For decades, researchers have questioned whether boys and girls are born with the same natural ability in math. In 2005, cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke took a firm stand, stating that there are no differences in overall intrinsic aptitude for science and mathematics among women and men.



Now, the evidence is even stronger. In a new study, researchers from <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a> and several institutions across France examined math performance in more than 2.5 million French schoolchildren. 



The team found that at the very beginning of first grade, boys and girls start off nearly equal in math. But just four months into formal math instruction, a small gap appears - and it keeps growing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nationwide-study-tracks-the-math-gap">Nationwide study tracks the math gap</h2>



The research draws on a French government testing program that was launched in 2018. This nationwide effort tracked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reminiscing-can-boost-language-development-in-preschoolers/">language</a> and math skills of young students from first through sixth grade. 



Over five years and across four student cohorts, the program gave researchers an unmatched view of early math development.



At school entry, French girls scored slightly better than boys in language. Math scores, though, were essentially the same. 



"The headline conclusion is that the gender gap emerges when systematic instruction in mathematics begins," Spelke explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-for-gender-differences">Looking for gender differences </h2>



Spelke had already spent decades studying how young children understand numbers and shapes. Back in 2005, she wrote a major review for American Psychologist. The piece challenged the notion that boys are biologically wired for better math performance than girls.



"My argument was, 'OK, if there really were biological differences, maybe we would see them in the infancy period,'" said Spelke. 



She and her team always tracked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-children-learn-gender-stereotypes-from-storybooks/">gender</a> in their studies, but they never found infant boys outperforming girls in math, or vice versa. Still, Spelke admitted that something could be happening later in development.



"The fact that there are no differences in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conscious-awareness-when-does-our-sense-of-purpose-emerge/">infants</a> could be because the abilities that show gender effects actually emerge during preschool," she proposed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-math-instruction-for-boys-and-girls">Math instruction for boys and girls</h2>



In recent years, Spelke has turned her attention to how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-better-way-for-kids-to-learn-math/">children learn counting</a> and numbers in real classrooms. 



Spelke partnered with Nobel Prize-winning MIT economist Esther Duflo to advise the Delhi office of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). The team is helping four Indian states create and test math lessons for children in preschool through first grade.



In France, she works alongside her longtime collaborator, neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene. Together, they serve on the French Ministry of Education's Scientific Council, which helped develop the EvalAide testing program. 



The idea was simple: measure where every child stands in math and language and use that data to guide better teaching.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gender-gap-emerges-in-math">Gender gap emerges in math</h2>



For this study, the team analyzed data from four full cohorts of first-graders entering school between 2018 and 2021. 



What they found was consistent: no math gap at the time of school entry, a small but significant gap favoring boys after four months, and a steadily widening gap by second, fourth, and even sixth grade.



"It was even bigger in fourth grade," Spelke said. "And in sixth grade it was bigger still."



Interestingly, the gender gap in language shrank slightly after the first few months of school and stayed relatively stable in later years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ruling-out-old-explanations">Ruling out old explanations</h2>



So why does the math gap grow with time in school? The researchers ruled out several familiar theories.



"If there was really a pervasive social bias, and the parents were susceptible to it, we would expect boys to be more oriented toward spatial and numerical tasks when they first got to school," said Spelke.



But that didn’t happen. At school entry, there was no math gap. This points away from both biological and early social bias explanations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-experiment-during-the-pandemic">An experiment during the pandemic </h2>



The EvalAide dataset offered other insights. French first-graders can be nearly a year apart in age, depending on when their birthday falls. 



The team wondered if the older students were skewing results. They weren’t. The widening gender gap aligned more closely with time spent in school than with age.



Then came an unusual variable: COVID-19. The 2019 cohort missed the final 2.5 months of first grade due to lockdowns. That gap year created a natural experiment.



"With less time in school, the amount of the gender gap grew by less than it did in the other years where there wasn't a long school closure," said Spelke.



