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>. -----



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



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



-----

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...

A study conducted by Hungarian scientists sheds light on the unpredictability and potential dangers of long dormant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanoes-cover-nearly-the-entire-surface-of-venus/">volcanoes</a>.&nbsp;



This research, focusing on Ciomadul, the youngest volcano in the Carpathian-Pannonian region, reveals critical insights into the triggers and nature of explosive volcanic eruptions after prolonged periods of dormancy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inactive-volcanoes">Inactive volcanoes</h2>



Volcanic eruptions from seemingly inactive volcanoes have long puzzled scientists and posed significant hazards. The key question revolves around whether a volcano can erupt after tens of thousands of years of inactivity.&nbsp;



Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for volcanic hazard assessment and draws attention to volcanoes that are considered dormant.



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



A team from <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ELTE Eötvös Loránd University</a>'s Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences and the HUN-REN-ELTE Volcanology Research Group, in collaboration with European scientists, embarked on a detailed study of Ciomadul. 



The researchers analyzed high-resolution mineral texture and chemical composition data. The goal was to investigate the conditions under which magma evolves, the architecture of the magma reservoir, and the characteristics of crystal mush and recharge magmas that trigger eruptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eruptive-history-nbsp">Eruptive history&nbsp;</h2>



The research team had previously revealed the eruptive history of Ciomadul based on radioactive decay signatures in zircon crystals.



Professor Szabolcs Harangi, leader of the research project, noted that there have been several long periods of dormancy in the almost million-year life of the volcano. "But even after tens of thousands, sometimes even more than 100,000 years of quiescence, volcanic eruptions started again!"&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eruption-styles">Eruption styles</h2>



The most significant volcanic activity occurred in the last 160,000 years, characterized by various eruption styles.



Barbara Cserép, a PhD student, examined the youngest eruption products, which are marked by more dangerous, explosive eruptions compared to previous activities. Understanding the shift in eruption style is crucial for assessing volcanic hazards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-composition-of-minerals">Chemical composition of minerals</h2>



The researchers analyzed the chemical composition of minerals in the pumices formed during the explosive volcanism from 56,000 to 30,000 years ago. This comprehensive analysis helped unravel the magma reservoir system's architecture and the processes leading to explosive eruptions.



Amphibole, a key mineral in this study, showed significant chemical composition variations, representing different magma conditions.&nbsp;



Some amphiboles indicated a low-temperature, highly crystalline magma reservoir, while others suggested transportation from deeper, higher-temperature recharge magmas.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insights">New insights</h2>



"Compared to the previous, lava dome-forming eruptive period, these fresh recharge magmas carried amphibole with a distinct composition, i.e. these magmas were slightly different, and this could play an important role in why the eruption became explosive," said Harangi.



The outermost rim of the crystals and the iron-titanium oxides provided insights into the magma conditions just before eruptions.&nbsp;



Postdoctoral researcher Máté Szemerédi said the iron-titanium oxides, which equilibrate rapidly with changing magma conditions, indicated that the erupted magma was at 800-830 degrees Celsius and was oxidized.



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



While the Ciomadul volcano currently shows no signs of reawakening, the study confirms that the reactivation of dormant volcanoes can occur swiftly. This highlights the importance of quantitative volcano petrology studies in reconstructing subvolcanic magma reservoir structures and understanding pre-eruption signals.



"This research is novel in the sense that it is performed in a long-dormant volcano, and as a result, the Ciomadul volcano is receiving an increasing international attention," said Harangi.



The study emphasizes the need to include long-dormant volcanoes in hazard assessments, especially if there's evidence of melt-bearing magma beneath them.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00410-023-02075-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology</a>.



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



—-



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

Long dormant volcanoes are capable of explosive eruptions

A study conducted by Hungarian scientists sheds light on the...

Migratory <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rabies-infected-vampire-bats-may-extend-their-habitat-into-the-u-s/">bats</a> can detect and use the Earth's magnetic field for orientation during their long journeys, according to new research led by Dr. Oliver Lindecke at the <a href="https://uol.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oldenburg</a>.



"The Earth's magnetic field is used as a navigational cue by many animals. For mammals, however, there are few data to show that navigation ability relies on sensing the natural magnetic field," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"In night-time migrating bats, experiments demonstrating a role for the solar azimuth at sunset in the calibration of the orientation system suggest that the magnetic field is a candidate for their compass."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysterious-journey">Mysterious journey</h2>



The study was focused on the magnetic sense of the soprano pipistrelle, a species known for its extensive nocturnal migrations across Europe.



Despite weighing just a few grams, the soprano pipistrelle travels thousands of kilometers each year from northeastern to southwestern Europe.&nbsp;



The bats navigate the dark skies with astonishing accuracy and, until now, the exact mechanism behind their long-distance navigation remained a mystery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secrets-of-bat-migration">Secrets of bat migration</h2>



Dr. Lindecke, who has dedicated ten years to studying the soprano pipistrelle, points out that there has been limited research into the magnetoreception of migrating mammals, especially in comparison to birds.&nbsp;



The Oldenburg team's experiments, particularly along the Latvian coast, have been instrumental in uncovering the bats' use of the Earth's magnetic field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-experiments-nbsp">Unique experiments&nbsp;</h2>



At the University of Latvia’s Ornithological Station in Pape, Dr. Lindecke's team observed tens of thousands of bats migrating along the Baltic Sea coast. They found that these bats recalibrate their internal orientation system at sunset, using the sunset point as a reference for their nocturnal flight paths.



In a novel experiment, 65 soprano pipistrelles were captured and exposed to different magnetic field conditions using a Helmholtz coil.&nbsp;



The first group experienced a 120-degree clockwise rotation of the horizontal magnetic component, the second group faced both a horizontal shift and a reversal of the magnetic field's inclination, and a third control group was exposed to the natural geomagnetic field.



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



When released in a field lab, the control group bats exhibited a roughly equal split between southward and northward take-off directions. However, those exposed to manipulated magnetic fields showed distinct behaviors.&nbsp;



The group with only a horizontal shift predominantly flew north-west, while the group with both shifts showed no preferred take-off direction.



