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...

Why are there no kangaroos in Bali, and no tigers in Australia? A new study led by biologists from The <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/">Australian National University</a> (ANU) and <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html">ETH Zurich</a> in Switzerland is shedding light on why animals in this part of the world are divided by an invisible boundary. 



Australia is a sanctuary for a variety of marsupial species, including the iconic kangaroo and the koala. But as you travel westward, these marsupials become scarce. On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, you will only encounter a handful of Australian mammals, and they are completely absent on the neighboring island of Borneo. By contrast, Australia lacks several animals typically found in Asia, such as bears, tigers, and rhinos.



This abrupt shift in animal species caught the attention of the celebrated British naturalist and co-discoverer of evolutionary theory, Alfred Russell Wallace. During his expedition through the Indo-Australian Archipelago from 1854 to 1862, Wallace discovered a biogeographical separation between Bali and Lombok, and between Borneo and Sulawesi. This invisible boundary is now known as Wallace’s Line.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-plate-tectonics-played-a-role">Plate tectonics played a role</h2>



But how did this distribution pattern emerge in the first place? It turns out that plate tectonics played a significant role. Forty-five million years ago, the Australian Plate began its journey northwards, sliding beneath the mighty Eurasian Plate.&nbsp;



This phenomenon brought the two distant land masses closer, facilitating the migration of land creatures between the two continents. In addition, tectonic movements led to the formation of numerous islands, acting as stepping stones for animals and plants to journey eastward or westward.



Interestingly, more animal species migrated from Asia to Australia, which is documented by the presence of various poisonous snakes, thorny lizards, hopping mice, and flying foxes. This unbalanced distribution of vertebrates along the Wallace Line has been a mystery until now.



To investigate, a team of researchers led by Loïc Pellissier, Professor of Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution at ETH Zurich, developed a comprehensive model. This model combined climate reconstructions, plate displacements from 30 million years ago to the present, and an extensive dataset of about 20,000 birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians found in the region today.



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered">What the researchers discovered&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers have published their intriguing findings in the latest issue of the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adf7122">Science</a>. They found that the climate of the originating areas played a significant role in the uneven distribution of Asian and Australian animal species on both sides of the Wallace Line.&nbsp;



According to the model simulations, Asian-originated animals (which were adapted to a tropically humid climate) found it easier to journey across the Indonesian islands and settle in New Guinea and northern Australia. Conversely, Australian wildlife had evolved in a cooler, increasingly dry climate. These animals found it challenging to thrive on the tropical islands.



"The historical context is crucial for understanding the biodiversity distribution patterns observed today and was the missing piece of the puzzle explaining the enigma of Wallace’s line," said Alexander Skeels, the study's first author and a postdoctoral researcher in Pellissier’s group.



<h2 id="h-understanding-today-s-biodiversity-patterns">Understanding today's biodiversity patterns&nbsp;</h2>



Species that evolved in tropical habitats are more competitive, grow faster, and can tolerate a wide range of climates, making it easier for them to settle in new continents. For instance, Australian frogs, adapted to drought and heat stress, bury themselves in the ground and remain dormant for extended periods, a behavior rarely seen in tropical frogs.



"These findings underscore the importance of considering the geological and climatic conditions of prehistoric times to understand today's biodiversity patterns," said Pellissier.&nbsp;



The research helps us comprehend why more species exist in the tropics today than in temperate latitudes. It further underscores our need to understand the processes that have shaped our planet's biodiversity, a fact that is especially relevant given the current rate at which species are being moved between continents due to human activities.



"Knowing the factors that influence exchange on long timescales is crucial to understanding why species can become invasive on more recent timescales," said Skeels, highlighting the consequences of human-induced invasions in the current biodiversity crisis.



"Our findings could also inform predictions for animal migration in the future and help us predict which species may be better versed at adapting to new environments, as changes to Earth’s climate continues to impact global biodiversity patterns."



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Animal mystery: Why tigers don't prowl in Australia and kangaroos don't hop in Bali

Why are there no kangaroos in Bali, and no tigers...

According to recent estimates, the past few days have been the hottest in our planet’s modern history, raising alarms that the Earth could be entering a multiyear period of unprecedented warmth. The record heat has even shocked climate scientists, who warn that the warming trend will only get worse. 



Heatwaves have emerged all over the globe, shattering temperature records from North America to Antarctica – with our planet experiencing its warmest June ever recorded.



This astonishing surge in record heat is likely driven by two compounding factors: the continued high-level emissions of greenhouse gases caused by burning oil, coal, and gas, and the return of El Niño, a cyclical weather pattern that re-emerged last month. 



The ongoing El Niño event is expected to drive massive spikes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-breaking-heat-is-threatening-wheat-and-the-global-food-supply/">heat</a> and moisture in the years to come, and trigger extreme storms and floods in some areas and massive droughts and fires in others.



<h2 id="h-widespread-impacts">Widespread impacts</h2>



In the previous weeks, weather extremes have affected a variety of regions, including China, where Beijing surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time in history, as well as Texas and Mexico, where officials are currently struggling to keep the electricity grid functional due to intensive use of air conditioning devices.&nbsp;



In addition, smoke from the massive Canadian wildfires triggered by abnormal spring heat and unusually dry weather conditions continues to choke parts of the US.&nbsp;



Even in usually cooler regions, such as the Antarctic, sea ice levels have recently plummeted to record laws, while in the North Atlantic, surface temperatures in May were already 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.9 Fahrenheit) higher than typical for that time of year, breaking previous records by unusually large margins.&nbsp;



Finally, on the 4th of July, global average temperatures climbed to 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 Fahrenheit), making it the hottest day the Earth has experienced at least since 1940, when the official record began.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-uncharted-territory">Uncharted territory</h2>



These sharp increases in temperature are unsettling even for scientists who have been tracking climate change for years.&nbsp;



“It’s so far out of line of what’s been observed that it’s hard to wrap your head around. It doesn’t seem real,” said Brian McNoldy, a senior research scientist at the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a>. And while these weather patterns may change in the weeks ahead, “even then we’d probably be going from insanely record-breaking temperatures down to just extremely record-breaking.”



“We have never seen anything like this before,” added Carlo Buontempo, director of Europe’s <a href="https://climate.copernicus.eu/">Copernicus Climate Change Service</a>. In his opinion, all the charts and graphs on Earth’s climate currently emerging in the scientific community are literally showing that “we are in uncharted territory.”



<h2 id="h-convergence-of-warming-factors">Convergence of warming factors</h2>



Globally, the Earth has already warmed about two degrees Fahrenheit since the industrial revolution and, if humans fail to halt greenhouse emissions and stop deforestation, it will continue to grow hotter in the years and decades to come.&nbsp;



However, this anthropogenic warming is already compounded by other factors such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, which causes year-to-year fluctuations by shifting heat in and out of deeper ocean layers. While global ocean temperatures are usually cooler during La Niña years, they tend to be significantly hotter during El Niño years.&nbsp;



“A big reason we’re seeing so many records shattered is that we’re transitioning out of an unusually long three-year La Niña, which suppressed temperatures, and into a strong El Niño,” said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at <a href="https://berkeleyearth.org/">Berkeley Earth</a>.



Unfortunately, the current El Niño has just started and many experts do not expect it to peak until December or January, meaning that global temperatures will witness another massive surge next year.



Other factors that are possibly contributing to the record heat include a subtropical high pressure system known as the Azores High, which has weakened the winds blowing over the North Atlantic ocean and limited the amount of dust blowing from Sahara that usually helps cool the ocean, as well as recent efforts to curb sulfur pollution from ships, which may have inadvertently contributed to warming, since sulfur dioxide tends to reflect sunlight and thus cool the planet to a certain degree.



“There does seem to be this unusual convergence of warming factors right now. But this is all happening in a world where we’ve been increasing greenhouse gases for the past 150 years, and that really loads the dice and makes it much more likely that we’re going to get pushed into record-breaking territory,” concluded Gabriel Vecchi, a climate scientist at <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a>.



