Monarch butterflies are icons of long-distance migration, drifting each autumn from inland western states to sheltered groves on California’s coast. 



Yet some in the growing butterfly population now skip the journey, living and breeding year-round among neighborhood gardens.



New research from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a> has found that these "stay-at-home" <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monarch-butterflies-are-delaying-their-migration-in-a-warmer-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">monarch butterflies</a> represent a largely self-contained group - neither helping nor harming their declining migratory cousins.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-some-monarchs-stay-at-home">Why some monarchs stay at home</h2>



Historically, western monarchs spent spring and summer in places such as Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho, then flew to coastal California for the winter. 



Over the past decade, winter counts of those migrants have collapsed, sparking alarm among conservationists. At the same time, sightings of monarchs flitting through San Francisco Bay Area streets in January and February have multiplied.



One suspected driver is the popularity of tropical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milkweed-gardens-are-needed-to-save-monarch-butterflies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">milkweed</a> in urban yards. Unlike California’s native milkweed species, which die back in winter, the evergreen tropical variety offers continuous foliage and flowers.



The tropical milkweed is a tempting resource that can encourage butterflies to breed instead of migrate. Critics worry the practice fosters parasite outbreaks and disrupts the century-old monarch butterfly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/creating-new-forests-to-assist-monarch-butterfly-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-success-story-or-a-disaster">Success story or a disaster?</h2>



Elizabeth Crone is the study's author and a professor in UC Davis’ Department of Evolution and Ecology.



“Although in many ways monarchs seem to be doing just fine in cities, there are a lot of concerns that these non-migratory populations build up high levels of parasites, even to the point that some counties have outlawed planting the non-native evergreen milkweeds that monarch butterflies use in winter,” said Professor Crone.



“We were curious about whether the establishment of these resident populations was a conservation success story or a conservation disaster.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monarch-surveys-in-cities">Monarch surveys in cities</h2>



To test the connection, Crone’s team walked fifteen three-mile routes across East Bay suburbs every month in 2022 and 2023. 



They recorded milkweed plants - native and non-native - in yards and roadsides, counted monarch eggs, caterpillars, and adults, and briefly netted butterflies to check for a debilitating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-monarch-butterflies-are-killed-by-parasites-yearly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protozoan parasite</a>.



Surveys showed milkweed abundant year-round, peaking in summer. Monarch butterfly activity matched an urban breeding cycle rather than seasonal migration.



Adults were most numerous in summer and scarcer in winter; heavily infected butterflies mirrored that pattern, with high parasite burdens in late summer and autumn but far fewer during the colder months.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-little-overlap-with-migratory-monarchs"><a></a>Little overlap with migratory monarchs</h2>



"These resident monarchs in urban areas are almost unconnected from the migratory population, so helping resident monarchs likely doesn't help or hurt the migratory population,” said lead author Emily Erickson. She completed the work while a postdoctoral fellow in Crone’s lab.



Because the two groups show minimal exchange, local bans on tropical milkweed may be misplaced, the researchers argue.



“I think it's reasonable to focus on planting native milkweeds, but ripping out all of the milkweeds in urban gardens in the Bay Area or in Los Angeles does not need to be the immediate focus for monarch conservation," Erickson added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-gardens-help-all">Urban gardens help all</h2>



The study suggests resident monarchs bring other advantages. “Having people see monarch butterflies every day makes them want to invest in the conservation of butterflies, and in conservation in general,” Erickson said.



“And no matter what milkweed you're planting, native or non-native, it supports a lot of things beyond monarchs.”



Crone likewise noted that urban habitat can complement broader recovery strategies. “Some people believe that these resident populations are a major cause of monarch butterfly populations declining, but our research suggests it's a bit of a red herring,” she said.



“Our results highlight the potential for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-biodiversity-is-not-a-luxury-it-is-attainable-for-everyone/">urban ecosyst</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-biodiversity-is-not-a-luxury-it-is-attainable-for-everyone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-biodiversity-is-not-a-luxury-it-is-attainable-for-everyone/">ms</a> to contribute to the conservation of some species. In the West, resident monarchs can persist in urban gardens without impacting fluctuations in migratory monarchs.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tech-joins-butterfly-research">Tech joins butterfly research</h2>



Funding for the project came from Google, which has supported monarch habitat initiatives since 2021. “We are really grateful to Google,” Crone said.



“It was a unique opportunity - it's the first time in my 28 years of being a professor that a corporation has reached out to us and said that they're interested in butterfly conservation and asked how they can help.”



While the Bay Area’s resident butterflies won’t by themselves rescue the declin­ing migratory population, they illustrate how adaptable some wildlife can be in city landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-gardens-and-migration">Urban gardens and migration</h2>



The authors emphasize that large-scale monarch recovery will still depend on restoring native milkweed and nectar sources across inland <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monarch-butterflies-shift-to-winter-breeding-for-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breeding</a> grounds and coastal overwintering sites. Yet urban gardens can play a complementary role, sustaining local biodiversity and fostering public engagement.



Thus, while some people see tropical milkweed and resident monarchs as villains, data shows they’re not the cause of migratory decline.



Instead, they offer an unexpected bright spot: proof that cities, when planted thoughtfully, can support thriving butterfly populations. This happens without undermining the grand monarch migration scientists are working so hard to save.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70259" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosphere</a>. -----



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-----

Why some monarch butterflies are skipping migration

Monarch butterflies are icons of long-distance migration, drifting each autumn from inland western states to sheltered groves on California’s coast. Yet some in the growing butterfly population now skip the journey, living and breeding year-round among neighborhood gardens. New research from the University of California, Davis has found that these "stay-at-home" monarch butterflies represent a largely self-contained group - neither helping nor harming their declining migratory cousins. Why some monarchs stay at home Historically, western monarchs spent spring and summer in places such as Arizona, Nevada, and...

