in brakes to counteract the thermal push.



Subsequent models invoked competing chemical loops that lengthen or shorten the cycle so their temperature responses cancel out. 



These ideas work in theory yet do not fully capture the fine details of real gene-expression curves recorded in animals and plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-body-clock-changes-shape">The body clock changes shape</h2>



Kurosawa’s team found that the key isn’t adjusting the speed of the cycle. Instead, they discovered that changing the shape of the rhythm - something they call waveform distortion - makes the difference.



At higher temperatures, messenger RNA (<a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Messenger-RNA-mRNA">mRNA</a>) levels climb sharply, linger, then glide down more slowly. This stretches one side of the wave and squeezes the other.



The total area under the curve - an indirect measure of how much protein is made - stays the same, which helps keep the overall cycle length steady.



Viewed on a graph, the once-smooth sine wave becomes a lopsided sawtooth. That geometry alone delivers the needed timekeeping fix.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-math-trick-explains-time-in-heat">A math trick explains time in heat</h2>



To explain how this imbalance keeps the cycle steady, the researchers used a math technique called the renormalization group method. This technique is usually applied to complex, chaotic systems like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientific-surprise-as-turbulence-mixing-dynamics-captured-using-quantum-computing/">turbulence</a>.



The method teases out the slow backbone of a complicated set of equations, showing that only the downturn of the wave needs to relax to counteract universal speed-ups.



Because the analysis is analytical rather than purely simulated, it offers clear testable predictions about which part of the waveform should stretch when the thermostat rises. 



The predictions line up with time-lapse luciferase recordings of clock genes in cultured cells, lending extra weight to the math.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-clocks-match-the-model">Animal clocks match the model</h2>



Fruit flies, mice, and even bread mold fungi show the predicted skew when they grow in warmer rooms, matching the model line for line. 



Heat-pulse <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9528772/">experiments</a> also shift PER and TIM proteins in the direction the theory foresees, confirming that proteins follow the mRNA wave.



In flies carrying the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7481773/">perL mutation</a>, the distortion is exaggerated and the period actually lengthens, highlighting how a single genetic tweak can upset the balance. That mutant teaches researchers where the tipping points hide in the molecular wiring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wave-shape-affects-sleep-and-shiftwork">Wave shape affects sleep and shiftwork</h2>



A sturdier but less responsive clock sounds good until you cross several time zones or work overnight. 



Modeling work suggests that as the waveform grows more distorted, the range of light signals that can reset the clock narrows, making jet lag and shift-work fatigue harder to shake.&nbsp;



“The degree of waveform distortion in clock <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tens-of-thousands-of-hidden-dark-genes-discovered-in-humans/">genes</a> could be a biomarker that helps us better understand sleep disorders,” Kurosawa said. 



Ignoring shape may explain why some experimental drugs that tweak reaction rates never made it to the clinic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-and-light-warp-rhythms">Heat and light warp rhythms</h2>



Changes in the shape of the body clock’s rhythm also affect how it responds to winter darkness and bright summer light - suggesting a possible molecular link between temperature changes and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunlight-plays-a-critical-role-in-human-sleep/">seasonal mood shifts</a>.



Insects enduring broad temperature ranges show sluggish adjustments because a heavily distorted wave resists dawn cues - a possibility raised by field <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26120562/">studies</a> on temperature-trained flies.&nbsp;



A distorted wave in January may tell migratory birds when to head south or signal bees to forage later in the day. That knowledge could guide design of smart lighting systems that change spectrum and intensity as temperatures shift.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-shape-to-treatment-options">From shape to treatment options</h2>



Researchers now need to pin down the enzymes that slow the evening slide of clock mRNA and hunt for drugs that can nudge that process. 



The experts also want to learn whether age, diet, or genetic variation affects how easily the waveform bends. That could open paths to more tailored <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/circadian-medicine-light-therapy-could-help-millions-of-heart-patients/">chronotherapy</a>.



