In a remarkable medical breakthrough, engineers have developed a light-activated pacemaker so tiny that doctors can inject it into the body through a syringe. Remarkably, the device simply dissolves after it’s no longer needed.&nbsp;



Designed for newborns, the pacemaker could transform temporary heart care after congenital defect surgeries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-the-heart-with-light">Controlling the heart with light</h2>



The new pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice. It's wirelessly activated through pulses of light which are delivered by a soft, wearable device mounted on the patient’s chest.



The external controller detects abnormal rhythms and sends light through the body to activate the pacemaker and restore heartbeat. The study demonstrates the device’s effectiveness across animal and human donor hearts.&nbsp;



The development of the pacemaker was led by John A. Rogers, a professor of material science, biomedical engineering, and neurological surgery at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a>.&nbsp;



“We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world’s smallest pacemaker,” said Professor Rogers.



“There’s a crucial need for temporary pacemakers in the context of pediatric heart surgeries, and that’s a use case where size miniaturization is incredibly important. In terms of the device load on the body - the smaller, the better.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solution-designed-for-newborns">Solution designed for newborns</h2>



Though the light-activated pacemaker can function in patients of all sizes, its miniaturized design was motivated by the needs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infant-speech-is-driven-by-heart-rate-activity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infants</a>. 



Igor Efimov is a co-leader of the study and experimental cardiologist at Northwestern.&nbsp;



“About 1% of children are born with congenital heart defects. The good news is that these children only need temporary pacing after a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-smallest-robot-could-transform-minimally-invasive-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surgery</a>. In about seven days or so, most patients’ hearts will self-repair. But those seven days are absolutely critical," said Efimov.



Traditional pacemakers require surgery and have wires sticking out of the chest to connect to an external device. When they are no longer needed, the wires are removed - risking bleeding, tissue damage, or even death.



“Wires literally protrude from the body, attached to a pacemaker outside the body,” Efimov explained. “When the pacemaker is no longer needed, a physician pulls it out. The wires can become enveloped in scar tissue. That’s actually how Neil Armstrong died.”



The new injectable pacemaker addresses these risks. All of its components are biocompatible and bioresorbable, meaning they safely dissolve in the body’s fluids without needing surgical removal. Once the device has served its purpose, it simply disappears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refining-the-light-activated-pacemaker">Refining the light-activated pacemaker</h2>



This innovation builds on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00948-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earlier work</a> by Rogers and Efimov, who developed a quarter-sized dissolvable pacemaker in 2021. Surgeons asked for a smaller version to allow easier placement and suit the smallest patients.&nbsp;



The original device used near-field communication (NFC), but its antenna limited how small the device could be made. To overcome this, the team replaced the NFC system with a novel light-based mechanism.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pacemaker_light-activated_worlds-smallest_heart-health_Northwestern_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pacemaker_light-activated_worlds-smallest_heart-health_Northwestern_1s.webp" alt="The tiny pacemaker sits next to a single grain of rice on a fingertip. The device is so small that it can be non-invasively injected into the body via a syringe. Credit: John A. Rogers/Northwestern University" class="wp-image-1964846"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The tiny pacemaker sits next to a single grain of rice on a fingertip. The device is so small that it can be non-invasively injected into the body via a syringe. Click image to enlarge. Credit: John A. Rogers/Northwestern University</figcaption></figure>



“Instead of using the radio frequency scheme for wireless control, we developed a light-based scheme for turning the pacemaker on and delivering stimulation pulses to the surface of the heart. This is one feature that allowed us to dramatically reduce the size,” said Professor Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powered-by-the-body-s-own-fluids">Powered by the body’s own fluids</h2>



The engineers also reimagined how to power the tiny pacemaker. Rather than requiring a battery or external power source, the device uses a simple galvanic cell - a chemical battery formed by two different metals as electrodes.&nbsp;



When the device is inside the body, surrounding biofluids act as the electrolyte, allowing electrical current to flow and stimulate the heart.



“A very tiny light-activated switch on the opposite side from the battery allows us to turn the device from its ‘off’ state to an ‘on’ state upon delivery of light that passes through the patient’s body from the skin-mounted patch,” explained Professor Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-trauma-and-risk">Reducing trauma and risk</h2>



Using infrared light, which can safely penetrate deep into the body, the wearable controller detects when a patient’s heart rate falls too low. It then triggers a light-emitting diode (LED) to flash on and off at the desired pacing rhythm.&nbsp;



“Infrared light penetrates very well through the body,” Efimov said. “If you put a flashlight against your palm, you will see the light glow through the other side of your hand. It turns out that our bodies are great conductors of light.”



Despite its microscopic size - just 1.8 mm wide, 3.5 mm long, and 1 mm thick - the pacemaker delivers stimulation on par with traditional devices. “The heart requires a tiny amount of electrical stimulation,” Rogers said.&nbsp;



“By minimizing the size, we dramatically simplify the implantation procedures, we reduce trauma and risk to the patient, and, with the dissolvable nature of the device, we eliminate any need for secondary surgical extraction procedures.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-of-heart-care">A new era of heart care</h2>



Because these light-activated pacemakers are so small and wireless, doctors could one day deploy multiple units on different parts of the heart to create more advanced pacing systems. 



Each device could be controlled independently using different light wavelengths, enabling personalized and precisely timed stimulation across the heart’s surface.



“We can deploy a number of such small pacemakers onto the outside of the heart and control each one,” Efimov said. “Then we can achieve improved synchronized functional care.”



Professor Rogers noted that because it’s so small, the pacemaker can be integrated with almost any kind of implantable device.



“We also demonstrated integration of collections of these devices across the frameworks that serve as transcatheter aortic valve replacements to address complications that can occur during a patient’s recovery process," said Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-bioelectronic-medicine">Future of bioelectronic medicine</h2>



While this breakthrough has clear implications for pediatric heart care, the technology could pave the way for a new generation of bioelectronic medicine.&nbsp;



These tiny, dissolvable devices could one day be adapted to promote nerve and bone regeneration, manage <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain</a>, support wound healing, and more.



Northwestern engineers shrank the device and removed risks by making it dissolve after use. In doing so, they’ve created a tool that could reshape how doctors care for the heart - from the tiniest patients to adults.



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Click here to <a href="https://youtu.be/j_0hZ8cUwgo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch a video interview...</a>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08726-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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World's smallest pacemaker is set to revolutionize heart health

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, engineers have developed a light-activated pacemaker so tiny that doctors can inject it into the body through a syringe. Remarkably, the device simply dissolves after it’s no longer needed.&nbsp; Designed for newborns, the pacemaker could transform temporary heart care after congenital defect surgeries. Controlling the heart with light The new pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice. It's wirelessly activated through pulses of light which are delivered by a soft, wearable device mounted on the patient’s chest. The external controller detects...

Genetically predicted height can be linked to the development of certain health conditions, according to new research. The findings suggest that increased height may raise or lower the odds of certain ailments, emphasizing the importance of early check-ups.



The study was led by Dr. Areti Papadopoulou, a postdoctoral research associate at the <a href="https://www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit</a>, and Dr. Eirini Marouli, an associate professor in computational biology at Queen Mary University of London.



The experts emphasize that these findings can benefit many people from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/health-risks-of-ultra-processed-foods-revealed-in-30-year-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">varied backgrounds</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-notable-links-between-height-and-disease">Notable links between height and disease</h2>



The scientists examined data from six populations of different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-life-expectancy-faces-a-triple-threat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancestries</a>, and analyzed the DNA factors that govern how tall a person might grow.



This approach, known as a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34982132/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phenome-wide association study</a> (a method that scans a broad set of health outcomes), uncovered a variety of conditions that were linked to a single genetic trait.



