There’s a lot of talk about how crops might suffer under climate change. New research from <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> finds that staple crops such as soy, corn, and rice will all be hurt by a warming climate. The researchers also found one staple crop that is expected to be unfazed by climate change - breadfruit, a native of the Pacific Islands.&nbsp;



Because the starchy fruit is resistant to climate change and grows well in areas with food insecurity, the researchers predict it could become more common as a staple food in other places as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Breadfruit is a neglected and underutilized species that happens to be relatively resilient in our climate change projections,” said study senior author Daniel Horton. “This is good news because several other staples that we rely on are not so resilient. In really hot conditions, some of those staple crops struggle and yields decrease. As we implement strategies to adapt to climate change, breadfruit should be considered in food security adaptation strategies.”



Despite its name, breadfruit is a starchy, seedless plant that has been boiled, fried, roasted or fermented for thousands of years. Like many other staples, breadfruit can also be made into flour.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Nyree Zerega is the director of the <a href="https://plantbiology.northwestern.edu/">Program in Plant Biology and Conservation</a>, a partnership between Northwestern and the Chicago Botanic Garden.&nbsp;



“Breadfruit trees can live for decades and provide a large amount of fruits each year. In some cultures, there is a tradition to plant a breadfruit tree when a child is born to ensure the child will have food for the rest of their life," said Zerega.



The researchers cultivated breadfruit under conditions reflecting two possible climate scenarios: one with an unlikely high amount of carbon and a second under a more likely scenario where carbon levels out. Under both conditions, breadfruit growth was relatively unaffected.&nbsp;



Next, the scientists identified places where breadfruit cultivation could be expanded - mainly in sub-Saharan Africa - and found that many of these places already suffer food insecurity. Breadfruit may be a possible solution as well as a future global solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Climate change further emphasizes the need to diversify agriculture, so the world doesn’t rely on a small number of crop species to feed a large number of people,” Zerega said.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/climate/">PLOS Climate</a>.&nbsp;



---



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

Food of the future: breadfruit is resistant to climate change

There’s a lot of talk about how crops might suffer under climate change. New research from Northwestern University finds that staple crops such as soy, corn, and rice will all be hurt by a warming climate. The researchers also found one staple crop that is expected to be unfazed by climate change - breadfruit, a native of the Pacific Islands.&nbsp; Because the starchy fruit is resistant to climate change and grows well in areas with food insecurity, the researchers predict it could become more common as a...

If you live in an area that isn’t being slammed by hurricanes and tornadoes, or aren’t a farmer whose crop is drying up due to heat waves and droughts, how much do you really have invested in the consequences of climate change? Well according to a new study published in <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>, many more of us may have our daily lives affected by recent findings on climate change than previously thought. 

Scientists have found that global warming may significantly reduce coffee growing areas in Latin America, which is the world’s largest coffee-producing region. By 2050, production might decrease in these areas by as much as 88 percent.

This is the first major study to analyze climate change’s projected impacts on coffee, and the bees that affect coffee production, on a national or continental scale. Furthermore, the study estimates much greater losses of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-consumption-lower-death/">coffee</a> regions that previous assessments.

“Coffee is one of the most valuable commodities on earth, and needs a suitable climate and pollinating bees to produce well,” says Taylor Ricketts, study co-author and director of the University of Vermont's (UVM) <a href="http://www.uvm.edu/gund">Gund Institute for Environment</a>. “This is the first study to show how both will likely change under global warming – in ways that will hit coffee producers hard.”

The largest declines are projected to be in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Venezuela. “Coffee provides the main income for millions of the rural poor, so yield declines would affect the livelihoods of those already vulnerable people,” says Ricketts.

However, this study isn’t all doom and gloom. The researchers forecast that coffee suitability in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Costa Rica will actually increase due to climate change. These changes are mainly going to happen in mountainous areas where temperatures are projected to support both coffee growing and an increase in bee populations.

“If there are bees in the coffee plots, they are very efficient and very good at pollinating, so productivity increases and also berry weight,” says lead author Pablo Imbach of the <a href="http://ciat.cgiar.org/">International Center for Tropical Agriculture</a>. “In the areas projected to lose coffee suitability, we wanted to know whether that loss could be offset by bees.”

This shows how important tropical forests are as key habitats for wild bees, as well as other pollinators. Roughly 91 percent of the most suitable areas for coffee in Latin America are currently within a mile of tropical forests. Interestingly, that number is projected to increase to 97 percent by 2050, which means conservation of these habitats will be imperative.