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"Insanely" record-breaking heat has even shocked climate scientists

According to recent estimates, the past few days have been...

Because they spend a substantial part of their lives soaring above <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-the-most-remote-oceans-are-polluted-with-microplastics/">remote oceans</a>, seabirds have been under the radar of scientists for many years. Now, a study from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> has revealed a shocking revelation about seabird mortality.&nbsp;



Based on data collected by coastal inhabitants, the research sheds light on the grim impact that marine heatwaves have on seabird populations. The new study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps14330">Marine Ecology Progress Series</a>, reveals how marine heat waves have led to an alarming number of seabird fatalities.



As a sentinel of the nearshore marine environment, seabirds play a critical role in the marine ecosystem. Study co-author Julia Parrish, a renowned professor of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, highlighted the global scope of this research.



"This is truly a global data set that asked a global-sized question: Does a warming world significantly impact marine birds, among the top predators in the nearshore marine environment?” The answer, as the study indicates, is a resounding yes.



<h2 id="h-shocking-discovery">Shocking discovery&nbsp;</h2>



The most startling discovery made by the researchers is the lag effect that the marine heatwaves have on seabird mortality. Parrish explained that “a warmer ocean, and certainly a suddenly warmer ocean as happens during an El Niño or a marine heat wave, will result in the death of hundreds of thousands to millions of marine birds within one to six months of the temperature increase.”&nbsp;



Marine heat waves, such as the notorious “blob” which was observed off the Pacific Northwest between 2014 and 2016, along with prolonged El Niño events and warmer Alaskan waters owing to retreating sea ice, have only recently become a topic of concern among scientists and environmentalists.



This extensive study analyzed data spanning from 1993 to 2021, collected through beach surveys that traced the incidence of dead seabirds washed ashore from central California to Alaska. The research aimed to gauge the severity of these mortality events irrespective of species.&nbsp;



“Rather than track the specific numbers of any one species, this study measures the magnitude of mortality events, regardless of seabird species, above long-term normal,” said Parrish.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-catastrophic-mortality-events">Catastrophic mortality events</h2>



The study showed that catastrophic mortality events, where the death toll crossed a staggering quarter-million birds, occurred approximately once every decade. However, this pattern changed dramatically between 2014 and 2019, during which five such events were recorded.



"This is unprecedented. This type of massive die-off can be compared to a catastrophic storm that we would usually expect once per decade; they happen, causing massive damage, but usually, there is enough time for areas to recover," said study lead author Timothy Jones, a research scientist at the University of Washington.



From 2014 to 2019, the die-offs were not only some of the largest ever documented, but they kept happening year after year — like a catastrophic storm hitting without fail every year."



<h2 id="h-warming-waters">Warming waters&nbsp;</h2>



Statistical analysis presented a glaring link between these mass die-offs and the warmer marine conditions in the Northeast Pacific preceding them. Some seabirds, including murres, puffins, auklets, and shearwaters, were the most severely impacted species.&nbsp;



The data encompassed more than 90,000 surveys of 106 seabird species across more than 1,000 beaches. The data was collected from citizen science projects, including COASST, BeachCOMBERS, Beach Watch, and the British Columbia Beached Bird Survey. These programs, through meticulous training, equipped participants to scout local beaches for avian casualties and report their findings.



Furthermore, data from the remote beaches of northwest Alaska were garnered through community members who reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Sea Grant. The study unveiled a trend wherein seabird carcasses started appearing ashore a few months after the marine warming initiated and persisted in a roughly three-year cycle.&nbsp;



While the cause behind each seabird mortality event varied, warmer waters emerged as the common thread linking them. Warmer oceans foster harmful algal blooms and heighten the risk of disease outbreaks, which were both implicated in seabird deaths during the study period.&nbsp;



In addition, the prolonged ocean warming altered the diversity, availability, and nutritional content of the prey that seabirds rely on, culminating in widespread starvation.



<h2 id="h-implications-of-the-study">Implications of the study</h2>



The implications of this study are enormous, as it indicates an irreversible shift in marine ecosystems due to climate change.&nbsp;



“With this intensity of warming, like the looming El Niño in the Pacific or the current marine heatwave in the North Atlantic, we are facing a new ocean. One with fewer birds," said Parrish.



The research is not only a wake-up call for conservationists but also a call to action for humanity to address the escalating challenge of climate change and its far-reaching consequences on our planet’s invaluable biodiversity.



—--



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Marine heatwaves are causing massive seabird mortality events

Because they spend a substantial part of their lives soaring...

A groundbreaking study published in the journal <a href="https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/wsb.1444">Wildlife Society Bulletin</a> has revealed that the recovery of bald eagle populations is being significantly impeded by exposure to lead ammunition fragments. These toxic remnants, found in wild game gut piles and carcass parts left behind by hunters, are poisoning bald eagles and increasing their vulnerability to additional threats.



Krysten L. Schuler is an assistant research professor at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> and the principal investigator of the study, which received funding from the Morris Animal Foundation.&nbsp;



"Bald eagles are an iconic American species," stated Professor Schuler. "Despite the apparent population rebound through major conservation efforts, our work showed that environmental lead sickens and kills bald eagles to such a degree that it makes the populations vulnerable to other threats such as avian influenza or wind energy development."



<h2 id="h-reduced-resilience-among-bald-eagles">Reduced resilience among bald eagles</h2>



What sets this study apart from previous research is its innovative methodology developed by mathematician Brenda Hanley, an expert in population demographics.



Hanley's approach utilized data from seven northeastern states to construct a comprehensive picture of the impact of lead poisoning on bald eagles. The findings confirmed that while lead poisoning has not halted the recovery of eagle populations entirely, it has substantially reduced their resilience to other adversities.



The generous support from the <a href="https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/">Morris Animal Foundation</a> played a pivotal role in the execution of the study. This support allowed the research team to bring Hanley onboard and create the new modeling tool that was essential for tackling these intricate issues, particularly with limited data.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-stunted-population-growth">Stunted population growth</h2>



Kevin Hynes, a wildlife biologist for the New York Division of Fish and Wildlife and a researcher involved in the study, pointed out that lead poisoning has long been identified as a prevalent cause of eagle fatalities, accounting for over ten percent of bald eagle deaths.&nbsp;



However, the new modeling approach introduced by Hanley enabled the researchers to recognize that lead poisoning is not just a cause of death, but is also stunting the continued growth of eagle populations.



"This is an environmental problem with a currently available and low-tech solution: A simple switch to non-lead ammunition for hunting will eliminate lead ammunition fragments in gut piles and carcass parts, making them unavailable to eagles and other scavengers," Hynes suggested.



By exposing the pernicious effect of lead ammunition on the survival and resilience of the bald eagle populations, this study highlights the need for a re-evaluation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hunting-can-help-stabilize-wildlife-populations/">hunting</a> practices. It ultimately proposes a shift toward non-lead ammunition as an easy yet effective measure to safeguard bald eagles against the deadly threat of lead poisoning.



<h2 id="h-more-about-lead-ammunition-and-wildlife">More about lead ammunition and wildlife</h2>



The use of lead ammunition in hunting and its subsequent impact on wildlife has been an area of growing concern among scientists and conservationists. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that, once introduced into the environment, can have deleterious effects on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.



When hunters use lead ammunition to hunt game, it often results in lead fragments remaining in the leftover gut piles or discarded carcass parts. Scavengers, including predatory and carrion-eating birds such as bald eagles, vultures, and condors, can ingest these lead fragments while feeding on these remains. This can cause lead poisoning, a serious condition associated with numerous health problems and even death in affected animals.



<h3 id="h-lead-poisoning">Lead poisoning</h3>



Lead poisoning in wildlife typically leads to severe physiological complications, including neurological damage, reproductive failure, and weakened immune systems. It's not just birds that are affected; mammals, too, can experience these effects when they ingest lead particles present in their environment or their prey.