The researchers discovered 254 notable links between height and disease. One of the strongest connections was with <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/what-is-atrial-fibrillation-afib-or-af" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atrial fibrillation</a>. This particular condition, which disrupts normal heart rhythms, appeared more frequently among taller individuals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taking-a-closer-look-at-circulatory-risk">Taking a closer look at circulatory risk</h2>



Height was strongly related to blood vessel and heart <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">issues</a>, with taller people experiencing more problems involving veins and certain arterial conditions.



By one measure, taller people also seemed to have a lower chance of developing <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21656-hyperlipidemia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hyperlipidemia</a> (high fats in the blood) but a higher likelihood of facing specific heart <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/arrhythmias" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arrhythmias</a>.



Some conditions connected to taller stature were only spotted in one sex or ancestry group. For instance, there was a connection between increased height and lower risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470284/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hyperpotassemia</a> (high potassium levels), but the link was only found in males. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-perspectives-on-disease-risk">New perspectives on disease risk </h2>



“Our study explored disease-related outcomes in up to 840,000 individuals of European, African, East Asian and Hispanic population groups with genetically predicted height,” explained Dr. Papadopoulou, the first author of the study.



“We report associations with a series of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-takes-a-major-toll-on-childrens-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disorders</a>, involving mental disorders and the endocrine system, that have not been previously associated with genetically predicted height.”



According to Dr. Marouli, the study reveals significant links between genetically predicted height and various health conditions, providing new perspectives on disease risk. 



"By analyzing genetic data across diverse ancestries and incorporating sex-specific analyses, we have identified associations that could improve early diagnosis and patient care,” said Dr. Marouli.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-daily-life">What this means for daily life</h2>



Simple measures, like blood pressure readings, might be interpreted more carefully for taller adults, given that some <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCGEN.121.003612" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> points to different cardiac risks by height.



For example, the experts noted that taller men appear less likely to experience high blood pressure but are more prone to heart rhythm disorders.



Screening for conditions such as certain cancers has also been debated in past <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.29159" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> of taller women, especially regarding breast health. The exact reasons for the potential link remain unclear, but the genetic factors that lead to a bigger frame may sometimes coincide with an increased risk for various types of tumors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-risks-across-diverse-groups">Managing risks across diverse groups</h2>



The researchers emphasize that improving health monitoring based on genetically predicted height should not focus on one ancestry alone.



The best strategies come from studies that include everyone, ensuring that recommendations will apply to people from diverse backgrounds and help them <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-one-third-of-asthma-cases-linked-to-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manage risks</a>.



Health leaders also recognize the importance of routine checkups, such as monitoring blood pressure, which is crucial for spotting early <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hypertension</a>. With height now becoming a bigger part of the conversation, providers might refine their advice to match each person's unique background and build.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-link-between-height-and-health">The link between height and health</h2>



There is still much to learn about the interplay between height and overall health. By studying the genetic codes of people in different parts of the world, scientists hope to reveal fresh insights that lead to more targeted guidance.



Large-scale projects will likely expand on these findings. Future research may clarify why taller individuals face certain conditions at higher rates, while shorter individuals may struggle with others. 



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41525-025-00464-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">npj Genomic Medicine</a>.



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Tall or short? Your height could predict future health risks

Genetically predicted height can be linked to the development of...

The end-Permian mass extinction, 252 million years ago, was devastating to life on Earth. Massive volcanic eruptions unleashed 100,000 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, triggering a severe climate crisis.



This led to extreme global warming, deoxygenated oceans, and widespread extinction. However, many plants survived, leaving fossil records that help scientists understand a dramatic 10-degree rise in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-predict-how-and-when-humans-and-mammals-will-face-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global temperatures</a>.



“While fossilized spores and pollen of plants from the Early Triassic do not provide strong evidence for a sudden and catastrophic biodiversity loss, both marine and terrestrial animals experienced the most severe mass extinction in Earth’s history,” explained Dr. Maura Brunetti of the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Geneva</a>. 



“Life on Earth had to adjust to repeated changes in climate and the carbon cycle for several million years after the Permian-Triassic Boundary.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconstructing-the-ancient-climate">Reconstructing the ancient climate</h2>



The scientists studied five geological stages on either side of the Permian-Triassic Boundary. These included the Permian Wuchiapingian and Changhsingian, the early Triassic Induan and Olenekian, and the middle Triassic Anisian.



Using maps of Earth’s ancient geography and plant fossil data, the researchers identified six major biomes and estimated local climates based on fossil distributions.



The identified biomes ranged from tropical, humid regions to seasonal temperate and desert areas. 



Cold climates featured desert in the tropics and tundra at higher latitudes, while warm <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/public-concern-over-species-extinctions-fades-quickly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climates</a> had temperate vegetation near the poles and deserts near the equator. Increased carbon dioxide levels led to warmer and wetter conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-and-ecosystem-shifts-after-extinction">Climate and ecosystem shifts after extinction</h2>



Using statistical models, the scientists compared plant fossil records with simulated biomes under different climate conditions. Their findings revealed dramatic shifts in ecosystems at the Permian-Triassic Boundary.



Before the extinction, the Permian had a colder climate. The early Triassic Induan period showed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-forests-rose-again-after-the-planets-most-extreme-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unstable conditions</a> that scientists could not clearly classify. 



This uncertainty may be due to sampling biases, poor fossil preservation, or short-term climate variations. More fossil data is needed for clarity.



Later Triassic periods saw significantly warmer conditions. The Olenekian and Anisian stabilized at temperatures 10 degrees higher than the Permian.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-hotter-future">A hotter future</h2>



“This transition from the colder climatic state to the hotter state is marked by an increase of approximately 10⁰C in the mean global surface air <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-of-the-worlds-heliconia-species-are-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperature</a> and an intensification of the water cycle,” said Dr. Brunetti.



“Tropical everwet and summerwet biomes emerged in the tropics, replacing predominantly desertic landscapes. Meanwhile, the warm-cool temperate biome shifted towards polar regions, leading to the complete disappearance of tundra ecosystems.”



Dr. Brunetti noted that the shift in vegetation cover can be linked to tipping mechanisms between climatic steady states, providing a potential framework for understanding the transition between Permian and Triassic.



“This framework can be used to understand tipping behavior in the climate system in response to the present-day CO2 increase. If this increase continues at the same rate, we will reach the level of emissions that caused the Permian-Triassic mass extinction in around 2,700 years — a much faster timescale than the Permian-Triassic Boundary emissions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncertainties-and-future-research">Uncertainties and future research</h2>



More data and refined models are necessary for clearer conclusions. “The comparison between simulated biomes and the dataset is influenced by uncertainties, arising from paleogeographic reconstructions and the classification of fossil assemblages into biomes,” said Dr. Brunetti.



“Furthermore, our climate modeling setup relies on offline coupling between models — the vegetation model uses the final outputs of the climatic model for biome reconstruction. This could be enhanced using a dynamic vegetation model.”



The Permian-Triassic extinction reshaped life on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-earths-most-endangered-plants-from-extinction-proving-difficult-botanic-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>. Studying its causes and consequences may provide valuable insights into the ongoing climate crisis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-lessons-from-past-extinctions">Climate lessons from past extinctions</h2>



The Permian-Triassic extinction reshaped the planet, erasing entire ecosystems and paving the way for new ones. 



By studying how life responded to these changes, scientists can better predict how today’s ecosystems will react to rising temperatures and shifting climate patterns.



Understanding the past is crucial for preparing for the future. If history is any indication, life on Earth will survive - but whether human civilization can adapt as effectively remains an open question.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1520846/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>.



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Climate chaos: The mass extinction that reshaped life on Earth

The end-Permian mass extinction, 252 million years ago, was devastating...

Protecting wildlife while managing forests has always been a challenge. In California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, forest managers face difficult decisions as they try to prevent destructive wildfires without harming the birds and other species that call these forests home.