Answering these questions will also clarify whether waveform signatures can serve as early warning markers for metabolic disease.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013246">PLOS Computational Biology</a>.



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Human body clocks distort time to stay on schedule in the heat

You might sweat through a July afternoon, yet still feel...

Mesopelagic fish, living hundreds of meters below the surface, play a quiet but powerful role in carbon cycling. 



A new study confirms that deep-sea fish excrete carbonate minerals, just like their shallow-water relatives. Their massive biomass and physiological traits make them a critical but overlooked part of ocean chemistry.



Researchers from the University of Miami <a href="https://www.earth.miami.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosenstiel School</a> studied the blackbelly rosefish, a deep-sea species that tolerates lab conditions. They confirmed it produces ichthyocarbonate - a mineral excreted by the intestines to maintain salt and water balance.



“Mesopelagic fish live in deep, cold, high-pressure environments, and until now, it was unclear if they produced carbonate like shallow water <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-are-quietly-battling-climate-change-on-the-seabed/">fish</a> do - or at what rate,” said Martin Grosell, lead author of the study. 



“This study is the first to confirm that they do and that the mechanisms and characteristics of ichthyocarbonate formation are remarkably consistent across depths.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-fish-produce-carbonate">Deep-sea fish produce carbonate </h2>



At 6°C, mirroring its native depth, the blackbelly rosefish excreted carbonate at about 5 mg/kg/hour. This aligns with predictions from previous models that connect metabolism, temperature, and depth.



The study also tested how carbonate formation resists change. Even when held in laboratory settings far from their original pressure conditions, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fishing-removes-key-nutrients-from-marine-ecosystems/">fish</a> continued producing carbonate. This suggests the process is robust and not sensitive to depth-induced pressure changes.



Carbonate excretion comes from the gastrointestinal tract. It’s driven by ion transporters that move bicarbonate into the gut. There, it reacts with calcium and magnesium to form solid minerals. These are expelled into seawater and can later dissolve or sink.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-fish-and-carbon-cycling">Deep fish and carbon cycling</h2>



The researchers examined the carbonate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-oceans-day-2025-sustaining-what-sustains-us/">composition</a> of the blackbelly rosefish. They found that it matched the mineral makeup found in shallow-water species. Magnesium-rich calcite dominated, with minor aragonite and other forms. These materials dissolve at different rates, affecting their fate in the water column.



The uniformity suggests that regardless of where fish live, their carbonate waste behaves similarly once expelled. This means deep-sea fish can contribute to upper-ocean carbonate chemistry even if they dwell much deeper.



“This research fills a major gap in our understanding of ocean chemistry and carbon cycling,” said Amanda Oehlert, co-author and assistant professor. 



“With mesopelagic fish playing such a significant role, their contribution to carbonate flux - and how it might change with warming oceans - deserves greater attention.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-engineers-of-the-ocean">Chemical engineers of the ocean</h2>



By verifying carbonate production in mesopelagic fish, this work supports broader carbon flux models. Until now, those models included deep fish as contributors, but lacked direct measurements. This new data gives them firmer footing.



“These results offer strong support for global models of fish-derived carbonate production, which had assumed - but not verified - that mesopelagic species contribute at similar rates,” Grosell said. “Mesopelagic fish aren’t just prey; they’re chemical engineers of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unseen-impacts-of-fishing-trawling-fuels-climate-change/">ocean</a>.”



The study also suggests that mesopelagic fish could influence carbon export. Their carbonates may either dissolve near the surface or fall deeper, adding to seafloor sediments.



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



Carbonates affect seawater alkalinity and pH buffering. Fish-sourced minerals, especially from deep waters, could impact how oceans respond to acidification and warming. 



These particles interact with dissolved carbon and influence chemical stability at depth. The study’s results could help refine Earth system models used to forecast these changes.



