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...

The <a href="https://www.unccd.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification</a> (UNCCD) has issued a warning about the escalating frequency of sand and dust storms (SDS) across various regions of the world, linking at least a quarter of these events to human activities.&nbsp;



The amount of sand and dust entering the atmosphere each year is staggering. It is estimated to be around two billion tons, equivalent to the weight of 350 Great Pyramids of Giza.&nbsp;



This increase in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atmospheric-dust-has-been-masking-greenhouse-warming/">desert dust</a>, which has doubled in some areas over the last century, significantly impacts various aspects of the environment, climate, health, agriculture, livelihoods, and socioeconomic well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-under-recognized-issue">Under-recognized issue</h2>



The severity of this under-recognized environmental issue was highlighted during a five-day meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, focusing on the global progress in implementing the Convention, which originated at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro alongside conventions on climate change and biodiversity.



“The sight of rolling dark clouds of sand and dust engulfing everything in their path and turning day into night is one of nature's most intimidating spectacles," said Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD's executive secretary.



"It is a costly phenomenon that wreaks havoc everywhere from Northern and Central Asia to sub-Saharan Africa.”



“Sand and dust storms present a formidable challenge to achieving sustainable development. However, just as sand and dust storms are exacerbated by human activities, they can also be reduced through human actions."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unpredictable-and-hazardous-storms">Unpredictable and hazardous storms</h2>



The experts point out that poor land and water management, coupled with droughts and climate change, have intensified sand and dust storms, making them unpredictable and hazardous.&nbsp;



Feras Ziadat, technical officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and chair of the UN Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, elaborated on the far-reaching effects of sand and dust storms.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-far-reaching-impacts">Far-reaching impacts</h2>



“Sand and dust storms have become increasingly frequent and severe having substantial transboundary impacts, affecting various aspects of the environment, climate, health, agriculture, livelihoods and the socioeconomic well-being of individuals. The accumulation of impacts from sand and dust storms can be significant,” said Ziadat.



“In source areas, they damage crops, affect livestock, and strip topsoil. In depositional areas atmospheric dust, especially in combination with local industrial pollution, can cause or worsen human health problems such as respiratory diseases."&nbsp;



"Communications, power generation, transportation, and supply chains can also be disrupted by low visibility and dust-induced mechanical failures. The United Nations Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, chaired by FAO, was created in 2019 to lead global efforts to address SDS.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significant-burden">Significant burden</h2>



Sand and dust storms are known by various local names like sirocco, haboob, yellow dust, and harmattan, originating typically in drylands and sub-humid areas with sparse vegetation. They can also occur in agricultural and humid regions under specific conditions and often have transboundary impacts.&nbsp;



These storms impose significant economic burdens, as seen in the oil sector in Kuwait and during a single event in Australia in 2009, with damages running into hundreds of millions of dollars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-major-sources">Major sources</h2>



The major global dust sources are found across North Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, Australia, South America, and Southern Africa. The dried-up Aral Sea alone emits over 100 million tons of dust and salts annually, with far-reaching health and economic impacts.&nbsp;



While these storms can provide some benefits like nutrient deposition on land and water bodies, these are overwhelmingly outweighed by their harmful effects.



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



Despite the high recognition of sand and dust storms as a disaster risk in some regions, it is less prominent elsewhere, partly due to the lack of immediate direct human fatalities from individual events.&nbsp;



However, the long-term health, economic, and environmental impacts of sand and dust storms require more extensive documentation and research, especially regarding their interaction with air pollution and health outcomes.



The UNCCD's warning highlights the urgent need for global and regional policy responses to mitigate and and dust storms, including source mitigation, early warning systems, and monitoring, emphasizing that the solution to this growing problem lies in human action.



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Sand and dust storms have become more unpredictable and dangerous

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has issued...

A new study led by Roberto Lei from the <a href="https://www.unimore.it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia</a> offers new insights into the feeding habits of carnivorous dinosaurs in North America.&nbsp;



The research, conducted on Jurassic rocks of the USA, was specifically focused on bite marks on the bones of giant sauropods like Diplodocus and Brontosaurus, which were primarily left by theropod dinosaurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaur-bones">Dinosaur bones</h2>



The study transcends the common belief that tyrannosaurs were the main predators leaving marks on dinosaur bones. Instead, it highlights the role of other large carnivores in the Morrison Formation, a geological formation from the Upper Jurassic period approximately 150 million years ago.&nbsp;



Remarkably, the research team discovered 68 sauropod bones from this formation bearing distinct bite traces from theropods.



One of the striking findings is the absence of healing in these bite marks, suggesting that the bites were either inflicted in a lethal attack or were a result of post-mortem scavenging.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wear-patterns">Wear patterns</h2>



The researchers also found similar wear patterns on the teeth of Morrison Formation theropods to those observed in tyrannosaurs, indicating a more frequent involvement in bone-biting than previously thought.



However, attributing these bite marks to specific theropod species, such as Allosaurus or Ceratosaurus, remains challenging due to the presence of multiple potential predators.&nbsp;



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



Dr. David Hone of Queen Mary University of London, the study's corresponding author, emphasized the significance of these findings.



"This new work helps us understand the ecological relationships between dinosaurs in the Jurassic and reveals that the habits of the larger carnivores then were closer to that of the tyrannosaurs than previously thought. It’s another important step in reconstructing the behavior of these ancient animals," said Dr. Hone.