Traditional monitoring methods require significant time and effort, making it hard to collect enough data to guide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-forests-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation efforts</a>.



Now, scientists have introduced a breakthrough solution. Using thousands of microphones and advanced machine learning, researchers have developed a way to track forest birds over vast landscapes.



This innovative approach offers an unprecedented level of detail, providing valuable insights that help balance conservation with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dead-wood-removal-can-save-forests-from-future-wildfires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest</a> management. 



A new study highlights how bioacoustic technology can revolutionize wildlife monitoring and support better decision-making for the future of these forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-capturing-bird-sounds">Capturing bird sounds </h2>



Researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics led this study, which analyzed more than 700,000 hours of bird sounds. 



The team deployed microphones at 1,600 sites, covering around six million acres of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-forests-rose-again-after-the-planets-most-extreme-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest</a>. The goal was to track ten important bird species, including owls and woodpeckers, which serve as indicators of forest health.



These species provide crucial information about changes in the environment. By listening to their calls across different locations, scientists can assess how forest conditions impact wildlife.



"The amount of coverage that gives us and the idea of what's happening with species at so many different locations allow for really powerful inference to be drawn from the network," said study lead author Kristin Brunk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-machine-learning-and-wildlife-monitoring">Machine learning and wildlife monitoring</h2>



To analyze the massive amount of recorded data, scientists turned to BirdNET, a machine-learning algorithm designed to identify bird calls automatically. This system allows researchers to recognize different species and understand how their presence relates to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-climate-solutions-mixed-forests-store-more-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental conditions</a>.



The study examined how factors such as tree density and canopy cover influence bird populations. These are the same variables that forest managers consider when making conservation decisions. The ability to connect bird activity with habitat conditions provides an essential tool for guiding land management strategies.



By mapping where different birds live, researchers can help forest managers make more informed choices. This is especially important as they work to reduce wildfire risks through controlled burns and forest thinning. Without careful planning, these activities could unintentionally disrupt bird populations.



"We're able to understand bird populations in the context of the forest conditions that are going to be actively manipulated by the management community to hopefully restore some resilience to this system," said Connor Wood, lead researcher at the <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cheaper-forest-bird-tracking">Cheaper forest bird tracking</h2>



Monitoring wildlife over such a large area would be nearly impossible using traditional methods. Conducting field surveys requires a significant investment of time and resources. In contrast, passive acoustic monitoring offers a more efficient and cost-effective solution.



"If you think about what the cost would have been to get that amount of information by having biologists collecting data across the landscape… the cost effectiveness can't really be matched," Brunk noted.



This system enables continuous, long-term monitoring without the need for large field teams. The data collected can also be used to track changes in bird populations over time, offering a deeper understanding of how forests evolve under different management strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-bird-monitoring">Forest bird monitoring </h2>



The success of this study goes beyond California’s Sierra Nevada. The researchers believe that bioacoustic monitoring can be applied to other regions facing similar conservation challenges. 



By adapting this technology, scientists and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-forests-which-tree-species-can-survive-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest</a> managers worldwide can gain better insights into wildlife populations and habitat conditions.



"It's sort of a blueprint for how passive acoustic monitoring can inform management," said Brunk.



This approach is particularly valuable in areas where human access is difficult. Remote forests, protected reserves, and even urban green spaces could benefit from passive monitoring. 



The ability to gather large amounts of data with minimal human disturbance makes this a promising tool for conservation efforts around the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-forest-and-wildlife-protection">Future of forest and wildlife protection</h2>



The integration of cutting-edge technology with conservation practices represents a major step forward. Listening to the sounds of the forest can help scientists understand how bird populations respond to changes in their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-still-fighting-climate-change-against-all-odds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a>.



"By combining new technologies with practical management needs, we're creating tools that can help protect both forests and wildlife during a time of rapid environmental change," said Wood.



The research was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Oregon State University, University of California-Merced, and Chemnitz University of Technology. This partnership highlights the increasing role of technology in conservation.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/fee.2843" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment</a>.



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Every bird song can help scientists make smarter forest decisions

Protecting wildlife while managing forests has always been a challenge....

Nature is always changing, sometimes in small but powerful ways. Genetic and brain changes can shape how species behave. A recent study by Nicholas VanKuren and Nathan Buerkle at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a> reveals how a simple neural change can shift mating preferences in male butterflies. 



The findings show that small brain and sensory changes can quickly alter behavior, helping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-country-without-butterflies-rapid-decline-in-u-s-populations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> evolve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterfly-survival-and-mate-selection">Butterfly survival and mate selection</h2>



Heliconius butterflies, known for their striking wing patterns and colors, use these visual signals as a defense against predators. Their bright hues serve as warnings, signaling toxicity or unpalatability. 



Since survival depends on these warning signals, males have evolved a strong preference for females with similar wing colors. Choosing mates with matching patterns ensures that future generations retain these critical survival traits.



Despite the clear evolutionary advantages of such preferences, little is known about the underlying genetic and neurological mechanisms. What makes a male <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-learn-about-butterflies-day-an-enchanting-world-awaits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butterfly</a> prefer a female with a particular wing color? 



Scientists aimed to uncover the sensory and genetic factors influencing these choices by studying two subspecies of Heliconius cydno, one with yellow patches on its wings and the other with white. 



The research has revealed the deep connections between vision, genetics, and behavior in shaping mate selection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterfly-mate-choice-and-genetics">Butterfly mate choice and genetics</h2>



To understand the genetic basis of mate preference, the researchers examined the genomes of the butterflies.



They identified four specific genomic regions linked to both wing color and mate selection. One of these, known as the "K locus," had already been associated with similar traits in other Heliconius <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterflies-create-silk-seatbelts-to-strap-in-for-metamorphosis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butterflies</a>. 



This finding suggests a common genetic mechanism influencing both physical traits and behavioral tendencies in these insects.



The team also explored gene expression patterns in different parts of the butterfly’s nervous system, including the retina, optic lobe, and brain.



The researchers found that seven genetic variants were not only located in regions associated with mate preference but were also expressed at different levels in yellow and white males. These variations likely play a direct role in determining which wing color a male butterfly finds attractive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterfly-vision-affects-mate-choices">Butterfly vision affects mate choices</h2>



Beyond genetic factors, the researchers investigated how these butterflies process visual information. 



They focused on the activity of photoreceptors in the butterflies' eyes, which play a crucial role in distinguishing colors. Their experiments revealed a striking difference in how color perception influences mate preference.



Male <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-migration-habits-are-not-determined-by-their-dna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butterflies</a> that preferred yellow-winged females had green-sensitive photoreceptors that strongly inhibited the activity of UV-sensitive photoreceptors. This inhibition was significantly weaker in males that did not show the same preference. 



This means that a relatively simple modification in the peripheral nervous system alters how butterflies perceive different wing colors, shaping their mate choices.



The findings suggest that mating preferences are not just about detecting certain colors but rather about how the brain processes sensory information. Males are not simply seeing a preferred color more clearly; their nervous systems are wired to find one wing color more attractive than another.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-implications-of-sensory-changes">Evolutionary implications of sensory changes</h2>



The ability to rapidly alter sensory processing could be a key driver of behavioral evolution in butterflies. 



Since inhibitory relationships between photoreceptors can evolve quickly, changes in mating preferences may emerge in relatively short periods. This flexibility allows populations to adapt to new environmental conditions and evolve distinct mating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterflys-rapid-expansion-led-to-lower-genetic-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behaviors</a>.



The study provides valuable insight into how such changes can drive species evolution. "Inhibitory relationships between photoreceptors are easily evolvable, which may allow rapid behavioral evolution," noted the researchers. 



By altering how butterflies perceive potential mates, these neural modifications can contribute to reproductive isolation, eventually leading to the formation of new species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mate-choice-mechanisms">Mate choice mechanisms</h2>



Understanding the genetic and neurological basis of mate preference in butterflies extends beyond this single species. 



