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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Dopamine helps us learn from positive and negative experiences

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Drone study reveals how water shapes mountains over time

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Exposure to women’s tears decreases aggression in men

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Swallowing a vibrating capsule may revolutionize obesity treatment

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Cancer-causing metals leak into water near coal ash landfills 

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Image Credit: David Awcock



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Five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs have been identified 

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Pesticides disrupt bees’ sense of smell and social signals

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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NASA captures eruption of Iceland's Svartsengi volcano from space

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

Today, December 21, marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The astronomical moment when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun will occur at 10:27 p.m. ET.&nbsp;



Due to this extreme tilt, we will experience the shortest day and longest night of the year. 



"All locations north of the equator see daylight shorter than 12 hours and all locations south see daylight longer than 12 hours," explains <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-impact-of-winter-solstice">Environmental impact of winter solstice</h2>



On the winter solstice, the sun takes the shortest path through the sky, and its lowest arc in the sky at noon.&nbsp;



Regions near the Arctic and Antarctic circles experience polar night around the solstice, meaning the sun doesn't rise for more than 24 hours.



The winter solstice also signals significant environmental changes. It marks the beginning of winter, a season characterized by colder temperatures and, in many regions, snowfall. 



This seasonal shift impacts ecosystems, influencing animal behaviors such as migration and hibernation.



Despite being the shortest day of the year, it’s not typically the coldest. There's a lag between the shortest day and the lowest average <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-cope-with-cold-mornings/">temperatures</a> due to the oceans' slow release of accumulated heat.



The solstice can affect animal behavior, with some species using the shorter day as a cue for hibernation or migration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-myths-and-legends-nbsp">Myths and legends&nbsp;</h2>



The winter solstice has been celebrated in various cultures around the world with festivals, rituals, and other observances, recognizing the gradual return of sunlight after the longest period of darkness.&nbsp;



This significant astronomical event has inspired various myths and legends throughout history.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yule-and-the-wild-hunt">Yule and the Wild Hunt</h3>



In Norse mythology, the winter solstice, known as Yule, is associated with the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession in the winter sky led by the god Odin. It was a time of both fear and celebration, marking the death of the old year and the birth of the new.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saturnalia-nbsp">Saturnalia&nbsp;</h3>



Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the god Saturn, held around the time of the winter solstice. It was a time of merrymaking, feasting, and social reversal where traditional roles were often relaxed.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-return-of-the-sun">The Return of the Sun</h3>



Many Native Americans have celebrated the winter solstice as the time when the sun god began his recovery from illness, symbolizing the return of longer days.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-st-lucia-s-day-nbsp">St. Lucia's Day&nbsp;</h3>



In Scandinavian countries, the winter solstice is associated with St. Lucia's Day, honoring the Christian martyr who brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs using a candle-lit wreath to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dongzhi-festival-nbsp">Dongzhi Festival&nbsp;</h3>



The Dongzhi Festival, or the Winter Solstice Festival, is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians. It's a time for family reunions and a celebration of the year's harvest, with the belief that the positive energy of the longer daylight hours to come will bring good luck.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stonehenge-nbsp">Stonehenge&nbsp;</h3>



Stonehenge in the United Kingdom is aligned with the sunset of the winter solstice. While its exact purpose remains a mystery, it's believed to have been used for religious and ceremonial events, possibly linked to the solstice.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alban-arthan">Alban Arthan</h3>



In Welsh and Celtic tradition, Alban Arthan, meaning "Light of Winter," was a time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun, marking the turning point where the days start to lengthen and the power of the sun begins to grow.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shab-e-yalda-nbsp">Shab-e Yalda&nbsp;</h3>



In Persian culture, Shab-e Yalda or Yalda night is celebrated on the longest night of the year. It's a time when families gather together to eat, drink, and read poetry, especially by the poet Hafez, until well after midnight to fend off evil spirits.



These myths and legends reflect the importance of the winter solstice in various cultural and historical contexts, often symbolizing rebirth, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-a-day">More than just a day</h2>



In summary, the winter solstice is a confluence of astronomical, cultural, environmental, and scientific significance. It reminds us of our planet's incredible journey around the sun and the diverse ways in which different cultures interpret and celebrate this celestial event. 



As we experience the shortest day of the year, it's a time to reflect on the past and look forward to the brighter days ahead.



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Winter solstice: The longest night of the year marks a time of rebirth

Today, December 21, marks the winter solstice in the Northern...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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