We’ve all encountered nosy coworkers - the ones who always seem to appear just as you're having a private chat. They ask questions that feel a little too personal. They linger by your desk a bit longer than necessary, just within earshot of your conversation or a glance at your screen.



Telling the difference between friendly interest and intrusive nosiness isn’t always easy. One person’s casual question can feel like a violation to someone else. Some people are open books, but others prefer to keep their personal lives to themselves.



That gap in expectations has made it tough for researchers to pin down when curiosity becomes a problem at work - until now.



A team of scientists from <a href="https://www.bu.edu/">Boston University</a> and the University of Central Florida has taken a hard look at workplace nosiness. They set out to answer a simple but tricky question: what does it really mean to be nosy at work?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-common-traits-of-nosy-coworkers">Common traits of nosy coworkers </h2>



The research began with surveys of 350 young adults. Participants were asked to describe what nosiness looks like at work. How does it show up? How often does it happen? What does it feel like?



From there, the scientists ran four studies to identify common traits of nosy coworkers and build a scale to measure how intrusive someone might be - both in professional and personal ways. 



The researchers categorized behaviors like frequent questioning, gossip, and pushing for private details into a framework that organizations can now use to track this kind of behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-working-definition-of-nosiness">A working definition of nosiness </h2>



One of the study’s key insights is that nosiness isn’t just what someone does. It’s also how their behavior is perceived.



“If you think of nosiness as a perception or an appraisal of someone else’s information-seeking behaviors, there’s a lot of individual variables - personality, hostile biases - that could determine why someone is more or less likely to perceive someone else as being nosy,” said Richard Currie, an organizational psychologist at Boston University.



In other words, it’s not always about intent. It’s about how it feels. The researchers settled on this working definition of nosiness: “employees’ intrusive attempts to obtain private information from others at work.”



“Defining nosiness is a really big step forward,” they explained. "We came to a firm definition of how it’s different from other related constructs - like social curiosity - that in and of themselves don’t necessarily have overly negative implications; nosiness does, so it truly is a distinct phenomenon.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nosiness-less-sharing-and-more-stress">Nosiness: Less sharing and more stress</h2>



Once they nailed down how to measure nosiness, the next step was to test what it does to workplace culture. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t help.



In organizations where nosiness is more common, employees are more likely to shut down. The study found they protect themselves by withholding information - even when that knowledge could help their team. 



High levels of workplace intrusiveness correlated with increased stress and lower job performance.



“Employees react to nosiness by pulling down the shutters,” the researchers explained. They tighten their boundaries and share less with the people around them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nosy-behavior-in-competitive-workplaces">Nosy behavior in competitive workplaces </h2>



The experts also noticed another pattern: companies with a strong sense of internal competition tended to have more nosy behavior. 



In environments where employees feel like they’re constantly being compared to each other or fighting for limited opportunities, they’re more likely to pry - and be on guard.



A further detail stood out: younger workers were more likely than older workers to report engaging in nosy behavior. That finding raises questions about how different generations approach privacy, both in giving and receiving personal information.



“Interestingly, we found that younger workers reported engaging in nosy behaviors more than older workers did,” Currie said. 



“I find that to be a fascinating finding. I do wonder if that translates to generational differences - not only in your likelihood of engaging in nosiness or being appraised by others as being nosy, but also how you appraise and respond to others.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-the-boss-gets-nosy">When the boss gets nosy</h2>



The implications go beyond casual office gossip. The team behind the study also tested how nosiness from supervisors affects staff - especially in the field of hospitality, where the line between “professional” and “personal” often blurs.



“We found workers’ shared supervisor nosiness perceptions negatively impacted employee perceptions of interpersonal justice, which ultimately reduced their likelihood of engaging in knowledge-sharing behavior,” said Currie. 



He also noted that when supervisors were more authentic and trusting, this weakened the negative relationship between nosiness and interpersonal justice, which led to more knowledge sharing. 



So while being too curious can make staff feel uncomfortable, a leader who’s open and genuine can soften the blow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-pressure-to-share">The pressure to share</h2>



For the lead author from Boston University, this topic is personal. "I think we all have been in situations where others felt entitled to our feelings, ourselves in some way,” Currie said.



“What really sparked my interest in workplace privacy is this modern push for authenticity - it sounds healthy to bring your whole self to work, but it seems like it’s almost eroding boundaries between professional and personal lives." 



"That creates pressure, discomfort, perhaps burnout and stress - I wanted to explore that tension a little bit.”



The more we’re encouraged to show up as our “full selves” at work, the less clear it becomes what’s fair game for conversation. And that’s where nosiness creeps in. 



Since starting this research, Currie admits he has become more mindful of his own behavior. "Being the nosiness researcher, you can’t be nosy,” he joked.



The topic has also made its way into his classroom, helping future managers think about how their own curiosity might be perceived by staff. Currie said that it is important for students to understand that people are really complex.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-we-deal-with-nosy-coworkers">How do we deal with nosy coworkers?</h2>



The solution to dealing with nosy coworkers is still up for debate. “People are interesting and, naturally, all of us want to know more about the people we encounter regularly,” noted Currie.