The focus on bite and tooth marks has unveiled intriguing aspects of the lives of dinosaurs, shedding light on the interactions among some of the largest animals to have ever existed on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carnivorous-dinosaurs-nbsp">Carnivorous dinosaurs&nbsp;</h2>



Carnivorous dinosaurs, known scientifically as theropods, were a diverse group of meat-eating dinosaurs that lived during the Mesozoic Era. Here are some key aspects:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-sizes-and-habitats">Diverse sizes and habitats</h3>



Theropods ranged in size from small, bird-like creatures to massive predators like Tyrannosaurus rex. They inhabited various environments across the globe, adapting to different ecological niches.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinctive-features">Distinctive features</h3>



Most carnivorous dinosaurs were bipedal, meaning they walked on two legs. They typically had strong hind legs, sharp claws, and powerful jaws filled with serrated teeth designed for slicing flesh.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feeding-and-hunting">Feeding and hunting</h3>



While primarily carnivorous, some theropods may have been omnivores or even scavengers. Their hunting strategies likely varied, with some possibly hunting in packs, while others were solitary predators.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-significance">Evolutionary significance</h3>



Theropods are particularly important in the study of dinosaur evolution, as they are the ancestors of modern birds. The discovery of feathered theropods has been crucial in understanding this evolutionary link.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-famous-examples">Famous examples</h3>



Apart from the well-known T. rex, other famous theropods include Velociraptor, known for its speed and agility, and Spinosaurus, which is believed to have been semi-aquatic.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intelligence-and-behavior">Intelligence and behavior</h3>



Some theropods, like the Troodon, are believed to have been among the most intelligent dinosaurs. Evidence suggests that certain theropods may have had complex social behaviors, although much of this remains speculative.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-discoveries">Fossil discoveries</h3>



Fossilized remains of theropods have been found on every continent, including Antarctica. These fossils range from complete skeletons to isolated bones and footprints, providing valuable insights into their physiology and behavior.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-impact">Cultural impact</h3>



Carnivorous dinosaurs have captured the public imagination in movies, books, and other media. Their fierce reputation and dramatic appearances make them some of the most popular dinosaurs in pop culture.



Theropods offer insights into the prehistoric past, as well as the evolutionary processes that have shaped life on Earth, including the origins of birds.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16327" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PeerJ Life &amp; Environment</a>.&nbsp;



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Jurassic jaws: Predatory secrets of carnivorous dinosaurs

A new study led by Roberto Lei from the Università...

The <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/countdown-health-climate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Report</a> starkly underscores the grave danger looming over billions worldwide due to delays in vital climate action. With projections leaning towards a 2.7°C increase by 2100, urgent steps are necessary to avert catastrophic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/">health</a> and survival impacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-hazards-need-climate-action">Growing hazards need climate action</h2>



“Our health stocktake reveals that the growing hazards of climate change are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">costing lives</a> and livelihoods worldwide today. Projections of a 2°C hotter world reveal a dangerous future, and are a grim reminder that the pace and scale of mitigation efforts seen so far have been woefully inadequate to safeguard people’s health and safety,” said Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown at <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a>. 



“With 1,337 tons of carbon dioxide still emitted every second, we aren’t reducing emissions anywhere near fast enough to keep climate hazards within the levels that our health systems can cope with. There is an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clinical-terminology-fails-to-represent-climate-related-health-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enormous human cost</a> to inaction, and we can’t afford this level of disengagement – we are paying in lives. Every moment we delay makes the path to a liveable future more difficult and adaptation increasingly costly and challenging.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-action-needed-for-global-health">Climate action needed for global health</h2>



This eighth installment of the Lancet Countdown, involving 114 experts from 52 institutions, presents 47 indicators, including new metrics, to evaluate the interplay between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-under-siege-earths-vital-signs-reach-an-all-time-low/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health and climate change</a>. It urges immediate action ahead of the 28th UN Conference of the Parties (COP).



“There is still room for hope,” Romanello said. “The health focus at COP28 is the opportunity of our lifetime to secure commitments and action. If climate negotiations drive an equitable and rapid phase out of fossil fuels, accelerate mitigation, and support adaptation efforts for health, the ambitions of the Paris Agreement to limit global heating to 1.5 °C are still achievable, and a prosperous healthy future lies within reach."



"Unless such progress materializes, the growing emphasis on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health within climate change</a> negotiations risks being just empty words, with each fraction of a degree of heating exacerbating the harms felt by billions of people alive today and the generations to come.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deteriorating-global-health-landscape-nbsp">Deteriorating global health landscape&nbsp;</h2>



The report, led by University College London and encompassing work from global experts, highlights the escalating health-related losses and damages due to climate inaction. The rise in heat-related deaths and food insecurity, along with the spread of infectious diseases like Vibrio, reflects the deteriorating global health landscape even at the current average heating of 1.14°C.



Healthcare systems are under significant pressure, with many cities reporting concerns about being overwhelmed by climate change impacts. The report also notes substantial economic losses due to extreme weather and labor hours lost to heat exposure, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-crisis-on-top-of-a-crisis">A crisis on top of a crisis</h2>



Dr. Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Director of the Lancet Countdown Regional Centre for Small Island Developing States, voiced concern: “We’re facing a crisis on top of a crisis. People living in poorer countries, who are often least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, are bearing the brunt of the health impacts, but are least able to access funding and technical capacity to adapt to the deadly storms, rising seas and crop-withering droughts worsened by global heating."&nbsp;



"Despite this, rich nations have broken their long-standing pledge to deliver the comparatively modest sum of US$100 billion a year to help vulnerable countries cope with climate change, jeopardizing a fair, equitable transition to a healthy future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-climate-change-projections">New climate change projections</h2>



The report offers new projections, developed with the <a href="https://thecvf.org/">Climate Vulnerability Forum</a> (CVF), outlining the escalating risks if the 1.5°C target is missed. Under a 2°C scenario, heat-related deaths could increase by 370 percent by mid-century, with significant rises in food insecurity and infectious diseases.



Professor Stella Hartinger, Director of the Lancet Countdown Regional Centre for Latin America, stressed the need for primary prevention: “We must go beyond treating the health symptoms of climate change to focus on primary prevention."



"The root causes of climate change must be tackled through rapidly accelerating mitigation across all sectors to ensure the magnitude of health hazards do not breach the capacity of health systems to adapt. Unless governments finally start to act on these warnings, things will get much, much worse.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zero-carbon-future-nbsp">Zero-carbon future&nbsp;</h2>



Despite the severity of these challenges, the report outlines the transformative health benefits of a zero-carbon future. Professor Ian Hamilton, Lancet Countdown Working Group Lead on Mitigation Actions and Health Co-benefits, highlights the necessity of enabling clean energy transitions, especially in low-income countries, to achieve equitable health outcomes and reduce socioeconomic disparities.



Professor Paul Ekins from Lancet Countdown Working Group Lead on Economics and Finance, criticizes the ongoing investment in fossil fuels, calling for urgent redirection towards renewable energy and public health initiatives.