In our increasingly digital world, children encounter a vast array of information online, much of it unverified and generated by robots and artificial intelligence (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-can-predict-human-life-events-including-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a>) sources. 



A pivotal skill for children in this environment is discerning the reliability of these sources, a key component in developing critical thinking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-robots-and-trust">Children, robots and trust</h2>



A recent study sheds light on this issue. Titled ‘Younger, not older, children trust an inaccurate human informant more than an inaccurate robot informant,’ the research explores how children aged three to five gauge trustworthiness in both human and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-robots-marketing-and-the-power-of-persuasion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robot</a> informants.



Dr. Li Xiaoqian is a research scholar at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (<a href="https://www.sutd.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUTD</a>). 



She, along with her PhD supervisor, Professor Yow Wei Quin, head of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at SUTD, co-authored the study. They found that children’s trust is influenced by an informant's past accuracy. 



“Children do not just trust anyone to teach them labels, they trust those who were reliable in the past. We believe that this selectivity in social learning reflects young children’s emerging understanding of what makes a good (reliable) source of information,” explained Li Xiaoqian. 



“The question at stake is how young children use their intelligence to decide when to learn and whom to trust.”



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



The study involved participants from Singapore preschools, such as ChildFirst, Red SchoolHouse, and Safari House. 



Divided into ‘younger’ and ‘older’ groups based on the median age of 4.58 years, these children interacted with either a human or robot informant. These informants provided either accurate or inaccurate labels for objects like ‘ball’ or ‘book’.



To measure trust, the researchers observed if the children accepted new information from these informants. The robot used was NAO by <a href="https://www.softbankrobotics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SoftBank Robotics</a>, a humanoid robot with a human-like but robotic voice. 



To ensure consistency, the human informant mirrored the robot's movements. An experimenter was also present to facilitate the process and ensure the child was comfortable.



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



The findings revealed that children trusted informants -- <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-engage-in-social-loafing-when-they-have-robot-team-members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human or robot</a> -- who had previously provided accurate information. However, they were hesitant to trust informants with a history of inaccuracies, particularly if the informant was a robot. 



Additionally, younger children were more likely to trust an unreliable human over an unreliable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-robots-with-charismatic-voices-get-better-results-from-students/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robot</a>, while older children tended to distrust unreliable informants, regardless of their nature.



“These results implicate that younger and older children may have different selective trust strategies, especially the way they use informants’ reliability and identity cues when deciding who to trust," said Dr. Li. 



"Together with other research on children’s selective trust, we show that as children get older, they may increasingly rely on reliability cues to guide their trust behavior.”



Previous studies indicate that children consider various factors, like age, familiarity, and language, to assess an informant's reliability. 



Younger children might emphasize identity cues more, while older children focus more on the substance of the information provided.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-children-and-robots">Future research on children and robots</h2>



This study is unique in its exploration of children's perceptions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happens-when-robots-lie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robots</a> compared to humans and their corresponding trust behaviors. 



“Addressing these questions will provide a unique perspective on the development of trust and social learning among children who are growing up alongside various sources of information, including social robots,” described Prof Yow.



The research has significant implications for educational methods, especially as robots and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-proves-very-useful-to-doctors-when-diagnosing-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI tools</a> become more common in classrooms. Children's perceptions of robots as trustworthy sources could evolve with increased exposure to smart machines.



“Designers should consider the impact of perceived competence when building robots and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-able-to-predict-if-a-new-song-will-be-a-hit-with-97-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI-driven</a> educational tools for young children," emphasized Professor Yow. 



"Recognizing the developmental changes in children’s trust of humans versus robots can guide the creation of more effective learning environments, ensuring that the use of technologies aligns with children’s developing cognitive and social needs.”



In summary, future research might expand beyond word learning to other areas, such as tool usage, emotional expression, and episodic memory. The current findings will be influential in design pedagogy. 



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.14048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Child Development</a>.



-----



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Who do children trust more, robots or humans? Scientists found out

In our increasingly digital world, children encounter a vast array...

A recent study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.108.083533" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review D</a> marks a significant advancement in cosmology. A team of researchers has analyzed over one million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/">galaxies</a> to delve into the origins of the universe’s current cosmic structures.&nbsp;



This study contributes to the understanding of the ΛCDM model, the standard framework for the universe, which posits the significance of cold dark matter (CDM) and dark energy (the cosmological constant, Λ).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primordial-fluctuations-nbsp">Primordial fluctuations&nbsp;</h2>



The model theorizes that primordial fluctuations, originating at the universe’s inception, acted as catalysts for the formation of all celestial objects, including stars, galaxies, and galaxy clusters.&nbsp;



These fluctuations, initially small, grew over time due to gravitational forces, eventually forming dense regions of dark matter, or halos. These halos then collided and merged, leading to the creation of galaxies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spatial-distribution-of-galaxies">Spatial distribution of galaxies</h2>



The spatial distribution of galaxies, significantly influenced by these primordial fluctuations, has been a key focus for researchers.&nbsp;



In addition to this, the galaxy shapes distributed across the universe also reflect these primordial fluctuations. Traditional analysis, however, has primarily centered on the spatial distribution of galaxies as points.



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



The research was led by Toshiki Kurita, a graduate student at the <a href="https://www.kavlifoundation.org/institutes/kavli-institute-for-the-physics-and-mathematics-of-the-universe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe</a> (Kavli IPMU) at the time of the study (now a postdoctoral researcher at the <a href="https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics</a>), and Kavli IPMU Professor Masahiro Takada.