The researchers stress that ichthyocarbonate is not trivial waste. It is a steady mineral output with wide-scale consequences. It travels, dissolves, or settles, shaping carbon flow through ocean layers. With up to 94% of global fish biomass living in mesopelagic zones, their contributions matter.



Understanding when and where this mineral is released is key. It could improve predictions of long-term carbon storage.



"Ichthyocarbonate release by individual fish is episodic and under sophisticated endocrine control, but we know very little about the timing and frequency of release, offering an important area for future research," concluded the study authors. 



The study was funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a> and the University of Miami. The findings are published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/228/14/jeb249834/368610/Osmoregulation-by-the-gastro-intestinal-tract-of" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Biology</a>.



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Fish in the deep sea help power the ocean's carbon cycle

Mesopelagic fish, living hundreds of meters below the surface, play...

The Gobi Desert just gained another actor in its cast of Late Cretaceous characters. Paleontologists have unveiled Shri rapax, a stocky, two legged predator with a body that stretched only about 6.5 feet (2 meters) but had some serious weaponry. 



Unearthed after a winding journey through private collections, and eventually repatriated to Mongolia, the fossil shows a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-extinction-theories-are-challenged-by-new-research/">creature</a> that roamed dune laced lakeshores between 75 and 71 million years ago. 



Its most arresting feature is a thumb claw measuring 3.1 in (nearly 8 cm) long, which is almost double that of a similarly sized Velociraptor.



Andrea Cau, an independent Italian paleontologist who led the <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">description</a>, worked alongside scientists from the Royal Belgian Institute of <a href="https://www.naturalsciences.be/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural Sciences</a> and North Carolina State University (<a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NCSU</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shri-rapax-hunted-with-hands-not-feet">Shri rapax hunted with hands, not feet</h2>



The hands of this new <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/saurischia/dromaeosauridae.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dromaeosaurid</a> are 150 percent more robust than those of Velociraptor, even though the two raptors share a comparable body length.



Digital scans reveal thick finger bones capped by an oversized claw with an outer curve that is 162 percent the length of the supporting phalanx - this is a proportion unmatched among known raptors.



“The rapacious features we see in the hand signal a predator that relied on pure grip strength rather than slashing kicks,” said Cau.



By contrast, the famous sickle-shaped toe claw of Velociraptor is better suited to quick, repeated strikes. Shri rapax appears to have shifted that killing focus to its thumbs, thus freeing its feet for balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-claws-helped-grab-bigger-prey">Big claws helped grab bigger prey</h2>



Team member Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig noted that the middle claw’s 3.1 inch (8 cm) span “likely enabled it to grasp and restrain relatively large prey.”



Modern birds of prey offer a parallel: talons grow disproportionately bigger in species that tackle animals heavier than themselves, a link confirmed by biomechanical <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007999" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> on eagle and hawk feet.



Applying that principle to Shri rapax suggests that these dinosaurs targeted bigger and bulkier prey than the lizards or small mammals favoured by many Gobi <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-suggests-early-dinosaurs-were-larger-than-we-thought/">carnivores</a> of similar size.



Its stout skull, digitally reconstructed from CT data, hints at a bite built to finish the job once those powerful hands locked on.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-fought-prey-face-to-face">It fought prey face to face</h2>



The bones come from the Djadokhta Formation, a wind blown world that also preserved a Velociraptor locking jaws with a ceratopsian named Protoceratops. 



Those desert showdowns often ended badly for predator and prey alike, as the famous “fighting dinosaurs” pair demonstrates.



Shri rapax brings a fresh twist to that narrative. Instead of pouncing with toe talons, it may have wrestled stocky herbivores face to face, anchoring itself with those muscular thumbs while delivering short, crushing bites.



That strategy could explain why its pubic bones tilt slightly less backward than in Velociraptor - a more upright stance may have helped brace against struggling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-sized-baby-dinosaur-unearthed-after-166-million-years/">prey</a>.