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



The cohort also began school just after a national education crisis. In early 2019, French students had scored <a href="https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/braincamps/society/how-to-improve-the-relationship-between-education-and-employment/maths-an-essential-subject-whose-level-is-falling-in-a-majority-of-countries/#:~:text=In%202003%2C%2015%25%20of%20French,European%20average%20of%20527%20points.">lowest</a> among 23 European countries in math, according to international rankings. 



In response, the French Education Ministry - guided by its Scientific Council - called for more math teaching in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-pandemic-setbacks-reduced-kindergarten-readiness/">kindergarten</a>.



Sure enough, a tiny math gender gap appeared in fall 2019 among new first-graders. That gap hadn’t shown up in 2018 but was still present in 2020 and 2021.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-problems-in-early-math-instruction">Problems in early math instruction </h2>



The study doesn't pinpoint a single cause, but its message is clear: differences in math achievement between boys and girls seem to grow as a result of what happens in early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/schools-are-in-a-battle-with-cell-phones-to-keep-students-engaged/">school</a> instruction.



"We still don't know what that is exactly," Spelke said. "But now we have a chance to find out by randomized evaluations of changes to the curriculum."



The findings put pressure on education systems to ask hard questions about how math is taught in the early years - and what needs to change to make it fair for everyone.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09126-4">Nature</a>.



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Early math instruction may unintentionally favor boys

For decades, researchers have questioned whether boys and girls are born with the same natural ability in math. In 2005, cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke took a firm stand, stating that there are no differences in overall intrinsic aptitude for science and mathematics among women and men. Now, the evidence is even stronger. In a new study, researchers from Harvard University and several institutions across France examined math performance in more than 2.5 million French schoolchildren. The team found that at the very beginning of first grade, boys...

Eggs are a rich source of dietary cholesterol and have been given a bad rap in the past because of this. In a world struggling to understand and change the high incidence of raised cholesterol levels and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-air-pollutants-contribute-to-cardiovascular-disease/">cardiovascular disease</a>, eggs were a natural target for those wishing to live more heart-healthy lifestyles.&nbsp;



However, eggs contain a wide range of very important nutrients and are eaten by people all over the world. Studies to establish a link between eating eggs and suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD) have come up with conflicting results and so the relationship remains a subject of debate.&nbsp;



A 2018 study published in the journal Heart was focused on data from approximately half a million adults in China. The researchers found that those who ate eggs between 3 and 6 times a week had a substantially lower risk of suffering from heart disease, hypertension and stroke compared to those who ate eggs more or less frequently.



Now, a new study has again sought to establish whether eating eggs is harmful or beneficial to our cardiovascular health by considering the role of cholesterol metabolism in the blood. The authors of this study, published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/72909">eLife</a>, conducted population-based research exploring how egg consumption affects biochemical markers of cardiovascular health that are found in the blood.



“Few studies have looked at the role that plasma cholesterol metabolism plays in the association between egg consumption and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, so we wanted to help address this gap,” explained first author Lang Pan of Peking University.



For the investigation, the experts selected 4,778 participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank – 3,401 of them had a cardiovascular disease and 1,377 did not. The team then used a technique called targeted nuclear magnetic resonance to measure the levels of 225 different metabolites present in the blood plasma of each of the participants. The researchers identified 24 of these metabolites that were associated statistically with self-reported levels of egg consumption.



Of these 24 metabolites associated with eating eggs, 14 of them were linked specifically to heart disease. The researchers found that participants who ate fewer eggs had lower levels of beneficial metabolites and higher levels of harmful ones in their blood, compared to those who ate eggs more regularly.



In particular, the results of the analysis showed that individuals who ate eggs in moderation had higher levels of a protein in their blood called apolipoprotein A1, a building-block of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is also known sometimes as "good lipoprotein." These individuals had more large HDL molecules in their blood; these are molecules that help clear cholesterol from blood vessels, thereby protecting them from blockages that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.



“Together, our results provide a potential explanation for how eating a moderate amount of eggs can help protect against heart disease,” said study co-author Professor Canqing Yu. “More studies are needed to verify the causal roles that lipid metabolites play in the association between egg consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease.”