“Sometimes, I find myself being overly curious about what others in my workplace and outside of work are doing, so I do keep in check my nosiness behaviors. But I’d also like to believe that I’m not policing others’ information-seeking.”



The full solution? That’s for future research to unpack. But in the meantime, knowing the line between curiosity and intrusion is a good place to start.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10869-025-10018-7">Journal of Business and Psychology</a>.



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How nosy coworkers affect the dynamics of the workplace

We’ve all encountered nosy coworkers - the ones who always seem to appear just as you're having a private chat. They ask questions that feel a little too personal. They linger by your desk a bit longer than necessary, just within earshot of your conversation or a glance at your screen. Telling the difference between friendly interest and intrusive nosiness isn’t always easy. One person’s casual question can feel like a violation to someone else. Some people are open books, but others prefer to keep their personal...

Garbage food

Edible foods trashed by UK families total billions. New figures released today by the waste and recycling advisory body<a href="http://www.wrap.org.uk/category/materials-and-products/food"> Wrap</a> claim UK households threw away £13 billion worth of edible food in 2015. This staggering figure amounts to around £470 per household, equating to nearly $13.7 billion in U.S. currency, or around $500 per household.

The data report revealed that an estimated 8 million metric tons of household food waste was thrown away in 2015, up from 7.7 million metric tons in 2012.

Of the food thrown away by UK households, over half was recorded as “avoidable” waste, which means it was edible before being thrown in the trash.

The report also added that these avoidable waste products generated over 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas production over their lifetime. To prevent that pollution you would need to take 25% of cars off UK roads.

Wrap cites the root cause of this food waste increase as the perfect storm of falling UK food prices coupled with rising household incomes since 2014. The report indicates these factors may have increased the notoriously thrifty UK population to be less frugal during regular shopping.

This data shows an abrupt stop in what had previously been a downward trend in UK household food waste. Between 2007 and 2012, the total amount of household food waste dropped by 15 percent and avoidable waste dropped by 21 percent. Wrap credits this to the rising food prices at the time, along with changes to labeling that simplified “use by” date advice, as well as active campaigning that raised awareness of food waste.

Regionally, Wales actually showed significant progress in cutting food waste in the UK with a 12% percent food waste reduction since 2009. This may be due to a devolved administration and a greater availability of civic-run food waste collections.

Trewin Restorick, the founder and chief executive of environmental charity<a href="https://www.hubbub.org.uk/"> Hubbub</a> – a major food waste project for<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/j-sainsbury"> Sainsbury’s</a> in Derbyshire – said, “Seeing food waste grow again is massively disappointing and should be a wake-up call for efforts to be redoubled. [The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs] needs to copy the leadership being shown in Wales and Scotland.”

&nbsp;

$14 billion worth of edible foods trashed by wasteful UK households

Edible foods trashed by UK families total billions. New figures...

Imagine buzzing across the Hudson River or around the San Francisco Bay on a boat that actually floats above the water. It could happen sooner than you might think. Flying water taxis are now one step closer to becoming a reality now that its investors have received a new round of funding. 

Yachtsman Alain Thébault and Swedish windsurfer Anders Bringdal have teamed up to design these “flying water taxis” otherwise known as the Sea Bubble. The unique vehicles will float 2 feet above the water, capable of reaching speeds up to 18 miles per hour. 

The team raised $3.6 million for the project last month, and have just announced they are expecting an additional third round of funding. Thébault told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-11/flying-river-taxis-eye-customers-from-the-seine-to-san-francisco">Bloomberg</a> that the next installment could be up to 10 times that amount.

Production of the flying water taxis will begin next month, and testing will occur in Paris in the spring. Test vehicles will be able to carry up to 6 passengers at a time.

Thébault told <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/27/paris-to-trial-flying-river-taxis-in-the-seine-next-year/">The Telegraph</a> that he envisions SeaBubbles will ultimately be available to order on an app like Uber. 

The technology powering SeaBubbles was originally invented by Thébault in 1994 for a sail-powered vessel he called Hydroptere. Instead of floating along the the water like a typical boat, the Hydroptere channels a similar model that planes use to fly, where air passes over the wings and generates lift.

By floating above the water, the Sea Bubble avoids up to 40% of the drag imposed by water flow. Because the boat is electrically powered, it remains very quiet and produces zero emissions. 

Trips on the Sea Bubble will cost roughly $12. 

“The idea actually came from my daughters after I sailed from LA to Hawaii recently,” Thébault told <a href="http://www.thelocal.fr/20161027/paris-flying-river-taxis-to-be-tested-on-seine-sea-bubbles">The Local</a>. “They told me to invent a zero-emission cab because they were sick of seeing the pollution in Paris, London, and the US." 

“Next spring we will hold a public demonstration on the Seine in front of the National Assembly in Paris with five Sea Bubbles”

Flying water taxis could be coming very soon

Imagine buzzing across the Hudson River or around the San...

The Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, is the place to be if you want to learn more about the world.