Research has shown that lead poisoning has contributed significantly to the mortality rates of various bird species. For example, a study published in the journal "Wildlife Society Bulletin" found that lead poisoning from ammunition fragments was not only causing sickness and death among bald eagles, but it was also reducing their ability to withstand other threats, impeding the continued growth of their populations.



<h3 id="h-widespread-ecological-impacts">Widespread ecological impacts</h3>



Furthermore, lead ammunition fragments in the environment can dissolve slowly over time in soil and water. This process releases lead into the environment, where it can enter the food chain and potentially affect a wide range of organisms, thus causing a more widespread ecological impact.



Recognizing these threats, some areas have implemented restrictions or bans on the use of lead ammunition for hunting. The alternatives to lead ammunition, such as copper or steel bullets, are just as effective for hunting, and significantly less harmful to the environment and non-target wildlife.



A shift toward non-lead ammunition is not only a viable but a necessary solution to prevent ongoing wildlife loss due to lead poisoning and to ensure healthier ecosystems. This issue highlights the interconnections in nature and emphasizes that the actions taken in one area (like hunting practices) can have wide-reaching impacts on wildlife and the overall health of our environment.



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Lead ammunition is a silent threat to bald eagle recovery

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Wildlife Society Bulletin...

Karma Nanglu, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>, says his favorite animal is whichever one he’s working on at the time. His most recent research, however, focuses on an animal that may keep its place as his favorite for a while: an extraordinary 500-million-year-old fossil from a fascinatingly bizarre group of marine invertebrates known as tunicates.



Nanglu’s research, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39012-4">Nature Communications</a>, describes this ancient specimen, named Megasiphon thylakos, and provides a surprising insight into the early evolution of tunicates. "This animal is as exciting a discovery as some of the stuff I found when hanging off a cliffside of a mountain, or jumping out of a helicopter. It’s just as cool,” said Nanglu.



<h2 id="h-our-closest-invertebrate-relatives">Our closest invertebrate relatives</h2>



Tunicates, commonly known as sea squirts, are unusual creatures that come in a range of shapes and sizes and have diverse lifestyles. An adult tunicate typically has a barrel-like shape with two siphons, or tubes, projecting from its body. One of these siphons draws in water, complete with food particles, allowing the animal to feed through an internal filter. After feeding, the second siphon expels the water.



Although these tunicates are our closest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-long-term-declines-in-uk-earthworms/">invertebrate</a> relatives, their life cycle is nothing short of astounding. Nanglu explained, “This idea that they begin as tadpole-looking larva that, when ready to develop, basically headbutts a rock, sticks to it, and begins to metamorphosis by reabsorbing its own tail to transform into this being with two siphons is just awe-inspiring.”



The tunicate family tree branches into two main lineages, the ascidiaceans, which are sessile (non-moving), and the mobile appendicularias. Most ascidiaceans begin life resembling tadpoles before metamorphosing into barrel-shaped adults, leading stationary lives attached to the seafloor. By contrast, appendicularians maintain their tadpole-like appearance into adulthood, freely swimming in upper waters.



Interestingly, tunicates are more closely related to vertebrates, which includes species ranging from fish to humans, than to any other invertebrate group. The tadpole stage of tunicates provides a glimpse into this unexpected connection, offering crucial insights into our own evolutionary origins. However, this has been challenging as tunicates have left only a scant presence in the fossil record.



<h2 id="h-oldest-known-fossil-of-its-kind">Oldest known fossil of its kind</h2>



M. thylakos was unearthed from the middle Cambrian Marjum Formation in Utah, the oldest known fossil of its kind and the only definitive tunicate fossil with preserved soft tissue to date. It displays all the hallmarks of an ascidian tunicate - a barrel-shaped body and two prominent siphon-like growths. However, the most intriguing feature was the dark bands running along the fossil's body.



Using high-resolution imaging, Nanglu and his colleagues compared M. thylakos to a modern ascidian species, Ciona. The similarities between the dark bands of the fossil and the muscles that allow modern tunicates to control their siphons were remarkable.&nbsp;



“Megasiphon’s morphology suggests to us that the ancestral lifestyle of tunicates involved a non-moving adult that filter fed with its large siphons,” Nanglu explained.



The fossil was identified as a tunicate by co-authors Rudy Lerosey-Aubril and Professor Javier Ortega-Hernández, both from Harvard's Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. They discovered the fossil while visiting the Utah Museum of Natural History (UMNH) in 2019.&nbsp;



“The fossil immediately caught our attention...the close morphological similarity of Megasiphon with modern tunicates was simply too striking to overlook, and we immediately knew that the fossil would have an interesting story to tell," said Ortega-Hernández.



<h2 id="h-evolutionary-history-of-ancient-tunicates">Evolutionary history of ancient tunicates</h2>



The fossil’s age, approximately 500 million years, places it in the era following the Cambrian Explosion, a pivotal moment in Earth's history when most major animal groups appeared in the fossil record for the first time, radically transforming marine ecosystems. Yet, tunicates are conspicuously absent in Cambrian rocks, despite their diversity and abundance in modern oceans.



According to molecular clock estimates, ascidian tunicates originated about 450 million years ago. The older M. thylakos fossil, therefore, offers a unique glimpse into the anatomy and evolutionary history of ancient tunicates, suggesting that most features of modern tunicates were already established shortly after the Cambrian Explosion.&nbsp;



"Given the exceptional quality of preservation and the age of the fossil, we can actually say quite a bit about the evolutionary history of the tunicates,” said Nanglu.



With hundreds of new fossils collected this spring, the researchers believe that the Marjum Formation is far from revealing all of its secrets, and they eagerly await the surprises that may be in store.



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Our ancient cousins: 500-million-year-old tunicate holds intriguing secrets

Karma Nanglu, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Organismic...

A groundbreaking study is providing fascinating insights into the human body's response to rising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reef-fish-populations-are-altered-by-rising-temperatures/">temperatures</a> and intense heat. Led by Professor Lewis Halsey at the <a href="https://www.roehampton.ac.uk/">University of Roehampton</a>, the research has revealed the existence of an upper critical temperature (UCT) for humans, falling somewhere within the range of 40°C to 50°C.&nbsp;



This revelation indicates a tipping point at which the human body's metabolic energy costs begin to surge in response to intense heat.



Understanding metabolic rates and their reactions to different conditions is an intricate science. The resting metabolic rate, which is the amount of energy that the human body requires to maintain basic, restful functioning, can in fact spike when people are subjected to environments that are hot and humid.&nbsp;



"Quite a lot of work has been done on the range of temperatures that different animal species prefer to live at in terms of their metabolic rates being minimal and thus their energy expenditure being low, but, weirdly, information is much less available for humans when considering the upper limits of our thermal neutral zone," explained Professor Halsey.



<h2 id="h-implications-of-the-study">Implications of the study</h2>



The implications of this research extend across various sectors. Discerning the temperature thresholds at which human metabolic rates start to increase, and how this fluctuates amongst different individuals, could have a profound impact on areas such as work environments, sports, medical practices, and international travel.&nbsp;



Professor Halsey emphasized the broader relevance of this study, stating that the research "provides fundamental knowledge about how we react to suboptimal environments, and how ‘optimal’ differs between people with different characteristics."



Moreover, the research team is delving into how these extreme temperatures, those above the UCT, impact heart function, and how the effects vary among people with different traits, such as age and physical fitness.&nbsp;



"We found some considerable changes in heart function responses to the heat between categories of people, the most novel being between the sexes," said Professor Halsey. In other words, average men and women display distinctive differences in their cardiovascular responses to high heat levels.



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



To investigate, the team used an advanced echocardiograph, a high-tech device that captures detailed images of heart function. This is not typical research equipment. "It was not easy to operate this kit in the heat! The sort of equipment you'd see in hospitals but rarely in research laboratories."