Arm bones also show enlarged muscle scars, especially for the biceps, hinting at strokes powerful enough to reel opponents inward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shri-rapax-lived-with-many-desert-raptors">Shri rapax lived with many desert raptors</h2>



The discovery of Shri rapax adds to the already dense concentration of mid-sized theropods in the Gobi fossil record. 



At least three, closely related raptor species now appear to have shared overlapping environments within the Djadokhta Formation, each with different adaptations to prey size, skull strength, and forelimb anatomy. 



That level of ecological diversity in a single predator guild is rare in modern ecosystems, making the Late Cretaceous Gobi a unique case for studying niche partitioning.



Its presence also challenges previous assumptions about faunal turnover between Mongolian formations. 



While many Djadokhtan and Baruungoyotan species appear in different sedimentary contexts, the morphological similarities and close phylogenetic ties between Shri rapax and Shri devi suggest that geographic or environmental barriers, not just time, may have shaped their evolution.&nbsp;



More precise dating and fossil finds could help clarify whether these raptors coexisted or followed each other in rapid succession.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-evolved-differently-from-its-cousin">It evolved differently from its cousin</h2>



Morphological analyses place Shri rapax as the sister species of Shri devi, named in 2021 from rock layers a few million years younger. 



The two share short snouts but diverge sharply in limb anatomy, suggesting niche partitioning within a single raptor lineage.



Broader <a href="https://bmcecolevol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12862-024-02222-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> of raptor skull shapes show that bite mechanics, not just claws, steer dietary specialization across the group. Shri rapax fits that trend, pairing a reinforced jaw with hardware built for grappling.



Its discovery also undercuts the idea that all mid-sized Gobi predators hunted in the same way. Even among close cousins, evolution seems to have encouraged experimental toolkits to avoid competition.



Future field seasons will test whether additional Shri remains turn up alongside fossils of armored ankylosaurs or juvenile ceratopsians, the prey most logically matched to a hand first hunting style.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-means-for-raptor-science">What it means for raptor science</h2>



Shri rapax reminds researchers that predatory dinosaurs were not defined solely by iconic toe claws. Hands, skulls, and tails combined in unique ways to solve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-predatory-dinosaur-species-identified-in-lost-photos/">ecological</a> puzzles.



The find highlights how repatriated specimens can rewrite textbooks, years after they were first dug up. Because the fossil’s journey is now documented, it can legally anchor a new species and invite further study.



Its anatomy will likely enter computer models that explore strength limits of dinosaur limbs, helping scientists estimate muscle mass and pulling force. 



Those numbers could verify whether the thumb claw truly outperformed the famous foot claw in terms of absolute grip.



Finally, the discovery emphasizes the value of Mongolia’s desert sites, where fine sand and rapid burial continue to freeze dramatic moments of Mesozoic life in place for modern science.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148?scroll=top&amp;needAccess=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Biology</a>.



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Dinosaur discovered that killed with its thumbs instead of claws

The Gobi Desert just gained another actor in its cast...

The hardest math in science has long been a bottleneck, delaying discoveries across physics, chemistry, and climate. But that’s starting to change, as AI slashes equation-solving times from years to minutes. 



Researchers who once waited a decade for enough computing power or clever tricks to tame complex formulas are now solving them in an afternoon.



That leap is cataloged in a new 500-page <a href="https://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/MAL-115" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> that maps out how learning algorithms are reshaping everything from drug design to climate modeling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-s-equation-problem">Science’s equation problem</h2>



Nature is divided into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-ai-framework-dimon-turning-any-laptop-into-a-supercomputer/">quantum</a>, atomic, and continuum regimes, each governed by complex differential equations. 



“The goal of natural sciences is to understand the world on different temporal and physical scales, leading to three main systems: quantum, atomic, and continuum,” said study co-author Dr. Shuiwang Ji of <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M University</a>.



Take Schrödinger’s equation, the backbone of quantum mechanics. It can be solved cleanly for two electrons but becomes hopeless when millions of particles interact.