The models created to achieve this study now provide strategies to improve coffee growth and bee pollination for Latin American farmers. These strategies include increasing bee habitats near farms where bee diversity is expected to increase, as well as prioritizing farming practices that are less environmentally harmful and protecting the forests around their farms.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change could drastically reduce coffee growing capacity

If you live in an area that isn’t being slammed...

It is highly likely that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-climate-change/">climate change</a> will intensify weather events such as drought and heat, which will bring physical stress to crops and threaten severe crop loss. Researchers are working to understand and identify the physiological traits of crops in order to select adaptable, stress-tolerant genes that could help crops survive stressful environments.

Christopher Topp is a researcher with the <a href="https://www.danforthcenter.org/">Danforth Plant Science Center</a>. Topp will introduce his research on crop improvement at the "Physiological Traits for High Throughput Phenotyping of Abiotic Stress Tolerance" conference. The discussion will take place at the <a href="https://www.acsmeetings.org/">Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future</a> International Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida.

Topp stresses the importance of a crop’s roots, in particular, for its survival. He will present various imaging tools used in studying roots, along with quantitative genetics and molecular biology.

"We aim to understand the relationships among root traits that can be effectively measured in both laboratory and field environments," said Topp. "Our hope is to identify genes and gene networks that control roots. The ultimate goal is improving whole plant architectural features useful for crop improvement."

Maria Salas-Fernandez of <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/">Iowa State University</a> will also speak at the conference. She will recommend phenotyping techniques that can help crops adapt to climate change through manipulation of their leaf angles and photosynthesis rates. 

"Yield is determined by a plant's capacity to capture light energy in the form of photosynthesis," said Salas-Fernandez. "It is now recognized that the necessary yield gains to meet global food demands will come from manipulating the photosynthetic capability of plant species."

The meeting will be held Monday, October 23, and is sponsored by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New methods introduced to help crops adapt to climate change

It is highly likely that climate change will intensify weather...

Researchers have hit on a discovery that could help clean up the world: a method for extracting plant sugars from trash like wood chips or corn cobs, then using it as a petroleum alternative.

Because it relies on waste material, the new technique could help solve two major environmental issues: the pollution caused by extracting and processing petroleum, and the trend of replacing food crops with crops intended for biofuels.

"To make greener chemicals and fuel, we're working with plant material, but we don't want to compete with its food value," said Dr. Basudeb Saha, associate director of the <a href="http://www.efrc.udel.edu/">Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation</a> at the <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>. "So instead of taking corn and extracting its sugars to make ethanol, we're making use of the stalks and cobs left over after the corn is harvested, as well as other kinds of waste like wood chips and rice hulls."

For decades, researchers have been looking into ways to recycle waste products into usable fuels and other products. However, biorefineries have come up against obstacles such as a lack of steady supply. In the case of plentiful waste like wood chips or corn cobs, the difficulty has been in finding a process that breaks them down so the plant sugars they contain can be used.

"The lignin that makes their cell walls so tough and sturdy acts like superglue, holding tightly to the sugars," Saha said in a press release.

The current process requires two or more steps and relies on the use of harsh chemicals. But Saha, other University of Delaware researchers and scientists at <a href="http://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> have developed a much more environmentally friendly, single-step process for extracting plant sugars from waste materials.

Instead of pretreating wood chips to break down the lignin, then moving on the the hydrolysis of of the sugars within the cells, it comes both steps into one process. Using a concentrated, inorganic salt solution, the process also operates at a relatively low temperature – 185 Fahrenheit – and takes about one hour.

The University of Delaware team has filed for an international patent on their solution and process. They’ve even figured out how to recycle the salt solution.

"Our process enables – for the first time – the economical production of feed streams that could profoundly improve the economics of cellulosic bioproducts manufactured downstream, not to mention the environmental benefits of replacing petroleum," Saha says. "More than 10,000 million metric tons of carbon emissions were reported in 2010 from conventional fossil fuels and chemicals, which has a long-term catastrophic effect on our environment."

The team has published their research in the journal <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1864-564X">ChemSusChem</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Evan Krape, <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>

Plant sugars could rival petroleum with new extraction method

Researchers have hit on a discovery that could help clean...

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada, the United States, and Uruguay, the future of international drug control treaties is now in doubt, as these changes are violate the treaties.

Professor Wayne Hall, who made world headlines after publishing a review of 20 years of cannabis research in 2014, published a paper in the scientific journal <a href="http://www.addictionjournal.org/">Addiction</a> that outline a cautious approach to policy reform. His suggestions revolve around trialing and evaluating the effects of incrementally more liberal drug policies is decriminalization is going to continue to expand.