At least, some of the brightest minds in the United States think so. MENSA has listed the museum in its <a href="https://www.us.mensa.org/welcome-to-our-site/the-mensa-top-ten-survey/mensa-top-ten-science-museums/">top 10 American science museums</a>, and it won a coveted nod as the top family-friendly science center in America from <a href="http://www.parents.com/fun/vacation/us-destinations/best-science-centers/">Parents Magazine</a>.

<a href="http://cosi.org/">COSI</a> has earned that praise.

“COSI ... inspires the scientists, dreamers, and innovators of tomorrow,” the museum declares on its website.

The science center, which first opened in 1964, offers more than 300 hands-on activities. It has partnered with the Columbus community to offer unique attractions like the WOSU@COSI television station; Labs in Life, working research labs created in partnership with <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> and staffed by working scientists and students; and a gallery of Columbus, Ohio’s history sponsored by the <a href="http://www.columbushistory.org/">Columbus Historical Society</a>.

Full of brightly colored, kid-friendly exhibits, the Center of Science and Industry is located near Genoa Park. That makes it a great option, whether you want to spend the day getting as much use as possible out of a Do-It-All pass, or just spend a few hours with some hands-on fun before or after a picnic lunch.

The Do-It-All ticket is more winter-friendly, of course! It includes all of COSI’s classic exhibits, along with the Planetarium and Motion Simulator. Do-It-All also includes a 3-D movie at the National Geographic Giant Screen Theater.

The Motion Simulator and the Giant Screen Theater both use modern tech to make it feel like you’re in space, under the ocean, or beyond.

Recent showings at the National Geographic theater have included “Journey to the South Pacific” and “Secret Ocean.”

Of course, those are just the extras. It’s COSI’s classic exhibits that have been the heart of the museum for decades.

They’re divided up into areas like Big Science Park, an outdoor lab where visitors learn about basic physics and green engineering; Ocean, where kids can learn about how water works and pilot an underwater ROV; and Space, which has interactive simulator stations where guests can try landing the Space Shuttle.

There’s also the ever-changing line-up of speakers and live shows, as well as special events geared toward certain age groups. Camp COSI is for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade, while COSI After Dark lets legal drinkers explore the museum while enjoying the no-host bar and small plates.

The Center of Science and Industry also offers special programs for educators.

If you’re in the Columbus area, stop by and spend a day with COSI. You’ll have so much fun, you won’t even notice you’re learning.

To purchase tickets and plan your visit, go to the <a href="https://reservations.cosi.org/Info.aspx?EventID=19">COSI tickets website</a> or call (614) 228-2674.

Museum of the week: Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio

The Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, is...

What’s going on in the world today? Plenty. In your daily dose of Earth news for January 9, 2017, you'll find a new nature miniseries, tips on algae growth, potential uses for earwax, and more.
<h2>Earth news for January 9, 2017:</h2>
<h4>BBC launches ‘Spy in the Wild’</h4>
With “Planet Earth II” over, nature fans are looking for their next fix. “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfdrQL5Ff-A">Spy in the Wild</a>” aims to provide it. The new <a href="http://bbc.co.uk/">BBC</a> documentary conceals cameras in lifelike robots, and sends them to watch animals in their natural habitats.

Maybe they're a little too lifelike. In the first episode, a robot disguised as a langur monkey successfully infiltrates a group in India. When the robot was dropped from a height, the monkeys began mourning, producers said.

The miniseries airs in the UK beginning Thursday. In the U.S., the first episode will run February 1 on <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/">PBS Nature</a>.
<h4>Could earwax be the next big tech innovation?</h4>
Scientists at the <a href="http://www.gatech.edu/">Georgia Institute of Technology</a> have taken on a new – and sort of disgusting – project: figuring out a technological use for earwax.

The project was inspired after her boyfriend had water trapped in his ear by an earwax plug, doctoral student Alexis Noel said. She wondered how the earwax was able to allow the water in, then trap it so effectively, and mentioned it to Dr. David Hu. They decided to take on the problem.

Using earwax from pigs, sheep, rabbits, and dogs, they began testing its properties and trying out different uses. They’ve found that earwax is made up pretty consistently across species.

They also found that it has excellent filtering properties. As earwax collects dust, it traps it. When too much dust is trapped, the earwax crumbles and falls away, and new wax is formed.

While they’re still studying exactly how earwax is formed, the researchers already see potential uses in tech. One idea would be to create a biomimetic adhesive surface for ventilation systems in robotics and other machinery.
<h4>Colorful new flatworm species discovered in Brazil</h4>
Scientists have found three new land-based species of flatworm in the Araucaria forest of Brazil. Flatworms are invertebrates, and also predators that hunt other invertebrate species.

The Araucaria is part of Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest and is considered to be a hotspot of flatworm diversity, the scientists wrote in their article in <a href="http://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=11093">ZooKeys</a>, an open access journal. The three new species belong to the genus Cratera.
<h4>In forests, Missouri bees prefer darker flowers</h4>
Bees prefer darker colors in cool climates, at least when it comes to flowers. That’s what scientists at <a href="https://www.slu.edu/">St. Louis University</a> discovered while observing how native bee species interact with birds foot violets.

In most cases, the bees prefered the concolor morph, in which all five petals of the flower are light in color. In sunny locations, the concolor morph far outnumbers the bicolor morph, which has two dark purple petals and three light ones.