Ultimately, the report calls for unprecedented global collaboration and action. Professor Anthony Costello, co-chair of the Lancet Countdown, emphasized the need for health-centered climate action and mitigation to enable a thriving future for current and future generations.



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



“Climate breakdown has begun, and humanity is staring down the barrel of an intolerable future. We are already seeing a human catastrophe unfolding with the health and livelihoods of billions across the world endangered by record-breaking heat, crop-failing droughts, rising levels of hunger, growing infectious disease outbreaks, and deadly storms and floods," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in response to the Lancet report.



"There is no excuse for our collective inertia. Only powerful and immediate action will limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and avert the very worst of climate change. The evidence is unequivocal—a just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewables together with a global surge in adaptation investment will save millions of lives and help protect the health of everyone on earth."



The report is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)01859-7/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet</a>.



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Scientists: Immediate climate action critical to safeguard billions of lives

The 2023 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Report...

A,Single,Tree,Left,In,A,Deforested,Landscape

A recent analysis by the <a href="https://act.ran.org/page/54751/donate/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rainforest Action Network</a> (RAN) has evaluated key global brands on their efforts to eradicate deforestation and human rights abuses within their supply chains.&nbsp;



Titled “Keep Forests Standing 2023 Scorecard: Evaluating the Brands Driving Deforestation and Human Rights Violations,” the annual report assigned letter grades to brands based on their policies, with a focus on forest-risk commodities such as palm oil, pulp and paper, soy, beef, cocoa, coffee, and wood products.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deforestation-and-investor-risk">Deforestation and investor risk</h2>



The report revealed that despite their commitments, no brand is close to securing an “A grade” and are not aligned with upcoming regulations like the <a href="https://www.live-eo.com/solution/eudr-compliance?utm_term=eu%20deforestation%20regulation%20eudr&amp;utm_campaign=Supply+Chain&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;hsa_acc=1040347615&amp;hsa_cam=20072955823&amp;hsa_grp=149485792260&amp;hsa_ad=657077673316&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-2037225965213&amp;hsa_kw=eu%20deforestation%20regulation%20eudr&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAr8eqBhD3ARIsAIe-buP4iw5iYKnKBpgKlUU58eme35Nf7TqlvBhaMtwEMUCp7HXH5QuMu1oaAuxPEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Deforestation Regulation</a> (EUDR), potentially exposing their investors to significant risks.



Gemma Tillack from RAN has highlighted the gap between brands’ commitments and the actual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-crisis-how-can-we-stop-massive-forest-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rise in deforestation</a> and violence against frontline land defenders globally. The report identified major loopholes in the brands’ adopted policies, which contribute to ongoing forest destruction and rights violations.



Procter &amp; Gamble, Mondelēz, Ferrero, and Nissin Foods received the lowest grades in the report, while Nestlé, PepsiCo, Kao, Colgate-Palmolive, and Mars performed moderately. Unilever, although not perfect, earned the highest score of ‘C’ for its recent policy aimed at protecting Human Rights Defenders (HRDs).



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



The report also alerts consumers to a worrying trend where brands like Nestlé, Mars, and Ferrero claim ‘deforestation-free’ supply chains without transparent, third-party verified evidence.&nbsp;



It further reveals that corporate practices continue to contribute to the destruction of intact forest landscapes and indigenous territories, with brands lacking concrete deadlines to halt deforestation, ecosystem conversion, and human rights violations in their supply chains.&nbsp;



Despite nominal adherence to the <a href="https://www.proforest.net/fileadmin/uploads/proforest/Documents/Publications/infonote_04_introndpe.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No Deforestation, No Peatland, No Exploitation</a> (NDPE) framework, many of these policies do not encompass all forest-risk commodities used by these brands.



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



The impending EUDR poses a significant challenge for these brands, requiring stringent traceability of commodities back to their production sites. The report suggests that most global brands and their suppliers are unprepared for these new standards.



On a positive note, some companies, like Unilever and PepsiCo, are investing in landscape initiatives and jurisdictional approaches, especially in regions like Aceh and North Sumatra in Indonesia. However, the report cautions that these efforts, while promising, are not progressing rapidly enough to counteract ongoing deforestation in critical rainforest areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications">Broader implications</h2>



The report underscores the necessity of a cross-commodity and corporate group approach for brands to fully address their impact on forests and communities. It exposes the practice of brands engaging with different arms of the same corporate group, where one complies with policy commitments while another continues business as usual, often through undisclosed operations.&nbsp;



This highlights a systemic issue where conglomerates supplying ingredients to major brands manage to bypass accountability while maintaining destructive practices.



The full report can be downloaded <a href="https://www.ran.org/kfs-scorecard/">here</a>.



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Major consumer brands are failing to fight against deforestation

A recent analysis by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has...

Researchers from the <a href="https://snm.ku.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural History Museum of Denmark</a> have discovered a new beetle species with an unusually shaped male genitalia that resembles a bottle opener. 



This discovery, part of a study led by biologist Aslak Kappel Hansen and his team, highlights the intricate and often surprising aspects of insect biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insect-genitalia-nbsp">Insect genitalia&nbsp;</h2>



"Genitalia are the organs in insects that evolve to be different in every species. As such, they are often the best way to identify a species," said Hansen.&nbsp;



"That's why entomologists like us are always quick to examine insect genitalia when describing a species. The unique shape of each species’ genitals ensures that it can only reproduce with the same species."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loncovilius-beetles">Loncovilius beetles</h2>



This unique approach to species identification led to the discovery of six new species of the rove <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beetle-diversity-is-influenced-by-energy-stored-in-dead-wood/">beetle</a> genus Loncovilius, hidden for decades in museum collections.