“This study may also have implications for Chinese national dietary guidelines,” added senior author Professor Liming Li. “Current health guidelines in China suggest eating one egg a day, but data indicate that the average consumption is lower than this. Our work highlights the need for more strategies to encourage moderate egg consumption among the population, to help lower the overall risk of cardiovascular disease.”



---



By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

An egg a day may keep the heart doctor away

Eggs are a rich source of dietary cholesterol and have...

Frustrated,Middle,Aged,Man,Sitting,On,Couch,At,Home.,Close

A new study led by the <a href="https://icahn.mssm.edu/">Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai</a> has found that acute <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-gives-animals-a-survival-advantage-but-only-to-a-point/">stress</a> can be detrimental to fight off infections, such as Covid-19 or influenza, and increases the chance of dying in mouse models. These findings connecting the brain to the immune system clarify how stress modulates the body’s responses to viruses, making infected organisms more susceptible to severe illness and worse overall outcomes.&nbsp;



In the first part of the study, researchers analyzed the immune systems of relaxed and stressed mouse models. Within just a few minutes, mice experiencing acute stress showed major changes in their immune systems, compared to those in the relaxed group. By using sophisticated tools such as chemogenetics and optogenetics, the scientists found that, under stressful conditions, neurons from the paraventricular hypothalamus were prompting immune cells, or leucocytes, to migrate from lymph nodes into the blood and bone marrow.



In a second step, the researchers infected mice with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza and found that those in the relaxed group were able to fight infection better and eliminate the virus from their organism more easily. The stressed mice became sicker and had a higher death rate after infection.&nbsp;



“This work tells us that stress has a major impact on our immune system and its ability to fight infections. It raises many questions about how socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, and environments we inhabit control how our bodies can defend themselves against infection,” said study lead author Filip Swirski, the director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Icahn School.



This study is an important example of how the brain controls inflammation triggered by immune responses to infections, and how acute stress can lead to worse outcomes when fighting viral infections. These findings should prompt physicians to pay better attention to patients’ mental states, including stress levels and sleeping patterns, and devise therapeutic measures that take into account pre-existing mental conditions.



“Moving forward, we will need to better understand the long-term effects of stress. It will be particularly important to explore how we can build resilience to stress and whether resilience can diminish stress’s negative effects on our immune systems,” concluded Dr. Swirski.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.



---



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

Stress may be detrimental to fighting off infections

A new study led by the Icahn School of Medicine...

Choosing a baby name or a dog breed are often considered arbitrary events. However, a team of evolutionary biologists from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> has found that humans unconsciously follow a pattern of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stickleback-fish-provide-new-insight-into-natural-selection/">selection</a> that is strikingly similar with how nature operates in selecting various traits in order to ensure genetic and behavioral diversity.&nbsp;



The scientists examined a phenomenon called frequency-dependent selection, in which the tendency to copy a certain variant depends on its current frequency or popularity, regardless of its content. If people tend to copy the most common variant, everyone will end up doing the same thing. However, if they are less willing to copy a variant the more popular it becomes, a greater diversity of variants will emerge and disseminate.&nbsp;



“Think of how we use millions of different names to refer to people but we almost always use the same word to refer to baseball,” said study lead author Mitchell Newberry, an assistant professor of Complex Systems and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. “For words, there’s pressure to conform, but our work shows that the diversity of names results from pressures against conformity.”



By using the Social Security Administration baby name database, the researchers examined frequency dependence in first names in the United States over the past 87 years. They found that when a name is most rare – one in 10,000 births – it tends to grow, on average, at a rate of 1.4 percent per year. Yet, when a name is most common – more than one in 100 births – its popularity declines annually by 1.6 percent. 



Applying the same technique to examine dog breed preferences, the scientists found similar results: the more popular a breed became, the less it was selected – a phenomenon they call “negative frequency dependent selection.”