The team developed a novel method to measure the power spectrum of galaxy shapes. This method combines spectroscopic data of galaxies’ spatial distribution with imaging data of individual galaxy shapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-nbsp">Critical new insights&nbsp;</h2>



By analyzing approximately one million galaxies from the <a href="https://www.sdss.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sloan Digital Sky Survey</a> (SDSS), the team successfully constrained the statistical properties of the primordial fluctuations that seeded the formation of the universe’s structure. 



The experts discovered a significant alignment in the orientations of galaxies’ shapes, even over distances exceeding 100 million light years, suggesting correlations between distant galaxies whose formation processes are seemingly independent.



“In this research, we were able to impose constraints on the properties of the primordial fluctuations through statistical analysis of the ‘shapes’ of numerous galaxies obtained from the large-scale structure data,” Kurita said.&nbsp;



“There are few precedents for research that use galaxy shapes to explore the physics of the early universe, and the research process, from the construction of the idea and development of analysis methods to the actual data analysis, was a series of trial and error.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wonderful-research-achievement">Wonderful research achievement</h2>



The study also confirmed that the observed correlations are consistent with those predicted by inflation theory and do not exhibit a non-Gaussian feature of the primordial fluctuation.&nbsp;



Takada, expressing pride in Kurita's work, said: “This research is the result of Toshiki’s doctoral dissertation. It’s a wonderful research achievement in which we developed a method to validate a cosmological model using galaxy shapes and galaxy distributions, applied it to data, and then tested the physics of inflation.”



The research sets a foundation for future studies to further test inflation theory, potentially opening new avenues in cosmological research and deepening our understanding of the universe’s origins and evolution.



-----



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Shapes of one million galaxies hint at the universe’s origins

A recent study published in the journal Physical Review D...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.wfu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wake Forest University</a> School of Medicine have revealed new insights into the role of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-share-many-of-the-same-behaviors-as-animals-that-live-nearby/">human behavior</a>.&nbsp;



The experts investigated dopamine's role in learning from both positive and negative experiences. This research marks a significant advancement in understanding how dopamine influences decision-making and behavioral adaptation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reward-and-punishment-nbsp">Reward and punishment&nbsp;</h2>



Dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain, has long been associated with positive emotions and functions like movement, cognition, and learning.&nbsp;



However, this study sheds light on its comprehensive role, emphasizing its crucial involvement in processing both reward and punishment prediction errors.&nbsp;



This suggests that dopamine's function extends beyond the realm of positive emotions, playing a pivotal role in learning from negative experiences as well.



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



"Previously, research has shown that dopamine plays an important role in how animals learn from 'rewarding' (and possibly 'punishing') experiences. But, little work has been done to directly assess what dopamine does on fast timescales in the human brain," said lead author Dr. Kenneth Kishida.&nbsp;



"This is the first study in humans to examine how dopamine encodes rewards and punishments and whether dopamine reflects an 'optimal' teaching signal that is used in today's most advanced artificial intelligence research."



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



For the investigation, Dr. Kishida's team used a combination of fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and machine learning to measure dopamine levels at an impressive rate of 10 measurements per second. This technique, however, is limited to invasive procedures like deep-brain stimulation (DBS) surgeries, commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and epilepsy.



In collaboration with neurosurgeons Dr. Stephen B. Tatter and Dr. Adrian W. Laxton from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the researchers inserted a carbon fiber microelectrode deep into the brains of participants undergoing DBS for essential tremor.&nbsp;



While awake in the operating room, these participants engaged in a computer game that involved making choices with monetary consequences, allowing the researchers to monitor dopamine responses to rewards and punishments.



Dopamine levels were measured continuously, once every 100 milliseconds, throughout each of the three stages of the game.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-nbsp">Critical new insights&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that dopamine signals both positive and negative experiences in an optimal manner for learning outcomes.&nbsp;



"We found that dopamine not only plays a role in signaling both positive and negative experiences in the brain, but it seems to do so in a way that is optimal when trying to learn from those outcomes. What was also interesting, is that it seems like there may be independent pathways in the brain that separately engage the dopamine system for rewarding versus punishing experiences," said Dr. Kishida.



"Our results reveal a surprising result that these two pathways may encode rewarding and punishing experiences on slightly shifted timescales separated by only 200 to 400 milliseconds in time."



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



Dr. Kishida believes that this research may lead to a better understanding of how the dopamine system is affected in humans with psychiatric and neurological disorders. He noted that additional research is needed to understand how this signaling is altered in psychiatric and neurological disorders.



"Traditionally, dopamine is often referred to as 'the pleasure neurotransmitter,"' said Dr. Kishida. "However, our work provides evidence that this is not the way to think about dopamine. Instead, dopamine is a crucial part of a sophisticated system that teaches our brain and guides our behavior."&nbsp;



"That dopamine is also involved in teaching our brain about punishing experiences is an important discovery and may provide new directions in research to help us better understand the mechanisms underlying depression, addiction, and related psychiatric and neurological disorders."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi4927" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.&nbsp;



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Dopamine helps us learn from positive and negative experiences

Researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine have...

A recent study led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> scientists and published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg6794" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a> reveals new insights into how water shapes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-and-why-do-mountains-form-new-theories-for-an-age-old-mystery/">mountainous</a> terrain over geological time. 



Using drone technology, the team’s research in central Taiwan has identified a critical link between the size of river boulders and river steepness, shedding light on the relationship between underground tectonic processes and surface landscape changes.



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



“Over the course of a mountain belt developing, we’re seeing differences in how rivers incise, or cut down into the bedrock, in the younger and older sections. It means that as a mountain belt evolves, erosion is changing at the surface,” explained lead author Julia Carr, a 2022 Ph.D. graduate in Geosciences from Penn State.