Similar mechanisms may exist in other animals where visual cues play a central role in mating decisions. By identifying the genetic and neural pathways that shape attraction, scientists can gain deeper insights into the broader forces driving evolutionary change.



The study paints a comprehensive picture of how small genetic differences influence sensory processing, which in turn affects behavior. 



"Our work generated a striking picture of how a critical visual behavior - mate choice - is controlled, from variation in the connections between neurons in the eye down to genetic variation across the genome," concluded the researchers.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002989" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Biology</a>.



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Butterfly mate preferences shift with slight brain changes

Nature is always changing, sometimes in small but powerful ways....

Aging is a natural process that affects every living being. From the moment we are born, our bodies begin an intricate journey of growth, repair, and eventual decline. The outward signs of aging—wrinkles, sagging skin, and graying hair—are familiar to everyone. 



Yet, the true impact of aging lies deeper, within our very cells. Over time, our DNA and cellular structures experience gradual wear, leading to the changes we associate with getting older.



Some animals have developed ways to temporarily reverse this process. The fat-tailed dwarf lemur of Madagascar is one such example. Researchers at <a href="https://duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a> and the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, San Francisco</a>, have found that this small primate can slow cellular aging during hibernation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-telomeres-in-aging">Role of telomeres in aging</h2>



At the end of each chromosome, tiny caps called telomeres protect genetic material, similar to how plastic tips prevent shoelaces from fraying. 



With each cell division, telomeres shorten. Stress, lack of sleep, and inactivity can accelerate this process, leading to cell dysfunction.



Dwarf lemurs, however, have a way to extend their telomeres. A study in Biology Letters suggests that their cells rejuvenate during hibernation, slowing the aging <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-protein-that-reverses-cellular-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">process</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-hibernation-affects-aging">How hibernation affects aging</h2>



"When winter sets in in the wild, dwarf lemurs disappear into tree holes or underground burrows, where they spend up to seven months each year in a state of suspended animation," said lead author Marina Blanco of Duke.



This state is a survival strategy during food shortages. Their heart rate drops from 200 beats per minute to fewer than eight, their body temperature falls, and their breathing slows significantly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dwarf-lemurs-telomeres">Dwarf lemurs' telomeres</h2>



To study these effects, researchers at the <a href="https://lemur.duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke Lemur Center</a> observed 15 dwarf lemurs before, during, and after hibernation. They monitored changes in telomere length by testing cheek swabs.



To simulate natural conditions, they lowered the temperature gradually and provided artificial burrows. Some lemurs were allowed to eat when awake, while others lived off stored fat, mimicking their wild behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hibernation-reversed-aging-in-lemurs-cells">Hibernation reversed aging in lemurs' cells</h2>



"At first we thought something was off with the data," said researcher Greene.



Genetic sequencing showed that telomeres lengthened rather than shortened during hibernation. UCSF co-author Dana Smith confirmed the findings with Nobel Prize-winning telomere expert Elizabeth Blackburn.



Lemurs that remained in deep torpor had the most significant telomere lengthening, while those that periodically woke to eat saw little change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temporary-but-significant-effects">Temporary but significant effects</h2>



The telomere extension was not permanent. Within two weeks of coming out of hibernation, the lemurs' telomeres returned to their original length.



Researchers believe this lengthening may help counteract <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/defying-time-three-ways-to-slow-biological-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular damage</a> from periodic rewarming.



"Like starting a car after it’s been sitting unused in cold weather, these drastic metabolic rev-ups really challenge the body to the extreme, from zero to 100," Greene explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-similar-findings-in-humans">Similar findings in humans</h2>



A comparable telomere extension has been observed in humans under extreme conditions. Astronauts spending a year on the International Space Station and divers living underwater for months have shown similar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a>.



By increasing their telomere length, dwarf lemurs may extend the number of times their cells can divide. This could contribute to their long lifespan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connection-between-aging-and-hibernation">Connection between aging and hibernation</h2>



Dwarf lemurs can live nearly 30 years, twice the lifespan of similar-sized primates like the galago, which does not hibernate.



"Longevity and telomere repair may be linked, but we don't know for sure yet," Blanco said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-human-aging">Implications for human aging</h2>



Scientists still do not fully understand how dwarf lemurs achieve this cellular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-doctor-recommended-regimen-that-could-slow-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rejuvenation</a>. If researchers can uncover the mechanisms behind this process, it could open the door to new treatments for age-related diseases in humans.



One challenge is ensuring that telomere lengthening does not lead to unintended consequences. 



While longer telomeres can help maintain cellular function, excessive lengthening can increase the risk of uncontrolled cell division, which is linked to cancer. Researchers will need to find ways to harness these benefits without triggering harmful effects.



This remarkable research, partially funded by the Duke Lemur Center, highlights the remarkable ways nature has evolved to protect against aging. 



As scientists continue to study these incredible animals, they may uncover new hibernation-based strategies to slow aging and help humans maintain healthier, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/random-dna-mutations-shape-biological-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">longer lives</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0531" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



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Hibernation allows lemurs to slow down their aging

Aging is a natural process that affects every living being....

A new study has found that, contrary to previous claims, the ocean is not a significant source of microplastics to the atmosphere, but rather a major sink.&nbsp;



The research team used a global chemical transport model to evaluate how tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics, move around the world. 



The finding challenges past assumptions about the ocean’s role in releasing plastic fragments into the air.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-journey-of-airborne-microplastics-nbsp">The journey of airborne microplastics&nbsp;</h2>



Plastic debris in dust form is increasingly recognized as a worldwide contaminant. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-in-the-brain-alarming-new-details-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microplastics</a> (particles less than 5 mm in diameter) have been detected in soils, freshwater, the ocean, and even in the air that we breathe.&nbsp;



Scientists warn that microscopic plastic bits pose risks for human health, since they can easily enter the respiratory system and the bloodstream.&nbsp;



Once airborne, these tiny pieces can travel large distances and eventually settle in remote or sensitive regions, harming wildlife and potentially impacting human populations.



But how do these particles enter the atmosphere in the first place? The planet’s primary sources of microplastics are typically found on land, from everyday materials such as vehicle tires shedding particles on roads, or synthetic clothing fibers washed out in domestic wastewater.&nbsp;



However, earlier models had suggested that there might be an additional large source at sea. Microplastics often accumulate in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-pose-a-greater-threat-to-some-ocean-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oceans</a>, carried there by rivers and other waterways. Then, once present in the marine environment, it was believed that they could be lofted into the air by sea spray or wind-driven wave action.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-ocean-s-contribution">What is the ocean's contribution?</h2>



Prior reports pointing to a large marine source relied on an inverse modeling technique. That method uses atmospheric measurements of particular substances and attempts to infer their origin by matching observed concentrations with predicted distributions.&nbsp;



Applied to microplastics, inverse modeling suggested the ocean might contribute hundreds of millions - or even billions - of kilograms of these fragments to the air each year.



Such massive figures were then tested experimentally, with scientists using wave tanks and other controlled setups to see how vigorously wave action or bursting bubbles could transfer plastics from the water surface into the atmosphere.&nbsp;



Those studies, however, hinted that only tens or hundreds of thousands of kilograms of plastic might plausibly be introduced into the air - orders of magnitude smaller than the figures derived from inverse modeling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-global-chemical-transport-model">A global chemical transport model</h2>



In an effort to reconcile these contradictory outcomes, a group led by researchers at the <a href="https://mpimet.mpg.de/en/homepage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Meteorology</a> (MPI-M) ran a global chemical transport model. This computer model simulates the movement of substances, such as microplastic particles, through the atmosphere.&nbsp;



By prescribing a minor oceanic emission of microplastics - consistent with the low estimates from laboratory work - they were able to predict how microplastic concentrations should appear in the air at various locations around the globe.