As this research is ongoing, Professor Halsey will be presenting the most recent findings at the upcoming <a href="https://www.sebiology.org/">Society for Experimental Biology</a> conference. "We are steadily building a picture about how the body responds to heat stress, how adaptable it can be, the limits to those adaptations, and - crucially - how varied responses are between individuals. In a warming world, this knowledge becomes ever more valuable."



Indeed, as global temperatures continue to rise, the relevance and urgency of understanding our body's responses to heat become more critical than ever. Professor Halsey's research is helping to bridge this knowledge gap and shed light on the human body's capabilities and limitations in the face of intense heat.



<h2 id="h-more-about-heat-and-the-human-body">More about heat and the human body</h2>



The human body maintains an internal temperature of approximately 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), a balance known as homeostasis. This balance can be affected by external temperature changes such as heat, which the body responds to in several ways to maintain its optimal temperature.



<h3 id="h-sweating">Sweating</h3>



The body cools itself by sweating, which is water evaporating off the skin surface. The heat required to evaporate the water comes from the body, which thus reduces its temperature. This is why in hot weather, you tend to sweat more.



<h3 id="h-vasodilation">Vasodilation</h3>



In response to heat, the blood vessels near the surface of your skin will dilate, or widen, in a process called vasodilation. This allows more blood to flow near the surface of the skin, which can help to radiate heat away from the body.



<h3 id="h-increasing-heart-rate">Increasing heart rate</h3>



To facilitate the process of heat loss, the heart rate increases to pump more blood through these dilated vessels.



<h3 id="h-behavioral-responses">Behavioral responses</h3>



The body can also signal that it's too hot, leading to behavioral responses like seeking shade, removing clothing, or drinking cool liquids.



However, extreme heat can pose a danger to the body. Heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion, can occur when the body can't cool itself properly. These can be serious conditions that require medical attention. Symptoms can include heavy sweating, rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea, and confusion.



To prevent heat-related illnesses, it's important to stay hydrated, take frequent breaks if you're outside in the heat, and try to stay in cooler areas during the hottest parts of the day. If you or someone else is showing symptoms of a heat-related illness, it's important to seek medical help right away.



—--



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Feeling the heat: Rising temperatures push the limits of the human body

A groundbreaking study is providing fascinating insights into the human...

A study from the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">United States Geological Survey</a> (USGS) reveals that close to half of all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-water-is-the-key-to-a-long-and-healthy-life/">drinking water</a> taps in the U.S. likely contain PFAS, or "forever chemicals," that could lead to severe health implications including certain types of cancer.&nbsp;



The alarming study represents the first nationwide attempt to estimate the presence of PFAS in private as well as regulated water supplies. This is a step beyond the understanding that forever chemicals are present in a range of consumer products from nonstick cookware to water-resistant clothing.



<h2 id="h-future-decisions-regarding-drinking-water">Future decisions regarding drinking water</h2>



The USGS did not issue any policy suggestions based on the findings. However, study lead author Kelly Smalling underscored the importance of the study's results for influencing individual and institutional decisions regarding drinking water. The findings can inform decisions about whether to treat drinking water, test it, or seek additional information about the local situation from the state.



The research is timely, given the current review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of a proposal made in March to impose federal drinking water limits on six forms of forever chemicals.&nbsp;



PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated substances, are especially concerning because they linger in the human body for years and persist in the environment without degrading. The EPA is expected to make a final decision on this proposal by late 2023 or 2024.



The government has yet to prohibit companies from discharging these hazardous chemicals into public wastewater systems. According to Scott Faber, a senior vice president of the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/">Environmental Working Group</a> (EWG), the government should prioritize addressing the issue at its source. Faber stresses the importance of obliging polluters to treat their waste, likening the current approach to installing a stoplight after an accident has already occurred.



The potential health impacts of forever chemicals have been under investigation for some time. Studies involving lab animals have found potential links between PFAS and various health conditions, including cancers of the kidney and testes, high blood pressure, and low birth weight.



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



The USGS study used samples that were directly obtained from taps in 716 different locations, instead of relying on measurements from water treatment plants or groundwater wells supplying them, as is the norm with federal and state programs. The samples, collected between 2016 and 2021, included 447 locations relying on public supplies and 269 utilizing private wells.&nbsp;



A diverse range of sites was examined, including national parks, residential and rural areas with no identified PFAS sources, and urban centers with industry or waste sites known to generate PFAS.



Smalling and her team tested for 32 detectable PFAS compounds, although thousands more are believed to exist but remain undetectable with current technology. The most frequently detected types were PFBS, PFHxS, PFOA, and PFOS. Most samples contained two types, though some had as many as nine, with a median concentration of about seven parts per trillion for all PFAS types.



<h2 id="h-exposure-to-forever-chemicals">Exposure to forever chemicals </h2>



The analysis revealed that the most significant exposures are in cities and near potential sources of PFAS, particularly in areas such as the Eastern Seaboard, Great Lakes and Great Plains urban centers, and Central and Southern California. Still, it's noteworthy that many of the tests, predominantly in rural areas, detected no PFAS at all.



Based on this comprehensive data, researchers estimate that at least one form of forever chemicals could be found in approximately 45 percent of tap water samples nationwide. This discovery highlights the need for private well users to test their water for PFAS and contemplate installing filters. Activated carbon or reverse osmosis membrane filters can effectively remove these compounds, said Faber.



He emphasized the crucial need for those using private wells to have their water tested for PFAS and to consider the installation of filters, which can contain activated carbon or reverse osmosis membranes, as effective measures to remove these harmful compounds



Faber interprets the USGS study as irrefutable evidence of the pervasive nature of PFAS, noting that individuals who rely on private wells are particularly susceptible to the damage these chemicals can inflict. He states, "The USGS study is further evidence that PFAS is incredibly pervasive and folks who rely on private wells are particularly vulnerable to the harms caused by these chemicals.”



—--



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Nearly half of US drinking water taps likely contain forever chemicals

A study from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reveals...

Polar,Bear,On,Melting,Ice,Floe,In,Arctic,Sea

In the face of the warming Arctic, melting glaciers are revealing groundwater springs that bubble with potent and powerful methane emissions.



This surprising source could have a significant and overlooked impact on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-transforming-arctic-rivers-in-unexpected-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, according to new research. A study published today in Nature Geoscience shares these startling findings.



The scientists, from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> and the <a href="https://www.unis.no/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University Centre in Svalbard, Norway</a>, discovered extensive methane gas leaks. These leaks come from groundwater springs that are becoming visible as glaciers melt.



The researchers warn that as the Arctic glaciers continue to shrink, these methane emissions will likely rise. The methane not only comes from the springs but also from other melting ice and frozen ground in the Arctic. This could accelerate global warming.



Gabrielle Kleber, the lead author of the study from Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences, spoke about the research.



"These springs are a considerable, and potentially growing, source of methane emissions. One that has been missing from our estimations of the global methane budget until now," she said.



<h2 id="h-methane-gas-emissions-will-speed-up-global-warming">Methane gas emissions will speed up global warming</h2>



The concern among scientists is that the extra methane emissions released by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thawing-arctic-hillsides-are-contributing-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic thaw</a> could speed up global warming caused by humans. The researchers believe these springs, previously unrecognized, could be a source of methane emissions.



For almost three years, Kleber has been keeping a close watch on the water chemistry of more than a hundred springs across Svalbard. This region has <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-arctic-taller-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air temperatures rising</a> two times faster than the average for the Arctic.



Kleber likens Svalbard to the canary in the coal mine of global warming, stating, "Since it is warming faster than the rest of the Arctic, we can get a preview of the potential methane release that could happen at a larger scale across this region."



Professor Andrew Hodson from the University Centre in Svalbard, a study co-author, commented, "Living in Svalbard exposes you to the front-line of Arctic climate change. I can't think of anything more stark than the sight of methane outgassing in the immediate forefield of a retreating glacier."