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



These results demonstrate one thing in particular, said Dr. Lindecke. “The bats are sensitive to both the magnetic field’s horizontal component, known as polarity, as well as its inclination at sunset – and this still influences their take-off behavior several hours later.”



While the exact mechanisms of the bats' magnetic compass remain unknown, this study establishes a crucial similarity with birds in their navigation methods.



Dr. Lindecke's research not only unravels a piece of the complex puzzle of bat migration but also opens new avenues for understanding mammalian navigation.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2023.0181" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



image Credit: Christian Giese



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



—-



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

Migratory bats use Earth’s magnetic field as a compass

Migratory bats can detect and use the Earth's magnetic field...

Scientists have recently created a hybrid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-can-instantly-execute-a-task-that-would-normally-take-47-years/">computer</a> made of electronics and human brain-like tissues called "Brainoware," as part of a growing field called Biological Computing.&nbsp;



The new technology features a brain ‘organoid’ made of human stem cells which sit atop a circuit board that feeds the organoid information and reads its responses. This biological-electronic hybrid was able to identify people by voice and make predictions about a complex math problem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hybrid-computers">Hybrid computers</h2>



The researchers claim the discovery represents a significant step toward hybrid computers, which merge man and machine to perform complex computing problems using a fraction of the power needed by conventional computers. It can also support artificial intelligence by making it possible for computers to mimic the human brain.



The human brain is a natural computer, evolved over millions of years. And even as electronic computers become more sophisticated and powerful, the brain still outshines their efficiency when it comes to power requirements, explained the team behind Brainoware.&nbsp;



“A human brain typically expends about 20 watts, whereas current AI hardware consumes about eight million watts to drive a comparative artificial neural network.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reservoir-computing-nbsp">Reservoir computing&nbsp;</h2>



Brainoware is an example of what computer scientists call “reservoir computing,” where a computer feeds information into a complex network - in this case, the brain organoid - and interprets the output.&nbsp;



The idea behind reservoir computing is that the computers feeding information into the brain tissue and reading the output can be trained or adjusted, taking advantage of the organoid’s complexity without requiring a full map or understanding of its cell networks. In other words, the organoid is a sort of "black box," and scientists don’t need to know exactly how it works in order to use it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pluripotent-stem-cells">Pluripotent stem cells</h2>



The organoid is not part of a living person’s brain, but is grown from so-called pluripotent stem cells, cells that can be coaxed into forming any type of body tissue.



Scientists from <a href="https://bloomington.iu.edu/index.html">Indiana University Bloomington</a>, the <a href="https://www.ufl.edu/">University of Florida</a>, and <a href="https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/">Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center</a> used pluripotent stem cells to grow human cortical organoids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-brain-cells">Human brain cells</h2>



After about a month of growth, the organoids contained several types of human brain cells, including neurons, neural progenitor cells that grow into various brain cells, and immune cells called astrocytes.&nbsp;



These organoids mimic very basic aspects of the human cerebral cortex, the surface of the brain that performs essential functions including learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.



In a speech-recognition experiment, the Brainoware was asked to recognize different Japanese men’s voices from a collection of 240 audio clips. In the first tests, it achieved only about 51-percent accuracy. But after a couple of days of training, its performance improved to 78-percent accuracy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-functional-connectivity-nbsp">Functional connectivity&nbsp;</h2>



“These results indicate that the electrical stimulation during training may trigger the unsupervised learning of Brainoware for improving computing performance by reshaping the functional connectivity of the organoid,” the authors wrote.



Organoids cannot ‘think,’ and they do not possess consciousness in the way that we know it, but they do have the natural ability to form new connections.



A major part of what makes the new computer powerful is the human brain’s ability to reorganize. Under normal circumstances, the human brain will form new connections in response to new experiences - forming memories and learning skills, which are stored in the connections between neurons. And that seems to be what is happening with Brainoware.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unsupervised-learning-nbsp">Unsupervised learning&nbsp;</h2>



In another test of its problem-solving abilities, the scientists charged Brainoware with predicting a Hénon map, a chaotic type of nonlinear math equation.&nbsp;



Just like in the speech recognition exercise, the system improved its accuracy after several training systems. When scientists blocked neural plasticity - the organoids’ ability to form new connections - no such improvement happened.



“The results indicated that the learning activity of Brainoware was dependent on neural plasticity,” the experts explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-research-is-needed-nbsp">Further research is needed&nbsp;</h2>



Brainoware’s development supports the idea that these brain-hybrid computer systems can solve complex problems, but further work is needed to really prove its abilities, wrote another team of researchers in an invited commentary.



“In the next steps of showing that brain organoids can serve as an in vitro model of learning, it will be necessary to demonstrate aspects of long-term memory, the ability to learn multiple tasks and to differentiate the unique contribution of the organoid over the connected computational systems. This will be critical to investigate the biological mechanisms that enable continual and lifelong learning,” they concluded.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=55199X1584066&amp;isjs=1&amp;jv=15.4.2-stackpath&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle-12850439%2Fhybrid-computer-human-brain-tissue.html&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41928-023-01069-w&amp;xs=1&amp;xtz=-120&amp;xuuid=e63f91e2b564bb7e042e9eaa69d9f545&amp;xjsf=other_click__auxclick%20%5B2%5D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Electronics</a>.



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



—-



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

"Brainoware" computer is one step closer to merging man and machine

Scientists have recently created a hybrid computer made of electronics...

In the realm of greenhouse gasses, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/methane-emissions-are-higher-than-previously-estimated/">methane</a> stands out as a significant contributor due to its abundance and potent heat-trapping properties, about 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.&nbsp;



With the Arctic being the fastest warming part of the globe, understanding methane emissions becomes crucial.&nbsp;



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



Experts at <a href="https://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a> used satellite and airborne imagery from NASA to provide new insights into methane emissions from Arctic lakes and wetlands, previously largely unmapped.



Contrary to earlier research estimating that these unmapped lakes contribute around 40 percent of the region’s methane emissions, the current study found that small unmapped lakes contribute only about three percent to the overall emissions.&nbsp;



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



The high-resolution imagery allowed researchers to more accurately estimate the area covered by these smaller lakes, revealing that they are more significant emitters per unit area than previously thought.