The results aligned well with real-world measurements. Based on the model, the ocean in fact took up some of these airborne particles instead of emitting them in large quantities.&nbsp;



The scientists learned that rather than being a source, the ocean appeared to be a sink, in which 15 percent of all airborne microplastics are deposited.&nbsp;



In other words, waves, spray, and wind may occasionally lift small amounts of plastic out of the sea, but far more of the material is settling onto the water rather than emanating from it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-airborne-microplastics-travel">How airborne microplastics travel</h2>



The study also uncovered the significant influence of particle size on how microplastics travel. Larger plastic fragments drop out of the atmosphere relatively quickly, often landing in coastal areas or not far from their point of emission.&nbsp;



By contrast, smaller particles can remain suspended for up to a year. That extended flight time allows them to cross entire oceans or continents and reach distant regions such as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/citizen-scientists-uncover-microplastics-in-the-remote-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a>, where they land on ice or snow.



These discoveries highlight the global character of plastic contamination, showing that microplastic dust can be widespread in places typically considered pristine.&nbsp;



They also clarify that stopping microplastic pollution at its land-based sources may be the most efficient approach, as the ocean itself is neither the greatest emitter nor the root cause.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-roadmap-for-pollution-reduction">A roadmap for pollution reduction</h2>



Given that airborne microplastics reach faraway corners of the planet, the research team’s results have immediate practical value. Any broad plan to cut plastic pollution should focus on terrestrial origins: tire wear on roads, textiles shedding fibers, and insufficiently treated wastewater.&nbsp;



Additionally, lessening single-use plastics and improving waste management at landfills can help limit microplastics before they disperse into the environment.



These findings show that ocean waters, already burdened by plastic accumulations, are predominantly sinks - taking in plastic particles from the air. They also emphasize that microplastics do not stay put in the environment: large ones settle nearby, while smaller ones can travel global distances.&nbsp;



Future models aimed at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-changing-the-entire-earth-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic pollution</a> will need to consider these dynamics in more detail, particularly when mapping out strategies to protect vulnerable ecosystems, reduce human exposure, and maintain cleaner oceans.



By settling this debate over whether the ocean is more of a source or a sink, scientists can now direct their attention to mitigating the true origins of airborne microplastics, thus improving targeted policies to help address this pressing environmental concern.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-00914-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">npj Climate and Atmospheric Science</a>.



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Airborne microplastics: Where they come from and where they go

A new study has found that, contrary to previous claims,...

When astronauts head to the moon, they will serve as the eyes, hands, and interpreters on the ground, working closely with teams of scientists on Earth.&nbsp;



NASA is turning to virtual reality (VR) to create high-fidelity, budget-friendly training that prepares crew members, flight controllers, and science teams for the agency’s upcoming Artemis missions on the lunar surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-worlds-colliding">Two worlds colliding </h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grow-plants-on-moon-by-2026-nasa-artemis-iii-mission/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Artemis III</a> Geology Team, led by principal investigator Brett Denevi from the <a href="https://www.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory</a>, participated in an Artemis III Surface Extra-Vehicular VR Mini-Simulation - referred to as a “sim” - at <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Johnson Space Center</a> in the fall of 2024.&nbsp;



The sim brought together science teams and flight directors and controllers from Mission Control, who practiced running science-focused moonwalks and tested how they communicate with each other and with future astronauts.



“There are two worlds colliding,” said Matthew Miller, co-lead for the simulation and exploration engineer. “There is the operational world and the scientific world, and they are becoming one.”



NASA mission training has traditionally included field tests that can demand months or years of preparation and require large teams to orchestrate.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/virtual-reality-will-unlock-mysteries-of-developmental-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virtual reality</a> can provide a more nimble alternative, enabling faster setups to keep pace with the urgency of readying astronauts for lunar landings, all while mindful of limited time, budgets, and travel constraints.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-vr-for-moon-training">Advantages of VR for moon training</h2>



Field training remains essential since nothing can fully replicate physically handling rocks or tackling the strenuous aspects of extravehicular activities, but VR offers specific advantages.&nbsp;



The Artemis III VR Mini-Sim used authentic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-earth-get-its-moon-a-new-theory-has-emerged/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar surface</a> data from one of the Artemis III candidate sites, allowing the science team to concentrate on mission objectives and traverse planning directly applicable to the moon.



Eddie Paddock, engineering VR technical discipline lead at NASA Johnson, and his team relied on data from <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/lro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter</a> and on planetary positions over time to build a virtual software environment replicating a site within the Nobile Rim 1 region near the lunar south pole.



In the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/general/prototype-immersive-technologies-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prototype Immersive Technology lab</a> at Johnson, two stand-in crew members donned VR headsets, performed simulated moonwalk traverses, and streamed suit-mounted virtual camera footage and audio to another location, where flight controllers and science teams mimicked real-time ground communications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-training-for-the-moon">Training for the moon</h2>



Working across such different perspectives, the flight operations team and the science team are refining how they operate together.&nbsp;



The flight control team’s priority is keeping crew and spacecraft safe while minimizing risk, whereas the science team, as Miller noted, is “relentlessly thirsty” for as much information as possible. Simulations of this kind ensure these two sides have ample practice blending their goals and procedures.



Denevi described the flight control team as a “well-oiled machine,” emphasizing how committed they are to assisting the science team. Many flight controllers have immersed themselves in geology fieldwork and classes to gain a deeper understanding of the Artemis science objectives.



“They have invested a lot of their own effort into understanding the science background and science objectives, and the science team really appreciates that and wants to make sure they are also learning to operate in the best way we can to support the flight control team, because there’s a lot for us to learn as well,” Denevi said.&nbsp;



“It’s a joy to get to share the science with them and have them be excited to help us implement it all.”



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



This simulation is merely the beginning for VR in Artemis preparations. Going forward, mixed reality could give crew members a more immersive environment where they can handle genuine objects in conjunction with VR-based scenes.&nbsp;



Now that the Nobile Rim 1 landing site model exists in VR, NASA can enhance it for continuous crew training - something not easily replicated in terrestrial field trials.



While the word “virtual” shows up in the project title, the lessons learned are significant.&nbsp;



“We are uncovering a lot of things that people probably had in the back of their head as something we’d need to deal with in the future,” Miller said. “But guess what? The future is now. This is now.”



As NASA moves closer to sending astronauts back to the moon through Artemis, VR-based training looks set to play a central role in preparing flight and science teams for the demanding but rewarding work of studying the lunar environment - and laying the groundwork for humanity’s next step into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-details-on-wow-signal-transmitted-from-deep-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep space</a> exploration.



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NASA is using virtual reality to train for moon missions

When astronauts head to the moon, they will serve as...

Pure,Michigan,-,Marquette,Landscape,Photos

Rock formations can appear to be static, silent observers of the passage of time. But under their apparently immovable form, they are in a state of constant change, molded by immense natural forces.



Mountains form over millions of years, as tectonic plates crush into each other. Glaciers, persistent rain, and constant winds, on the other hand, slowly erode the mountains away.



These forces shape the landscapes we observe today, but there is one often-forgotten factor that is important in this process: the rock's strength.



To learn more about this aspect of landscape evolution, scientists from the <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Toronto Mississauga</a> undertook a detailed investigation of rock strengths and how these affect erosion rates.



Their work, which appeared recently in Science Advances, uncovered a surprising revelation - rock type alone can result in a whopping 20-fold contrast in erosion rates. 



This is something that has been underappreciated in past geological models.



The researchers centered on a 200-kilometer section of the southeastern coast of Brazil, an area with a stable climate and little tectonic activity, which made it a perfect natural lab.