Past research mainly focused on methane release from thawing permafrost (frozen ground). But co-author Professor Alexandra Turchyn from Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences said, "While the focus is often on permafrost, this new finding tells us that there are other pathways for methane emissions which could be even more significant in the global methane budget."



<h2>Methane gas springs found under melting Arctic glaciers</h2>



The team identified methane-delivering springs fed by a hidden plumbing system beneath most glaciers. This system taps into extensive groundwater reserves in the underlying sediments and surrounding bedrock. Once the g<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-lakes-are-vanishing-due-to-permafrost-thaw/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">laciers melt and recede</a>, springs appear where this groundwater network breaks through to the surface.



In Svalbard, the team found methane emissions from glacial groundwater springs could exceed 2,000 tonnes over a year. This is around 10% of the methane emissions from Norway’s annual oil and gas energy industry.



"If global warming continues unchecked then methane release from glacial groundwater springs will probably become more extensive," Kleber warned.



To find these springs, Kleber trained her eye to spot them on satellite images. She studied the lands revealed by the retreat of 78 glaciers across Svalbard. Kleber then looked for blue streaks of ice where groundwater leaked to the surface and froze.



She then traveled by snowmobile to each site. There, she took samples from places where the ice had blistered due to pressurized water and gas buildup.



<h2>What the research team learned</h2>



The team found that almost all of the spring sites contained water highly concentrated with dissolved methane. This means when spring water reaches the surface, plenty of excess methane can escape to the atmosphere.



The researchers also found that methane emissions hotspots were related to the type of rock from which the groundwater emerged. Some rocks like shale and coal, which contain natural gases including methane, contributed to the groundwater.



Kleber noted, "In Svalbard we are beginning to understand the complex and cascading feedbacks triggered by glacier melt. It seems likely that there are more outcomes like this which we have yet to uncover."



Professor Hodson expressed a dire warning about the volume of trapped gas below these glaciers.



"The amount of methane leaking from the springs we measured will likely be dwarfed by the total volume of trapped gas lying below these glaciers, waiting to escape," he said. "That means we urgently need to establish the risk of a sudden increase in methane leakage, because glaciers will only continue to retreat whilst we struggle to curb climate change."



In conclusion, this research shows that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-permafrost-is-releasing-even-more-co2-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warming Arctic</a> is revealing hidden springs that are a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The continual shrinking of these glaciers will expose more springs and release more methane.



This finding reveals that methane emissions from the Arctic may be more significant than previously believed, posing a greater challenge to global warming efforts.



<h2>More about methane</h2>



Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas.One carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms make up methane, forming a chemical structure known as CH4. It is colorless and odorless, and you can find it both on Earth and in outer space.



Methane is a primary component of natural gas. It's used as a fuel for heating and electricity generation. It's also a raw material in chemical industries, where it's transformed into a variety of products, from plastics to antifreeze.



Methane is produced by both natural and human activities. Natural sources include wetlands, volcanoes, and wildfires. In contrast, human activities such as fossil fuel extraction, agriculture (especially livestock farming), and waste treatment generate significant amounts of methane.



<h3>Potent greenhouse gas</h3>



Methane is potent in trapping heat in the atmosphere. While it's less abundant than carbon dioxide (CO2), it's 25 times more effective at trapping heat over a 100-year period. This makes it a significant contributor to global warming.



Methane doesn't stay in the atmosphere as long as CO2, typically lasting about 12 years. However, when it breaks down, it turns into CO2 and water vapor, both of which are greenhouse gases.



Methane is also a potential health hazard. In large quantities, it can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation. It's also highly flammable and can cause explosions.



Controlling methane emissions is a key part of tackling climate change. Strategies include improving the efficiency of fossil fuel extraction and distribution, reducing emissions from livestock and rice cultivation, and capturing methane emissions from landfills.



In recent years, researchers have also been exploring the use of methane-consuming bacteria and innovative technologies to mitigate methane emissions and convert them into useful products.

Melting Arctic glaciers are releasing a new source of potent methane emissions

In the face of the warming Arctic, melting glaciers are...

HUMAN FOOTPRINT, a groundbreaking six-part science documentary exploring the complex ways in which humans are currently transforming our planet, premiered yesterday on PBS,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pbs.org/">PBS.org</a>,&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-video-app/">PBS App.</a>



Produced by <a href="http://www.daysedge.com/">Day’s Edge Productions</a> and hosted by Shane Campbell-Staton, an evolutionary biologist at <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a>, this stunning series takes viewers on a fascinating journey around the world to dissect the myriad ways in which the Earth’s most invasive species is currently leaving its footprint all over the natural world, giving rise to an unprecedented cascade of physiological and behavioral changes in a variety of animal and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-pass-down-memories-to-help-offspring-survive/">plant</a> species.&nbsp;



Yet, instead of being a “doom and gloom” story of human villainy, the series aims to provide an honest reckoning with our species’ intricate connections to nature and singular history of fundamentally changing the Earth’s ecosystems, while also highlighting non-human life’s amazing resilience to anthropogenic stressors.



“We’re thrilled to share&nbsp;HUMAN FOOTPRINT&nbsp;and Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton with audiences around the world,” said Neil Losin, owner and senior producer at Day’s Edge. “Now is the time to ask the big questions about humanity’s past, present, and future, and Shane’s knowledge, curiosity, and humility make him the perfect guide for this unforgettable journey.”



<h2 id="h-shane-campbell-staton-a-biologist-mapping-the-anthropocene">Shane Campbell-Staton: A biologist mapping the Anthropocene&nbsp;</h2>



Shane Campbell-Staton is an assistant professor of Evolutionary Biology at Princeton investigating human-driven evolution in our current geological epoch, frequently referred to as the “Anthropocene,” and defined as a period in which human activities have a significant and lasting impact on Earth’s geology, climate, and ecosystems.&nbsp;



By integrating a diversity of experimental and methodological techniques, Shane and his team at the <a href="https://www.campbellstaton.com/">Campbell-Staton Group</a> explore the effects of urbanization, invasive species, climate change, and other human-related changes on wildlife in order to better understand the future of biodiversity in a human-dominated world.&nbsp;



Since human modifications to the natural world present extreme and novel environments for a variety of species around the world, they offer unique opportunities to study the process of evolution in real-time and shed new light on nature’s extraordinary capacity to rapidly adapt and evolve in response to human-induced stressors.&nbsp;



Shane’s research highlights non-human life’s extraordinary ability to rapidly evolve traits for protecting it against ever increasing human encroachment. Some examples of this phenomenon include anole lizards living in sprawling South American metropolises increasing their heat tolerance to adapt to urban heat islands, and grey wolves from Chernobyl evolving an amazing capacity to withstand massive amounts of radiation in just a few generations. In Mozambique, a rising number of elephants are born tuskless to gain better protection against ivory trade,&nbsp;



In HUMAN FOOTPRINT, Shane draws upon his groundbreaking research to map humanity’s massive impact on other species, while stressing the latter’s incredible resilience against human domination. “Hosting&nbsp;HUMAN FOOTPRINT&nbsp;has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. I study how animals adapt to the changes we are making to planet, but this journey really helped me to better understand the depth and breadth of our impact,” he said. “We are so intricately connected to the world around us in so many ways. I hope this series helps others to see and think about those connections in new ways.”&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-pilot-what-makes-a-species-invasive">Pilot: What makes a species invasive?</h2>



In the series’ first episode, which just aired on PBS on Wednesday July 5, 2023 at 9 p.m ET, Shane takes his viewers on a trek from South Florida and Illinois to the American West and Hawaii to explore a diversity of so-called “invasive species” – ranging from pythons in Florida and Asian carps in Illinois to wild horses in the West and virtually all animal and plant species currently inhabiting Hawaii.&nbsp;



Biologists define invasive species as organisms (plants, animals, or microorganisms) that are non-native to a particular ecosystem and have the potential to cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. These species are introduced either intentionally or accidentally to new habitats, where they can outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems, and alter ecological processes.