Among these, one species, now named Loncovilius carlsbergi, stood out due to its peculiarly shaped male sexual organ.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carlsberg-foundation-nbsp">Carlsberg Foundation&nbsp;</h2>



"This species is characterized, among other things, by the fact that the male’s sexual organ is shaped remarkably like a bottle opener," said Hansen.&nbsp;



"Therefore, we thought it is obvious to dedicate this species to the Carlsberg Foundation, which has generously supported independent research for many years. Their support for various projects, expeditions, or purchase of the scientific instruments at the Natural History Museum of Denmark contributes to the discovery of new species on our planet."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-habitats">Unique habitats</h2>



Climate change poses a significant threat to these beetles, especially given their unique habitat preferences. Unlike their predatory rove beetle counterparts - which live on the ground among dead leaves, under bark or on fungi - Loncovilius beetles are found on flowers in Chile and Argentina.&nbsp;



"We suspect that they play an important role in the ecosystem. So, it's worrying that nearly nothing is known about this type of beetles, especially when they're so easy to spot – and some of them are even quite beautiful. Unfortunately, we can easily lose species like these before they’re ever discovered," said study co-author Josh Jenkins Shaw.



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



Study lead author José L. Reyes-Hernández further highlighted the vulnerability of these species to habitat changes induced by climate change.



“Loncovilius populations are likely to change in coming decades. Our simulations demonstrate that at least three of the Loncovilius species are at risk because the rapidly changing climate strongly alternate more than half of their habitat area by 2060," said Reyes-Hernández.



"It is important to stress that many more species will be affected by this change, but we don’t know how because only for four species we had enough data for our analysis."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biodiversity-crisis">Biodiversity crisis</h2>



The discovery of these species comes at a critical time, as the planet faces an unprecedented biodiversity crisis.&nbsp;



"It is estimated that as many as 85% of all species on Earth are still not formally named and described. Many species go extinct without ever having been named or recognized by science and as a consequence by humanity as a whole," said Jenkins Shaw.



"A taxonomic name is important because nature conservation relies on knowledge about species in particular areas. Without such a description, species are often left out of conservation efforts."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bottle-opener">Bottle opener</h2>



In a unique twist, the researchers have created a functional stainless steel model of Loncovilius carlsbergi's genitalia, doubling as a bottle opener.&nbsp;



Hansen hopes that this novel approach will spark broader interest in insect research and awareness of the biodiversity crisis. The team is now working on producing this bottle opener, aiming to engage people in conversations about the planet's species crisis over a beer.



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



This discovery not only adds to our understanding of beetle biodiversity but also serves as a reminder of the myriad of undiscovered species that play vital roles in our ecosystems, emphasizing the need for continued research and conservation efforts in the face of climate change and habitat loss.



"It’s important that we recognize the vast wealth of yet to be researched species around us before it’s too late," said Hansen. "We would like for people around the world to talk about the crisis facing our planet's species. A move towards serious learning and awareness may be sparkled by a light chat that takes place over a beer."



Loncovilius beetles&nbsp;



Loncovilius beetles, a group of newly identified insects, are part of the rove beetle genus. These beetles are relatively small, measuring about a centimeter in length.&nbsp;



The beetles inhabit various regions in South America, particularly in Chile and Argentina. Their habitat ranges from lowland areas to high-altitude environments reaching up to 2,600 meters in the mountains. This wide range of habitats indicates a notable adaptability within the species​​.



A distinguishing characteristic of the Loncovilius beetles is that all their legs have sticky bristles. This trait is relatively unique within their family, as most predatory beetles typically have such bristles only on their front legs​​. This adaptation likely plays a role in their survival and interaction with their environment.



Despite the recent discovery of the new species, and the intrigue surrounding its unique genital structure, much remains unknown about the Loncovilius beetles. Their life cycle, ecological role, and full range of behavioral patterns are areas that require further research.&nbsp;



Image Credit: Matías Gargiulo, through iNaturalist)



The research is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad143" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society</a>. 



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New beetle species has genitalia shaped like a bottle opener

Researchers from the Natural History Museum of Denmark have discovered...

An international team of scientists have unveiled a significant interaction between Earth's surface <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-accelerating-the-water-cycle/">water</a> and its deep interior. The study challenges previous ideas about the dynamics between the Earth's core and mantle.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-e-prime-layer-nbsp">E prime layer&nbsp;</h2>



The research sheds light on the mysterious E prime layer - a thin, enigmatic zone located at the core-mantle boundary.



A few decades ago, seismologists imaging deep beneath the Earth's surface identified this thin layer, just over a few hundred kilometers thick. The origin of the E prime layer, however, remained elusive until now.&nbsp;



The research team included Dan Shim, Taehyun Kim, and Joseph O’Rourke of <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a>, as well as Yong Jae Lee of Yonsei University in South Korea.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transformative-journey">Transformative journey</h2>



The scientists have discovered that surface water can penetrate deep into the planet. This process significantly alters the composition of the outermost region of the metallic liquid core, forming a distinct, thin layer.



The researchers have shown that over billions of years, surface water is transported into the Earth's deep interior by subducting tectonic plates.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-reaction-nbsp">Chemical reaction&nbsp;</h2>



Upon reaching the core-mantle boundary, approximately 1,800 miles below the surface, the water triggers a profound chemical reaction.&nbsp;



This interaction alters the core’s structure, forming a hydrogen-rich, silicon-depleted layer in the topmost outer core, characterized by reduced seismic velocities. This aligns with anomalies previously mapped by seismologists.



High-pressure experiments conducted by the researchers demonstrate that subducted water chemically reacts with core materials, generating silica crystals that rise and integrate into the mantle. This reaction leads to the formation of a modified liquid metallic layer that is less dense and possesses distinct properties.



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



“For years, it has been believed that material exchange between Earth's core and mantle is small. Yet, our recent high-pressure experiments reveal a different story. We found that when water reaches the core-mantle boundary, it reacts with silicon in the core, forming silica," said Shim.&nbsp;



"This discovery, along with our previous observation of diamonds forming from water reacting with carbon in iron liquid under extreme pressure, points to a far more dynamic core-mantle interaction, suggesting substantial material exchange.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extensive-global-water-cycle">Extensive global water cycle</h2>



This finding not only advances our understanding of Earth's internal processes but also suggests a more extensive global water cycle than recognized before.&nbsp;



The altered "film" of the core has profound implications for the geochemical cycles connecting the surface-water cycle with the deep metallic core.



The research marks a significant step forward in geoscience, offering new insights into the complex interactions between Earth's surface and its deepest layers.