By separating rock strength from the other factors, they obtained new knowledge about how landscapes change through time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-erosion-and-rock-strength">Measuring erosion and rock strength</h2>



To determine how quickly different types of rock erode, the scientists took a multi-faceted approach, analyzing both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-erosion-rates-have-exploded-in-the-midwestern-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">erosion rates</a> and the physical properties of the rocks themselves.



They studied river sediments to track landscape changes over time, and provided a clearer picture of long-term geological transformations.



A key part of their research involved measuring the concentration of beryllium-10, a rare radioactive isotope that forms when cosmic rays strike Earth’s surface. 



This isotope acts as a natural geological clock - similar to how tree rings reveal a tree’s age - which allows scientists to estimate how long a rock has been exposed to erosion.



The more beryllium-10 present, the longer the rock has remained at the surface.



The team also used a specialized tool called a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schmidt hammer</a> to measure rock strength. This device works by striking the rock with a spring-loaded mass and recording the force of its rebound. 



Stronger rocks produce a higher rebound, much like a basketball bouncing higher on a hard court than on soft grass. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-rock-type-in-erosion">Role of rock type in erosion</h2>



"The hypothesis is that, if rock strength matters, we ought to see a correlation between rock strength and erosion rates," explained Lindsay Schoenbohm, a professor of Earth sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga, and the study’s lead researcher.



"Harder rocks should equal slower erosion rates," she noted.



The study confirmed this pattern, showing that rock type plays a crucial role in shaping landscapes. Softer rocks erode quickly, influencing the formation of valleys, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-activities-threaten-rivers-far-more-than-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">river systems</a>, and even mountain structures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-database-named-thor">Database named "Thor"</h2>



To make their findings widely accessible, the researchers compiled their rock strength data into a publicly available database, nicknamed "Thor."



Launched in December, this resource offers valuable data for scientists studying climate, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plate-tectonics-active-beginning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tectonics</a>, and landscape evolution.



"We created it for people like us, initially - people who are looking at erosion rates in landscapes," one scientist noted. "But I think the applications could be extremely broad."



By emphasizing the role of rock strength in shaping landscapes, this research lays the foundation for future studies. 



Scientists can now better predict how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-secretly-reshape-landscapes-in-powerful-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">landscapes</a> will evolve by factoring in not only external forces like climate and tectonics but also the physical properties of the rocks themselves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rock-strength-and-land-management">Rock strength and land management</h2>



Understanding how rock strength influences erosion isn’t just about reconstructing the past - it has real-world implications for the future.



As climate change accelerates weathering processes, areas with softer rocks may undergo more rapid landscape transformations, increasing sediment flow into rivers and coastal ecosystems. 



This, in turn, can affect water quality, agriculture, and infrastructure stability.



The findings could also help guide land management and conservation efforts. By identifying regions with highly erodible rock types, policymakers can develop strategies to prevent excessive soil loss and protect ecosystems. 



The Thor database offers a valuable tool for scientists and environmental planners to anticipate landscape changes and make informed decisions about land use and conservation.



With these insights, researchers are not only refining our understanding of Earth’s ever-changing landscapes but also offering practical solutions for managing and protecting them.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr2610" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Rock strength shapes the evolution of Earth's landscapes

Rock formations can appear to be static, silent observers of...

In a twist that sounds like science fiction, researchers have modified mouse DNA to include traits that were once found in the extinct woolly mammoth. These <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-Engineering" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic engineering</a> efforts highlight growing attempts to make de-extinction a reality for vanished <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>.



This project has yielded small mice bearing a fluffy, woolly coat that echoes features of the Ice Age giant. The lab results have stirred curiosity among scientists and the general public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-de-extinction-of-lost-species">De-extinction of lost species</h2>



“For us, it’s an incredibly big deal,” said Beth Shapiro, chief science officer at <a href="https://colossal.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colossal Biosciences</a> in Dallas. Scientists behind this plan envision a future where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-of-the-worlds-heliconia-species-are-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinct creatures</a> might roam again.&nbsp;



The experts see these tiny rodents as proof that <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRISPR</a> can modify multiple genes to recreate lost traits. The technology harnesses molecular tools to snip and rearrange DNA inside living cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tweaking-the-genes">Tweaking the genes</h2>



To make the mice woolly, the researchers analyzed ancient mammoth genomes alongside elephant DNA. They disabled certain genes tied to hair texture, color, and heat regulation.



They also introduced a unique mutation found in woolly mammoths to see if it would produce thick fur. The resulting offspring exhibited curly coats that surprised many observers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-de-extinction-bring-species-back">Can de-extinction bring species back?</h2>



Vincent Lynch, a biology professor at the University at Buffalo, remains unconvinced about bringing back the vanished giants and recently voiced his skepticism. "Mammoths are extinct and cannot be ‘de-extincted’ or resurrected,” he stated.



Critics argue that the time and resources funneled into reviving extinct beasts might be better spent saving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-forests-rose-again-after-the-planets-most-extreme-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creatures</a> that are currently teetering on the brink of extinction. They question whether any environment could truly accommodate the needs of species that disappeared thousands of years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-stumbling-blocks">Practical stumbling blocks</h2>



Even if these genetic tweaks scale up, an elephant’s <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/african-elephant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gestation</a> lasts nearly two years, which complicates experiments. The size of the mother and the specialized procedures that are required add another layer of difficulty.



Some scientists also worry about how herds of woolly-elephant hybrids might affect fragile ecosystems. These delicate networks of living organisms can be disrupted in ways that are hard to predict.



Others are worried about overshadowing urgent efforts to protect living species. They believe well-tested conservation approaches must not lose momentum.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-concerns-about-unpredictable-mutations">Concerns about unpredictable mutations </h2>



Recreating extinct species raises questions about ethics and responsibility. Some bioethicists warn that modifying living animals to resemble long-lost <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/public-concern-over-species-extinctions-fades-quickly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> could create unintended suffering, especially if genetic changes cause health complications. 



Others argue that lab-engineered species might blur the lines between conservation and unnatural interference.



Scientists also face concerns about <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-Drift" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic drift</a>, where unpredictable mutations arise over generations. If mammoth-like elephants are introduced into the wild, they may not behave like their Ice Age relatives.



Such changes might influence their ability to interact with the environment as their ancient counterparts did, affecting everything from diet and migration patterns to social structures and survival strategies.



This uncertainty fuels debate over whether reviving extinct species serves scientific curiosity more than real-world ecological benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-de-extinction-research">Future of de-extinction research</h2>



Colossal Biosciences aims to produce elephant embryos with mammoth-like traits within a few years. The ambitious timeline hinges on refining gene-editing steps and ensuring safe pregnancies.



In the meantime, these fuzzy rodents serve as a tiny window into how far science can push modifications. The experiment demonstrates a desire to study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-earths-most-endangered-plants-from-extinction-proving-difficult-botanic-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinct</a> adaptations without waiting for a living mammoth to appear.



Many experts remain unconvinced that this venture will lead to practical conservation gains. Others see an inventive effort to better understand genetic traits that once shaped Ice Age creatures.



Supporters argue that advanced editing approaches might shield certain species from threats like habitat loss or disease, whereas critics counter that tinkering with extinct DNA could distract from proven strategies such as habitat restoration.



Debates aside, each step in this research reveals new layers of complexity in de-extinction. We now face the question of how far to push these technologies.



The controversies will likely intensify as the conversation shifts from lab-born mice to massive mammals.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.03.641227v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioRxiv</a>.



Image Credit: Colossal Biosciences



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How creating 'woolly mice' in the lab will bring back the woolly mammoth

In a twist that sounds like science fiction, researchers have...

Researchers have identified a galaxy that existed when the universe was less than 300 million years old. 