“This is really a case study showing how boom-bust cycles by themselves can disfavor common types and promote diversity,” Professor Newberry explained. “If people are always thirsting after the newest thing, then it’s going to create a lot of new things. Every time a new thing is created, it’s promoted, and so more rare things rise to higher frequency and you have more diversity in the population.”



According to Professor Newberry, such frequency-dependent pressures are fundamental in determining a large variety of biological processes, such as genetic diversity, immune escape, host-pathogen dynamics, or the distribution of genders in a population.&nbsp;



While conformity is necessary to ensure the survival of organisms, anti-conformity is highly important too. For instance, if we all had the same immune systems, we would all be susceptible to the same diseases. Similarly, if an animal species visited the same patch of land for food, they would quickly eat themselves out of existence.



Further research is needed to assess how frequency-dependent selection functions in culture compared to biology, and to develop proper tools to measure and interpret it.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-022-01342-6">Nature Human Behavior</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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

Choosing a baby name is not as random as we think

Choosing a baby name or a dog breed are often...

Rivers have been a steady source of life for many civilizations growing on their banks over thousands of years. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-moon-volcanoes-may-provide-astronauts-with-drinking-water/">Water</a> for drinking, irrigation and sanitation have always been essential.&nbsp;



However, there is a darker side to rivers. When they flood their banks, these powerful bodies of water can destroy crops, bring down buildings, and cause deaths.&nbsp;



Modern engineers strive to control rivers, but they can be unpredictable. Sometimes floods can even force a river to take an entirely new course, something called a river avulsion.&nbsp;



Now, a team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara has created the first list of river avulsions. The study finishes off a decade of work by the research group, and will significantly increase our understanding of avulsions.&nbsp;



&nbsp;“This dataset provides the first unambiguous test of the theory, which demonstrates that there are three distinct regimes of avulsions on fans and deltas,” said study co-author Professor <a href="https://www.geog.ucsb.edu/people/faculty/vamsi-ganti">Vamsi Ganti</a> of <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">UC Santa Barbara</a>. “This is a long way from where we started,” he added. “A decade ago, avulsions were thought to be these chaotic and stochastic events that were not very predictable.”



Because of the rarity of avulsions, they have been difficult to study and little has been known about them. Typically, a river would need to be studied for a long period of time for avulsions to be observed. Satellite photos are an answer to this problem - allowing researchers to instead monitor the whole planet looking for avulsions.&nbsp;



“Although avulsions are very rare, when you’re looking at practically every single delta on Earth, you’re going to get lucky on a few of them,” said study co-author Austin Chadwick, a postdoctoral scholar at University of Minnesota.&nbsp;



The team got lucky 113 times while combing the satellite data from 1973 to 2020 and historical maps. “Instead of having these few, deeply studied sites, we now have a representative sample of everywhere on Earth for the last 50 years,” said Chadwick.&nbsp;



The researchers found three types of avulsions. In the first, the river moved to a flatter landscape where it fanned out. In the second, the river avulsion was limited to a backwater area. Thirdly, the avulsion carried sediments quite far upstream.&nbsp;



Understanding avulsions can be important for human planning, especially as climate change continues to intensify. The scientists hope that this study is the start of a deeper understanding of avulsions and how they will affect us.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/">Science</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

What happens when rivers jump their banks?

Rivers have been a steady source of life for many...

Palaeospondylus gunni is a mysterious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-fossils-provide-new-insight-into-the-origins-of-teeth/">fish</a>-like fossil vertebrate discovered in 1890 in Scotland. This small animal with an eel-like body lived approximately 390 million years ago, in the Middle Devonian period. Its strange set of morphological features, including a lack of teeth and dermal bones in the fossil record, has made it one of the most enigmatic fossil vertebrates.&nbsp;



Although its phylogenetic position has remained unclear for over a century since its discovery, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/">University of Tokyo</a> and the <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/">Australian National University</a> (ANU) has now managed to classify the specimen, arguing that it is most likely one of the earliest ancestors of tetrapods (four-limbed animals).



“This strange animal has baffled scientists since its discovery in 1890 as a puzzle that’s been impossible to solve. Morphological comparisons of this animal have always been extremely challenging for scientists,” said study co-author Yuzhi Hu, an expert in early vertebrate evolution at ANU.