As the particle count rises, the number of variables grows exponentially, a curse of dimensionality that locks up even supercomputers.



Traditional numerical tricks approximate the answers, yet they still demand weeks of high-performance computing time and deliver limited accuracy. That bottleneck slows fields that depend on quantum chemistry, such as battery design and catalyst screening.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teaching-ai-the-hard-math">Teaching AI the hard math</h2>



Machine learning models trained on known solutions learn to spot hidden patterns that humans miss. Once trained, they guess the wave functions or fluid pressures for new systems in seconds, often matching conventional solvers to within a percent.



Unlike black-box predictors, the latest architectures bake in physical symmetries, so rotations or reflections leave the output unchanged. That makes the networks both faster and more trustworthy because they respect conservation laws by design.



Ji and more than sixty collaborators detail strategies such as equivariant graph neural networks that treat atoms as nodes and bonds as edges. 



Their review also surveys large language models that write simulation code on demand, a trick already used inside Texas A&amp;M’s <a href="https://www.raise-tamu.net/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">R</a><a href="https://www.raise-tamu.net/about">AISE</a> Initiative labs.



An early win came when graph neural nets replicated a month-long density functional theory run in under ten minutes on a laptop. That drop in cost means students can explore chemical space during an afternoon lab section instead of reserving cluster time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-science-breakthroughs-in-action">AI science breakthroughs in action</h2>



The 2021 release of AlphaFold predicted shapes for roughly two hundred million proteins in about a year. Biologists who once waited months for an X-ray structure can now plan experiments the same morning.



Materials scientists are using graph networks to screen millions of candidate battery electrolytes, pruning the list to a handful that survive expensive bench tests. 



Early prototypes have already pushed lithium-ion lifetimes past three thousand charge cycles in lab cells.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-climate-shift-sheds-light-on-future-global-warming/">Climate</a> modelers plug neural solvers into global circulation codes, trimming the daily energy bill of a typical run by forty percent while keeping storm tracks intact. That saving frees funds to explore more emission scenarios instead of paying electricity costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-limits-of-ai-in-science">The limits of AI in science</h2>



“We are using AI to accelerate our understanding of science and design better engineering systems,” said Ji. That ambition demands rigorous benchmarks, uncertainty estimates, and open data so other teams can replicate results.



Data scarcity dogs many frontier problems, from fusion plasma <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientific-surprise-as-turbulence-mixing-dynamics-captured-using-quantum-computing/">turbulence</a> to rare earth magnet phases. Researchers address this by augmenting sparse measurements with simulations, yet that may smuggle in the very biases they hope to escape.



Ethical concerns loom as well, because AI that speeds drug discovery could just as easily accelerate toxin design. 



Leading groups advocate real-time screening of generated molecules against pathogen threat databases before any synthesis request reaches a vendor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solving-science-together">Solving science together</h2>



Ji’s team argues that no single lab can cover the sprawling space of quantum, atomistic, and continuum problems. Their paper itself is a proof, spanning fifteen universities and more than five hundred pages.



The RAISE Initiative recruits over eighty-five faculty, pairing computer scientists with chemists, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-oldest-known-rocks-formed-over-four-billion-years-ago/">geologists</a>, and civil engineers inside shared Slack channels. Weekly data-sharing sessions cut redundant efforts and seed joint grant proposals that draw on strengths across campus.



Industry is leaning in, too, as pharmaceutical giants supply curated reaction data while earning early access to improved models. 



Start-ups license those models through cloud APIs, letting a small lab anywhere run high-end <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/finding-quantum-coherence-chemical-reaction-chaos/">quantum chemistry</a> without buying a single server.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-discovery-at-machine-speed">Science discovery at machine speed</h2>



If the past four years are any guide, everyday researchers will soon treat AI solvers like they treat spreadsheets, a default tool that lives on every desktop. 



Once that happens, the defining question shifts from whether to trust AI to how to spend the freed-up creative energy.