This galaxy, known as <a href="https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/01HZ083EXXCJNE64ERAH2ER2FM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JADES-GS-z14-0</a>, is not only distant but also surprisingly mature. It defies our expectations about how galaxies formed in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/andromeda-galaxy-shows-signs-of-violent-past-collisions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early universe</a>.



NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) observed the galaxy, and revealed its unexpected complexity. The research builds on a 2024 discovery that identified JADES-GS-z14-0 as the most distant known galaxy.



The new study focuses on the galaxy's chemical composition and growth, and offers fresh insights into what occurred during the universe’s first chapter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unexpected-galaxy-discovery">An unexpected galaxy discovery </h2>



The findings come from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (<a href="https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/01GKT0RRJBP5ZMJRMCQNPT8SXP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JADES</a>), a program designed to study distant galaxies. While astronomers expected to locate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-high-def-image-of-the-cosmic-web-filaments-shows-hidden-universal-highways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">faraway objects</a>, this galaxy stood out in surprising ways.



"This wasn't simply stumbling upon something unexpected," said Kevin Hainline, an associate research professor at the University of Arizona’s <a href="https://astro.arizona.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steward Observatory</a>.



"The survey was deliberately designed to find distant galaxies, but this one broke the team's records in ways they didn't anticipate - it was intrinsically bright and had a complex chemical composition that was totally unexpected so early in the universe's history."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxies-hidden-in-the-early-universe">Galaxies hidden in the early universe </h2>



The galaxy’s brightness and extended structure challenge previous assumptions. "It's not just a tiny little nugget. It's bright and fairly extended for the age of the universe when we observed it," Hainline said.



The discovery of JADES-GS-z14-0 suggests that similar galaxies may be more common than previously believed.



"The fact that we found this galaxy in a tiny region of the sky means that there should be more of these out there," said lead study author Jakob Helton, a graduate researcher at Steward Observatory. 



"If we looked at the whole sky, which we can't do with JWST, we would eventually find more of these extreme objects."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mature-chemical-composition">Mature chemical composition</h2>



The team used multiple instruments aboard JWST, including the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). These tools helped identify substantial amounts of oxygen present in the galaxy - an unexpected finding for a galaxy from such an early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-structure-in-universe-is-1-4-billion-light-years-long-quipu-superstructure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic era</a>.



In astronomy, elements heavier than helium are considered metals. These metals form over multiple generations of stars, making their presence in JADES-GS-z14-0 surprising. 



The early universe contained only hydrogen, helium, and traces of lithium. The discovery of oxygen suggests the galaxy had been forming stars for around 100 million years before its observation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-long-history-of-star-formation">A long history of star formation</h2>



To create oxygen, the galaxy must have gone through several cycles of star birth and death.



"To make oxygen, the galaxy must have started out very early on, because it would have had to form a generation of stars," said George Rieke, Regents Professor of Astronomy and the study’s senior author. 



"Those stars must have evolved and exploded as supernovae to release oxygen into interstellar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-the-universe-spinning-strange-galaxy-motion-suggests-that-it-is/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space</a>, from which new stars would form and evolve."



This process indicates that galaxies may have started forming earlier than previously believed, shifting the timeline for the first structures in the universe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-rare-and-fortunate-observation">A rare and fortunate observation</h2>



Observing JADES-GS-z14-0 required nine days of telescope time, with 167 hours of NIRCam imaging and 43 hours of MIRI imaging. The team focused on a tiny region of the sky, and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colliding-galaxy-clusters-stir-up-hot-sloshing-gas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> happened to be in just the right spot for MIRI to detect.



"The <a href="https://www.arizona.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U of A</a> astronomers were lucky that this galaxy happened to sit in the perfect spot for them to observe with MIRI," Helton said. "If they had pointed the telescope just a fraction of a degree in any direction, they would have missed getting this crucial mid-infrared data."



To explain the scale of the observation, Helton provided an analogy: "Imagine a grain of sand at the end of your arm. You see how large it is on the sky - that's how large we looked at."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refining-models-of-galaxy-formation">Refining models of galaxy formation</h2>



The existence of such a mature galaxy so early in cosmic history provides a valuable test for theories of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-brilliant-sombrero-galaxy-hints-at-an-expanding-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> form and evolve.



"Our involvement here is a product of the U of A leading in infrared astronomy since the mid-'60s, when it first started. We had the first major infrared astronomy group over in the Lunar and Planetary lab, with Gerard Kuiper, Frank Low and Harold Johnson," Rieke said.



These observations allow astronomers to refine their models of galaxy formation, and improve their understanding of how the universe transitioned from its initial elements to the complex chemistry that supports life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-era-of-galaxy-discovery">New era of galaxy discovery</h2>



The discovery of JADES-GS-z14-0 represents a major step forward in understanding the universe’s infancy. With new technology like JWST, astronomers can explore <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-might-have-formed-long-before-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> that were previously out of reach.



"We're in an incredible time in astronomy history," said Hainline. "We're able to understand galaxies that are well beyond anything humans have ever found, and see them in many different ways and really understand them. That's really magic."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-025-02503-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI



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Galaxy found in the early universe that shouldn’t exist

Researchers have identified a galaxy that existed when the universe...

A team of aerospace engineers has recently discovered that climate change is altering conditions in near-Earth space. Over time, these shifts could limit the number of satellites that can reliably operate in Earth’s orbit.&nbsp;



Led by <a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>, the new study indicates that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are causing the upper atmosphere to contract, reducing drag on older satellites and debris - and thereby threatening to make space more crowded and prone to collisions.



“Our behavior with greenhouse gases here on Earth over the past 100 years is having an effect on how we operate satellites over the next 100 years,” said study author Richard Linares, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellites-highways-are-closing">Satellites highways are closing</h2>



The researchers examined the thermosphere, an important atmospheric layer where the International Space Station and the majority of satellites operate. The thermosphere naturally shrinks and expands over an 11-year solar cycle, influenced by the sun’s output.&nbsp;



However, the MIT team found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2023-climate-change-report-record-high-temperatures-greenhouse-gases-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greenhouse gases</a> intensify the layer’s contraction, causing densities to drop at high altitudes. As a result, orbiting objects experience less drag, enabling defunct satellites and debris to remain in orbit longer than they otherwise would.



“The upper atmosphere is in a fragile state as climate change disrupts the status quo,” said lead author William Parker, a graduate student at AeroAstro.&nbsp;



“At the same time, there’s been a massive increase in the number of satellites launched, especially for delivering broadband internet from space. If we don’t manage this activity carefully and work to reduce our emissions, space could become too crowded, leading to more collisions and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-debris-may-create-a-future-with-no-internet-or-astronaut-missions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">debris</a>.”



According to the team’s simulations, these effects could reduce the “carrying capacity” of certain altitudes for satellites by 50 to 66 percent by the year 2100, meaning the environment can sustain significantly fewer satellites without triggering a surge in collisions.



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



When higher atmospheric layers remain dense enough, objects that reach the end of their operational life slowly lose altitude and burn up upon reentry. This self-cleaning mechanism helps clear old satellites and debris.&nbsp;



However, if drag decreases due to a contracted thermosphere, outdated spacecraft remain aloft for decades, congesting key orbital paths. Thus, less drag means extended lifetimes for space junk, which will litter various regions for decades, increasing the potential for collisions in orbit.



To arrive at this conclusion, the researchers created models of how carbon emissions affect the thermosphere and influence orbital behavior.&nbsp;



They then used these models to estimate the “satellite carrying capacity” of low-Earth orbit - a concept borrowed from ecology, referring to the maximum population an ecosystem (or, in this case, a region of space) can support without detrimental outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-many-satellites-can-safely-coexist">How many satellites can safely coexist?</h2>



The study involved simulating possible future greenhouse gas emissions in order to see how atmospheric density could evolve. They tested various scenarios of continued emissions growth, as well as one in which the emissions stayed at their level from the year 2000.&nbsp;



Next, they factored in known orbital dynamics and possible collisions to figure out how many satellites at different altitudes could safely coexist before collisions and debris would spiral out of control.