“However, recent improvements in high resolution 3D segmentation and visualization have made this previously impossible task possible. Finding a specimen as well preserved as the ones we used is like winning the lottery, or even better!”



Due to its cartilaginous skeleton and the absence of paired appendages, Palaeospondylus gunni is most likely a member of Sarcopterygii, a group of lobed-finned fishes which are considered to be the evolutionary ancestors of tetrapods – a superclass including amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. These findings could help scientists unlock a variety of unknown morphological features and evolutionary history of four-limbed animals.



However, according to Dr. Hu, it is still hard to accurately determine what this strange animal was, as well as its position on the evolutionary tree. “Even with this new information, long-lasting investigations with the joint effort of scientists from around the world is needed to give us the perfect answer of what actually is&nbsp;Palaeospondylus gunni,” she concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04781-3">Nature</a>.



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

Mysterious fish-like fossil finally classified

Palaeospondylus gunni is a mysterious fish-like fossil vertebrate discovered in...

Instead of recording single memories, our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-brains-are-highly-specialized-for-flight/">brains</a> store them into groups so that the recollection of a significant memory triggers the recall of other connected ones. However, as we age, our brains gradually lose the capacity to link related memories.&nbsp;



A team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/">University of California, Los Angeles</a> (UCLA) has now discovered a key molecular mechanism behind memory linking, together with a way of restoring this crucial brain function in middle-aged mice. These findings could offer new methods for strengthening human memory in middle age and developing early interventions against dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.



“Our memories are a huge part of who we are,” explained study senior author Alcino Silva, a distinguished professor of Neurobiology and Psychiatry at UCLA. “The ability to link related experiences teaches how to stay safe and operate successfully in the world.”



Professor Silva and his team focused on a gene called CCR5 which encodes a receptor that the HIV virus uses to infect brain cells and cause memory loss in AIDS patients. By performing several experiments on laboratory mice, the scientists found that boosting CCR5 expression in the brains of middle-aged mice interfered with memory linking. However, when deleting this gene, the mice were able to link memories that normal mice could not.



“Life would be impossible if we remembered everything,” said Professor Silva. “We suspect that CCR5 enables the brain to connect meaningful experiences by filtering out less significant details.”



The researchers also found that maraviroc – a drug used against HIV infections since 2007 – also suppressed CCR5 in mice’s brains. “When we gave maraviroc to older mice, the drug duplicated the effect of genetically deleting CCR5 from their DNA. The older animals were able to link memories again,” reported Professor Silva. Thus, maraviroc could be used off-label to restore middle-age memory loss, in addition to reversing the cognitive deficits induced by HIV infections.



“Our next step will be to organize a clinical trial to test maraviroc’s influence on early memory loss with the goal of early intervention. Once we fully understand how memory declines, we possess the potential to slow down the process,” concluded Professor Silva.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04783-1">Nature</a>.



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

How does the brain connect meaningful memories?

Instead of recording single memories, our brains store them into...

Biodiversity brings to mind coral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-coral-reefs-crackle-with-the-sounds-of-busy-inhabitants/">reefs</a> or dense tropical forests. In each of these environments, there are a large number of species with a lot of interactions between them. These animals cooperate to watch for predators, prey on each other, and parasitize one another. Fishes hide among corals and monkeys climb trees - and both may eat from their shelters.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Species interactions and biodiversity seem to increase together, and previous studies suggest that the two are interdependent. However, the question of how species interactions are impacted by biodiversity has not been thoroughly investigated.



Now, a new study from <a href="https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en">Kyoto University</a> shows that although biodiversity increases with species interactions, the strength of these interactions decreases.



The strength of interactions among species can be measured in many different ways, with each technique yielding a different answer. Interaction strength is often used to predict stability and robustness within an ecosystem.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



"The total interaction strength experienced by a single species is a limiting factor, resulting in weakened interspecific interactions in a high-diversity community," said study lead author Masayuki Ushio.