The majority of member states of the United Nations endorse these international drug control treaties, which prohibit the non-medical use of cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. These treaties are designed to reduce illegal access to prohibited drugs while also facilitating access to these drugs for medical and research purposes.

However, critics have stated that these treaties have failed to effectively handle non-medical use of illegal drugs while also defending policies that conflict with UN human rights treaties through the incarceration of large numbers of drug users.

In his paper, Hall suggests policies that nations could adopt in order to address the harm that certain illegal drugs cause to users and others. This would include completely changing some treaties or allowing for “flexible interpretations” of treaty provisions by members of the UN.

Cannabis is the strongest candidate for national policy experiments on a variety of ways to regulate its sale and use. This is already occurring in the U.S., Uruguay, and Canada. Thorough evaluations of these experiments could be useful for other nations in how they may decide to legalize <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-treats-migraines-better/">cannabis</a> in the future.

For drugs such as ecstasy, LSD, and other psychoactive substances, the most imperative regulatory challenge would be ensuring that the manufacture and sale of these substances meet the standards of consumer safety, and that consumers are informed about the risks of using these drugs.

Hall suggests a mitigated form of prohibition for opioids, which would expand treatment for opioid dependence, reduce some of its serious medical complications, and reduce imprisonment of opioid users.

Unfortunately for cocaine and amphetamines, Hall doesn’t have any quick fixes. Policies for stimulants need to be improved to reduce the demand and offer more effective treatments for stimulant users. Prohibition may minimize their use, but it’s not sufficient, and regulation through a modified prescription system is unlikely to curtail harmful use.

When it comes to drugs and drug regulation, much of the world is changing. It makes sense the policies, both nationally and internationally, must adapt to change with it. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

As countries legalize cannabis, what is the international law?

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada, the United States,...

Bees hold pollen in the perfect place for plants.  Pollen is an important part of plant reproduction and acts a food source for the pollinator’s young. Bees are easily considered nature’s most important pollinator, and as such, their declining populations have caused serious concern. Now, new research has proven a long held hypothesis that even after grooming, pollen stays on the bee’s body in the perfect location for plants to receive it.

Plants rely on the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-altering-the-life-cycles-of-bees-and-plants/">bees</a> for reproduction, but the primary objective for the bee is to feed its young. The “safe sites” that bees can’t groom on their bodies are an effective way to ensure that some pollen will make its way to a plant’s reproductive system. 

To prove the hypothesis on these safe sites, researchers from the <a href="https://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/home/en/">Heinrich-Heine-University</a> in Germany, led by Petra Wester, conducted two experiments on Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris bees. The research was published in the open access-journal, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0182522">Plos One</a>.

First, the researchers put individual Bombus terrestris bees in covered glass jars that contained a mix of pollens. As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-know-little-bees/">bee</a> flew around the jar it would coat itself in pollen. 

The bee was then moved to a clean jar where it could groom itself, and the researchers recorded the amount of pollen that remained on the safe sites. 

For the second experiment the researchers put the two types of bees in indoor cages with flowers, where the anthers (the part of the flower that produces pollen) and the stigmas (the part of the flower where pollen germinates) were marked with fluorescent dye. 

The researchers could see which parts of the bees were in contact with the flower’s reproductive organs by noticing the transfer of dye on the bees. 

Both bee groups had similar safe sites, with most of the pollen left over on the waist, the dorsal parts of the thorax, and the abdomen.  The second experiment also showed that these safe sites were where the flowers made contact with the bees. 

“For the first time, we experimentally demonstrated the position, area and pollen amount of so-called safe sites at the body of honeybees and bumblebees,” said Wester. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Bees hold pollen in the perfect place for plants

Bees hold pollen in the perfect place for plants.  Pollen...

As the tundra gets warmer and plants adapted for its harsh, cold environment struggle to survive, grazing reindeer and other animals may actually help protect them.

So says a new study from <a href="http://www.umu.se/english">Umeå University</a> in Sweden, where researchers visited tundra meadows with grazing herds and small, plant-eating animals like voles and lemmings, then looked at meadows without these animals.

"We found that the warming increased the number of species in plots that were grazed, because it enabled small tundra plants to appear and grow there. But when we fenced reindeer, voles and lemmings out, vegetation became denser and the light was limited. As a result, many small and slowly-growing plant species were lost," said Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi, the study leader.