But in shady, wooded areas, the bicolor morph makes up about half of the flower population. Bees in these areas always land on the darker petals to feed, the researchers found. Testing revealed darker petals were warmer.
<h4>Scientists at UC Irvine find a new method for recycling greenhouse gases</h4>
A team of researchers from <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California, Irvine</a> has discovered a new method for dealing with carbon dioxide: using it to help produce biofuel.

The bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii can be used to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide. Though toxic in enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can be used to produce biofuels and chemical products. Their findings were published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nchembio/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nchembio.2245.html">Nature Chemical Biology</a>.
<h4>Biodiversity of algae is important in biofuel production</h4>
<a href="https://www.umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> researchers studying algae-derived biocrude have found that when raising algae, biodiversity is important. They found that growing a wide variety of algae reduced crop failure and gave a better return on investment. While their research was conducted indoors in tanks, that will be true in outdoor tanks or ponds, too, the researchers said.

The research is being funded by a $2 million, four-year grant from the <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>.
<h4>Scientists explore link between rainfall in West, Rocky Mountain air quality</h4>
When the western U.S. suffers from a drought, Rocky Mountain air quality suffers, too, scientists at the <a href="http://www.utah.edu/">University of Utah</a> found.

That’s because drought sparks more wildfires, which creates haze in the Rockies, the scientists said. Haze can be evaluated with instruments that measure aerosol optical depth – the amount of aerosols between the sensor and the sun.

Aerosols in the Rockies went up when the west was in a drought, according to the study published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa510a/meta;jsessionid=5E21027595D39B0B34BD2C5716CCDC9D.c4.iopscience.cld.iop.org">Environmental Research Letters</a>.
— January 9, 2017

Earth news daily: January 9, 2017

What’s going on in the world today? Plenty. In your daily...

Cities in northern England have a new and growing segment of the population: urban foxes. And they're not the only places with an influx of non-human newcomers.

Researchers are taking note of a growing trend among wildlife. Feral cats, mice, raccoons, and starlings are being joined by more exotic urbanites such as foxes and coyotes.

A team led by Dr. Dawn Scott of <a href="https://www.brighton.ac.uk/">University of Brighton</a> has discovered that urban fox populations in England have exploded in recent years. Numbers clocked in at 33,000 then, and they've risen to 150,000 today, they told <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4087010/A-country-overrun-foxes-Numbers-creature-FIVE-TIMES-higher-England-s-cities-thought.html">The Daily Mail</a>. Particularly in the northern towns of England, fox numbers have multiplied rapidly in the past two decades.

Protection from hunters and plentiful food have led many animals to begin calling cities home. And they're adapting and learning how to change their lifestyles around human activity to better fit in.

“We are the biggest cause of evolution on the planet right now,” Dr. Suzanne MacDonald, a psychologist and biologist at York University in Canada, told <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160418-animals-urban-cities-wildlife-science-coyotes/">National Geographic</a> in April 2016.

England's urban foxes demonstrate this well. Even though fox communities have grown in urban areas, human residents of cities report seeing the furry creatures much less. Foxes are either becoming part of the city scenery, or getting a lot better at avoiding attention.

Urban foxes aren't the only ones moving into cities. Coyotes, hedgehogs, and other wild creatures have joined metropolitan standards like squirrels, raccoons, and feral pigeons. Some come for the safety and better meals. Others have nowhere else to go.

“To live in harmony with animals whose habitat we’re destroying, we’re going to have to do a lot more work in what we’re doing to them,” MacDonald said.

Several major cities put a lot of effort into protecting their wild animal populations.

<a href="http://www.architecture.org/architecture-chicago/buildings-of-chicago/building/aqua/">Aqua Tower</a> in Chicago is designed with exterior terraces to look more like a cliff, which prevents birds from crashing into it as frequently. In Germany, Berlin plans to adopt “coherent greenery,” where they will connect the green spaces within the city so that wildlife can move around more easily.

Efforts are even being made in Los Angeles to build a land bridge over the 101 Freeway, which would allow mountain lions to mingle rather than live in isolation.

Some of the newly urban animals, such as red foxes and coyotes, have traits that let them successfully exist in cities without much human help.

Animals that survive and thrive in the wild by being sneaky, adaptable, and fast breeders – and those that aren’t fussy about what they eat – tend to do very well in cities, said Tristan Donovan, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Feral-Cities-Adventures-Animals-Jungle/dp/1569760675">Feral Cities: Adventures with Animals in the Urban Jungle</a>.

Red foxes actually live in greater densities in cities than in the country now, and city-dwelling coyotes tend to live longer than their rural counterparts, scientists said.

“It’s a pattern we’ve seen across the whole continent – they’re figuring out a way to deal with whatever we’ve done to the landscape,” Dr. Chris Nagy, a wildlife biologist, told National Geographic. Nagy has studied coyote populations in New York City for years.

<a href="https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/sustain/report/terra3/terra3-13.htm">Studies</a> have shown that human development almost always leads to decreased biodiversity. But urban foxes and other city-dwelling wildlife show that many species can adapt and thrive in human cities.