Although this definition looks rather straightforward, Shane is careful to emphasize the inherent difficulties in classifying a particular species as invasive, and embarks upon an in-depth discussion of concepts such as “nativeness” and “belonging,” while highlighting the intricate relationship between biology and culture when trying to understand invasive species.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-humans-the-most-invasive-species-of-all">Humans: The most invasive species of all</h2>



While acknowledging the unmistakable negative impacts species deemed as invasive have on their current ecosystems, he nevertheless argues that the situation is much more complex than usually thought. He notes&nbsp; that humans often play a disproportionate role not only in classifying a species as invasive or not, but also in the relocation of such species to new habitats in which they could potentially cause significant harm.



“Humans are a cosmopolitan species, one of the few. And wherever we go, we bring other species with us, sometimes on purpose, sometimes without even knowing it. When the conditions are ripe, it’s a bonanza for these alien species. They multiply, spread, and wreak havoc in their new environment. These biological invasions cost the global economy 1.4 trillion dollars a year and, after habitat destruction, they’re the leading cause of species extinctions,” explained Shane.



“But are invasive species really the villains? After all, when an arsonist starts a fire, no one blames the match. So, instead of vilifying the species that succeed where they don’t belong, we should take a closer look at why they are there in the first place and how our species is handling the fallout.”



For instance, the large number of pythons currently roaming through a wide range of South Florida’s natural areas and causing significant harm to local ecosystems would not have ended up there without major increases in inter-continental wildlife trade over the past decades and the subsequent careless discarding of pythons initially bought as pets into the wilderness.&nbsp;



Similarly, the several species of Asian carp originally imported in the 1980s and released in US rivers and lakes to help cleansing the massive amounts of human waste reaching these waters have since multiplied exponentially, endangering local aquatic species, and – in a culture still hesitant to consume them as food – incurring massive costs to devise various technologies to control their spread.&nbsp;



Such examples highlight the huge impact human actions can have on the relocation of animal species, and the unforeseeable consequences such actions often entail. But while the negative impact of species like pythons or carp may be straightforward, other cases such as the horses introduced by the Spanish on the American continent at the end of the 15th century raise an entirely different set of questions.&nbsp;



Although these horses are clearly non-native to the Americas, in the centuries since they had been introduced, they have nevertheless become close to a national emblem, being widely used and praised by both Native Americans and the newly established immigrants arriving from other parts of the world. And if American people now try through a variety of methods to get rid of pythons and carp, their deeply rooted attitude towards wild horses is highly different, regardless of the fact that horse populations are doubling every few years and are currently ten times larger than the land can sustain.&nbsp;



As Shane puts it, while our desire to keep wild horses in the West might be rooted in our culture, its outcome remains biological. “But is our love for a species enough to make it belong, and at some point, as an invader, deserve amnesty?” he wonders.&nbsp;



Finally, by taking a close look at the exuberant flora and fauna of Hawaii and their centuries-long relation to local people, he further stresses the difficulties in classifying certain species – including humans - as being native to a specific place or not, and the disproportionate role of cultural attitudes in framing the answer to this question. “Our perspectives about nativeness are shaped by our own sense of belonging as much as anything biological, whether we are talking about our own species or another,” he argued.



These musings converge towards a rather grim outlook on our own species, which can easily be considered as the most invasive species of all. “Maybe the reason we have such strong feelings about invasive species is that we see part of ourselves in them. Because invasions start with us. They get out of control when we’re slow to take responsibility. And they highlight the uncomfortable truth that humans are quite capable of doing things we can’t undo,” Shane said.



Yet, a certain degree of optimism resurfaces at the end of this first episode. “Even if somehow we could get rid of the invasive species, we wouldn’t end up with the ecosystems we had at the start. We can’t turn back the clock. But what makes our species special is that we can see what lies ahead, and we can protect the things we care about. We just have to decide what we value, and, in the world we want to live in, what belongs,” he concluded.



<h2 id="h-what-to-expect-next">What to expect next</h2>



In the following five episodes, airing each Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET until August 9, Shane will further expand not only upon how human activities impact the natural world and what this tells us about human nature, but also – and perhaps even more importantly - upon how nature itself can often fight back through complex strategies and successfully withstand human invasions.&nbsp;



While humans have traditionally been praised as guardians of nature, increasing evidence now mounts that we could just as well be seen as nature’s top predator, using our biology, culture, technology, and economy to wreak havoc on non-human life forms for our own benefit. Yet, as the series proceeds, it will become clear that non-human animals and plants can be extremely resilient to human predation, and are able to use a dazzling variety of strategies to deal with our merciless raids on nature.&nbsp;



Whether by forging affective bonds with humans as wolves did in their journey towards becoming domestic dogs, or by cunningly adapting to human-made habitats such as sprawling cities, as rats are doing in the back alleys of New York, the species with which we share this planet do not fail to prove to us, again and again, that our dreams of control and dominion are more fragile than we would like them to be. Instead of being separate from nature, we are just a small, vulnerable part of it. In a complex world hosting an enormous variety of highly intelligent and adaptable life-forms, rather than being indelible, our human footprint could easily vanish from the sands of time.&nbsp;



As Shane brilliantly puts it at the beginning of the first episode, “this isn’t a story about starlings or any of the other invasive species spreading across the planet. It’s a story about one species that moves others around the globe like pieces on a chessboard. The problem is, depending on where they land, sometimes those pieces start playing their own game.”



Further information about the series and related topics can be found in Shane’s recent <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/shane_campbell_staton_how_life_on_earth_adapts_to_you_and_me">TED talk</a> and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/04/1185955953/new-pbs-series-tracks-effects-of-humanity-on-the-planet">NPR interview</a>.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</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 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/">Eric Ralls</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a>.

New PBS documentary explores humanity’s footprint on nature

HUMAN FOOTPRINT, a groundbreaking six-part science documentary exploring the complex...

Lightning,Storm,Over,City,In,Purple,Light

The <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> (ESA) and <a href="https://www.eumetsat.int/">Eumetsat</a> have activated Lightning Imager -- the first ever satellite instrument capable of detecting lightning and severe storm activity in a continuous manner across Europe and Africa. 



The inaugural Meteosat Third Generation satellite, carrying the innovative device known as the Lightning Imager, launched into the skies on December 13, 2022.



The first animations from the Imager will revolutionize the detection and prediction of severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-have-different-strategies-to-survive-storms/">storms</a>.



The Lightning Imager, situated a staggering 36,000 km from Earth, boasts an extraordinary capacity to detect swift flashes of lightning in Earth's atmosphere. It works equally well regardless of whether it is day or night.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-powerful-technology-with-a-sophisticated-design">Powerful technology with a sophisticated design&nbsp;</h2>



Leonardo, the company responsible for the creation of the Lightning Imager, has designed the instrument with four cameras. Each camera monitors lightning activity in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and certain regions of South America.



The instrument's ability to capture up to 1,000 images per second presents the opportunity to perpetually observe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lightning-strike-creates-a-material-seen-for-the-first-time-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lightning activity</a> from the confines of space.



The novelty of the Lightning Imager lies not only in its sophisticated design, but also in the data processing and presentation techniques. 



Each animation rendered by the Imager is the product of a sequence of images. The system generates these images by aggregating a minute's worth of lightning measurements and overlaying them on a single image of Earth.



<h2 id="h-reliable-data-helps-forecast-severe-storms">Reliable data helps forecast severe storms</h2>



The introduction of the Lightning Imager into the sphere of meteorological observation holds significant promise for the enhancement of storm prediction capabilities. 



Particularly for remote regions and vast oceanic expanses, where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/in-tropical-forests-lightning-strikes-the-most-resilient-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lightning detection</a> facilities are limited, the Imager can provide meteorologists with more accurate and reliable data for storm forecasting.