The study was conducted using advanced experimental techniques at the Advanced Photon Source of Argonne National Lab and PETRA III of Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron in Germany, replicating the extreme conditions at the core-mantle boundary.&nbsp;



Image Credit: Dan Shim/ASU



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01324-x">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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Surface water can penetrate deep into Earth's core

An international team of scientists have unveiled a significant interaction...

Dinosaurs,Hatching,Out

The study of dinosaur reproductive biology has made significant strides thanks to the discovery of several well-preserved specimens over the last thirty years. Yet, much remains unknown about dinosaur eggs, dinosaur reproduction, and its evolution before the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colossal-new-dinosaur-was-hidden-in-spains-early-cretaceous-fossils/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous period</a>. This is largely due to limited fossil evidence and a lack of comprehensive analysis across diverse dinosaur lineages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-qianlong-shouhu">Qianlong shouhu</h2>



Recent efforts by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (<a href="http://english.ivpp.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IVPP</a>) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (<a href="https://english.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CAS</a>) have led to a landmark discovery, transforming our understanding of dinosaur egg evolution. Their research introduces a new early Jurassic sauropodomorph species, <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Qianlong-dinosaur_adult_juvenile_IVPP_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qianlong shouhu</a>, unearthed in Guizhou, China. 



The find consists of three adult skeletons and five <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/dinosaur_fossil-eggs_comparison_IVPP_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">egg clutches</a>, potentially marking the earliest fossil evidence linking adult dinosaurs with nests. The name Qianlong shouhu, translating to "Guizhou dragon guarding," aptly reflects the association of adult skeletons with embryo-laden eggs.



Qianlong was a medium-sized basal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-species-of-sauropod-dinosaur-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sauropodomorph</a>, weighing about a ton and measuring approximately six meters in length. Notable differences were observed between the embryos and adults. These include a proportionally longer skull and fewer teeth in the embryonic stage. 



Interestingly, allometric analyses suggest that while adults could walk bipedally, the young were likely quadrupedal. Furthermore, Qianlong may have practiced colonial nesting, similar to other basal sauropodomorphs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaur-egg-analysis">Dinosaur egg analysis</h2>



Researchers employed various techniques like histological thin-sectioning and scanning electron microscopy to examine Qianlong's eggshell microstructure. Their findings revealed similarities with Cretaceous dinosaur eggs, featuring a two-layer structure. 



However, the calcareous layer of Qianlong's eggs was thicker than most soft-shelled eggs but thinner than hard-shelled varieties. This implies that Qianlong laid leathery eggs, a characteristic further supported by eggshell fragmentation analysis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-dinosaur-eggs">Studying dinosaur eggs</h2>



In an extensive study encompassing 210 fossil and extant species across major reptilian clades, the team investigated evolutionary trends in reproductive traits through the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-bird-feathers-contain-traces-of-dinosaur-feathers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaur-bird transition</a>. They observed a decrease in relative egg size from early Diapsida to Saurischia, followed by an increase towards the evolution of birds. 



Additionally, eggshell thickness exhibited a decreasing trend initially, then increased notably in early theropod evolution. Dinosaur egg shape, however, remained largely conserved throughout the evolutionary journey.



In summary, the comprehensive analysis led to a significant conclusion: the first dinosaur egg was likely leathery, relatively small, and elliptical. The study's findings indicate that a leathery eggshell was probably the ancestral state for major reptilian groups like Avemetatarsalia, Archosauria, and Testudines. 



This discovery not only sheds light on the evolutionary history of dinosaur reproduction, but also provides a critical link in understanding the transition from dinosaurs to birds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-the-transition-from-dinosaurs-to-birds">More about the transition from dinosaurs to birds</h2>



The transformation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/are-birds-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaurs into birds</a> is a captivating chapter in the story of evolution. As mentioned above, this process, which unfolded over millions of years, marks one of the most significant transitions in the history of life on Earth.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theropod-connection">Theropod connection</h3>



The journey from dinosaurs to birds begins with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unusual-dinosaur-tracks-likely-made-by-a-therapod-with-an-injury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropod</a> dinosaurs. Theropods, primarily carnivorous and bipedal, included species like Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor. Crucially, they share several characteristics with modern birds, such as hollow bones and three-toed limbs.



Feathers, a defining feature of birds, first appeared in theropods. The discovery of feathered dinosaur fossils, like Archaeopteryx in Germany and various species in China, provided solid evidence of this link. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beetles-fed-on-dinosaur-feathers-105-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feathers</a> initially served purposes like insulation or display rather than flight.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anatomy-and-dinosaur-eggs">Anatomy and dinosaur eggs</h3>



Over time, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flesh-eating-theropods-were-extremely-fast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropod</a> skeletons evolved features conducive to flight. The wishbone (furcula), a feature in birds, was already present in some theropods. The bird-like "keel" on the breastbone, supporting flight muscles, also developed during this period.



Theropods experienced significant changes in their limbs and tails. Front limbs gradually lengthened, forming the structure of wings. Meanwhile, tails shortened, providing better balance and aiding in the eventual development of flight.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advent-of-flight">Advent of flight</h3>



The evolution of flight likely involved a period where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-dinosaur-species-distinguished-by-its-fearsome-claws/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropods</a> experimented with gliding. Trees or high places could have served as launch points for these early attempts.



Eventually, theropods evolved powered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-bat-like-wings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flight capabilities</a>. This transition marked the birth of true birds. The exact process remains a subject of research, but it likely involved incremental modifications over generations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavioral-and-ecological-shifts">Behavioral and ecological shifts</h3>



As they evolved, early birds began exploring new ecological niches. This adaptation led to diverse diets and behaviors, much like modern birds.



Mass extinction events played a crucial role. The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction, which wiped out most dinosaurs, provided evolutionary opportunities for birds to flourish and diversify.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-living-dinosaurs">Birds: Living dinosaurs</h3>



Today's birds are the direct descendants of theropod dinosaurs. They carry the legacy of their ancient ancestors, a testament to the remarkable journey of evolution.



In summary, the evolution from dinosaurs to birds was a complex process involving anatomical, physiological, and ecological transformations. This evolutionary story is not just a tale of the past, but continues today in the form of birds, the modern descendants of ancient, magnificent theropods.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwad258" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Review</a>.