Their presence can sometimes be dangerous. Animals such as mountain lions and coyotes can become bolder as they grow more accustomed to human contact.

However, many cities are finding solutions to help animals coexist with humans. Human development of their native environments leaves few alternatives.

Urban foxes and other animals settle into cities, raise families

Cities in northern England have a new and growing segment...

Israel averages more than 300 days of sun each year, but it lags behind much rainier countries when it comes to solar power. Now it plans to catch up by building the world’s tallest solar tower.

Israel has relied on fossil fuels for power generation since 1923, a quarter of a century before the country was founded. It also imports large quantities of natural gas. The established industry and a lack of incentives has slowed the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar.

The country’s government hopes the solar tower, based near Ashalim, will change that.

The <a href="http://megalimsolar.wixsite.com/megalim-solar-power/the-project">Ashalim Solar Thermal Power Station</a> is a major step toward Israel’s goals for renewable energy. The country hopes to receive 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Renewables make up 2.5 percent of Israel’s power generation right now.

The solar tower will go up in the Negev Desert outside Ashalim. Four plots have been set aside, and three are set for completion in 2018. Once finished, the Ashalim solar tower should generate 310 megawatts of power – 1.6 of the country’s power needs.

At the power station, more than 50,000 computer-controlled heliostats – mirrors that direct the sunlight toward a specific target – will track the sun and concentrate sunlight onto a boiler at the top of the tower. That will create enough high temperature steam to power a turbine generator, which will in turn produce energy, according to <a href="http://megalimsolar.wixsite.com/megalim-solar-power">Megalim Solar Power Ltd.</a>, which is building part of the project with <a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/ashalim-solar-project#.WG6M78MrLnA">BrightSource Energy</a> and <a href="http://www.ge.com/">General Electric</a>.

One of the three plots in Negev is earmarked for the tower. The others will hold a traditional photovoltaic solar farm, and an energy storage facility.

The Ashalim solar tower isn’t the first such project in the world. California has the largest solar tower installation, and there are about a dozen more worldwide. However, Israel’s will be the tallest, in part because they’ve maximized the small space in Negev by packing in as many heliostats as possible. When heliostats are closer together, the boiler toward has to be taller to compensate.

If the project is successful, it could start a trend. Israeli companies have produced some of the top solar energy technology in the world, but are generally forced to take their expertise outside of the country’s borders due to a lack of demand and usable land in Israel. Now, it could be their day in the sun in their homeland.

Israel plans to soak up the sun with world's tallest solar tower

Israel averages more than 300 days of sun each year,...

What if we could see just how much a new smartphone or sushi lunch will affect wildlife? Now we can, thanks to new maps of consumer hotspots that put wildlife at risk.

Dr. Daniel Moran of the <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/">Norwegian University of Science and Technology</a> paired up with his colleague, Dr. Keiichiro Kanemoto of <a href="http://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/english/">Shinshu University</a>, to tackle the problem.

They created a new technique that examines global supply chains to identify where they cause threats to animals species, and analyze how. Then they mapped out each country’s consumer hotspots across the globe.

“Locating biodiversity threat hotspots driven by consumption of goods and services can help to connect conservationists, consumers, companies and governments in order to better target conservation actions,” Moran and Kanemoto wrote in an <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-016-0023">article</a> published this week.

In other words, the major players can tackle threats like deforestation in a way that leaves everyone all satisfied. And the maps help identify threats to wildlife and what is causing them, allowing those players to take action.

Moran and Kanemoto focused on 6,803 vulnerable and endangered animal species listed by the <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a> and <a href="http://www.birdlife.org/">BirdLife International</a>. Then they looked at the threats each species faced, such as deforestation. Finally, they followed the chain of events to the ultimate consumer.

That way, they could determine which consumer hotspots were causing a ripple effect down the global supply chain.

The tool lets you look at a country and see where its consumer habits have the largest effect.

For example, the U.S. is a consumer hotspot that causes threats to species in Mexico, Madagascar, the Sahel region of Africa, Southeast Asia, Spain, Central America, and elsewhere.

For marine species, Southeast Asia was the primary consumer hotspot. The region’s fishing industry feeds not just that area, but people in the U.S. and the European Union.

The two scientists hope that their work will help countries and consumers take more effective steps toward conserving endangered species.

“Maps of species threat hotspots can thus help all actors, from producers and conservationists to final consumers, to focus solutions on targeted biodiversity hotspots,” they wrote.

The pair published their research in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

New maps show consumer hotspots that threaten endangered species

What if we could see just how much a new...

One of winter’s greatest dangers: those icy sidewalks that send you slipping, sliding, and maybe falling.

A little salt makes them a lot less treacherous – but it may be harming the local environment, too. The <a href="https://www.soils.org/">Soil Science Society of America</a> posted a new warning on its blog <a href="https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/">Soils Matter</a> about overuse of the useful mineral.

“The most commonly used item for managing ice is road salt, or sodium chloride. While this salt does melt ice, when overused or mismanaged, it can become a serious environmental pollutant,” wrote blog contributor Mary Tiedeman, a doctoral student in soil microbiology.