He suggested that the interaction capacity hypothesis can be used to explain this phenomenon. This theory suggests that biodiversity and network connectance are driven by the sum of interaction strength that an individual species gives and receives. Connectance is the number of interaction links between two species compared to the potential links.&nbsp;



"This phenomenon can provide mechanistic explanations for many observed ecological patterns in nature," said Ushio.



To test this hypothesis, the researchers constructed interaction networks using DNA that was collected from the environment of 1,197 species found on experimental rice plots. The data was then mathematically modeled to test the hypothesis.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The results of the analysis suggest that community diversity, interaction capacity and connectance are dependent on each other.&nbsp;



"Our meta-analysis of datasets on biodiversity suggests that the interaction capacity hypothesis might be applicable to a wide range of taxa and ecosystems," concluded Ushio.



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How does biodiversity affect species interactions

Biodiversity brings to mind coral reefs or dense tropical forests....

The pink sea fan is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chemical-found-in-soft-corals-could-be-used-to-treat-cancer/">soft coral</a> living in shallow waters from the western Mediterranean to the northwest of Ireland and the southwest of England and Wales. A new study led by the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> has found that, as global temperatures rise, this species is likely to spread northwards, including around the British coast. Since these corals are currently categorized as vulnerable by the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a> (IUCN), the experts’ findings could be used to identify priority areas to protect pink sea fan populations.&nbsp;



Pink sea fans, as many other octocoral species, are ecologically important because they add complexity to reef systems and support aquatic biodiversity, particularly when they form dense “forests.” Moreover, they can also be used as broader indicators of ecosystem health, since fragmented or degraded colonies may be a sign of degraded environments.&nbsp;



“We built models to predict the current and future (2081-2100) habitat of pink sea fans across an area covering the Bay of Biscay, the British Isles, and southern Norway,” said study lead author Tom Jenkins, a research scientist at the University of Exeter. “The model predictions revealed current areas of suitable habitat beyond the current northern range limits of the pink sea fan, in areas where colonies have not yet been observed.” &nbsp;



According to Dr. Jenkins, it is not clear why pink sea fans have not yet colonized these areas, although insufficient dispersal of their larvae and high competition between species for habitats and resources could play a significant role.



“Our future predictions, using a high-emissions global warming scenario called <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-the-high-emissions-rcp8-5-global-warming-scenario/">RCP 8.5</a>, revealed an increase in suitable habitat for pink sea fans to the north of its current range – so the species could spread northwards by 2100,” he added. “We also found that existing habitat across south-west Britain, the Channel Islands and northwest France is predicted to remain suitable for this species over the next 60-80 years.”



These findings highlight the complex impact of global warming on marine ecosystems. “In a rapidly changing mosaic of habitats, some species – typically those favoring warmer conditions – may come out as short-term ‘winners’,” said study co-author Jamie Stevens, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Exeter. “How long these species can continue to expand and benefit in the face of accelerated warming remains to be seen.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13509">PeerJ</a>.



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

Pink sea fan corals are resilient to climate change

The pink sea fan is a soft coral living in...

A research team led by the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a> has recently discovered an entirely new class of highly reactive chemical compounds – hydrotrioxides (ROOH) – in Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/methane-in-a-planets-atmosphere-could-be-a-sign-of-life/">atmosphere</a>. The chemicals are extremely oxidizing and likely to affect both human health and the global climate.



Scientists have long known that common chemical compounds called hydrogen peroxides, which contain two oxygen atoms attached to each other and are thus highly reactive and often flammable and explosive, are abundantly found in the atmosphere. Recent years have witnessed debates as to whether trioxides – chemical compounds with three oxygen atoms attached to one another and thereby even more reaction than the peroxides – are released in the atmosphere too. Until recently though, their existence has not been unequivocally proven.



“This is what we have now accomplished,” said study senior author Henrik Grum Kjærgaard, a professor of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen. “The type of compounds we discovered are unique in their structure. And, because they are extremely oxidizing, they most likely bring a host of effects that we have yet to uncover.”