Young scientists might redirect their mornings from debugging Fortran toward framing deeper hypotheses, while seasoned engineers iteratively refine prototypes instead of waiting for a cluster queue slot. 



History suggests that when a method cuts cost by an order of magnitude, it sparks waves of experiments that nobody previously dared to attempt.



Policymakers could feel the impact too, because faster simulations let agencies stress-test infrastructure plans against many more climate or seismic scenarios. More scenarios translate into codes that protect communities rather than average-case assumptions.



Ji sees that horizon already, noting his own curiosity for fundamental science as the spark that keeps the collaboration moving. He and his colleagues hope that by teaching AI the language of physics, science can advance through better questions - not just faster answers.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/MAL-115" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations and Trends in Machine Learning</a>.



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AI is taking scientific discovery from decades to minutes

The hardest math in science has long been a bottleneck,...

Hospitals are meant to heal. Yet new research suggests the food many patients receive may be holding back their recovery.



An analysis of two German hospitals and three nursing homes found menus loaded with refined grains, added sugars, salt, and saturated fat. The food options were also lacking in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.



The research was led by Lisa Pörtner of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (<a href="https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PIK</a>), in collaboration with colleagues at Charité in Berlin and Stanford University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hospital-food-impacts-patient-recovery">Hospital food impacts patient recovery </h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-friendly-foods-can-reduce-your-risk-of-mortality-by-25-percent/">Poor diets</a> now rank among the top drivers of chronic illness and premature death worldwide. Hospitalized people, already vulnerable, often depend entirely on institutional meals for days or even weeks at a time.



Many in-patients are older adults with higher protein and micronutrient needs, yet illness, medication, and an unfamiliar setting can blunt both appetite and taste.



When the tray arrives bland, beige, and salty, much of it ends up in the trash instead of in the patient, compounding the risk of complications.



Nutrition also affects length of stay and complication rates. Malnourished patients often face infections, slower wound healing, and longer rehabilitation - costs that ripple through families, health systems, and insurers.



Hospitals and nursing homes influence community norms well beyond their walls. If patients experience colorful, plant-rich plates during their stay, they are more likely to try the same foods at home. They may also talk about them with relatives after discharge, seeding healthier habits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-foods-are-missing-entirely">Plant foods are missing entirely</h2>



The team tallied every breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack served over a representative week. Then, they compared the nutrient content with targets in the Planetary Health Diet, which calls for roughly 80 percent of calories from wholesome plant foods.



None of the institutions even reached 20 percent, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/refined-grains-increase-the-risk-of-heart-disease/">refined grains</a> alone supplied more calories than all produce combined, flipping recommended proportions on their head.



"We found that meals contained too few healthy plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes," said Pörtner. 



“This is particularly troubling as health care institutions should be role models for healthy diets,” said Nathalie Lambrecht of <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, explaining micronutrients such as folate, potassium, and vitamin B6 fell well below recommended intakes.



Additionally, nursing home residents also missed basic protein targets needed to maintain muscle and immune function.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hospital-food-impacts-climate">Hospital food impacts climate</h2>



Food choices in hospitals not only threatened patient well-being - red meat and dairy generated three-quarters of each facility’s greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water pollution. This echoes global data showing animal products carry the highest environmental toll.



For perspective, New York City’s municipal hospital network cut food-related emissions by 36 percent in one year simply by making plant-based dishes the default option. 



Patient satisfaction climbed above 90 percent at the same time, debunking fears that greener menus hurt the dining experience.



Climate change harms human health by causing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-heatwaves-are-accelerating-for-a-surprising-reason/">heat waves</a>, extreme weather, breathing problems, and the spread of new diseases. It creates a feedback loop that starts with what we eat and can end with a trip to the emergency room. 



Those cascading stresses land hardest on children, older adults, and people with chronic diseases.



By serving resource-heavy meat at every meal, health-care facilities unknowingly contribute to problems like respiratory illness, malnutrition, and heat-related complications. This highlights a clear conflict between their goal to heal patients and the impact of their food choices.