The U.S. applies between 10 to 20 million tons of salt to roadways and sidewalks every winter, she noted, citing research by the <a href="http://www.caryinstitute.org/">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a>. Salt is such a popular deicer because it’s cheap, available, and effective.

But salt meant for wintery roads and icy sidewalks can end up elsewhere, including in soil, Tiedeman said. It can bounce away during application, be washed away by melting snow and ice, or blow away during strong winds.

And that’s bad news for topsoil.

“Once deposited, components of salts, particularly sodium ions, can wreak havoc on soil systems. They do this by reducing soils’ ability to retain plant nutrients and water, and maintain soil structure,” Tiedeman wrote.

Sodium contamination and the breakdown of soil structure makes it harder for water to flow through soil. The top layer can also wash away through erosion more easily. Once salt is in the soil, it can take years to become diluted enough that it’s no longer causing harm.

Too much salt can also be toxic to most plant species.

The best way to avoid damaging the soil and staying safe this winter is to be proactive, Tiedeman wrote.

Shoveling quickly after snowfall means the snow has less time to become ice, she said. That means you can use less salt to deice. Wetting the salt slightly before application helps keep it where it’s supposed to be: on icy sidewalks, not bouncing or blowing into soil. Try to keep salt application only to areas where you expect foot traffic, if possible.

“Clay-based kitty litter and/or sand can also be used instead of, or in addition to salts, as they add traction to otherwise slippery surfaces,” she added.

Icy sidewalks add to 'salt of the Earth' and that's not a good thing

One of winter’s greatest dangers: those icy sidewalks that send...

One air purification company sees a boom in its future. After all, 2016 was a big year for rising awareness about air pollution, Blueair founder Bengt Rittri reasons. It makes sense that a search for solutions will follow.

"(The year) 2016 has seen many new scientific studies showing the cost to human health and society caused by toxic air," Rittri said.

Several new studies have linked air pollution to illnesses from asthma to coronary artery disease. It has also been linked to regional climate issues, the <a href="https://www.blueair.com/">Blueair</a> founder said.

In the beginning of 2016, the UK's <a href="https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/">Royal College of Physicians</a> and the <a href="http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/">Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health</a> released a joint study that found harm from air pollution lasts throughout an individual's lifespan.

A few months later, the World Health Organisation reported that as much as 92 percent of the world's urban population now live in cities suffering bad air quality.

The <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank</a> has linked health effects of air pollution to hundreds of billions of dollars in lost work.

Around the world, people are becoming more aware of the dirty air they’re breathing.

In Delhi, residents once scoffed at the idea that air pollution could cause health problems. Now, they’re seeking solutions such as air purifiers and special pollution masks. Companies including <a href="http://smartairfilters.com/en/">SmartAir</a> and <a href="https://www.vogmask.com/">Vogmask</a> reported sales booms.

Parisian residents have been donning masks like those worn in Beijing, too. The city has scrambled to enact new regulations and restrictions aimed at cutting air pollution.

And <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/canned-clean-air/">canned air</a>, created as a joke, has taken off.

Blueair is banking on 2017 being the year that more people look for real solutions.

"Today we are already seeing new solutions being sparked in cities globally, including Paris, Mexico City, Athens and Madrid whose mayors in December pledged to ban diesel engines within a decade," Rittri said.

Dozens of cities around the world are taking new steps to clean up their air, he said.

Blueair has created a selection of air purifiers and quality monitors, and a smartphone app to connect them. The company’s goal is to provide seamless integration of air purification tech into customer’s lives.

"Blueair's vision for the future is about being at the forefront of innovating bold air cleaning technologies and helping them go mainstream," Rittri said.

Could air purification go mainstream in 2017? Blueair hopes so

One air purification company sees a boom in its future....

If your New Year’s Resolution is to travel more, you might be looking at resorts and world-class cities. How about adding a few natural wonders to your list?

It seems like the world moves at a faster pace every year. As cities grow and technology surges, it’s easy to become removed from nature. Unplug, take a break, and connect with our planet at these five wild places.
<h3>1. See breathtaking glaciers and volcanic landscapes in Iceland.</h3>
Iceland likes to describe itself as “a place where fire and ice coexist.” It doesn’t matter if you go during the darkness of winter – sometimes lit by the stunning Aurora Borealis – or the long, bright summer months.

The incredible glaciers, volcanoes oozing lava, and luxurious geothermal spas make Iceland an adventure year-round. The rugged landscape throughout the country offers hiking, snorkeling, and whitewater rafting in the warm months, or snowboarding and skiing in the winter.

The <a href="http://inspired.visiticeland.com/academy/">Iceland Academy</a> at Visit Iceland offers a chance to learn about everything the country has to offer – and to win a spectacular trip for two.
<h3>2. Visit the world’s tallest waterfall in Venezuela.</h3>
[caption id="attachment_128152" align="aligncenter" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-128152" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Making-travel-plans-for-2017-Check-out-these-5-natural-wonders-Venezuela.jpg" alt="Angel Falls in Venezuela is the highest waterfall on Earth." width="750" height="500" /> Angel Falls in Venezuela is the highest waterfall on Earth.[/caption]

In English, it’s <a href="http://salto-angel.com/">Angel Falls</a>. In Spanish, it’s Salto Angel, and in the local Pemon language, it’s Kerepakupai Meru or Parakupá Vená. No matter what it’s called, Angel Falls is the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall.