“What the research has shown is that these smaller lakes are the greater emitters of methane on a per-area basis, which means even though they take up a small amount of the landscape, they have a disproportionate level of emissions,” said lead author Ethan D. Kyzivat, a postdoctoral fellow at Brown.&nbsp;



The study challenges close to 15 years of research based on older datasets with lower resolution quality, which had overestimated the number of small lakes and their cumulative methane emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-findings-nbsp">Unexpected findings&nbsp;</h2>



The focus of the study was on small lakes, roughly a tenth of a square kilometer or smaller. The research team, including Brown professor Laurence C. Smith, analyzed high-resolution airborne data and a global map of lakes in the Arctic region to produce more accurate estimates.&nbsp;



The study revealed fewer small, unmapped lakes than previously thought, leading to a significant reduction in the cumulative methane emissions attributed to them.



The unexpected findings also include the discovery of double-counting of lakes as wetlands, affecting methane emission estimates.&nbsp;



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



Furthermore, the study may help reconcile the longstanding discrepancy between “bottom-up” estimates, which model emissions based on Earth maps, and “top-down” estimates, which use atmospheric measurements.&nbsp;



The improved satellite resolution now allows for a closer examination of methane emissions, potentially unifying these two approaches.



The experts see this NASA-funded study as a proof of concept and plan to expand their methane modeling technique to other regions globally. “The next step is to go global,” Kyvizat concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-methane">More about methane</h2>



Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential significantly higher than carbon dioxide on a per-molecule basis, especially over a 20-year period. It is released into the atmosphere through a variety of sources, including natural processes like wetland decomposition and geological seepage, as well as human activities such as agriculture (particularly livestock digestion and rice paddies), waste management (landfills), and the production and transport of fossil fuels like natural gas and oil.



Methane's significant impact on climate change is due to its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere very effectively. However, it has a shorter atmospheric lifetime than carbon dioxide, lasting about 9-12 years before breaking down. This means that reducing methane emissions can have a rapid and significant impact on mitigating global warming.



Efforts to reduce methane emissions include improving agricultural practices, capturing gas from landfills and livestock, fixing leaks in natural gas pipelines, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. The importance of addressing methane emissions is increasingly recognized in global climate change discussions and policy-making.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023GL104825" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters.</a>



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



—-



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

Arctic lakes produce less methane than previously thought

In the realm of greenhouse gasses, methane stands out as...

The Pentagon's X-37B, an unmanned drone, is gearing up for a mission that is set to launch today at 8:14 pm Eastern time. This small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-travel-has-left-a-metal-mark-on-earths-stratosphere/">spacecraft</a> is less than 30 feet in length and under 10 feet in height. It has a pair of compact wings and a rounded, bulldog-like nose.&nbsp;



Often compared to a miniature space shuttle, the purpose and capabilities of X-37B remain shrouded in mystery. Is it a covert weapon, a stealth technology, or something else? These questions linger as the Pentagon maintains its silence.



For the first time, the X-37B will be launched on SpaceX’s powerful <a href="https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-heavy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Falcon Heavy rocket</a>. This shift to a more potent launcher hints at a potential higher orbit - speculation that is supported by recent documents. However, the exact nature and purpose of its higher orbit activities remain undisclosed. SpaceX secured the $130 million contract for this launch back in 2018.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-on-space-domain-awareness">Focus on "space domain awareness"</h2>



The Pentagon remains tight-lipped about the specific activities of the X-37B in its higher orbit, stating only that the mission involves "a wide range of test and experimentation objectives." These include operating in new orbital regimes and experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies.



The focus on "space domain awareness" hints at the X-37B's potential role in monitoring satellites and guarding against threats in space - a mission that closely aligns with the objectives of the <a href="https://www.spaceforce.mil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Space Force</a>. 



General Chance Saltzman, the Space Force’s chief of space operations, emphasized the increasing threats to U.S. space systems.



“Our space systems are threatened by a variety of growing anti satellite capabilities, and the joint force is threatened by increasingly sophisticated adversary space-based systems intended to target the joint force,” General Saltzman said in a statement to Congress earlier this year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-x-37b-s-cutting-edge-technologies">X-37B's cutting-edge technologies</h2>



One thing that is known about X-37B's mission is that the vehicle will expose plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight in an experiment for NASA.&nbsp;



The X-37B, built by Boeing, has previously been used to test cutting-edge technologies like a small solar panel for transforming solar energy into microwaves, a concept that could enable space-to-Earth energy transmission. The spacecraft has also deployed small satellites, but their purposes remain undisclosed.



“The U.S. government is in this weird place where they brag publicly about how amazing it is and cutting edge, but will not provide any info about it,” said Brian Weeden, the director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation.



Weeden suggests that much of the speculation surrounding the vehicle is likely off-base, with its mystique being its most defining trait. Secure World downplays the likelihood of the X-37B being used as an orbital weapons system for attacking ground targets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-china-s-secretive-space-plane-nbsp">China's secretive space plane&nbsp;</h2>



The X-37B is more likely employed for the purposes stated by the Pentagon: testing reusable space launch vehicle technologies and on-orbit testing of new sensor technologies and satellite hardware. This hasn't stopped nations like China from perceiving the X-37B as a symbol of U.S. space militarization.



China's own secretive reusable space plane, the Shenlong, has completed two missions, with its latest lasting 276 days in orbit. Like the X-37B, the Shenlong is shrouded in secrecy, with no publicly released photos. This apparent mimicry of the American model suggests China's interest in similar space capabilities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covert-operations-of-the-x-37b">Covert operations of the X-37B</h2>



The X-37B's history spans over a decade in space, with each mission exceeding the duration of the last. Its last flight ended in November 2022 after 908 days in orbit. General David Thompson of the Space Force hinted at exciting plans for the X-37B. He acknowledges its role as a remarkable test bed and experimentation vehicle.



The upcoming Mission 7 of the X-37B, launching on the Falcon Heavy, will include a mixture of innocuous civilian NASA science and military experimentation with space domain awareness. This combination of civilian and military objectives underscores the dual nature of the mission.