Aligning the plate with the pledge to "first, do no harm" takes deliberate effort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-better-food-means-better-health">Better food means better health</h2>



The solution for hospitals is not austere salads or unfamiliar fad foods. Flavorful legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains can provide enough protein to meet dietary needs. They also add fiber and important nutrients that support the immune system, brain function, and bone health.



A lentil shepherd’s pie delivers as much protein per calorie as beef, while slashing emissions and saturated fat. Swapping butter for canola or olive oil improves the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat - a core metric in the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) that predicts cardiovascular risk.



Using seasonal produce helps lower costs, makes meals look more appealing, and supports local farms. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peanuts-have-a-beneficial-impact-on-vascular-health/">Peanut butter</a>, soymilk, and fortified cereals can also fill vitamin and mineral gaps without needing extra work or many ingredients. Chefs find diners respond to color and crunch just as much as to nutrition labels.



Hospital trials in the U.S., U.K., and the Netherlands show that plant-forward menus can match or beat traditional meals in taste and cost. 



These results come even before factoring in long-term savings from shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions. The savings grow larger when reduced waste and lower procurement emissions are factored in. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contracts-block-healthier-menus">Contracts block healthier menus</h2>



Kitchen budgets are tight, and staff already juggle allergy requests, texture modifications, and infection control rules. 



Bulk contracts often lock facilities into meat-heavy purchasing for years, making rapid change tricky and sometimes financially risky.



Policymakers could help by writing minimum nutrition and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-urgent-plea-sustainable-climate-solutions-save-earth-humanity/">sustainability</a> standards into reimbursement regulations, much like existing rules on hand hygiene and medication safety. 



Clear targets would empower food-service directors to negotiate new contracts and track progress.



Large group purchasing organizations could negotiate discounts on lentils, chickpeas, and produce - just like they do for dairy or pork. This would help lower costs for individual kitchens and reduce supply-chain problems that concern administrators.



Contract terms that reward lower carbon intensity could accelerate the shift.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-doctors-must-lead-change">Doctors must lead change</h2>



Clinicians also have a role. When doctors prescribe plant-rich diets for diabetes or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-one-thing-about-this-everyday-task-cuts-heart-disease-risk-in-half/">heart disease</a>, the message sounds hollow if the cafeteria still pushes sausage and pudding at every meal, sending mixed signals to patients and staff alike.



Real change starts with measurement. Menu audits, waste tracking, and lifecycle assessment dashboards give dietitians the data they need to improve recipes and monitor progress.



The German study shows that better hospital food is not a luxury add-on. It is clinical care and climate action served on the same tray, replicated far beyond Germany.



The study is published in<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00138-X/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The Lancet Planetary Health</a>.



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Hospital food puts patients at risk - and the planet

Hospitals are meant to heal. Yet new research suggests the...

Scientists have mapped the human genome for a quarter century, yet millions of DNA letters are still unresolved. A new study now reports the most complete reference to date, covering those difficult sections.



The international team sequenced 65 ancestry diverse genomes and closed 92 percent of the gaps left by earlier projects, providing a resource that lets clinicians zoom all the way into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/babies-born-healthy-with-dna-from-a-third-parent/">regions</a> long considered unreadable.



The project was led by Christine Beck of The Jackson Laboratory and the University of Connecticut Health Center (<a href="https://health.uconn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UConnHC</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decoding-critical-dna-regions">Decoding critical DNA regions</h2>



Beck noted that the missing pieces often carry variants influencing digestion, immunity, and muscle control. Without them, risk models for many conditions have been blind to entire classes of DNA changes.



Clinicians felt that blindness whenever genetic tests ruled out mutations yet patients still developed disease. 



The new assemblies bring those stretches into view, letting variant calling software finally flag complex rearrangements that older methods skipped.



The most important areas that were finally decoded include a stretch of DNA related to spinal muscular atrophy, a serious genetic disease. 