Located deep in the jungle, a visit to the falls requires a stay at Canaima, the camp where all of the river trips begin. Most of the trips are led by Pemon guides and run from June to December, when the most water is available. Surrounding Canaima National Park is more than 7.4 million acres of wild land, the second largest protected area in Venezuela.

The camp on the shores of Canaima Lagoon offers stunning views of several waterfalls and amazing tepui mesas. Adventures last anywhere from a helicopter ride over the falls to a week-long canoe trip through the park’s natural wonders. Who needs a city?
<h3>3. Spend time with the giraffes in Namibia.</h3>
[caption id="attachment_128155" align="aligncenter" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-128155" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Making-travel-plans-for-2017-Check-out-these-5-natural-wonders-Namibia.jpg" alt="Giraffes and elephants share a watering hole at Namibia's Etosha National Park." width="750" height="421" /> Giraffes and elephants share a watering hole at Namibia's Etosha National Park.[/caption]

While giraffe populations have fallen in recent decades, landing them on the endangered species list in 2016, their numbers have been going up in southern Africa. Conservation efforts by the country of Namibia are part of the reason.

<a href="http://www.etoshanationalpark.org/">Etosha National Park</a> is one of the best places to spot the long-necked mammals, and visitors can spot elephants, lions, and cheetahs, too. Giraffes also live in the barren, windswept Skeleton Coast National Park. Known for its beaches dotted with shipwrecks, Skeleton Coast was recently trending after a segment of <a href="http://www.bbcchannels.com/earth/planetearth2">Planet Earth II</a> where a lion stalked a giraffe in the park.

Namibia is home to plenty of other national parks, some of which have hot springs, rock paintings, and other attractions. Beyond the safaris, check out catamaran tours, dolphin cruises, hiking, camping, stargazing, and other natural wonders.
<h3>4. Explore caves, coral reefs, and wildlife sanctuaries in the Philippines.</h3>
[caption id="attachment_128156" align="aligncenter" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-128156" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Making-travel-plans-for-2017-Check-out-these-5-natural-wonders-Philippines.jpg" alt="Visitors prepare to head underground at Puerta Princesa Subterranean River in the Philippines." width="750" height="496" /> Visitors prepare to head underground at Puerta Princesa Subterranean River in Palawan.[/caption]

The island of Palawan is known as the Philippines’ “last frontier,” and it’s packed with stunning natural beauty.

For just under five miles, the <a href="http://www.visitpalawan.info/index.php/features/underground-river">Puerta Princesa Subterranean River</a> winds through caves underneath the island of Palawan in the Philippines. While most of the cave system is closed to the public, visitors can – with a permit – explore just under a mile of the underground river. The caves are home to bats and marine creatures, as well as beautiful rock formations.

<a href="http://www.visitpalawan.info/index.php/features/calauit-wildlife-sanctuary">Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary</a> is home to animals native to southeast Asia, as well as visitors from Africa such as giraffes. Scuba divers will want to visit the coral formations and tropical fish in Tubbataha Reef. Kayangan Lake is the stunning reward to a beautiful hike, a clear, blue lake set amid the mountains. <a href="http://www.visitpalawan.info/index.php/features/el-nido">El Nido Marine Reserve</a> is home to six lagoons full of life.

And the Tabon Cave Complex offers caves for nature lovers to explore and a museum where history fans can learn about some the Philippines’ earliest residents from the artifacts they left in the caverns.
<h3>5. Trek through sweeping canyons in Utah.</h3>
[caption id="attachment_128154" align="aligncenter" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-128154" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Making-travel-plans-for-2017-Check-out-these-5-natural-wonders-Utah.jpg" alt="The contrast between red cliffs and green vegetation make Utah's Zion Canyon breathtakingly beautiful." width="750" height="500" /> The contrast between red cliffs and green vegetation make Utah's Zion Canyon breathtakingly beautiful.[/caption]

The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm">Grand Canyon</a> gets all the attention. It may be one of the largest canyon systems in the world, but it’s best known for its stunning vistas. The layered appearance of the canyon’s walls, caused by millennia of sedimentation, paint an incredible picture.

But the Grand Canyon is also a tourist draw, and it’s hard to plan a visit where you’ll be the only humans in sight.

<a href="https://www.nps.gov/zion/">Zion National Park</a> in nearby Utah may be a better choice if you’re looking for solitude in the wild. With steep, red cliffs, the 229-square-mile park offers as many photo opportunities as its cousin to the south. Pine and juniper trees offer contrast to the red dirt, and spires rise out of the ground in the canyon, making it one of the most striking natural wonders in the U.S.

It's also a place to see plenty of wildlife. Hundreds of animal species, from mountain lions to tree frogs to rattlesnakes, call the canyon home.

Making travel plans for 2017? Check out these 5 natural wonders

If your New Year’s Resolution is to travel more, you...