“The animations show the instrument’s ability to accurately and effectively detect lightning activity over the whole area of the cameras’ field of view, which covers 84% of the Earth disc," said Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA.&nbsp;



She further emphasized the shared endeavor of ESA, Eumetsat, and their European industrial partners in ensuring that the groundbreaking technology positively impacts communities and various sectors of the economy, extending its benefits well beyond the boundaries of Europe.



<h2 id="h-valuable-insights-for-storm-prediction">Valuable insights for storm prediction&nbsp;</h2>



The Lightning Imager's value extends beyond mere storm detection and prediction. Scientists project the device to provide valuable insights for the study of short-term weather forecasts. This amazing device will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lightning-strikes-set-to-increase-by-100-percent-in-the-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impact of such phenomena on climate change</a>.&nbsp;



Furthermore, given the significant threat posed by lightning to aircraft instrumentation, the Imager will serve a pivotal role in the realm of air traffic safety.



“Severe storms are often preceded by abrupt changes in lightning activity. By observing these changes in activity, Lightning Imager data will give weather forecasters additional confidence in their forecasts of severe storms," said Eumetsat Director General Phil Evans.



“When these data are used in conjunction with the high-resolution data from the Flexible Combined Imager, weather forecasters will be better able to track the development of severe storms and have a longer lead-in time to warn authorities and communities.”



<h2>Unique capabilities of Lightning Imager</h2>



Guia Pastorini, Leonardo's project engineering manager for the Lightning Imager, discussed the unique capabilities of the instrument. 



Pastorini said, “The Lightning Imager has four cameras and each one can capture 1000 images per second, day and night, detecting even a single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/was-life-on-earth-literally-sparked-by-lightning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lightning bolt</a> faster than the blink of an eye."&nbsp;



“Thanks to specific algorithms, data is processed on board to send only useful information to Earth, supporting the development of more accurate weather forecasts, as well as contributing to the study of weather phenomena and air transport safety.



“Together with ESA and Eumetsat, and coordinating an international industrial team, Leonardo has been working on this outstanding technology for 10 years, and today we are very proud to present the images of the first European lightning hunter, the only in the world with these unique performances.”



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="cVhOBQuwHl-2843310-12187" type="single"]</div>



While the animations generated by the Lightning Imager provide an initial glimpse into its capabilities, the instrument is still in its infancy. It is a component of the <a href="https://www.eumetsat.int/meteosat-third-generation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meteosat Third Generation Imager</a>, which is currently in its commissioning phase. 



This important stage involves the calibration of the instruments and validation of the data produced, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information the satellite will provide in the future.



<h2>What's next for the Imager project?</h2>



Scientists expect to have data from the new Imager available for operational use in early 2024. The team expects to complete the commissioning phase by then. It will offer an increased sensitivity and thus significantly advancing our ability to detect, analyze, and predict weather patterns.&nbsp;



The Lightning Imager and its host, the Meteosat Third Generation Imager, are the outcome of a collaborative endeavor involving a wide consortium of European industries. The project is helmed by Thales Alenia Space in partnership with OHB.



The development of the Lightning Imager took place under the expertise of Leonardo, based in Italy, whereas Telespazio has been responsible for providing Eumetsat with essential launch and in-orbit services. 



This joint effort and the innovative technologies they've deployed signal a transformative leap forward for meteorological science - one that holds immense promise for a better understanding of Earth's weather.



You can access all the MTG Lightning Imager animations <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Sets/MTG_Lightning_Imager_animations">here</a>.



—-



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Beautiful first videos from ESA's Lightning Imager, built to detect global severe storms

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Eumetsat have activated Lightning...

An,Elephant,Is,Eating,Grass,By,The,River.

Although it is common knowledge that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-elephants-choose-paths-leading-to-their-favorite-food/">elephants</a> eat plants, figuring out exactly what type of plants they consume is more challenging. 



In a study led by <a href="https://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a>, an international team of conservation biologists has recently used innovative methods to analyze the dietary habits of two groups of elephants in Kenya. This was done in an effort to precisely identify the specific types of plants individual members of the groups eat.&nbsp;



Better understanding the dietary preferences of individual elephants could help answer important questions about the foraging behaviors of various elephant groups. This could help experts devise better conservation approaches to keep elephants not only sated but satisfied.



“It’s really important for conservationists to keep in mind that when animals don’t get enough of the foods that they need, they may survive -&nbsp; but they may not prosper,” said senior author Tyler Kartzinel, an assistant professor of Environmental Studies and of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Brown.&nbsp;



“By better understanding what each individual eats, we can better manage iconic species like elephants, rhinos, and bison to ensure their populations can grow in sustainable ways.”



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



The experts used a cutting-edge genetic technique called DNA metabarcoding to identify the composition of biological samples by matching the DNA fragments representing an elephant’s diet to a library of plant DNA barcodes. 



This is the first time this method has been used to answer pressing questions about social foraging ecology, i.e. how members of a social group (such as a family) decide what foods to consume.



“When I talk to non-ecologists, they are stunned to learn that we have never really had a clear picture of what all of these charismatic large mammals actually eat in nature,” Kartzinel said.&nbsp;



“The reason is that these animals are difficult and dangerous to observe from up-close, they move long distances, they feed at night and in thick bush, and a lot of the plants they feed on are quite small.” In addition, their food is also highly difficult to identify by visual observations alone, even by expert botanists.



By using a method called “stable isotope analysis,” which consists of chemical analyses of animal hair, previous research conducted two decades ago by two of the study authors – George Wittemyer from <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a> and Thure Cerling from the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/">University of Utah</a> – has found that elephants switch from eating fresh grasses during the rainy season to eating trees during the long dry season. 



Although the researchers managed to discover broad-scale dietary patterns, they could not identify the different types of plants individual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-are-forest-gardeners-that-help-reduce-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elephants</a> eat.



Now, by using (still viable) fecal samples collected by Wittmeyer and Cerling 20 years ago, the scientists combined analyses of carbon stable isotopes from elephant hair and feces with DNA metabarcoding, GPS-tracking, and remote-sensing data to reliably pinpoint dietary variations of individual elephants in the two groups.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-unique-dietary-preferences">Unique dietary preferences </h2>



The analysis - which involved matching each unique DNA sequence in the sample to a collection of reference plants and comparing the diets of individual elephants through time – revealed that dietary differences among individuals were frequently far greater than had been previously assumed.&nbsp;



These surprising findings held even in the case of family members foraging together on a specific day. The results could also help address a classic paradox that wildlife ecologists struggled with for decades: given the fact that all elephants apparently eat the same types of plants, why isn’t competition for food pushing family groups apart and force them to forage independently?



According to Kartzinel, the answer could be that elephants vary their diets based not only on what is available, but also on their specific preferences and physiological needs. 



For instance, a pregnant elephant may have different requirements and cravings at various times during her pregnancy. Thus, since individual elephants will not always eat exactly the same plants at the same time, there will usually be enough plants for all the members of a group.



<h2 id="h-future-implications-of-knowing-what-elephants-eat">Future implications of knowing what elephants eat</h2>



This crucial discovery could have major implications for conservation biologists. It will provide them with insights into creating environments with a wide variety of plants in order to help elephants successfully reproduce and increase their populations. 



At the same time, it will decrease the chances of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-can-be-very-cooperative-until-the-food-gets-scarce/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inter-species competition</a> and prevent animals from poaching human food sources, such as crops.



“Wildlife populations need access to diverse dietary resources to prosper. Each elephant needs variety, a little bit of spice — not literally in their food, but in their dietary habits,” Kartzinel concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230337">Royal Society Open Science</a>.&nbsp;



<h2>More about elephants</h2>



Elephants, magnificent creatures known for their intelligence, strength, and memory, have been an integral part of our world's rich biodiversity. However, their survival hangs in the balance due to human activities. Understanding their conservation status is essential to build effective strategies to protect them.