The X-37B's development history is intertwined with NASA, the Air Force, and Boeing's Phantom Works. Initially envisioned as a lifeboat for the International Space Station, its design evolved to meet various military and experimental needs. The spacecraft's ability to deploy solar arrays in orbit allows for extended missions, a capability unmatched by the Space Shuttle.



The X-37B's design suggests potential for covert operations, such as retrieving or inspecting foreign satellites without detection. The U.S. has expressed concerns about similar activities by nations like Russia and China, highlighting the strategic importance of space domain awareness.



In summary, the combination of the X-37B and Falcon Heavy opens up possibilities for high-energy orbits and advanced military capabilities in space. While the specifics of the X-37B's upcoming mission remain classified, its launch signals the U.S.'s intent to maintain dominance in space.



Image Credit: AP / U.S. Air Force



-----



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



-----



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

X-37B spacecraft, owned by the Pentagon, is shrouded in mystery and whispers

The Pentagon's X-37B, an unmanned drone, is gearing up for...

In an unprecedented scientific achievement, experts have developed a system that is capable of reading human thoughts and converting them into text.&nbsp;



The technology was designed by the GrapheneX-UTS Human-centric Artificial Intelligence Centre at the <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/">University of Technology Sydney</a> (UTS).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-machine-interaction">Human-machine interaction</h2>



The portable, non-invasive system stands as a significant milestone, offering transformative communication solutions for individuals impaired by conditions like stroke or paralysis.



However, the potential applications of this mind-reading technology extend beyond aiding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-implant-may-allow-people-to-communicate-through-their-thoughts/">speech-impaired</a> individuals.&nbsp;



The research paves the way for fluid human-machine interactions, potentially enabling seamless control of devices such as bionic arms or robots. This could ultimately lead to a new era in assistive technology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spotlight-paper">Spotlight paper</h2>



The pioneering study has garnered international recognition, being featured as the spotlight paper at the prestigious NeurIPS conference in New Orleans on December 12, 2023.&nbsp;This event is renowned for showcasing the latest research in artificial intelligence and machine learning.



The project was led by Professor CT Lin, director of the GrapheneX-UTS HAI Centre, in collaboration with Yiqun Duan and Jinzhou Zhou, both PhD candidates at the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eeg-based-approach">EEG-based approach</h2>



The core of this technology lies in its ability to record and decode brain activity through an electroencephalogram (EEG) cap. Participants in the study silently read texts while the cap captured their brain’s electrical activity.&nbsp;



This EEG data is then processed by an AI model named DeWave, a creation of the UTS team. DeWave distinguishes itself by translating EEG signals into coherent words and sentences, learning from extensive EEG datasets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pioneering-effort-nbsp">Pioneering effort&nbsp;</h2>



“This research represents a pioneering effort in translating raw EEG waves directly into language, marking a significant breakthrough in the field,” said Professor Lin.



“It is the first to incorporate discrete encoding techniques in the brain-to-text translation process, introducing an innovative approach to neural decoding. The integration with large language models is also opening new frontiers in neuroscience and AI."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-step-beyond-existing-technologies">A step beyond existing technologies</h2>



Current methods for translating brain signals to language, like Elon Musk’s Neuralink, require invasive procedures or bulky, expensive equipment like MRI machines.&nbsp;



These methods often rely on additional aids such as eye-tracking, which limits their practicality. The UTS innovation, however, operates with or without eye-tracking, making it more versatile and user-friendly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-versatility-nbsp">Unprecedented versatility&nbsp;</h2>



Conducted with 29 participants, the research promises greater robustness and adaptability compared to previous technologies tested on fewer individuals.&nbsp;



The UTS technology has a significant advantage in its versatility, as EEG waves vary among individuals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meaningful-results-nbsp">Meaningful results&nbsp;</h2>



“The model is more adept at matching verbs than nouns. However, when it comes to nouns, we saw a tendency towards synonymous pairs rather than precise translations, such as ‘the man’ instead of ‘the author,'" said Duan.



“We think this is because when the brain processes these words, semantically similar words might produce similar brain wave patterns. Despite the challenges, our model yields meaningful results, aligning keywords and forming similar sentence structures."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-potential">Future potential</h2>



While the mind-reading technology currently excels more in matching verbs than nouns, it demonstrates an impressive ability to align keywords and form coherent sentence structures.&nbsp;



The current translation accuracy is around 40 percent on the BLEU-1 scale, with aspirations to reach the efficacy of traditional language translation or speech recognition systems, which hover around 90 percent.



The research expands upon previous <a href="https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2022-06-07/brain-waves-control-robot-dogs-moves" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain-computer interface technology</a> developed by UTS in association with the Australian Defence Force that uses brainwaves to command a quadruped robot.



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



—-



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

Mind-reading technology transforms thoughts into text

In an unprecedented scientific achievement, experts have developed a system...

Yggdrasil,From,Norse,Mythology,Known,For,Being,The,Tree,Of

In an insightful analysis, a team of conservation biologists have highlighted a significant gap in the current emoji library's representation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> and the "Tree of Life". They argue that while animals are well depicted, other forms of life like plants, fungi, and microorganisms are glaringly underrepresented.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-assessing-emoji-biodiversity">Assessing emoji biodiversity</h2>



The research team, consisting of Stefano Mammola, Mattia Falaschi, and Gentile Francesco Ficetola, categorized emojis from the emoji library related to nature and animals from <a href="https://emojipedia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emojipedia</a> and mapped them onto the phylogenetic tree of life. 



Their findings, displayed in a fascinating <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/tree-of-life_Phylogenetic-trees-of-emojis_Credit-iScience-Mammola_1medium-scaled.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phylogenetic trees of emojis</a>, revealed a skewed representation favoring animals, particularly vertebrates, over other vital lifeforms in the "tree of life".