The study focuses on the process of uplift, where tectonic plate collisions push previously buried rocks to the surface, leading to variations in rock properties. These properties, including rock hardness and the orientation of fractures, impact how these rocks erode when exposed to surface elements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-nbsp">Critical new insights&nbsp;</h2>



In Taiwan, the researchers observed that the main indicator of rock strength in the mountains was the size of boulders in rivers, with larger and stronger boulders found where rocks had been buried deeper in the Earth’s crust.&nbsp;



“When the boulders in the channels are larger, the river needs to steepen to be able to erode at the same rate,” said co-author Roman DiBiase, an associate professor of Geosciences at Penn State.



This study also sheds light on the challenges of accounting for rock strength in erosion models.&nbsp;



“Determining the controls on river incision into rock is important for understanding how mountain ranges evolve over geologic time,” DiBiase added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comprehensive-survey">Comprehensive survey</h2>



The researchers utilized drones to navigate the challenging terrain and collect extensive data on river channel morphology and boulder measurements.&nbsp;



Carr notes the uniqueness of this approach, emphasizing that such a comprehensive survey reveals patterns that would be missed by conventional field surveys.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ideal-study-setting">Ideal study setting</h2>



The central mountain range of Taiwan, one of the steepest and most erosion-prone landscapes on Earth, provided an ideal setting for this study.&nbsp;



The systematic burial depth patterns in this region, resulting from millions of years of tectonic activity, offer valuable insights into the connection between a rock’s subsurface history and its surface properties.



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



“If we apply this, it implies this primary rock strength signal controlling boulder size is setting river incision in the landscape. And that matches with the local steepness of the rivers,” Carr explained.



This study not only advances our understanding of how mountains evolve but also has broader applications in developing erosion models for other mountain ranges, enhancing our comprehension of Earth’s dynamic landscape.



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Drone study reveals how water shapes mountains over time

A recent study led by Penn State scientists and published...

Scientists have unraveled the mystery behind millions of crater-like ocean pits, known as pockmarks, scattered across the ocean floor worldwide, particularly in the North Sea.



These formations were believed to be the result of fluid discharges such as methane or groundwater. The ocean pits have now been linked to the behavior of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-waste-may-be-disrupting-the-sex-lives-of-marine-animals/">marine vertebrates</a> like porpoises and sand eels.



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



The study was led by Dr. Jens Schneider von Deimling of <a href="https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kiel University</a> in collaboration with researchers from various other institutions. 



The team identified a surprising connection between these ocean pits and the hunting patterns of porpoises. 



"Our results show for the first time that these depressions occur in direct connection with the habitat and behavior of porpoises and sand eels and are not formed by rising fluids," said Dr. von Deimling. 



"Our high-resolution data provide a new interpretation for the formation of tens of thousands of pits on the North Sea seafloor."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-ocean-pits">Studying the ocean pits</h2>



The research team, which included experts from the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alfred Wegener Institute</a> and the <a href="https://www.tiho-hannover.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover</a>, meticulously examined the North Sea floor near Heligoland. 



In the medical realm, pockmarks are well known as deep scars on the skin and are obviously of biogenic nature. In geoscience, pockmarks are referred to as cone-shaped depressions in the seabed. 



"Geologic pockmarks are traditionally believed to result from fluid (i.e., gas or liquid) venting with erosive agents emerging from beneath the seabed," wrote the researchers.



The high-resolution data not only provide a new interpretation for the formation of tens of thousands of pits on the floor of the North Sea, but also suggest that the underlying mechanisms might be a global phenomenon that has been overlooked until now.



They were first observed in the 1970s within clastic sediments offshore Nova Scotia, Canada. Now, about five decades after their initial discovery, it has become clear that pockmarks are among the most widespread morphologic features in the oceans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-pits-and-the-role-of-sand-eels">Ocean pits and the role of sand eels</h2>



Dr. Anita Gilles from the <a href="https://www.tiho-hannover.de/en/clinics-institutes/institutes/institute-of-terrestrial-and-aquatic-wildlife-research-itaw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TiHo-Institute</a> for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research highlighted the significance of sand eels in this context. Being a crucial food source for the North Sea porpoise population, the sand eels inadvertently contribute to the creation of the ocean pits. 



"From analyses of the stomach contents of stranded porpoises, we know that sand eels are an important food source for the North Sea population", says Dr Gilles.



Porpoises, while hunting for eels buried in shallow sediments, leave behind pits. Although these depressions resemble pockmarks, they are much shallower.



The detection and analysis of these seabed depressions have been made possible through advanced multibeam echosounder technology.&nbsp;



"The formation mechanism of these pits, as we call them, probably also explains the existence of numerous crater-like depressions on the seafloor worldwide, which have been misinterpreted as the result of methane gas leaks," said Dr. von Deimling.



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



In the North Sea alone, researchers identified 42,458 of these uniquely shaped, shallow pits. This discovery contradicts the previous belief that the depressions were primarily caused by rising fluids.



"Our results have far-reaching implications from a geological and biological perspective. They can help to assess the ecological risks associated with the expansion of renewable energies in the offshore sector and thus improve marine environmental protection," said Dr. von Deimling.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01102-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>. 



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Millions of mysterious crater-like ocean pits are linked to porpoises

Scientists have unraveled the mystery behind millions of crater-like ocean...

Close,Up,Of,The,Eye,Cheek,Of,A,Young,Woman

A groundbreaking study published on December 21st in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002442" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS Biology</a> has uncovered a fascinating aspect of human biochemistry and behavior. Conducted by Shani Agron at the <a href="https://www.weizmann.ac.il/pages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weizmann Institute of Science</a> in Israel, the research reveals that chemicals in women’s tears have the ability to diminish <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-aggression-environment/">aggression</a> in men.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-chemosignaling">Social chemosignaling</h2>



Specifically, when men sniff these tears, there is a noticeable reduction in brain activity related to aggression, subsequently leading to less aggressive behavior.