The grazing reindeer and their other herbivorous cohorts ate tall, wide-leaved species that blocked sunlight from other plants growing in the meadows. The result was actually a healthier, more diverse range of plant life in the unfenced meadows. 

Earlier studies assumed that plant species would die out and diversity would wither in the tundra due to warming. However, the voles, lemmings and reindeer seem to counteract that, allowing small and slow-growing species to have an equal opportunity at survival.

"By eating tall and wide-leaved plants, reindeer can increase light availability and thus allow more plant species to co-exist and benefit from warmer conditions," Kaarlejärvi said in a press release.

The scientists conducted their research in Kilpisjärvi in northwest Finland. They monitored which plants appeared, flourished, waned or disappeared in both fenced and unfenced meadow plots. They added nutrients to some plots by way of fertilization.

They also constructed small greenhouses in some locations that increased summer temperatures by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, to see how a further rise in temperatures might affect the tundra. 

The study will be published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>. 

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit:  Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi

Grazing reindeer play a vital role in keeping the tundra healthy

As the tundra gets warmer and plants adapted for its...

A recent study from <a href="http://www.mq.edu.au/">Macquarie University</a> in Sydney, Australia has shed new light on why plant leaves come in such different sizes, a variable that until now has largely been based on speculation.

Prior scientific research found that warm, tropical regions of the globe with high levels of precipitation have larger leaved plants, while arid mountain regions contain small leaved plants. 

Plants that are not at risk of overheating can spread out, which is why jungle plants have such enormous foliage because the high levels of rainfall keep the plants cool. Conversely, in drier regions, plants keep their leaves contained. 

However, the new Macquarie University study, led by Dr. Ian Wright and published in the journal Science, found that this is only part of the reason that plants differ in leaf size.

“Our work shows that in fact if there's enough water in the soil then there's almost no limit to how large leaves can be,” Wright told <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41099030">BBC News</a>. 

The study also found that leaf size is not only determined by the likelihood of overheating, but also by the possibility of freezing. In fact, after examining over 7,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-coastal-plants-better/">plant</a> species from all over the globe, Wright found that the freezing factor may be the main driver of leaf size. 

“What we've been able to show is over perhaps as much as half the world, the overall limits to leaf size are much more set by the risk of freezing at night than the risk of overheating during the day,” said Wright. 

Wright’s research is an important addition to science’s continual mission to understand how plant life will react to climate change and what measures need to be taken to protect and preserve as many species as possible. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why are some plant leaves massive, while others can be tiny?

A recent study from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia has...

Research from the <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/">University of South Australia</a> shows that people who use marijuana may actually walk differently from those who do not. The study found changes in the movements of the shoulders, knees, and elbows of cannabis users.

The evaluation focused on 44 participants - half marijuana users and half non-users. The individuals were given screening tests and clinical neurological examinations of movement. They were also given gait and balance tests which involved motion capture systems.

The study revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-use-kidney-function/">marijuana</a> users have stiffer shoulders and more flexible elbows as they walk. The cannabis users also had faster knees capable of reaching higher walking speeds than those of non-users. There were no noticeable differences between the neurological functions or balancing abilities of users and non-users, however.

Study co-author Verity Pearson-Dennett told <a href="http://www.psypost.org/">PsyPost</a>, “The changes in walking were small enough that a neurologist specializing in movement disorders was not able to detect changes in all of the cannabis users. However, many of the participants in the cannabis group were moderate-to-light cannabis users, therefore heavier cannabis users may have greater impairments.”

While the majority of the participants for the study were in their twenties, the authors of the study say that more research is needed “to investigate if the subtle gait changes observed in this population become more apparent with aging and increased cannabis use.” The researchers also want to conduct further analyses to determine exactly how marijuana affects people's movements.

“Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug, with 35% of Australians aged 14 years and over reporting use on at least one occasion,” said Pearson-Dennett.

According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">Center for Disease Control</a> (CDC), marijuana is also the most used illegal drug in the United States with over 22.2 million users. More than half of the states in America have now legalized the use of marijuana, and there is heightened curiosity about the influence the drug has on overall health and well-being. 

The CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/index.htm">reports</a> there is strong evidence that marijuana use is linked to increased risk of cancer, stroke, heart attack, and decreased IQ. On the other hand, marijuana has been associated with many positive benefits. Some studies have linked cannabis use to a healthier metabolism and improved lung capacity. In addition, marijuana has been proven to ease pain and nausea during intense medical treatments, relieve arthritis discomfort, and help with a variety of other ailments.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Using marijuana can change the way you walk

Research from the University of South Australia shows that people...