“While the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-time-machine-reveals-a-century-of-biological-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> crisis may seem distant from the online world, in our increasingly digitized society, we should not underestimate the potential of emojis to raise awareness and foster appreciation for the diversity of life on Earth,” the research team wrote.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-of-life-and-the-emoji-library">"Tree of Life" and the emoji library</h2>



Their analysis identified 112 distinct organisms in emoji form: 92 animals, 16 plants, 1 fungus (likely Amanita muscaria), and 1 microorganism (likely Escherichia coli). Vertebrates dominated the animal emojis at 76%, followed by arthropods (16%). This starkly contrasts with real-world <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-greening-projects-can-dramatically-boost-urban-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, where arthropods far outnumber vertebrates.



“Currently available emojis encompass a broad range of animal species, while plants, fungi, and microorganisms are underrepresented,” the researchers write. “Such strong taxonomic bias is in line with current societal awareness of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/historic-treaty-adopted-to-protect-biodiversity-in-the-high-seas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, which tends to prioritize animals over other taxa.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emoji-library-s-representation-of-animals">Emoji library's representation of animals</h2>



The researchers then took a deeper dive into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-risks-will-persist-long-after-temperatures-peak/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> characteristics of animal emojis. They managed to identify some emojis as individual animal species, like the bald eagle and giant panda, while they could only classify others at the genus or family level, such as those representing ants or crocodilians.



In their findings, vertebrates accounted for 76% of the animal emojis, arthropods for 16%, mollusks for 4%, cnidarians for 2%, and annelids for 1%. Considering that over 1.3 million arthropod species exist compared to around 85,000 vertebrate species, the current emoji catalog significantly underrepresents arthropod <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restoring-forest-biodiversity-has-massive-potential-for-carbon-capture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> while overrepresenting vertebrates.



Furthermore, the researchers pointed out the complete absence of emojis for platyhelminths (including flatworms and tapeworms) and nematodes, even though each of these groups includes more than 20,000 species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emoji-tree-of-life-diversity-is-evolving">Emoji "Tree of Life" diversity is evolving</h2>



Fortunately, the diversity of emojis seems to be on the rise. In 2015, emoji representation included only 45 animal taxa, but this number grew to 78 by 2019 and further to 92 by 2022. Not only did the number of animal emojis increase, but their representativeness of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protected-areas-slow-down-biodiversity-loss-but-they-cant-reverse-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> also improved during this period. Initially, emojis only depicted vertebrates, arthropods, and mollusks. 



However, by 2020, annelids joined this group with the introduction of the "worm" emoji, likely symbolizing an earthworm, and cnidarians followed in 2021 with the addition of a red coral emoji.



“This increase in phylogenetic diversity driven by less-known taxa emphasizes a positive trend of enhanced opportunities for emojifying biodiversity communication, allowing users of digital platforms to discuss a range of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeding-the-world-at-a-cost-food-production-and-biodiversity-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>-related topics and sentiments more effectively, beyond the icons depicting iconic species,” the researchers write.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biodiversity-in-the-digitized-world">Biodiversity in the digitized world</h2>



The authors emphasize the role of emojis in today's digitized society for raising awareness about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-induced-changes-in-ocean-salinity-threaten-biodiversity-and-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>. 



“The development and maintenance of diverse and inclusive emoji sets are crucial to ensure the equitable representation of the tree of life in digital communication tools and to effectively convey messages on the importance of all the organisms for the functioning of the biosphere," they state.



Creating a more diverse emoji catalog could greatly aid conversations around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-for-biological-diversity-from-agreement-to-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> and conservation. The authors argue for the need for inclusive emoji sets to ensure equitable representation of all organisms and to effectively convey the importance of biodiversity in digital communications.



The team suggests that further research is needed to understand how nature-related emojis are utilized in discussions about biodiversity and conservation. This could potentially open up new avenues for engaging the public in these critical topics.



In summary, this eye-opening analysis by Mammola, Falaschi, and Ficetola underscores a critical need for a more inclusive emoji library that accurately represents the rich diversity of life. As digital communication continues to be a dominant medium, ensuring that our digital tools reflect the full spectrum of biodiversity becomes increasingly important for fostering awareness and engagement in conservation efforts.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2589004223026469">iScience</a>.



-----



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



-----



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

Current emoji library doesn’t accurately represent the Tree of Life

In an insightful analysis, a team of conservation biologists have...

Researchers at <a href="https://liu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Linköping University</a> have made significant strides in understanding the lingering neurological effects of COVID-19. Using advanced MRI technology, the team has uncovered notable differences in brain tissue structure between patients who have had severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-associated-with-lower-covid-19-vaccine-responses/">COVID-19</a> and those who have not.



The study was focused on 16 patients who had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 and continued to experience symptoms.&nbsp;



The research is a part of the larger Linköping COVID-19 Study (LinCos). It stands out from previous studies in its use of advanced diffusion MRI, a technique that is sensitive to the microstructural organization of the brain, particularly the white matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-covid-19-brain-changes">Detecting COVID-19 brain changes</h2>



White matter, primarily composed of nerve axons, is crucial for signal transmission within the brain and to the body. Traditional MRI scans have not been specific enough to detect COVID-19 related changes in the brain, leading to frustration among clinicians.



Ida Blystad is a neuroradiologist in the Department of Radiology at Linköping University Hospital and researcher affiliated with the Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences at Linköping University and the Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV).



“It can be frustrating for me as a doctor when I understand that the patients have problems, but I can’t find an explanation because there’s nothing in the MRI scan to explain it," said Blystad. "To me, this underlines the importance of trying other examination technologies to understand what’s happening in the brain in patients with persisting symptoms after COVID-19."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-novel-approach-nbsp">Novel approach&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers compared the advanced diffusion MRI technology used in this study to the flow of traffic in a city at night. Just as the movement of cars along roads reveals the presence of highways, tracking the movement of water molecules in the brain helps infer the structure of neural pathways.&nbsp;



This method has been instrumental in diagnosing strokes and planning brain surgery, but its application in understanding post-COVID conditions marks a novel approach.



“Diffusion MRI is a very sensitive technology that allows changes in how the nerve axons are organised to be detected. This is one of the reasons why we wanted to use diffusion MRI to study the effects of COVID-19 on the brain that other imaging technologies might not pick up,” explained doctoral student Deneb Boito.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-white-matter">Changes in white matter</h2>



The experts compared the brain scans of the 16 previously hospitalized men with those of a healthy control group. The findings indicated differences in the white matter structure of the two groups, suggesting a potential cause for the neurological issues faced by the COVID-19 survivors.&nbsp;



“The two groups differ when it comes to brain white matter structure. This can be one of the causes of the neurological problems experienced by the group that had suffered from severe COVID-19. It’s a result that’s in line with other studies that have shown changes to the brain’s white matter," said Blystad.