This phenomenon is an instance of social chemosignaling, where chemical signals influence social behavior. While such signaling is well-documented in animals, its understanding in humans is less clear.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-male-aggression-nbsp">Male aggression&nbsp;</h2>



The study drew parallels with rodents, where male aggression is known to be inhibited by the scent of female tears.&nbsp;



To explore this effect in humans, the researchers conducted an experiment involving men who were exposed to either women’s emotional tears or a saline solution.&nbsp;



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



During the experiment, the men engaged in a two-person game designed to provoke aggressive responses against a perceived cheating opponent.&nbsp;



The opportunity for revenge presented itself in the form of financial loss for the other player. Importantly, the men could not differentiate between the tears and saline, as both were odorless.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-insights">Key insights</h2>



The results were striking: men exhibited more than a 40 percent decrease in aggressive behavior after inhaling women’s emotional tears.&nbsp;



Further insights were gained through functional MRI imaging, which showed reduced activity in two aggression-related brain regions - the prefrontal cortex and anterior insula - when the men smelled the tears, compared to the saline. This diminished brain activity correlated with a decreased likelihood of the men seeking revenge in the game.



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



The study’s findings suggest that social chemosignaling plays a significant role in modulating human aggression, a concept previously considered more relevant to animal behavior.&nbsp;



“We found that just like in mice, human tears contain a chemical signal that blocks conspecific male aggression. This goes against the notion that emotional tears are uniquely human,” the authors wrote.



Thus, this research not only sheds light on the complex interplay between human emotions, biochemistry, and behavior but also challenges the long-held belief that emotional tears are a uniquely human trait.



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Exposure to women’s tears decreases aggression in men

A groundbreaking study published on December 21st in the journal...

Hologram,Of,An,Inflamed,Stomach,In,A,Human,Body,And

MIT engineers have developed a fascinating new technology to combat obesity -- an ingestible capsule that vibrates in the stomach. These vibrations trigger stretch receptors that simulate a sense of fullness.



When you eat a large meal, your stomach signals your brain to create a feeling of fullness, indicating it's time to stop eating. Drinking a glass of water before eating can produce similar messages, a common suggestion for dieters. MIT's vibrating <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/obesity-treatment_vibrating-ingestible-capsule_Credit-Shriya-Srinivasan_MIT_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">capsule</a> exploits this phenomenon.



In animal tests, administering this pill 20 minutes before eating not only prompted satiety hormones but also cut food consumption by about 40 percent. 



While much remains to be understood about body weight control in humans, this technology, if proven safe for human use, could provide a non-invasive obesity treatment, the researchers suggest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-behind-satiety-and-hunger">Science behind satiety and hunger</h2>



Shriya Srinivasan PhD ’20, now an assistant professor of bioengineering at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a>, suggests that individuals looking to control their appetite or lose weight could use this pill before meals. 



“For somebody who wants to lose weight or control their appetite, it could be taken before each meal,” says Srinivasan. “This could be really interesting in that it would provide an option that could minimize the side effects that we see with the other pharmacological treatments out there.” 



Srinivasan, the lead author of this study, collaborated with Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT and a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Their findings are published today in Science Advances.



Our stomachs play a crucial role in regulating hunger and fullness. When stretched, specialized cells called mechanoreceptors detect this expansion and signal the brain through the vagus nerve. 



This leads to the production of insulin and hormones like C-peptide, Pyy, and GLP-1, which aid in digestion, induce fullness, and curb eating. Concurrently, ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger, decreases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fighting-obesity-with-a-vibrating-capsule">Fighting obesity with a vibrating capsule</h2>



While at MIT, Shriya Srinivasan delved into the potential of artificially stimulating these mechanoreceptors to control hunger. Her curiosity stemmed from previous studies indicating that vibrating muscles can create an illusion of more substantial stretching.



“I wondered if we could activate stretch receptors in the stomach by vibrating them and having them perceive that the entire stomach has been expanded, to create an illusory sense of distension that could modulate hormones and eating patterns,” Srinivasan explains.



During her postdoc at MIT's <a href="https://ki.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Koch Institute</a> for Integrative Cancer Research, Srinivasan joined forces with Giovanni Traverso’s lab, renowned for pioneering drug delivery and electronic devices. Their collaboration birthed a capsule, roughly the size of a multivitamin, equipped with a vibrating element. 



Powered by a small silver oxide battery, it springs to action in the stomach when a gelatinous membrane dissolves in gastric fluids, completing an electronic circuit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impressive-results-from-animal-studies">Impressive results from animal studies</h2>



The team's animal studies revealed significant findings. The vibrating capsule activated mechanoreceptors, mimicking the hormonal response of a meal, even during fasting. 



More strikingly, when activated for about 20 minutes before feeding, the animals ate 40% less than without the capsule, also gaining weight more slowly.



“The behavioral change is profound, and that's using the endogenous system rather than any exogenous therapeutic. We have the potential to overcome some of the challenges and costs associated with delivery of biologic drugs by modulating the enteric nervous system,” Traverso says. 



Currently designed to vibrate for 30 minutes in the stomach, future adaptations may extend this duration, offering wireless control. The animal studies confirmed the pill's safe passage through the digestive system within four or five days, without adverse effects like obstruction or perforation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vibrating-capsule-clinical-trials-are-next">Vibrating capsule clinical trials are next</h2>



This innovation could revolutionize obesity treatment. Traditional methods, such as diet and exercise, aren't universally effective, and existing medical interventions are often invasive or costly. By contrast, the MIT capsule could be manufactured affordably, making it accessible to broader populations.



“For a lot of populations, some of the more effective therapies for obesity are very costly. At scale, our device could be manufactured at a pretty cost-effective price point,” Srinivasan highlights. 