Tropical grasslands, like the Brazilian Cerrado, are important ecosystems and provide vital grazing areas for many animals. But efforts to reduce deforestation and suppress wildfires are actually backfiring and causing forests to encroach on savannas, much to the detriment of their native wildlife.

It might seem contradictory, that reforestation from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-moisture-predict-wildfires/">fire</a> suppression efforts in savannas are detrimental to conservation. But the expanding tropical forests are actually wiping out many native ant and plant species in the process. 

A study from <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">North Carolina State University</a> proves that fire suppression efforts are doing more harm than good, as many tropical grassland species just can’t survive in the encroaching forest habitats. Their survival is hindered by the mass foliage coverage a forest provides. 

“Shady conditions are an enemy to these savanna dwellers. Many of these plant species just can't persist in a forest. However, fire suppression has taken root in Brazil, so there is a reluctance to allow fires - even to promote the health of the savanna,” said William Hoffman, a professor of plant and microbial bolio and North Carolina State who is very familiar with the changing biodiversity of the Brazilian Cerrado. 

The study looks at data gathered from the Cerrado in the past 30 years, specifically monitoring the effects fire suppression efforts had on the grasslands. 

The results of the study show that some plant species in the savanna have declined by 27 percent, and ant species have declined by 35 percent, some even declining by 86 percent. 

“These savanna species can't be moved and can't really live anywhere else," said Hoffmann. "This study really highlights the extent to which these species are dependent on their savanna homes,” said Hoffman. 

The study was published in the journal Science Advances and shows a grim reality for the future of tropical savannas affected by fire suppression operations. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Efforts to suppress forest fires backfire on tropical savannas

Tropical grasslands, like the Brazilian Cerrado, are important ecosystems and...

Researchers have discovered that the tall goldenrod plant can protect itself by smelling an impending invasion. The experts found that the plants can actually detect a single compound that is emitted by male flies and initiate their defense.

Anjel Helms is a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a>. She explained that certain species of flies feed only on tall goldenrod, or Solidago altissima, in Pennsylvania. The male flies release chemicals to attract the females, and the females ultimately deposit fertilized eggs into the stem of the goldenrod plant. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on plant tissue inside the stem and cause specialized plant tissues to form known as galls, which form around the larvae like a protective shield.

"The flies strongly reduce the plant's fitness by decreasing the number of seeds it produces, as well as the sizes of those seeds," said co-author John Tooker. "That's because when the plant's tissues are damaged by the insect, it diverts its energy away from seed production and instead toward production of the gall."

Previous research by the team had revealed that goldenrod plants produced greater amounts of a defense chemical known as jasmonic acid when exposed to chemicals from the male <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-fruit-flies-aggressive/">flies</a>. For the current study, the scientists set out to identify which specific chemical compounds are detected by the goldenrod plants. They also wanted to determine how sensitive the plants are to the compounds.

The researchers first identified the chemical compounds present in the male fly emission. Next, they exposed goldenrod plants to individual compounds and analyzed their responses. The scientists discovered that the plants responded most strongly to a compound called E,S-conophthorin. 

"E,S-conophthorin is the most abundant compound emitted by the flies," said Helms. "The compound appears to provide a strong and reliable cue for the plants to detect." 

The team also examined the level of sensitivity the plants had to E,S-conophthorin. Using different concentrations of the compound, they measured the defense responses of the goldenrod plants. The researchers found that the plants were sensitive to even small concentrations of the chemical. Tooker explained that “it likely means that the plant has a dedicated mechanism to perceive this compound.” 

“The results provide evidence that goldenrod can detect a single compound from the fly, supporting the idea that there is a tight co-evolutionary relationship between these two species,”said Tooker. “In other words, over time, as the fly has adapted to take advantage of the plant, the plant has adapted to protect itself from the fly." 

The study, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>, is the first to demonstrate a plant "smelling" its attacker and to document a specific compound the plants are detecting. 

"How plants perceive volatile chemicals is poorly understood, so having a somewhat unique or distinct molecule to explore that mechanism is promising, and a direction we will explore in the future,” said Tooker.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Meet the plant that can smell its attacker approaching

Researchers have discovered that the tall goldenrod plant can protect...

Scientists from <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> have created a cyborg bacteria that is capable of generating artificial photosynthesis. The bacteria uses tiny crystalline nanoparticles as solar panels to photosynthesize sunlight and generate useful chemicals.

These cybernetic bacteria also produced zero waste and could be used to generate compounds for fuels, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. 