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The first dinosaur eggs probably had a leathery texture

The study of dinosaur reproductive biology has made significant strides...

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have made significant progress in understanding the ancient ocean conditions that influenced the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-evolution-takes-place-in-decades-not-millions-of-years/">evolution</a> of early life on Earth.&nbsp;



The collaborative effort by scientists from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a> involved recreating Archean seawater to investigate the availability of essential nutrients during this critical period in Earth's history.



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



The research, led by Dr. Rosalie Tostevin, focused on the preference of early microbes for certain metals like molybdenum and manganese over others like zinc and copper. This preference, according to the study, likely reflected the availability of these metals in the ancient oceans.&nbsp;



The oldest life forms, evolving over three and a half billion years ago, showed distinct metal preferences compared to more recent life forms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-formation-of-greenalite">Formation of greenalite</h2>



To explore this further, Dr. Tostevin and her colleague Imad Ahmed recreated ancient seawater conditions within an oxygen-free chamber. They observed the formation of greenalite, a mineral prevalent in Archean rocks, and its role in altering the metal concentrations in seawater.&nbsp;



“We know that greenalite was important on the early Earth because we keep finding it in old rocks, such as the iron ore in the Northern Cape, South Africa, and similar rocks in Australia. We think this may have been one of the most important minerals in the Archean. But we don’t know exactly how greenalite was forming in nature," explained Dr. Tostevin.



"One possibility is that greenalite formed deep in the ocean at hydrothermal vents. But it could also have formed in shallow waters, wherever there was a small change in pH.”&nbsp;



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



Dr. Tostevin and Ahmed decided to run their experiments under both types of conditions and found that regardless of how greenalite forms, it removes metals in a similar way.



The formation of greenalite was found to deplete metals like zinc, copper, and vanadium, while enriching the seawater in manganese, molybdenum, and cadmium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-the-results">Confirming the results</h2>



The researchers employed X-ray adsorption spectroscopy at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron to confirm the incorporation of these metals into forming minerals. This process left other metals unaffected, maintaining their high levels in seawater.



“We were very excited when we noticed that our results match predictions from biologists who use a completely different approach. It is always reassuring when specialists in other fields are making similar findings," said Dr. Tostevin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seawater-composition-nbsp">Seawater composition&nbsp;</h2>



A crucial aspect of the study was understanding the permanence of these metal changes in seawater. By simulating natural processes like burial and crystallization, the team found that the trapped metals in minerals likely represented a permanent sink, significantly influencing early seawater composition.



This research sheds light on the vastly different composition of Archean seawater, characterized by higher dissolved iron and silica levels and virtually no oxygen, compared to modern oceans. It addresses the longstanding challenge of reconstructing ancient ocean conditions, given the altered chemistry of old sedimentary rocks.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-seawater-conditions">Ancient seawater conditions</h2>



“We can’t go back in time to sample seawater and analyze it, so reconstructing Archean conditions is quite a challenge. One approach is to look at the chemical makeup of sedimentary rocks, but the chemistry of very old rocks has sometimes been altered," explained Dr. Tostevin.



"We instead decided to create a miniature version of ancient seawater in the laboratory, where we could directly observe what was happening."



By recreating these ancient ocean conditions in the lab, the team has provided invaluable insights into the environmental factors that shaped the evolution of life on our planet.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01294-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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How ancient ocean water shaped early life evolution

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have made significant progress in...

Pandora Cluster (NIRCam Image)

The James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>), NASA's flagship observatory, has made another fascinating discovery in the depths of space. In a region known as Pandora’s Cluster, or Abell 2744, researchers have identified the second and fourth <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/pandoras-cluster_UNCOVER-z-13-galaxy_annotated_2medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most distant galaxies</a> ever observed. This monumental finding was achieved using JWST's advanced capabilities, marking a significant stride in understanding the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peering-back-in-time-through-pandora-s-cluster">Peering back in time through Pandora's Cluster</h2>



An international team, spearheaded by researchers from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a>, utilized JWST to follow up on a <a href="https://stsci-opo.org/STScI-01GQQF9WVPFVMCVHRZY54N2TAR.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep field image</a> of Pandora’s Cluster. They confirmed the distance of these ancient galaxies, approximately 33 billion light years away, and inferred their properties through new spectroscopic data. This data offers a comprehensive look at the light emitted across the electromagnetic spectrum, providing critical insights into the formation of the earliest galaxies.



Remarkably, these newly discovered galaxies differ from other distant galaxies typically observed as red dots. They are larger, with one resembling a peanut and the other a fluffy ball. These unique appearances challenge our understanding of galactic formation in the early universe.



Bingjie Wang, the study's first author and a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State's Eberly College of Science, emphasizes the importance of these findings. 



"We knew of only three galaxies at this extreme distance before," Wang says. "These new galaxies reveal the diversity of the early universe, offering a wealth of information to learn from."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-to-the-early-universe">A window to the early universe</h2>



The light from these galaxies serves as a time capsule, emitted when the universe was about 330 million years old. Joel Leja is an assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State. He notes, "The light from these galaxies is ancient, about three times older than the Earth. It's by their light that we begin to understand the exotic physics of the galaxy near cosmic dawn."



These galaxies are notably larger than others found at comparable distances. One spans at least 2,000 light years, a size that's surprising given the assumed compactness of the early universe. This discovery poses questions about star formation and the evolution of galaxies in the nascent cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-60-000-to-2-in-pandora-s-cluster">From 60,000 to 2 in Pandora's Cluster</h2>



The journey to this discovery began with one of JWST's first deep field images, which captured 60,000 light sources in Pandora’s Cluster. This region was selected for its gravitational lensing effect, magnifying light from distant galaxies. The <a href="https://jwst-uncover.github.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNCOVER team</a>, part of the research initiative, narrowed these sources down to 700 candidates, eventually identifying the two ancient galaxies.



"The process of finding these ancient galaxies is complex," Leja explains. "Our approach involved using a giant magnifying lens in space, providing a deep, albeit small, window into the cosmos." This method proved successful, uncovering two galaxies that give new insights into the early universe.