A new timber innovation could be the key to revitalizing the industry, which has struggled in the U.S. since the housing bubble burst.

Cross-laminated timber, also called CLT, has been used in Europe and even Canada for years.

A new, 12-story “plyscraper” in Portland, Oregon’s hipster Pearl District will be the first large building the the U.S. to use the new wood technology, though.

CLT is assembled by layering two-by-fours perpendicular to one another to form lightweight panels. The wood is glued together and laminated like an extremely tough sandwich.

Because the beams are at right angles to one another, the resulting panels are strong enough to build with – at least, according to fans of the timber innovation – and less energy intensive than steel or concrete.

Visually unappealing wood that normally gets thrown out when making furniture or other items can be used in the core, where it can’t be seen. So can “low-value” hardwood trees.

Supporters have embraced CLT. They believe it will fuel new growth in timber and reduce the carbon footprint of the building industry. They also point out that wood is a renewable resource.

Skeptics, however, say not enough testing has been done to determine that large buildings made with CLT will be structurally sound, especially in earthquakes and fires. Currently, the building codes throughout most of the U.S. place height restrictions on all-wood buildings.

CLT would need to be extensively tested and studied before those codes are changed, a prospect that could be extremely expensive.

In Bergen, Norway, there’s a 14-story skyscraper built using CLT, but it’s not in a seismic zone. An 18-story “plyscraper” in British Columbia, Canada is built around a concrete core.

The Portland building will be a test case for the U.S. and the world. It will be the tallest all-wood building in the United States, and the tallest all-wood building in an earthquake-prone area anywhere.

Still, supporters aren’t worried. Oregon’s building code required intensive testing of CLT before the skyscraper’s plans were approved.

<a href="http://leverarchitecture.com/">Lever Architecture</a>, the Portland firm building the skyscraper, has worked with scientists at both Portland State University and Oregon State University on trials to determine the best way to construct each panel. The researchers submitted panels of CLT to hundreds of pounds of pressure and other tests to make sure they could withstand a quake.

Lever has promised to make results of all of the structural tests available to other design firms.

The architectural firm won $1.5 million in a wood building competition hosted by the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> and the timber industry. It has put those winnings toward the testing and the new building in Portland.

And for the <a href="http://www.drjlumber.com/">D.R. Johnson Lumber Co.</a> in Riddle, Oregon, the new material has already paid off. The 125-employee company makes the CLT panels that will be used in the Portland building, set to break ground this spring.

Visitors from around the country have come to the lumber company – which, along with Montana’s <a href="http://smartlam.com/">SmartLam</a> is the only place producing CLT panels in the U.S. so far – to get a first look at the timber innovation.

Timber innovation offers hope for struggling industry

A new timber innovation could be the key to revitalizing...

Shifting regional weather patterns are changing flood risks across the U.S., according to a new study.

Engineers from the <a href="https://uiowa.edu/">University of Iowa</a> found that the threat of flooding has grown in the northern half of the country, while the southern half of the U.S., along with the West and Southwest regions, are seeing lower risk.

The researchers came to that conclusion after studying rivers of data from the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a> and <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>.

Dr. Louise G. Slater and Dr. Gabriele Villarini waded through water-height data collected by the USGS between 1985 and 2015, which came from a little more than 2,000 stream gauges operated by the agency. That information was compared to even more data from NASA’s <a href="http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/">Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment</a>, also known as GRACE, which showed the amount of water stored in the ground.

“We show that these patterns are dependent on the overall wetness and potential water storage, with fundamental implications for water resources management, agriculture, insurance, navigation, ecology, and populations living in flood-affected areas,” Slater and Villarini <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/2016GL071199/abstract">wrote in their study</a>. 

The pair found that the amount of groundwater in the northern U.S. has increased over time. That means the region is at increased risk of both minor and moderate flooding, according to the categories used by the <a href="http://www.weather.gov/">National Weather Service</a>, the researchers said.

In contrast, the South, West, and Southwest have all shown decreased levels of stored water over time, pointing to a lower threat of flooding, they said.

The findings in the Southwest and West are not surprising, because both regions have been gripped by years-long patterns of drought, Slater and Villarini pointed out. The southeastern U.S. has also suffered from drought in recent months.

The changing flood risks in the northern half of the country can also be explained by long-term shifts in rainfall patterns, the researchers said. The Midwest has seen heavy rain more frequently over the past few decades, Villarini and graduate research assistant Iman Mallakpour found in a <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v5/n3/abs/nclimate2516.html">2015 study</a> of floods in that region.

The cause of the rainfall shifts in the U.S. aren’t clear, the researchers said. It could be that regional climate change is redistributing rain, they said.

Villarini and Slater hope that their research – especially their decision to cast threats in terms of how they affect people and places, and to use the everyday language of the National Weather Service – will help citizens better understand why flooding happens and their changing flood risks.

“Our findings may assist in a better communication of changing flood patterns to a wider audience compared with the more traditional approach of stating trends in terms of discharge magnitudes and frequencies,” the pair wrote.

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1944-8007/">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.

New weather patterns are changing flood risks in the United States

Shifting regional weather patterns are changing flood risks across the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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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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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

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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

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