Dr. Kelsey Sakimoto and her research team from <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> and <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">Berkeley</a> used the bacterium known as Moorella thermoacetica, which consumes carbon dioxide to create acetic acid. The bacterium is not photosynthetic, but by feeding the bacteria both cadmium and cysteine, the bacterium transformed into a photosynthesizing machine. 

Cysteine is an amino acid and cadmium is a chemical element, and once both were introduced to the bacteria, it created cadmium sulfide nanoparticles. Cadmium sulfide is known for its semi-conductive properties, so the bacteria used the nanoparticles as solar panels as the bacteria self-replicated, converted carbon dioxide, harvested sunlight, and generated acetic acid. 

“The bacteria/inorganic-semiconductor hybrid artificial photosynthesis system we’ve created is self-replicating through the bio-precipitation of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles, which serve as the light harvester to sustain cellular metabolism,” said corresponding author Peidong Yang, a chemist from Berkeley. 

This breakthrough in artificial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/use-photosynthesis-create-hydrogen-fuel/">photosynthesis</a> could have huge implications in generating renewable energy and finding alternative fuel sources. 

Sakimoto and her team aren’t the only ones exploring ways to harness photosynthesis, as creating efficient alternatives to the naturally occurring process could help produce sustainable, clean, and eco-friendly chemicals used in fuels and plastics. It could also help eliminate our dependency on petroleum. 

This new development of cyborg bacteria could also be the first of the artificial photosynthesis attempts to be used outside of the lab with commercial applications. 

“Our algal biofuels are much more attractive, as the whole CO2-to-chemical apparatus is self-contained and only requires a big vat out in the sun,” said Sakimoto.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cyborg bacteria can now generate artificial photosynthesis

Scientists from Harvard University have created a cyborg bacteria that...

Lignin is plant waste residue that becomes a waste product of paper and ethanol production, and is usually burned or dumped in landfills. But now, scientists have found a way to remodel lignin into carbon fiber strong enough to be used to build airplane and automobile parts.

"Lignin is a complex aromatic molecule that is mainly burned to make steam in a biorefinery plant, a relatively inefficient process that doesn't create a lot of value," said lead researcher Birgitte Ahring. "Finding better ways to use leftover lignin is really the driver here. We want to use biorefinery waste to create value. We want to use a low-value product to create a high-value product, which will make biorefineries sustainable."

Carbon fiber made with lignin would have huge advantages over fibers currently being produced, as it would be more sustainable and less expensive. The carbon fiber used in modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/self-driving-cars-ethical-decisions/">cars</a> and aircraft are most often made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which is an expensive non-renewable vinyl polymer. 

Jinxue Jiang, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a> who participated in the study.

"PAN can contribute about half of the total cost of making carbon fiber,"said Jiang. "Our idea is to reduce the cost for making carbon fiber by using renewable materials, like biorefinery lignin." 

Jiang explained that previous studies have failed to make carbon fibers from 100 percent lignin because the fibers produced were too weak for the automotive industry. "We wanted to combine the high strength of PAN with the low cost of the lignin to produce an automobile-grade carbon fiber,” said Jiang.

The research team mixed lignin with PAN in amounts ranging from 0 to 50 percent. They used a process called melt spinning to fuse lignin and PAN together into a single fiber.

The researchers used various techniques to test the structural and mechanical characteristics of the fibers. 

The study revealed that carbon fiber made of 20-30 percent lignin maintained its industrial strength. The researchers said that the lignin carbon fibers could be used in automobile production to make internal parts, castings, and tire frames.

Next, the team will test their carbon fibers at an automobile manufacturing plant to evaluate their strength in real-world scenarios. The researchers will present their work today at the 254th National Meeting &amp; Exposition of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists transform plant waste into building material

Lignin is plant waste residue that becomes a waste product...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MNiLvrVRVU-2065943-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Balkhash in east-central Kazakhstan. It is the largest lake in Central Asia, with a length of 605 kilometers from east to west and a maximum depth of 25 meters.&nbsp;



"Jutting out into the lake is the Sarymsek Peninsula which divides Balkhash into two separate hydraulic parts. The west part is wide and shallow with its water on this side particularly fresh and suitable for drinking," reports ESA.



"The east part, on the other hand, is narrow and relatively deep, with its waters on this side of the basin brackish and salty. The two parts of the lake are united by a narrow strait, the Uzynaral visible in the centre of the image, with a depth of around 6 m."