"However, having examined only a small group of patients, we are cautious about drawing any major conclusions. With this technology, we’re not measuring the function of the brain, but its microstructure. To me, these findings are a sign that we must investigate long-term effects of COVID-19 in the brain using more advanced MRI technology than conventional MRI."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-questions-remain">Many questions remain</h2>



Despite the breakthrough, several questions remain unanswered. The researchers are particularly interested in whether different brain regions are affected differently and how these changes correlate with brain function and inter-regional communication.&nbsp;



Furthermore, since the study provides only a snapshot in time, it's unclear whether the observed brain differences are permanent or if they will resolve over time.



This pioneering research was funded by several institutions, including the Analytic Imaging Diagnostic Arena (AIDA), the ITEA/Vinnova project ASSIST, and the Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine at Linköping University.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcad284" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brain Communications</a>.



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



—-



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

Long-COVID brain changes detected by advanced MRI technology

Researchers at Linköping University have made significant strides in understanding...

The rail industry is being urged to consider the safety risks posed by space weather, particularly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noaa-alert-strong-geomagnetic-storm-warning-issued-due-to-strong-solar-flare/">solar storms</a>. New research suggests that these events could cause train accidents by disrupting rail signaling systems.&nbsp;



A team from <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lancaster University</a>, including PhD researcher Cameron Patterson and Professor Jim Wild, has conducted a study focusing on the impact of solar storms.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powerful-disturbances-nbsp">Powerful disturbances&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-lights-activity-will-intensify-over-the-next-18-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar storms</a> can create powerful magnetic disturbances on Earth, leading to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) which have the potential to interfere with electricity transmission and distribution grids.



“Our research shows that space weather poses a serious, if relatively rare, risk to the rail signaling system, which could cause delays or even have more critical, safety implications," said Patterson. "This natural hazard needs to be taken seriously. By their nature, high-impact, low-frequency events are hard to plan for, but ignoring them is rarely the best way forward."



The study specifically investigated how geomagnetically induced currents could affect the track circuits of AC electrified lines powered by overhead cables. The team modeled these effects on two key routes: the West Coast Main Line between Preston and Lancaster, and the Glasgow to Edinburgh line. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rail-signaling-and-space-weather">Rail signaling and space weather</h2>



"Crucially, our research suggests that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geomagnetic-storms-are-influenced-by-earths-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space weather</a> is able to flip a signal in either direction, turning a red signal green or a green signal red. This is obviously very significant from a safety perspective," said Patterson.



“By building a computer model of the signaling track circuits using realistic specifications for the various components of the system, we found that space weather events capable of triggering faults in these track circuits are expected in the UK every few decades.”



This is particularly concerning given that there are more than 50,000 signaling track circuits in the UK. Patterson's earlier research explored "right side" failures, where signals switch from green to red, a fail-safe scenario. 



However, the more hazardous "wrong side" failures, where signals go from red to green, could occur at lower geoelectric field strengths, meaning weaker geomagnetic storms could more easily trigger these dangerous failures.



The latest study suggests that "wrong side" failures could happen once or twice every decade. For extreme events, which occur less frequently, the risk of widespread signaling malfunctions increases significantly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-space-weather-on-rail-safety">Implications of space weather on rail safety</h2>



The team also examined the effects of a solar storm similar to the massive 1859 eruption, predicting widespread signaling issues.&nbsp;



“When we experience severe space weather which happens every few decades or extreme space weather seen every century or two, then there is a potential for significant signaling misoperation, which has an obvious safety impact," said Patterson.&nbsp;



Severe space weather is recognized in the UK Government’s National Risk Register for Civil Emergencies as a significant threat. This research serves as a wake-up call for the rail industry to address the safety risks posed by space weather.



Professor Wild emphasized the importance of incorporating space weather forecasting into railway operations to mitigate risks.&nbsp;



"Other industries such as aviation, electricity generation and transmission, and the space sector are considering the risks to their operations, and exploring how these might be mitigated. It’s important that the rail sector is included in this planning," said Professor Wild.&nbsp;



“As our understanding of the space weather hazard improves, it’s possible to consider how to reduce the risks. In future, we could see space weather forecasting being used make decisions about limiting railway operations if an extreme event is expected, just as meteorological forecasts are used currently."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003625" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Space Weather</a>.



-----



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



-----



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

Space weather poses significant risks to railway safety 

The rail industry is being urged to consider the safety...

Cracked,Earth,At,Ubonratchatani,,Thailand.

Next year is poised to mark a troubling milestone in the annals of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humanity-should-brace-for-catastrophic-climate-change/">climate</a> history, according to forecasts from the <a href="https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Met Office</a>.&nbsp;



The modeling anticipates that 2024 might become the first year in human history to surpass the critical 2.7°F (1.5°C) warming threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement, a level deemed as the potential point of irreversibility for climate change.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-breaking-high">Record-breaking high</h2>



Despite 2023 on track to become the hottest year on record, projections for 2024 already indicate a new record-breaking high. The Met Office attributes these scorching temperatures to a combination of climate change and a substantial El Niño event.



Scientists estimate that temperatures in the upcoming year will range between 2.41°F (1.34°C) and 2.84°F (1.58°C) above the pre-industrial average.&nbsp;



“The forecast is in line with the ongoing global warming trend of 0.2°C [0.36°F] per decade, and is boosted by a significant El Niño event. We expect two new global temperature record-breaking years in succession, and, for the first time, we are forecasting a reasonable chance of a year temporarily exceeding 1.5°C [2.7°F],” said Nick Dunstone, an expert in Climate Science at the Met Office.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-perilous-tipping-point">Perilous tipping point</h2>



Since 2015, nations committed to preventing global temperatures from rising beyond 2.7°F (1.5°C), a threshold signifying a perilous tipping point. Although a single temporary breach of this limit wouldn’t technically violate the Paris Agreement, it would nevertheless be a noteworthy event in climate history.