According to Professor Kjærgaard and his colleagues, hydrotrioxides are formed during the atmospheric decomposition of many widely emitted substances, such as isoprene and dimethyl sulfate. In fact, researchers estimate that almost all chemical compounds can form trioxides in the atmosphere with lifespans ranging from minutes to hours. Thus, these substances are stable enough to react with many other atmospheric compounds.&nbsp;



The scientists suspect that trioxides are able to enter into tiny airborne particles called <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/aerosols-swirling-around-the-earth/">aerosols</a>, which can be easily inhaled and lead to various health hazards, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Moreover, these aerosols may also have a significant impact on the climate.



“As sunlight is both reflected and absorbed by aerosols, this affects the Earth’s heat balance - that is, the ratio of sunlight that Earth absorbs and sends back into space. When aerosols absorb substances, they grow and contribute to cloud formation, which affects Earth’s climate as well,” explained study co-author Eva R. Kjærgaard, a PhD student in Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen.



Further research is needed to clarify the full range of effects atmospheric trioxides may have on human health and the climate, and to develop targeted interventions if they turn out to be dangerous. Moreover, future investigations of the chemical composition of the atmosphere are necessary to identify other potentially harmful substances.&nbsp;



“The discovery suggests that there could be plenty of other things in the air that we don’t yet know about. Indeed, the air surrounding us is a huge tangle of complex chemical reactions. As researchers, we need to keep an open mind if we want to get better at finding solutions,” concluded study co-author Jing Chen, a computational chemist at the University of Copenhagen.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn6012">Science</a>.



---



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

Highly reactive chemicals discovered in the atmosphere

A research team led by the University of Copenhagen has...

All <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-animals-can-evolve-faster-than-previously-thought/">animals</a> need survival skills, and one critical skill for mice is finding the quickest route to safety. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/">Sainsbury Wellcome Centre</a> at UCL wanted to know how mice decide on the best route to safety when they are in a new environment.



Study co-author Tiago Branco explained why this experiment differs from previous studies. “In many neuroscience studies, mice are trained to solve complex mazes and are given lots of time to learn how to do so. But in nature, mice do not have that luxury – when faced with threat, they must escape to shelter as quickly as possible. The question is how do mice learn this very quickly, without the opportunity of trial and error.”&nbsp;



To answer this question, the neuroscientists presented two or three routes back to a shelter and exposed mice to simulated threats. Then they blocked the most direct route and watched to see which path the animals would choose. The experts found that the mice preferred the shortest way to shelter.



Next, the team analyzed the inexperienced mice encountering a threat for the first time. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that these individuals preferred the shortest route after exploring their surroundings for only 10 minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Mice are predated on by many species and so for a mouse it’s very important to know how to escape to safety," explained Branco. "If you put a mouse in a new environment, its priority is to map out space and figure out how to get to a safe place. This is in the natural repertoire of the mouse’s behavior and does not have to be explicitly instructed.”



The experts ascertained that mice can discover the shortest route by exploring their environment and assuming the best path to safety. This Is known as an innate heuristic, meaning that mice have evolved neural circuits that facilitate making intrinsic choices after exploring their environment.



“Animals are very good at learning about the things that matter to them," explained Branco. "To understand the mouse brain and the algorithms and neural circuits that support learning, it is important to look at the behaviours that the mouse has evolved to do and the constraints that they are under to learn fast and efficiently.”



The researchers look forward to exploring other questions about how animals make choices based on expectations. They also believe their findings will prove useful in the area of rapid learning research.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mice make it a priority to find the best escape route

All animals need survival skills, and one critical skill for...

Due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-threatens-the-health-of-billions-of-people/">climate change</a>, temperatures in the Arctic are rising rapidly. As a result, the treeline for Siberian larch forests is steadily advancing northward, gradually replacing the broad expanses of tundra, which are home to a unique and diverse community of plants and animals, many of which are endemic to this region.&nbsp;



By using computer simulations, a research team led by the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en/">Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research</a> (AWI) has now found that only consistent climate protection measures could allow roughly 30 percent of the Siberian tundra to survive to mid-millennium. In less favorable greenhouse-gas reduction scenarios, this habitat may disappear completely.