A sediment plume is visible passing through the Uzynaral Strait. According to ESA, it is most likely due to waves stirring up sediments from the bottom of the lake. Near the southern coastline, an abundance of sea ice appears in bright blue-green colors. Balkhash itself is usually frozen from the end of November to the beginning of April.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Lake Balkhash in east-central Kazakhstan

[sendtonews key="MNiLvrVRVU-2065943-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uwirCufwYv-2012371-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the complex relationship between ocean and climate. ESA's Climate Change Initiative will help us understand how oceans influence the climate and how climate change is impacting the oceans.&nbsp;



"Earth’s oceans are huge heat stores, soaking up 93% of the excess heat from human activity over the past 70 years. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, from the Equator to the poles. Where this ocean heat goes influences weather patterns and regional climate," explains ESA.



"As well as absorbing heat, oceans are a natural carbon sink, absorbing a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. This has led to the acidification of ocean water, threating marine life."



The amount of heat and carbon dioxide soaked up by the ocean depends on specific variables, including phytoplankton, temperatures, waves, salinity, and ice cover. Satellites can be used to measure these variables from space.



"From their unique vantage point, satellites provide key information for understanding the complexities of our planet and monitoring environmental issues," says ESA.



Video Credit: ESA



---



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

[sendtonews key="uwirCufwYv-2012371-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="VojrAdfIK3-1582762-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Tarso Toussidé in the volcanic region of the Tibesti Mountain Range in Chad.&nbsp;



Toussidé is the second highest peak in Tibesti, and is believed to be among the youngest volcanoes in the region.&nbsp;



According to ESA, Toussidé has undergone a number of eruptions and lava flows, with the lava reaching lengths of 25 kilometers and covering an area of 200 square kilometers, appearing to have "stained" the ground in the process.&nbsp;



There is evidence that Toussidé is still active. On its summit, the volcano has a large number of openings, or fumaroles, that release hot water vapor. One of the Tibesti Mountain’s features is Tarso Toussidé. This image is a composite of photographs acquired by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus sensor on NASA’s Landsat satellite on January 22, 2001, and February 1, 2000. Tibesti Mountains. 



The Tibesti Mountains are a mountain range in the central Sahara, primarily located in the extreme north of Chad, with a small extension in southern Libya. The highest peak in the range, Emi Koussi, lies to the south at a height of 3,445 meters (11,302 ft) and is the highest point in both Chad and the Sahara.



Video 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

Tarso Toussidé in the Tibesti Mountain Range

[sendtonews key="VojrAdfIK3-1582762-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JGysyIt6b8-2038091-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Singapore, a city-island-nation with a total of 64 offshore islands. The port of Singapore is the largest in Southeast Asia, and is one of the busiest in the world - connecting to more than 600 ports in 123 countries.



"The Republic of Singapore is located just off the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia, around 135 km north of the equator. It consists of the 710 sq km Singapore Island, visible in the top-centre of the image, as well as some 60 small islets," reports ESA.



"Nearly two-thirds of the Singapore Island is less than 15 m above sea level. The highest summit, Timah Hill, has an elevation of only 160 m. Changi Airport, one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia, can be seen at the eastern end of the island."



The Island is separated from Peninsular Malaysia to the north by the Johore Strait, while the southern end faces the Singapore Strait. The city is among the most densely populated places in the world, and is known for its clean streets and modern buildings.



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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

The modern island-nation of Singapore

[sendtonews key="JGysyIt6b8-2038091-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="XuHMtekSkv-2056278-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features part of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve on the coast of southeast Alaska. This region has a diverse group of animals, such as humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, bears, moose, wolves and mountain goats. The landscape of Glacier Bay includes rugged mountains, freshwater lakes, glaciers and deep fjords.



"The bay contains some of the world’s most impressive glaciers that descend from the ice-covered St. Elias Range in the east and the Fairweather Range in the west, with a few notable tidewater glaciers extending all the way to the sea," reports NASA.



"Glacier Bay is just one of the many areas suffering from the effects of global warming. The bay is expected to become warmer and drier over the next century, with widespread effects including the further shrinking glaciers, reduced sea ice and shoreline erosion."



The remoteness of the area makes it challenging to monitor, but satellite images provide an opportunity for scientists to observe and study Glacier Bay with great detail. In 2021, experts with ESA’s CryoSat mission used radar altimeter data to determine how much ice has been lost from mountain glaciers in the region.&nbsp;



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Glacier Bay National Park in southeast Alaska

[sendtonews key="XuHMtekSkv-2056278-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="UN3EsNjPIM-2080637-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Patagonia, which includes Argentina and Chile at the southern tip of South America. The region is known for its rugged beauty, with an abundance of glaciers and dramatic mountain peaks.&nbsp;



"Covering an area of around 673,000 square kilometers, Patagonia is split by Argentina and Chile," reports ESA. "The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains, with lakes, fjords, rainforests and glaciers in the west and deserts and tablelands to the east."