The temperature rise in the coming year will be influenced by factors beyond human-induced climate change. Notably, a significant El Niño event is expected to temporarily elevate average temperatures.&nbsp;



El Niño is characterized by a redistribution of warm water in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in weaker winds and warmer seas for a brief period.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contributing-factors">Contributing factors</h2>



Professor Adam Scaife from the Met Office underscores additional contributors to the temperature extremes, such as anomalous high temperatures in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean, emphasizing the synergy with climate change.



While natural temperature fluctuations occur, subsequent years are unlikely to breach the 2.7°F (1.5°C) limit. Nevertheless, Professor Scaife argues that human-induced climate change remains the predominant factor driving record-breaking temperatures.&nbsp;



This prediction follows a series of unprecedented weather events, with 2023 poised to become the hottest year on record, exceeding initial temperature predictions made by the Met Office at the close of 2022.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-the-1-5-c-limit-so-critical">Why is the 1.5°C limit so critical?</h2>



Surpassing the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit could have severe consequences for the planet. It's a complex situation where even a slight increase beyond 1.5 degrees could have wide-ranging and potentially irreversible impacts.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-weather">Extreme weather</h3>



More frequent and severe weather events like hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts, and floods.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-sea-levels">Rising sea levels</h3>



Melting polar ice caps and glaciers would contribute to higher sea levels, threatening coastal areas and islands.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecosystem-disruptions">Ecosystem disruptions</h3>



Altered habitats could endanger many species and disrupt ecosystems. Coral reefs, in particular, are at risk.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-agricultural-impact">Agricultural impact</h3>



Changes in climate patterns could affect crop yields, leading to food scarcity and higher prices.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks">Health risks</h3>



Increased temperatures and changing weather patterns can exacerbate health issues, including heat-related illnesses and the spread of infectious diseases.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-economic-consequences">Economic consequences</h3>



Damage from extreme weather, changes in agricultural productivity, and health impacts could have enormous economic costs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geopolitical-effects">Geopolitical effects</h3>



Climate-induced migration and resource scarcity might lead to social unrest and geopolitical tensions.



-----



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



-----



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

2024 is expected to exceed the 1.5°C warming limit

Next year is poised to mark a troubling milestone in...

Pink,Soft,Coral,With,Sea,Anemone,,(actiniaria)at,Lipe,Island,Andaman

The world's coral reefs, aside from a few that are showing surprising resilience, have been facing unprecedented challenges over the past four decades. This is largely due to the adverse effects of climate change, pollution, unsustainable coastal development, and overfishing. 



Scleractinian corals, commonly known as hard corals, have been particularly impacted. However, a ray of hope shines through the resilience of some Caribbean octocorals, also known as soft corals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-soft-coral-resilience">Studying soft coral resilience</h2>



<a href="https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/geology/faculty-staff/faculty/mary-alice-coffroth.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mary Alice Coffroth</a>, a respected professor emerita of geology at the <a href="https://www.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University at Buffalo</a>, led a significant study on the resilience of soft corals. Over two years, Coffroth and her team at UB conducted an extensive survey in the Florida Keys. 



Their focus was on three species of octocorals that demonstrated an ability to survive heat waves. Coffroth emphasized the importance of this finding, stating, "The resistance and resilience of Caribbean octocorals offers clues for the future of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-study-provides-answers-to-how-coral-reefs-can-survive-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral reefs</a>."



Coffroth led a dedicated team including graduate student Louis Buccella, undergraduates Katherine Eaton and Alyssa Gooding, technician Harleena Franklin, and <a href="https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/environment-sustainability/faculty/faculty-directory/howard-lasker.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Howard Lasker</a>, professor emeritus. Between 2015 and 2017, they focused on the symbiotic relationship between the octocorals and their algae.



Hard and soft corals rely on symbiosis with single-celled algae. Warmer waters disrupt this relationship, leading to bleaching. Coffroth, who has been studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rescue-underway-florida-is-battling-an-unprecedented-coral-bleaching-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral reefs in the Florida Keys</a> since 1998, explained, "Bleaching can lead to coral death. It’s unclear if the algae leave or are ejected from the coral."



In this study, they examined the mechanisms contributing to the heightened resistance and resilience of three octocoral species during marine heat waves leading to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deepest-known-coral-reef-bleaching-discovered-alarming-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bleaching events</a>. This involved following the genetic makeup and density of symbiont algae before, during, and after major heat waves.



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



Coffroth discovered that Caribbean octocorals predominantly harbor Breviolum symbionts. These symbionts declined in density during heatwaves but recovered quickly, contributing to lower octocoral mortality compared to their scleractinian counterparts.



“The Breviolum densities declined during the heatwaves but recovered quickly,” she explained. “Octocoral mortality was low compared to their scleractinian relatives.”



Following the 2014 El Niño and anticipating a similar event, Coffroth successfully applied for a Rapid Response Research grant from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a>. This funding allowed her team to conduct an in-depth 28-month study in the Keys, focusing on the fate of octocorals and their symbionts.



The team's regular visits to the <a href="https://www.fio.usf.edu/keys-marine-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Keys Marine Lab</a> facilitated detailed observations and sample collections, enabling a comprehensive analysis of coral resilience, coloration, symbiont density, and genetic identity.



Coffroth highlighted the timeliness and relevance of their findings, given the current global warming trends, increased storms, and major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/devastating-coral-bleaching-is-expected-around-the-world-within-the-next-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bleaching events.</a> She pointed out that corals today are withstanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-coral-reefs-have-naturally-increased-their-heat-tolerance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">higher temperatures</a> than in the 1960s.



“There is evidence that corals are withstanding higher temperature now than they did in the 1960s,” she said. “That signals evolution, but the problem is that climate change is moving too fast, faster than evolution.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-significance-of-coral-reefs">Ecological significance of coral reefs</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-reefs-in-some-parts-of-the-world-actually-benefit-from-warming-el-nino-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coral reefs</a>, beyond their stunning beauty, play crucial roles in protecting coastal regions, providing habitats for significant marine life, supporting tourism, and contributing to medical research. Coffroth remarked on the stark contrast between the coral reefs of the 1970s and the present, underscoring the dramatic changes they have undergone.