The team also used models to infer the properties of these early galaxies. They found that these galaxies were young, metal-poor, and rapidly forming stars. These properties align with theories of early galactic formation and offer supporting evidence for the Big Bang theory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-galactic-discovery">The future of galactic discovery</h2>



The researchers note that JWST's powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expansion-rate-of-the-universe-confirmed-by-jwst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infrared instruments</a> could detect even more distant galaxies, pushing the boundaries of our cosmic understanding. However, Leja cautions, "We may have reached the limits of early galactic formation, or perhaps our observation window was just too small."



This research was part of a proposal submitted to NASA for JWST's first year of science operations. Leja reflects on the excitement and challenges involved: "We were thrilled when our proposal was accepted. JWST is built for finding these first galaxies, and it's exhilarating to be part of this groundbreaking work."



In summary, the discovery of these distant galaxies by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jwst-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-with-stunning-new-image-of-rho-ophiuchi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a> marks a monumental achievement in astronomy. It not only challenges our understanding of galactic formations and sizes in the early universe but also opens new doors for exploring the cosmic dawn. 



As we continue to observe and study these ancient light sources, we inch closer to unraveling the mysteries of the universe's origins and evolution.



The full study was published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/acfe07" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.



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Webb telescope discovers second most distant galaxy in Pandora's cluster

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), NASA's flagship observatory, has...

A mystery surrounding the deaths of 35 African <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=elephants&amp;start=0">elephants</a> in Zimbabwe is one step closer to being solved. New research suggests that a bacterium closely associated with deadly septicaemia is responsible for six of the deaths, as well as fatalities in neighboring countries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-botswana-mortality-event">Botswana mortality event</h2>



The casualties in Zimbabwe, which occurred in August and September of 2020, were preceded by the baffling deaths of approximately 350 elephants in northern Botswana just months earlier.



Government officials in Botswana said the deaths were caused by an unspecified cyanobacterial toxin, with no further details. Some of the affected elephants were observed walking in circles before literally dropping dead - often collapsing on their faces.&nbsp;



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



In a unique collaboration, experts from the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, the Animal and Plant Health Agency UK, the University of Surrey, and South African laboratories set out to investigate.



"The sudden mortality of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2020 provoked considerable public interest and speculation," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Poaching and malicious poisoning were excluded early on in the investigation. Other potential causes included environmental intoxication, infectious diseases, and increased habitat stress due to ongoing drought."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-investigation-nbsp">Challenging investigation&nbsp;</h2>



The team, led by Dr. Chris Foggin, faced challenges in identifying and examining the elephant carcasses. The experts had to consider initial suspicions of anthrax or other diseases posing risks to human health.



The complexity of conducting post-mortem examinations in field conditions on such large animals added to the difficulty of the investigation.&nbsp;



“Investigating this mortality in the wildlife areas in north-west Zimbabwe proved challenging. Identifying and then reaching the carcasses in time to obtain useful samples is one problem we often face in this type of work," explained Dr. Foggin.



“However, we also didn’t know what disease we may be dealing with, although we initially suspected that it could be anthrax, which is known to occur in the area; or possibly some other disease that might pose a risk to human health."



"We therefore had to be cautious when undertaking the post-mortem examinations on elephant which, in itself, is a difficult task with such a big animal, especially working in field conditions.”&nbsp;



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



Poaching was ruled out as a cause of death since the elephants' tusks were intact, and toxicology analyses in Zimbabwe and the UK revealed no traces of poisons.



The breakthrough came when veterinarians and scientists identified a septicaemic infection caused by a little-known bacterium, provisionally named Bisgaard taxon 45, from the Pasteurellaceae family, in six elephants.&nbsp;



This discovery was confirmed through bacterial isolation and genetic analysis, marking the first time this bacterium has been associated with elephant deaths. Limited sample availability restricted the extent of these examinations.



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



Professor Falko Steinbach, head of virology at APHA, emphasized the significance of identifying this bacterium and its potential for transmission, especially considering the social nature of elephants.&nbsp;



“The identification of this bacterium is a significant step forward in learning more about why these elephants died, and I was pleased to be part of the team at APHA that could corroborate these important findings.," said Professor Steinbach.



“Transmission of the bacteria is possible, especially given the highly sociable nature of elephants and the link between this infection and the stress associated with extreme weather events such as drought, which may make outbreaks more likely."



“Further research is needed to learn more about the bacteria and its long-term implications for the African elephant population and other wildlife.”&nbsp;



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



Dr. Arnoud van Vliet, senior lecturer in Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Surrey, highlighted the international collaboration in this research. The discovery of Bisgaard taxon 45's role in bacterial septicaemia adds to the growing list of threats to elephant conservation.



The African savanna elephant is already an endangered species with an estimated 350,000 remaining in the wild and an ongoing eight percent annual population decline.



The research not only uncovers a potential cause of the recent mysterious deaths but also emphasizes the importance of continued investigation for the future of African elephants.



This research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41987-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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African elephants suddenly dropped dead in 2020, and questions remain

A mystery surrounding the deaths of 35 African elephants in...

A new study has revealed alarming insights on the impact of early-life stress on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-implant-may-allow-people-to-communicate-through-their-thoughts/">brain</a> development. According to the researchers, stress experienced in early life causes more gene expression changes in the brain than a head injury.&nbsp;



This revelation stems from an animal study aimed at understanding the interplay between childhood stress and brain injury consequences in later life.



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



The study, led by Professor Kathryn Lenz of <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a>, involved an animal model where newborn rats were separated from their mothers to simulate the effects of adverse childhood experiences. 



These experiences, which can range from traumatic events to prolonged stress, are very common. They are known to increase the risk of various mental and physical health issues in adulthood.



Head injuries are also common in young kids, particularly from falling. These injuries can be linked to mood disorders and social problems later in life.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-development">Brain development</h2>



“But we don’t know how those two things can interact,” said Professor Lenz. “We wanted to understand whether experiencing a traumatic brain injury in the context of early life stress circumstances could modulate the response to the brain injury."&nbsp;



"And using an animal model allows us to really get into the mechanisms through which these two things might be impacting brain development as it’s occurring.”