"I'd love to see how this would transform care and therapy for people in global health settings who may not have access to some of the more sophisticated or expensive options that are available today."



The team's focus now shifts to scaling up manufacturing for human clinical trials. These studies are crucial for assessing safety and optimizing usage parameters, such as timing and frequency relative to meals.



In summary, the MIT capsule represents a novel, non-invasive approach to managing obesity, offering hope for more accessible and effective treatments in the future.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj3003">Science Advances</a>.



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Swallowing a vibrating capsule may revolutionize obesity treatment

MIT engineers have developed a fascinating new technology to combat...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.umw.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Mary Washington</a> have discovered alarming levels of cancer-causing metals in both the sediments and fish of a Chesapeake Bay tributary situated near a coal ash landfill. 



This research, led by Dr. Tyler Frankel, highlights previously overlooked dangers posed by trace metal contamination in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ripple-effects-wildfires-reshape-aquatic-ecosystems/">aquatic ecosystems</a>.



The study represents a significant step forward in understanding the environmental and health risks associated with metal contamination near coal ash landfills.&nbsp;



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



The researchers set out to investigate the role of sediments in the storage, release, and transportation of trace metals in waterways.&nbsp;



The study was initiated in an effort to address a gap in risk management concerning these contaminants, specifically in relation to aquatic species and their habitats.



"While the ecological impacts of large scale accidental releases such as the Kingston coal ash spill are well documented, little is known about the effects of chronic exposure to contamination stemming from leaking repositories," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-findings">Key findings</h2>



The research was focused on areas surrounding five coal ash facilities in Virginia. The results were alarming. Coal ash, a common industrial waste in the U.S., contains several water-soluble metals such as cadmium, selenium, mercury, lead, and arsenic.&nbsp;



The experts found that there were significantly increased levels of these metals in the sediments at the bottoms of waterways and within the tissues of banded killifish living near the coal ash landfills.



"These waterways serve as important routes for several migratory fish species and sensitive nursery habitats for various endemic species," said Dr. Frankel. "Our work highlights the importance of considering this exposure pathway in conservation strategies."&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



The health implications of these findings are severe. Long-term exposure to metals like arsenic, cadmium, and chromium is linked to cancer, cardiovascular risks, and other health issues in both wildlife and humans.&nbsp;



Furthermore, these contaminants increase in concentration as they progress up the food web, posing threats to predatory fish and birds, noted Dr. Frankel. He emphasized the importance of this research in the broader context of environmental stewardship.



"As the Chesapeake Bay watershed is one of the largest and most productive estuaries in the United States, understanding our impacts on its waterways is critical to the long-term stewardship of this precious resource," said Dr. Frankel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-funding-and-support">Funding and support</h2>



The research was made possible through a $92,037 grant from the Morris Animal Foundation. This funding not only supported field sampling and laboratory analyses but also allowed the findings to be distributed to national societies, including the Chesapeake Potomac Regional Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. The grant also provided training opportunities for emerging scientists.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749123017700" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Pollution</a>. 



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Cancer-causing metals leak into water near coal ash landfills 

Researchers from the University of Mary Washington have discovered alarming...

A team of scientists led by the Smithsonian’s <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Museum of Natural History</a> has identified five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs in Southeast Asia. 



The discovery highlight the importance of DNA analysis in uncovering the mysteries of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-welfare-concerns-more-people-than-climate-change/">animal</a> kingdom.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-museum-specimens-nbsp">Museum specimens&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers used DNA analysis and physical characteristics to describe two previously unknown species of soft-furred hedgehogs and to elevate three subspecies to full species status.



The two new species, Hylomys vorax and H. macarong, are native to the endangered Leuser ecosystem in North Sumatra and Southern Vietnam, respectively.&nbsp;



Intriguingly, these species were identified using museum specimens collected decades ago, stored at the Smithsonian and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soft-furred-hedgehogs">Soft-furred hedgehogs</h2>



Soft-furred hedgehogs, or gymnures, belong to the hedgehog family but lack the characteristic spines. Without the spines of their more well-known cousins, soft-furred hedgehogs superficially look a bit like a mixture of a mouse and a shrew with a short tail, noted Arlo Hinckley, the study’s lead author.



“We were only able to identify these new hedgehogs thanks to museum staff that curated these specimens across countless decades and their original field collectors,” explained Hinckley. “By applying modern genomic techniques like we did many years after these hedgehogs were first collected, the next generation will be able to identify even more new species.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-knowledge-nbsp">Lack of knowledge&nbsp;</h2>



Hinckley said these small mammals are active during the day and night and are omnivorous, likely eating a diversity of insects and other invertebrates as well as some fruits as opportunities present themselves.



“Based on the lifestyles of their close relatives and field observations, these hedgehogs likely nest in hollows and take cover while foraging among tree roots, fallen logs, rocks, grassy areas, undergrowth and leaf litter,” said Hinckley. “But, because they’re so understudied, we are limited to speculate about the details of their natural history.”



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



Hinckley's interest in the Hylomys group started during his doctoral studies in 2016. Subsequent genetic data and studies suggested the existence of more species within this group. This led to a meticulous examination of specimens across several natural history collections worldwide.