“For the Arctic Ocean and the sea ice, the current and future warming will have serious consequences,” said study co-author Ulrike Herzschuh, Head of the Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems Division at AWI.



“But the environment on land will also change drastically. The broad expanses of tundra in Siberia and North America will be massively reduced, as the treeline, which is already slowly changing, rapidly advances northward in the near future. In the worst-case scenario, there will be virtually no tundra left by the middle of the millennium.”&nbsp;



Professor Herzschuh and her colleagues simulated this process for the tundra in northeast Russia, and found that, in the majority of greenhouse-gas reduction scenarios, less than six percent of today’s tundra will survive by mid-millennium. Only drastic reductions in emissions could save about 30 percent of this habitat, which is currently home to a diversity of plant and animal species that are adapted to live in harsh conditions, including mountain avens, Arctic poppies, willows, birches, reindeer, lemmings, and Arctic bumblebees.



“At this point, it’s a matter of life and death for the Siberian tundra,” said Eva Klebelsberg, an expert in Sustainable Development at the <a href="https://www.arcticwwf.org/">World Wildlife Fund Arctic Program</a>. “Larger areas can only be saved with very ambitious climate protection targets. And even then, in the best case there will ultimately be two discrete refuges, with smaller flora and fauna populations that are highly vulnerable to disrupting influences. That’s why it’s important that we intensify and expand protective measures and protected areas in these regions, so as to preserve refuges for the tundra’s unparalleled biodiversity,” she concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/75163">eLife</a>.



---



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

Siberian tundra could vanish by mid-millennium

Due to climate change, temperatures in the Arctic are rising...

A new study led by the <a href="https://en.uniss.it/">University of Sassari</a> (UNISS) in Italy has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bottlenose-dolphins-struggle-with-weight-in-their-40s/">bottlenose dolphins</a>’ signature whistles, which they use to identify one another, are strongly influenced by where they live, and by the size of their local population. 



Although these whistles are unique to each individual animal, the experts discovered that their acoustic features are structured to a certain degree by dolphins’ local habitats and communities – a phenomenon similar to the development of regional accents in humans.



&nbsp;“Even if the bottlenose dolphin is among the most studied species of Cetacean, many aspects of their ecology and behavior are still unknown,” said study lead author Gabriella La Manna, a marine biologist at UNISS.&nbsp;



“Given how quickly human activities are changing the oceans, it is important to understand the environmental and socio-behavioral factors that allow animals to adapt to their environment.”&nbsp;



The scientists investigated the whistling habits of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in six geographically distinct populations in the Mediterranean Sea. By analyzing 188 hours of recorded sounds, they mapped variations in acoustic features such as duration and changes in pitch, and identified 168 signature whistles. The analysis revealed that the local ocean environment and population size had a significant effect on the whistles’ acoustic features.



For instance, signature whistles in areas with sea grass, such as Port Cros or Lampedusa, were higher pitched and shorter in length compared to those of dolphins living in areas with muddy sea floors. Moreover, among small dolphin populations like those from the Gulf of Corinth, the whistles had more changes in pitch than among larger populations. These findings suggest that bottlenose dolphins develop signature whistles that are best suited to their local habitats (the so-called “acoustic adaptation hypothesis”).



“I would like people to reflect on the importance of the acoustic environment in which dolphins live for the development and maintenance of their communication,” said Dr. La Manna.&nbsp;“Human activities, such as commercial shipping and nautical traffic, can severely affect this fundamental aspect of dolphins’ life.”



Further research is needed to clarify why certain environmental features influence in specific ways dolphins’ signature whistles, and to assess what impact anthropogenic factors have on these animals’ behavior and social communication.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-10920-7#Sec2">Nature Scientific Reports</a>.



----



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

Dolphins have "accents" that vary by region

A new study led by the University of Sassari (UNISS)...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



---



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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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

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