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



For the investigation, the newborn rats were separated from their mothers daily for 14 days. On day 15, at an age equivalent to a human toddler, both stressed and non-stressed rats were given either a concussion-like head injury under anesthesia or no head injury.&nbsp;



The research team, including first author Michaela Breach, a graduate student in Lenz’s lab, focused on examining gene expression changes in the hippocampal region of the rats' brains.&nbsp;



The experts analyzed the gene changes associated with three conditions: stress alone, head injury alone, and the combination of both.&nbsp;



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



The experts found a higher number of genes exhibiting differential expression due to early-life stress compared to those affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI).



Both stress alone and stress combined with traumatic brain injury activated pathways in excitatory and inhibitory neurons associated with plasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt to changes.



“This may suggest that the brain is being opened up to a new period of vulnerability or is actively changing during this period of time when it could program later life deficits,” Breach said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxytocin-signaling-nbsp">Oxytocin signaling&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers found differing effects on oxytocin signaling, a hormone linked to social behavior and bonding, between stress and brain injury scenarios. Stress activated this pathway, while brain injury alone inhibited it.



“Both stress and TBI are linked to abnormal social behavior, but we’re finding these differing effects with the oxytocin signaling,” said Breach.&nbsp;



“That demonstrates that the effect of stress might modulate how TBI is changing the brain since the combination treatment was different from TBI on its own. Oxytocin is involved in the response to stress and repair, so that may mean it could be an interesting modulator for us to pursue in the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risky-behavior-nbsp">Risky behavior&nbsp;</h2>



Rats exposed to early-life stress showed a tendency for riskier behavior in adulthood, aligning with human data linking early-life stress to conditions characterized by risk-taking behaviors.



Once the rats had aged into adulthood, behavior tests showed that only animals in the early-life stress group were prone to more frequently entering a wide-open space where rats would typically feel vulnerable to predators.



“Overall, that suggests they might be taking more risks later in life, which is consistent with human data showing that early life stress can increase the risk for certain conditions like ADHD, which can be characterized by risk-taking behavior or substance use disorders,” said Breach.



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



Professor Lenz said the behavior data provides further evidence of the need to address adverse childhood experiences.



“Things like social support and enrichment can buffer the effects of early-life stress – that has been shown in animal models and in people,” she said. “I don’t think it can be over-emphasized how damaging early-life stressors can be if they’re not dealt with.”



This first set of experiments in rats suggests early life stress’s potential to lead to a lifetime of health consequences may not be fully appreciated, noted Professor Lenz.



“We found many, many, many more genes were differentially expressed as a result of our early life stress manipulation than our traumatic brain injury manipulation."



“Stress is really powerful, and we shouldn’t understate the impact of early life stress on the developing brain. I think it tends to get dismissed – but it’s an incredibly important public health topic.”



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Early-life stress alters brain genes more than a head injury

A new study has revealed alarming insights on the impact...

A study published by the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> unveils a device that can "smell" seawater to detect and discover novel molecules. The research project has significant implications for marine science and pharmaceutical research.



The ocean, a vast and largely unexplored frontier, is filled with marine organisms that release an abundance of invisible molecules. These molecules carry critical information that signifies the presence of specific creatures and holds potential as future medications.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-complexity-of-seawater-nbsp">The complexity of seawater&nbsp;</h2>



"What lies in a drop of seawater? To the analytical chemist or marine ecologist, the answer is an ocean of molecules of diverse structures and origins, all diluted in trace quantities," said the researchers.



"In 1965, Wangersky wrote, 'Seawater is a medium of a complexity sufficient to dismay any right-thinking analytical chemist.'"



"Nevertheless, ocean scientists have tirelessly tried to unravel its complex nature, measuring how it has changed and interacted with the biosphere since the first life forms appeared on Earth."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-i-smel-nbsp">I-SMEL&nbsp;</h2>



In an exciting development, the scientists have created a device that essentially sniffs out molecules that are dissolved in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-can-break-down-pet-pollution-in-ocean-water/">seawater</a> and traps them for in-depth analysis.



This innovative device, named the I-SMEL (In Situ Marine moleculE Logger), is a game-changer in the study of underwater ecosystems.&nbsp;



"The present work aims at evaluating the ability of a hand-held underwater SPE instrument to rapidly capture molecules within chemical seascapes and enrich specialized exometabolites released by keystone marine species in their ecosystems," wrote the study authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-capturing-dissolved-compounds-nbsp">Capturing dissolved compounds&nbsp;</h2>



Developed by Thierry Pérez, Charlotte Simmler, and their team, the device aims to capture and enrich dissolved compounds produced by marine organisms like sponges, without causing harm to their sources or ecosystems.



I-SMEL is designed for easy handling by divers. It functions by pumping seawater through disks, reminiscent of makeup remover pads, which adsorb dissolved molecules for later analysis.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-successful-trials">Successful trials</h2>



The effectiveness of the device was demonstrated in 65-foot-deep Mediterranean Sea caves that are home to diverse sponge species.&nbsp;



After collecting water samples, the team used mass spectrometry to assess the captured compounds, discovering a range of unknown molecular structures that show promise in natural product discovery.



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



The team's research yielded fascinating results. Several metabolites, including brominated alkaloids and furanoterpenoids, were identified in three sponge species.&nbsp;



In some cases, the system concentrated compounds released by sponges. For example, aeroplysinin-1 was approximately 20 times more abundant in the extracts from seawater than within a yellow cave-sponge extract.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-non-invasive-marine-exploration">Non-invasive marine exploration</h2>



According to the researchers, I-SMEL represents a non-invasive method to capture molecules crucial for understanding ecosystem health and identifying novel molecules for drug discovery.&nbsp;



This innovative device marks a significant step forward in marine biology and pharmacology. By enabling the detection and analysis of previously inaccessible underwater molecular compositions, I-SMEL opens new avenues for ecological research and the discovery of compounds that could revolutionize the field of medicine.



Next, the researchers will explore the device's potential for autonomous operation and remote operation in deeper waters is the next milestone the researchers aim to achieve.



The study is published in the journal in ACS <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.3c00661">Central Science</a>.



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Device sniffs out unknown ocean molecules that can be used for drug discovery

A study published by the American Chemical Society unveils a...

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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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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.

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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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

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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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

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

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> 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

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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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?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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

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

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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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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"

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

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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

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

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> 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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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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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