<h3>A Brief Overview</h3>



There are three recognized species of elephants: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.



African bush elephants hold the title of the world's largest land animal, while their forest counterparts and the Asian elephants are somewhat smaller. Their trunks, large ears, and long tusks are iconic features that set them apart. But these impressive physical traits are not merely for show.



Elephants use their trunks for various tasks, including feeding, drinking, and social interactions. Their large ears help dissipate heat, and the tusks, elongated incisor teeth, serve as tools for digging and weapons in fights.



<h3>Life and Habitat - What Elephants Eat</h3>



Elephants are highly social creatures, with matriarchal family units at the core of their society. They live in a variety of habitats, from forests to deserts, provided there's sufficient water and food. Elephants are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-elephants-choose-paths-leading-to-their-favorite-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">herbivores</a>, feeding on a diet that includes grass, bark, roots, and leaves.



However, their home ranges are shrinking dramatically due to human activities. Deforestation for agriculture, infrastructure development, and logging, coupled with the encroachment of human settlements, has resulted in significant habitat loss for these giants.



<h3>Elephants and Conservation</h3>



Sadly, all three species of elephants face severe threats that have led to their classification as vulnerable or endangered by the <a href="https://cites.org/eng/prog/terrestrial_fauna/elephants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</a>.



<h3>African Bush Elephant</h3>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poaching-has-long-term-impacts-on-elephants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">African bush elephant</a>, once widespread across Africa, is now listed as 'Endangered.' Their population has seen a steep decline, driven primarily by poaching for ivory and habitat loss.



<h3>African Forest Elephant</h3>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-forest-elephants-are-running-out-of-fruit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">African forest elephant's</a> situation is even more alarming. Classified as 'Critically Endangered,' they suffer heavy losses from both habitat loss, due to extensive logging and mining activities, and ivory poaching.



<h3>Asian Elephant</h3>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/for-asian-elephants-shrinking-habitats-will-increase-conflicts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asian elephant</a>, with its habitat ranging from India to Southeast Asia, faces similar challenges and is classified as 'Endangered.' Apart from habitat loss and human-elephant conflicts, the capture of wild elephants for tourism and entertainment purposes also contributes to their population decline.



<h3>Conservation Efforts</h3>



Recognizing the urgency of the situation, various global and local organizations are intensifying their conservation efforts. Key strategies include habitat preservation, anti-poaching initiatives, and policymaking to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.



Protected areas like national parks and wildlife reserves are crucial to ensure safe habitats for elephants. Anti-poaching laws and enforcement need to be stringent, as illegal hunting for ivory remains a major threat.



The international trade in ivory, banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), requires continuous monitoring and regulation.



In regions where elephants and humans coexist closely, the implementation of conflict mitigation measures is crucial. This includes building fences around agricultural lands, creating early warning systems, and educating communities about living harmoniously with elephants.



Lastly, captive elephant welfare needs attention. Stricter regulations should ensure ethical treatment, and the phase-out of elephants from exploitative practices in tourism and entertainment should be promoted.



<h3>Summary</h3>



Elephants are not just iconic wildlife; they are also 'keystone' species that help maintain the health and diversity of ecosystems. Their conservation is not a matter of choice but an absolute necessity.



We have a collective responsibility to ensure these magnificent animals continue to roam our planet freely, just as nature intended.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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What do elephants eat? Study shows they have unique dietary preferences

Although it is common knowledge that elephants eat plants, figuring...

A groundbreaking study from the <a href="https://www.umoncton.ca/">Université de Moncton</a> in New Brunswick is providing new insights about the potential role of omega-3 rich oils in counteracting the damaging effects of pesticides on pollinators.&nbsp;



Led by PhD student Hichem Menail, the research indicates that an oil known as "ahiflower oil" may hold the key to shielding honey bees from mitochondrial damage inflicted by neonicotinoid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-cannot-fly-straight-after-ingesting-pesticides/">pesticides</a>.



"Pesticides are a major threat to insect populations and as insects are at the core of ecosystem richness and balance, any loss in insect biodiversity can lead to catastrophic outcome,” said Menail. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the global decline of pollinators, largely attributed to pesticides, could have dire implications for food crop production worldwide.



<h2 id="h-use-of-neonicotinoids-persists">Use of neonicotinoids persists&nbsp;</h2>



Neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides known for their toxic effects, have been a subject of intense scrutiny. In particular, imidacloprid, one of the most frequently utilized neonicotinoid pesticides across the globe, has received considerable attention.&nbsp;



Despite the European Union's decision to ban outdoor use of imidacloprid and two other neonicotinoids in 2018, their usage persists in other parts of the world, including the United States.



"Neonicotinoids are among the most toxic and the most harmful insecticides," noted Menail. "They are used extensively and are very persistent in the environment. Thus, it is practically impossible to prevent honey bees from being exposed and eventually poisoned.”&nbsp;



This leaves researchers seeking alternative solutions, such as strengthening honey bees' immune systems and metabolic processes to better endure the impacts of these chemical pollutants.



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



Menail and his team executed an experiment to explore the potential benefits of omega-3 rich oils on bees chronically exposed to a neonicotinoid pesticide.



The researchers fed three distinct groups of bees with sucrose syrup, each containing a different concoction: one laced with the pesticide alone, another with ahiflower oil alone, and the final group received a combination of the two. After 25 days, the team measured the bees’ mitochondrial respiration.



<h2 id="h-what-the-experts-discovered">What the experts discovered&nbsp;</h2>



The results confirmed the team's initial theory about imidacloprid's disruptive impact on mitochondrial respiration.&nbsp;



Even more exhilarating was the discovery of ahiflower oil's immediate beneficial effect on the bees' mitochondrial respiration. Bees that consumed a mixture of imidacloprid and ahiflower oil managed to recover their respiration rates to levels on par with the controls.



The findings suggest potential applications in the form of Omega-3 supplements that could help mitigate the mortality rates of honey bees caused by pesticides.&nbsp;



“We believe that this strategy is promising,” said Menail. “By improving their respiration through ahiflower oil supplementation, we believe that mitochondria can increase their ATP production and thus improve overall performance of honey bees, as well as their immune system.”



Ultimately, the research offers some hope for threatened pollinators, hinting at a sustainable approach that could potentially enhance their resilience against the pervasive threat of pesticides. The journey to understand the full benefits of ahiflower oil is just beginning, but the prospects are promising.



<h2 id="h-more-about-omega-3-oils">More about omega-3 oils&nbsp;</h2>



Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that are essential for various functions in the body. They are termed "essential" because our bodies can't make them, so we need to get them from our diet.



There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).



ALA is a plant-based omega-3 found in high amounts in flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, and certain oils such as flaxseed oil and canola oil. The body can convert a small amount of ALA into EPA and DHA, but not very efficiently.



EPA and DHA are marine-based omega-3s found in fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, and trout, and in algae. They are more readily used by the body and have been linked to many health benefits.



Omega-3 fatty acids have been studied extensively for their health benefits. They are most well-known for their heart health benefits, including reducing triglycerides, blood pressure, and the risk of heart disease. However, they also play a crucial role in brain health, reducing inflammation, and may help reduce the risk of other diseases such as arthritis and depression.



Ahiflower oil, which was mentioned previously, is a plant-derived oil that contains a unique combination of fatty acids. It provides a source of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically stearidonic acid (SDA), which is more efficiently converted to EPA in the body than ALA. This makes ahiflower oil a promising plant-based alternative to fish oils for getting omega-3 fatty acids.



In terms of nutritional supplementation, omega-3s are available in a variety of forms, including fish oil supplements, krill oil supplements, and plant-based supplements like ahiflower oil or flaxseed oil.&nbsp;



—-



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Omega-3 oil may help protect pollinators from pesticides

A groundbreaking study from the Université de Moncton in New...

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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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</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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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;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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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 



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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