The researchers analyzed 232 physical specimens and 85 tissue samples, combining modern and historical museum specimens.&nbsp;



The genetic analysis, conducted at Doñana Biological Station and Smithsonian’s laboratories, revealed seven distinct genetic lineages within Hylomys, pointing to five new species, later confirmed by physical observations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hylomys-species">Hylomys species</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-h-macarong">H. macarong</h3>



Named after the Vietnamese word for vampire due to its long, fang-like incisors, this species features dark brown fur and measures about 14 centimeters.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-h-vorax">H. vorax</h3>



Slightly smaller, with dark brown fur, a black tail, and a very narrow snout, it is found only on Mount Leuser in Northern Sumatra.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-h-dorsalis">H. dorsalis</h3>



Native to Northern Borneo, it has a distinct dark stripe on its back and is similar in size to H. macarong.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-h-maxi">H. maxi</h3>



Found in the mountains of the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, this species also measures about 14 centimeters.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-h-peguensis">H. peguensis</h3>



Smaller in size, it inhabits mainland Southeast Asia and has slightly yellow-colored fur.



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



Hinckley emphasized the role that such studies play in informing conservation priorities, especially in biodiversity-rich but threatened areas like the Leuser ecosystem.



“This kind of study can help governments and organizations make hard choices about where to prioritize conservation funding to maximize biodiversity."



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad177" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society</a>.



Image Credit: David Awcock



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Five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs have been identified 

A team of scientists led by the Smithsonian’s National Museum...

Flying,Honeybee,Collecting,Pollen,At,Yellow,Flower

It's a well-established fact that pesticide sprays pose a significant threat to honey bees. However, recent research has shed light on a less known aspect of this peril -- the impact of such sprays on bees' sense of smell, with potential consequences on their vital social interactions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-communication-in-bee-colonies">Chemical communication in bee colonies</h2>



Honey <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/concerning-levels-of-bee-harming-pesticides-discovered-in-english-rivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a> are part of highly dynamic communities where communication is key. They rely heavily on chemical signals, known as pheromones, to perform essential colony functions. 



Nurse <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-cannot-fly-straight-after-ingesting-pesticides/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a>, tasked with nurturing future queens and worker bees, use these pheromones to monitor larvae in the darkness of the hive. 



Larvae emit specific pheromones to signal their need for food, while worker bees produce alarm pheromones to alert the colony to danger. If these chemical cues are distorted or not perceived accurately, the entire colony's survival can be at stake.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insecticides-pesticides-and-bees">Insecticides, pesticides and bees</h2>



For years, scientists have been aware of the declining bee populations since 2007, with insecticides being a major concern. <a href="https://experts.illinois.edu/en/persons/may-r-berenbaum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Berenbaum</a>, a respected professor of entomology at GEGC/IGOH, highlights a surprising twist in this saga. 



“For many years, it was assumed that fungicides do not have an adverse impact on insects because they are designed for fungal targets,” Berenbaum explains. “Surprisingly, in addition to insecticides, fungicides also have an adverse effect on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/omega-3-oil-may-help-protect-pollinators-from-pesticides/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a> and combining the two can disrupt colony function.”



The problem has been particularly evident in almond orchards, which host two-thirds of U.S. honey <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-increase-pesticide-toxicity-in-bees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a> annually. Here, pesticide sprays often include adjuvants -- substances added to increase the efficacy of insecticides. 



These adjuvants, though traditionally viewed as harmless, have not undergone the rigorous safety testing that other insecticidal agents have. 



Berenbaum's recent findings are alarming. “Recently, researchers have shown that adjuvants alone or when used in combination with fungicides and insecticides are toxic to bees,” Berenbaum said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investigating-the-impact-of-pesticides-on-bees">Investigating the impact of pesticides on bees</h2>



The health of nurse <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-make-it-harder-for-male-bees-to-attract-mates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a>, crucial for producing healthy queens, is particularly jeopardized by these chemical combinations. 



Berenbaum emphasizes the gravity of this issue, stating, “The health of the queens is paramount,” she said. “If healthy queens are not produced, the colony can suffer.”



To delve deeper, researchers conducted an experiment using the adjuvant Dyne-Amic, the fungicide Tilt, and the insecticide Altacor. 



They divided bees into four groups, exposing each to different treatments involving these chemicals. The bees' antennae were then tested for their response to mimic brood and alarm pheromones using a technique known as electroantennography.



Ling-Hsiu Liao and Wen-Yen Wu, members of the <a href="https://publish.illinois.edu/maybe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berenbaum lab</a>, discovered that nurse bees consuming pollen contaminated by these chemicals showed altered responses to certain pheromones. 



This finding implies that commonly used pesticides can interfere with honey <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-impair-the-ability-of-bees-to-pollinate-strawberries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bee</a> communication, disrupting their crucial social cues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-research-is-needed">More research is needed</h2>



However, the exact mechanisms behind how these chemicals affect bees' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-danger-bees-cant-taste-lethal-pesticides-in-nectar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sensory responses</a> remain unclear.



“There are many possible explanations for how consuming these chemicals can affect the sensory responses of bees,” Liao said. “The antenna detects and triggers the response to olfactory signals. In this study we did not look at what other changes are triggered, particularly changes in behavior.”



The team aims to further investigate the molecular pathways affected by these chemicals and to test other pesticide mixtures. Their goal is to provide insights that could help beekeepers better protect their colonies.



In summary, this study is a crucial reminder of the intricate and delicate balance within bee colonies and how human practices can inadvertently disrupt it. 



As we continue to unravel the complexities of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bee-communication-is-hindered-by-human-activity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bee communication</a> and its susceptibility to external chemicals, we also uncover the urgent need to reevaluate and possibly reform our agricultural practices for the preservation of these vital pollinators.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-41818-7">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Pesticides disrupt bees’ sense of smell and social signals

It's a well-established fact that pesticide sprays pose a significant...