By 2100, the number of satellites safely accommodated within the altitudes of 200 and 1,000 kilometers might be reduced by 50 to 66% compared with a scenario in which emissions remain at year-2000 levels.&nbsp;



If space operators exceed this capacity at a given altitude, the experts warn of a “runaway instability,” in which one collision creates enough shards of debris that future collisions become much more likely.



Even in a local region, we seem to be close to approaching this capacity value today since thousands of new satellites now populate low-Earth orbit, especially from so-called megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink, which provides satellite-based internet.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-shifting-debris-environment">A shifting debris environment </h2>



Nowadays, there are more than 10,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit and we rely on the atmosphere to clean up the debris. But if the atmosphere is changing, the debris environment will also change.&nbsp;



These satellites deliver vital services . communication, internet, weather data, navigation - but their population growth forces many to perform regular collision-avoidance maneuvers.



If the atmosphere keeps thinning at key orbits, older and no-longer-functional craft won’t reenter and disintegrate as rapidly as they used to. As a result, defunct satellites, boosters, and other pieces of debris could float indefinitely, becoming a hazard to newer missions.&nbsp;



A single collision in one orbital shell can generate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-space-exploration-could-be-shut-down-by-orbiting-debris/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">debris</a> that may remain in orbit for decades or centuries, triggering subsequent collisions.



“We show the long-term outlook on orbital debris is critically dependent on curbing our greenhouse gas emissions,” Parker said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consequences-of-global-warming">Consequences of global warming </h2>



In the midst of rapid satellite deployments, these results underline the need for improved space-traffic management and collision-avoidance protocols to keep orbits safe.&nbsp;



The simulations also provide compelling motivation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.&nbsp;



“The megaconstellation is a new trend and we’re showing that because of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, we’re going to have a reduced capacity in orbit,” Linares explained.



By examining the intersection of climate and orbital dynamics, the researchers have uncovered one more factor that highlights the far-reaching consequences of global warming.&nbsp;



“Our behavior with greenhouse gases here on Earth over the past 100 years is having an effect on how we operate satellites over the next 100 years,” Linares concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01512-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Sustainability</a>.



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Climate change is shrinking Earth’s atmosphere - and that’s bad for satellites

A team of aerospace engineers has recently discovered that climate...

Whales are not just big - they’re important contributors to healthy oceans. When they poop, they move nutrients from deep water to the surface, benefiting organisms in the marine food web.&nbsp;



Now, new research has shown that whales also ferry substantial quantities of nutrients for thousands of miles in their urine and other bodily outputs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-delivering-nutrients-across-the-ocean">Delivering nutrients across the ocean</h2>



In 2010, experts revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-poop-is-a-natural-fertilizer-that-keeps-the-ocean-alive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whales</a>, feeding at depth and pooping at the surface, offer a critical resource for plankton growth and ocean productivity.&nbsp;



The latest study, led by the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, has found that whales transport abundant nutrients horizontally across entire ocean basins.&nbsp;



These nutrients typically travel from rich, cold waters where whales feed to warm equatorial regions where they mate and give birth, delivered in large part by their urine - though sloughed skin, calf feces, carcasses, and placentas also play a part.



“These coastal areas often have clear waters, a sign of low <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nitrogen-was-plentiful-for-early-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen</a>, and many have coral reef ecosystems,” said Joe Roman, a biologist at the University of Vermont, who co-led the research.&nbsp;



“The movement of nitrogen and other nutrients can be important to the growth of phytoplankton, or microscopic algae, and provide food for sharks and other fish and many invertebrates.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-long-distance-nutrient-pipeline">A long-distance nutrient pipeline</h2>



The researchers found that in oceans worldwide, great whales - including right whales, gray whales, and humpbacks - carry around 4,000 tons of nitrogen each year into coastal zones in the tropics and subtropics.&nbsp;



They also deliver more than 45,000 tons of biomass. Before commercial whaling decimated whale populations, this offshore-to-inshore “nutrient pipeline” could have been three or more times larger.



For instance, scientists estimate that thousands of humpback whales migrate annually from a vast foraging region in the Gulf of Alaska to a smaller breeding area in Hawaii.&nbsp;



The team shows that the nutrient inputs - tons of excretions, skin, and carcasses - provided by whales in the <a href="https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary</a> are about double the amount brought in by local oceanic processes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-whale-conveyer-belt">The whale conveyer belt</h2>



“We call it the ‘great whale conveyor belt,’ or it can also be thought of as a funnel because whales feed over large areas, but they need to be in a relatively confined space to find a mate, breed, and give birth. At first, the calves don’t have the energy to travel long distances like the moms can,” Roman explained.&nbsp;



Another factor is that the whales likely remain in shallow, sandy waters to muffle their calls. “Moms and newborns are calling all the time, staying in communication,” he added. “And they don’t want predators, like killer whales, or breeding humpback males, to pick up on that.”



Therefore, nutrients that are widely dispersed over feeding zones become concentrated in limited tropical and subtropical habitats, “like collecting leaves to make compost for your garden,” as Roman put it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-animals-massive-migrations">Large animals, massive migrations</h2>



During summer, fully grown whales gorge on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-satellites-track-antarctic-krill-are-these-tiny-ocean-shrimp-in-danger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">krill</a>, herring, and other prey in high-latitude waters near Alaska, Iceland, and Antarctica. Recent studies indicate that North Pacific humpback whales can gain about 30 pounds daily in spring, summer, and fall.&nbsp;



This substantial fat build-up supports an incredible <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noise-pollution-is-increasingly-disrupting-whale-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration</a>: baleen whales routinely travel thousands of miles to tropical breeding grounds without eating. Gray whales, for example, make a nearly 7,000-mile journey between feeding grounds off Russia and calving sites along Baja California. 



Meanwhile, some humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere migrate over 5,000 miles from waters near Antarctica to areas off Costa Rica.



During these treks, they burn off hundreds of pounds a day and excrete substantial amounts of nitrogen-rich urea. One Icelandic study found that feeding fin whales can release more than 250 gallons of urine daily, while humans typically excrete less than half a gallon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-life-on-a-different-scale-nbsp">Living life on a different scale&nbsp;</h2>



Whales have the longest migrations of any mammal and are outsized creatures in every sense.&nbsp;



“Because of their size, whales are able to do things that no other animal does. They’re living life on a different scale,” said co-author Andrew Pershing, an oceanographer at the nonprofit organization Climate Central.&nbsp;



“Nutrients are coming in from outside - and not from a river, but by these migrating animals. It’s super-cool, and changes how we think about ecosystems in the ocean. We don’t think of animals other than humans having an impact on a planetary scale, but the whales really do.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-circulatory-system-of-the-planet-nbsp">Circulatory system of the planet&nbsp;</h2>



Prior to commercial whaling that started in the 1800s, nutrient transfers would likely have been much larger, Pershing argued. He noted that researchers do not yet fully understand inputs from blue whales - the largest animals on Earth - which were heavily hunted in the twentieth century. 



“There’s basic things that we don’t know about them, like where their breeding areas are,” said Pershing, noting that humpback populations are recovering in some places, but blue whale numbers remain severely diminished.



“Lots of people think of plants as the lungs of the planet, taking in carbon dioxide and expelling oxygen. For their part, animals play an important role in moving nutrients,” said Roman.&nbsp;



“Seabirds transport nitrogen and phosphorus from the ocean to the land in their poop, increasing the density of plants on islands. Animals form the circulatory system of the planet - and whales are the extreme example.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56123-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Whales transport nutrients across entire ocean basins in their urine

Whales are not just big - they’re important contributors to...

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" 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> 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...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

[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;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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

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