Another key region is the major histocompatibility complex, a crowded section tied to over 100 different health conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refining-the-human-genome">Refining the human genome</h2>



The team used a newer type of sequencing that reads much longer pieces of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-dna-test-can-tell-your-exact-age-from-just-a-tiny-blood-sample/">DNA</a> than older methods. They combined two types of reads: one that’s very accurate and another that’s extra long, so they could capture big and tricky sections. 



The experts stitched those reads together to build complete sets of DNA from each person, including both their mother’s and father’s versions.



This approach allowed the researchers to finish some chromosomes from end to end in about 4 out of every 10 cases, which is a major improvement over earlier attempts. 



They also shared their method so that other scientists can now do the same without having to start from scratch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-team-found-in-the-dna">What the team found in the DNA</h2>



The researchers uncovered nearly 2,000 complicated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-dna-reveals-37000-years-of-hidden-human-infections/">DNA</a> changes that were too hard to find before. They also identified over 12,000 pieces of jumping DNA, which are bits that can move around and change how genes work.&nbsp;



On top of that, the team fully mapped more than 1,200 centromeres, which are the central parts of chromosomes that help them divide properly. 



Many of these turned out to have two possible "connection points" instead of one, something that may change how scientists understand genetic stability.



The researchers saw up to 30 fold differences in α satellite repeat length at centromere cores, variation that could affect fertility or cancer risk once paired with clinical records. Those comparisons were impossible before the gaps were filled.



The experts also mapped the notoriously variable amylase gene cluster, which influences how well people digest starch. Such detailed mapping lets anthropologists match genes with regional culinary traditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-genomes-improved-the-map">Diverse genomes improved the map</h2>



Earlier references were built mostly from European <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/airborne-dna-can-track-wildlife-diseases-and-even-drugs/">genomes</a>, a limitation that has skewed risk scores and drug studies for decades. 



Clinicians in Africa, South America, and Asia have repeatedly reported mismatches between test results and patient outcomes.



Nearly 60 percent of the newly found insertions and 14 percent of deletions occur in fewer than one in 100 people, making them perfect markers for rare disease diagnosis. 



Short read pipelines that once flagged tens of thousands of candidate changes can now shrink the list to a few hundred, speeding answers for families.



This inclusive strategy follows the draft <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05896-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pangenome</a> published in 2023, which wove 47 genomes into a graph based reference. The new work extends that concept by adding depth as well as breadth, delivering a finished quality sequence where the pangenome merely outlined possibilities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sequencing-complete-genomes">Sequencing complete genomes</h2>



“It's only been in the last three years that technology finally got to the point where we can sequence complete genomes,” noted Charles Lee of the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. He considers 65 complete genomes to be a starting point, not a finish line.



“There’s more and more realization that these sequences are not junk,” added Jan Korbel, interim head of <a href="https://www.embl.org/sites/heidelberg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMBL Heidelberg</a>, referring to the repetitive DNA now decoded. Korbel highlighted that the resource is open for anyone to explore.



Both scientists see the data as a launchpad for large health care projects, from newborn screening to predictive polygenic tools, that work equally well for every community. Those applications are already being piloted by regional health systems.



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



The consortium is already feeding its assemblies into graph based tools so routine short read data can benefit from the richer reference. 



Early tests push per genome variant detection past 26,000 structural changes, roughly double earlier counts.



Sequencing costs are falling so quickly that fully phased, telomere-to-telomere genomes may soon be routine in diagnostic labs, ending the era in which physicians worked with partial maps and educated guesses. 



A single clinical genome that once cost millions now slips below $10,000 in some centers.



According to Beck, understanding health requires the full genetic blueprint, and this study finally hands clinicians most of the missing pages. 



The remaining gaps may close as long-read sequencing becomes more common in everyday medicine.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09140-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Missing parts of the human genome have finally been decoded

Scientists have mapped the human genome for a quarter century,...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



—–



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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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