NASA’s satellite imagery has provided a stunning and insightful look into the recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanic-eruptions-play-an-overlooked-role-in-earths-climate/">volcanic eruption</a> on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula.&nbsp;



The dramatic before-and-after images, captured using infrared cameras on the NOAA-20 satellite, reveal the intense heat from the vast lava flows that have reshaped the landscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powerful-eruption">Powerful eruption</h2>



For years, an eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula was anticipated due to increasing seismic activity. The final warning came on the night of December 18 with a series of earthquakes, leading to a 2.5-mile-long fissure opening up less than two miles north of Grindavik.&nbsp;



This fissure soon gave way to five vents, each spewing enormous volumes of lava. At its peak, the eruption emitted more than ten times the lava per second compared to Iceland’s last three volcanic events.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dramatic-changes">Dramatic changes</h2>



The power of this eruption has been vividly captured in NASA’s satellite photos. An image taken before the eruption, on December 18, shows a dark, calm area indicating the cold climate. In stark contrast, a photo from the early hours of December 19 displays bright areas, highlighting the lava’s radiating heat.&nbsp;



“What you’re seeing in these images is the very high temperatures of the active lava flows compared to the surrounding land and clouds,” said Simon Carn, a volcanologist at <a href="https://www.mtu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan Technological University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bright-lava-flow-nbsp">Bright lava flow&nbsp;</h2>



Intriguingly, the second image reveals three circular, cooler areas amidst the bright yellow of the lava flow. These likely represent hills around which the lava is flowing.&nbsp;



“The darker lower-temperature areas appear to be some topography that the lava is flowing around, but these could also be areas where the eruption fissure is not active and has cooler lava, or where gas plumes or clouds are obscuring the surface,” Carn explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dangerous-situation-nbsp">Dangerous situation&nbsp;</h2>



Carn, however, cautions that the eruption’s behavior could quickly become more hazardous. Changes in lava flow direction, extension of the active fissure, or opening of new fissures could pose further dangers.&nbsp;



Despite the eruption slowing down to three vents, experts warn that it doesn’t necessarily signal an imminent end. <a href="https://en.vedur.is/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iceland’s Met Office</a> has indicated the possibility of additional vents opening with little warning time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-hazards">Potential hazards</h2>



Concerns also loom over potential pollution from the eruption reaching Reykjavík, though this has not occurred yet. The peninsula remains closed to visitors, and residents of Grindavik have not been advised to return home.&nbsp;



Nonetheless, the eruption has drawn adventurous tourists attempting to trek the considerable distance to the site, prompting police interventions for safety reasons.



In a statement underscoring the risks, local police said that “it can be assumed that it will take an experienced hiker about 4-5 hours to walk this route, which is not for everyone.” This statement serves as a reminder of the challenging conditions and potential hazards posed by the eruption, as the world continues to watch this dramatic natural event unfold.



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NASA captures eruption of Iceland's Svartsengi volcano from space

NASA’s satellite imagery has provided a stunning and insightful look...

In the near future, people may access their community health status much like they check the local weather forecast. This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-flu-emerges-as-a-public-health-risk/">public health</a> surveillance system uses advanced technologies to scrutinize public wastewater, revealing vital information about circulating viruses within communities.



The system involves a detailed analysis of the human virome – all known human viruses – in community wastewater.&nbsp;



“Knowing the up and down patterns within the viral landscape of human wastewater, the changes in the relative proportions of the different viruses in time and by location, is increasingly proving to be a powerful tool to improve our understanding of outbreaks, transmission and the effects on overall population health," said Dr. Anthony Maresso from the <a href="https://www.bcm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baylor College of Medicine</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-insights">Crucial insights</h2>



Texas stands out as the pioneer in developing a comprehensive pipeline for wastewater surveillance of the human virome.&nbsp;



This initiative, led by the Texas Wastewater Consortium and supported by the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute, involves steps from sample collection to analysis and reporting. The periodic reports, informed by detailed virome analysis, provide crucial insights to public health officials.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-detection">Early detection</h2>



Dr. Maresso and his colleagues have demonstrated that they can detect changes in viral trends in wastewater weeks before they are detected in the clinic.



“Think of it as a very fancy smoke alarm that brings to the attention of scientists, physicians and public health authorities the progressively increasing proportions of a particular virus strain in the community, one they need to follow closely, assessing its outbreak potential,” said study first author Dr. Michael Tisza. “For instance, we knew about mpox (monkeypox) well before most clinical settings knew about it because we detected it in wastewater.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emerging-viruses-nbsp">Emerging viruses&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers believe that this technology is going to be one way they can get ahead of not only all known viruses that can be shed in wastewater, but also to potentially get an upper hand on the next virus that we don’t yet know about.



“Had we had this in place during the time COVID-19 was emerging, we may have seen some coronavirus sequences that alerted us of the new sequence of the COVID-19 virus that began spreading in 2019 and exploded into a pandemic,” noted Dr. Maresso.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-context-nbsp">Historical context&nbsp;</h2>



The idea of using wastewater surveillance dates back to the early 1940s with the monitoring of poliovirus. Pioneered by researchers at Yale University and Baylor College of Medicine, this method provided insights into the spread and evolution of diseases at the community level.&nbsp;



Dr. Joseph Melnick's work in the 1960s at Baylor, using wastewater analysis to predict and respond to polio outbreaks, laid the foundation for modern wastewater-based epidemiology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covid-19-pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</h2>



The COVID-19 pandemic marked a resurgence in wastewater analysis. Baylor scientists were among the first to detect the COVID-19 virus in wastewater. This revived interest in wastewater surveillance has now been expanded to monitor a broader range of viruses, using more sensitive technologies like PCR and genetic sequencing.



“We also see sequence information that PCR cannot give us that allows us to identify new viruses that might lead to the next pandemic,” said Dr. Tisza. “This is very powerful; it’s quantum leaps ahead of everything else. We think this is the way everybody is going to do it in the future.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42064-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Community health updates will soon be as easy as checking the weather

In the near future, people may access their community health...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" 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.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" 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.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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