“If you a see picture of coral reefs when I started diving in the 1970s and compare it with one now, it makes you want to cry,” she said. “The change is just amazing.”



While acknowledging the importance of their observations, Coffroth stressed the need for further research to understand the variations within the coral and symbiont genera. She noted an increase in both the bleaching of coral species that had previously shown resilience, and the emergence of new resilient ones.



“I’m seeing species bleach that have never bleached before but also corals showing more resilience,” she said. “There is a lot of variation within both the animal and symbiont genera. We need to understand the variation.”



The ultimate goal is to continue exploring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recent-coral-recovery-in-the-great-barrier-reef-has-paused/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral reef dynamics</a> and the robustness of symbiotic algae, alongside efforts to mitigate environmental damage caused by human activities. 



Coffroth concluded, "We can’t stop global warming, but the hope is that we can slow it down," underscoring the urgent need for continued research and action in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj6788" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



-----



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



-----



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

Some corals and reefs are showing surprising resilience as global waters warm

The world's coral reefs, aside from a few that are...

Few,Indian,Elephants,Walking,Near,Garbage,Dump,Against,The,Background

The <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/state-finance-nature-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State of Finance for Nature</a> report, released at COP28 by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners, reveals a sobering reality: nearly $7 trillion, or about 7% of the global GDP, is invested annually in activities detrimental to nature. This stark revelation brings into focus the urgent need to redirect these investments towards more nature-positive initiatives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-imbalance-in-nature-related-investments">Disturbing imbalance in nature-related investments</h2>



The report highlights a worrying disparity in investment patterns. While $200 billion was invested in nature-based solutions in 2022, investments in activities harming nature were over 30 times larger. This imbalance underlines the critical need to confront the combined crises of climate change, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity loss</a>, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/land-degradation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">land degradation</a>.



<a href="https://www.unep.org/people/inger-andersen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inger Andersen</a>, UNEP's Executive Director, emphasizes the underfunding of nature-based solutions. “Nature-based solutions are dramatically underfunded. Annual nature-negative investments are over 30 times larger than financing for nature-based solutions that promote a stable climate, and healthy land and nature,” said Andersen.



The stark contrast between annual investments in nature-negative activities and those promoting a stable climate and healthy ecosystems is alarming. Andersen calls for a reversal of this trend, advocating for Indigenous Peoples as primary beneficiaries.



"To have any chance of meeting the sustainable development goals, these numbers must be flipped – with true custodians of the land, such as Indigenous Peoples, among the chief beneficiaries," Andersen implores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-the-nature-investment-funds-flow">Where the nature investment funds flow</h2>



The analysis unveils that private nature-negative finance flows amount to a colossal $5 trillion annually, dwarfing the modest $35 billion in private investments for nature-based solutions. Predominant sectors contributing to these negative flows include construction, electric utilities, real estate, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-chief-fossil-fuel-era-must-end-for-humanitys-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oil and gas</a>, and food and tobacco.



<a href="https://globalcanopy.org/team/niki-mardas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Niki Mardas</a>, Executive Director of Global Canopy, stresses the danger of persisting with current business practices. He highlights the need for a transition to sustainable practices and the cessation of financing activities that destroy nature. 



“This year’s report is a stark reminder that continuing with 'business as usual' poses a severe threat to our planet, reinforcing the urgent need for a transition to sustainable business practices and to stop the financing of nature destruction," said Mardas.



Mardas points to increasing regulatory pressure and the availability of data and frameworks as tools for companies to commit to a nature-positive future.



"The net is tightening, with increased regulatory pressure in key areas like tackling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-crisis-how-can-we-stop-massive-forest-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforestation</a>, it means that those companies and financial institutions still driving the problem now need to make best use of the excellent data, guidance and frameworks already available to urgently commit to a nature-positive future," Mardas concludes.



The report sheds light on government spending on environmentally harmful subsidies, estimating it at $1.7 trillion in 2022 across agriculture, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-carbon-emissions-hit-a-record-high-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a>, fishery, and forestry sectors. A notable increase in fossil fuel subsidies underscores the necessity of policy reform in these areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-funding-gap-and-future-targets">The funding gap and future targets</h2>



There's a notable gap in financing for nature-based solutions, with governments leading the meager $200 billion allocated in 2022. To meet the Rio Convention targets and the Global Biodiversity Framework, funding for nature-based solutions needs to almost triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2050.



<a href="https://www.bmz.de/en/ministry/leadership-ministry/flasbarth-100040" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jochen Flasbarth</a>, from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, underscores the importance of investing in nature-based solutions. 



“The widespread degradation of nature is not only exacerbating the climate crisis but also pushing us towards exceeding planetary boundaries. Investing in nature-based solutions provides a strategic and cost-effective avenue to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation while at the same time making tangible headway towards the sustainable development goals,” said Flasbarth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investment-opportunities-in-nature-based-solutions">Investment opportunities in nature-based solutions</h2>



The report highlights substantial investment opportunities in sustainable land management and ecosystem protection. These investments are not only cost-effective but also provide multiple benefits, including long-term profitability and private investment catalysis.



To achieve the Rio targets, there needs to be a dramatic reduction in the nearly $7 trillion currently flowing into nature-negative practices. The financial sector and businesses must increase their investments in nature-based solutions and foster incentives to divert finance from harmful activities.



Government policies are critical in creating an environment conducive to nurturing nature-positive investment opportunities. This includes repurposing subsidies and encouraging private sector participation.



In summary, the <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/state-finance-nature-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State of Finance for Nature</a> report calls for a significant shift in global investment patterns. The need to realign nearly $7 trillion from nature-negative to nature-positive investments is paramount. This shift presents a critical opportunity to impact climate change positively, protect biodiversity, and prevent land degradation, marking a pivotal moment for transformative change in global finance.



-----



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



-----



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

$7 trillion invested every year in products and activities that directly harm nature

The State of Finance for Nature report, released at COP28...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

News coming your way