"The island archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, located at the southern tip of Patagonia, is shared by Argentina and Chile, with the eastern part of the main island belonging to Argentina and the southern point of the archipelago, which forms Cape Horn, belonging to Chile. The Strait of Magellan, named after the discoverer, lies between Tierra del Fuego and mainland Argentina."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Patagonia: the southernmost region of South America

[sendtonews key="UN3EsNjPIM-2080637-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

The,Fat,European,Garden,Spider,Or,Araneus,Diadematus,In,The

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qlFqqtmj30-2014104-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/">Binghamton University</a> describes how spiders can use their webs to extend their hearing. For more than three decades, Professor Ron Miles has been investigating how small animals like insects can detect sounds.



In collaboration with Professor Ron Hoy of Cornell University and Binghamton doctoral student Junpeng Lai, Professor Miles discovered that orb-weaving spiders use their webs to capture sounds. This strategy could give them advanced warning of incoming prey or predators.



“The spider is really a natural demonstration that this is a viable way to sense sound using viscous forces in the air on thin fibers,” said Professor Miles. “If it works in nature, maybe we should have a closer look at it.”



The study revealed that spiders may actually be able to customize their webs to hear different sorts of sounds. The experts explained that by crouching and stretching, spiders may be changing the tension of the silk strands. This would allow them to tune into different frequencies.&nbsp;



Going forward, the team would like to test whether other types of web-weaving spiders are using their silk to extend their hearing.



“It’s reasonable to guess that a similar spider on a similar web would respond in a similar way,” Ron Miles said. “But we can’t draw any conclusions about that, since we tested a certain kind of spider that happens to be pretty common.”



Video Credit: Binghamton University&nbsp;



---



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

Spiders are using their webs to extend their hearing

[sendtonews key="qlFqqtmj30-2014104-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Binghamton...

Milky,Way,In,The,Night,Sky

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="fVFiY2MR4h-2145169-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> features some tips for skywatchers in August 2022. 



The morning quartet of planets will come to an end in August - with Venus and Saturn making their exits on opposite sides of the sky. Mars and Jupiter, however, will remain visible.&nbsp;



"The daily parade of four naked-eye planets in the mornings comes to an end this month. But there are still lots of great highlights, especially if you have access to binoculars," says NASA. "Plus, Saturn and Jupiter are returning to nighttime skies!"&nbsp;



"The outlook for the Perseid meteors isn't great due to a full moon on the peak night of August 12, but still it's worth keeping an eye out for early Perseids after midnight the week before. And August is a great month to learn an easy-to-spot constellation – Cygnus the swan."



Video Credit: NASA JPL



---



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

NASA reveals what you can find in the August sky

[sendtonews key="fVFiY2MR4h-2145169-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/">NTU Singapore</a> reveals that some plants can remove toxic heavy metals from soil.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed samples of various tropical plant species to test for levels of heavy metals and metalloids. The study showed that there are existing plants with high levels of these contaminants, which means that these species are great candidates for drawing pollutants out of the soil.&nbsp;



Among the plants examined in the study, 12 species had accumulated several types of heavy metals and metalloids. These plants are widely available, including species that are native to Singapore.



“In a small nation like Singapore, land may be repurposed to support new development plans, so it is important that we have a green and sustainable way to remediate land that is contaminated," said Professor Lam Yeng Ming.



"We set out to uncover how to better make use of tropical plants to do phytoremediation and through advanced characterization techniques, we showed how some of these tropical plant species can be an environmentally friendly and literally a 'green' way to remove contaminants in soil."&nbsp;



"Phytoremediation also has benefits of cost effectiveness, simplicity of management, aesthetic advantages, and long-term applicability and sustainability. The strategy prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilizing or accumulating heavy metals, so that helps reduce the risk of contaminant spread.”



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



---



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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



---



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="XZh1GxhYo8-2063028-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new data release from the Gaia observatory, which was launched in 2013. The observatory has been mapping our galaxy from Lagrange point 2, creating the most accurate and complete multi-dimensional map of the Milky Way.



"By now two full sets of data have been released, the first set in 2016 and a second one in 2018. These data contained stellar positions, distances, motions across the sky, and colour information, among others," says ESA.



On June 13, 2022 a third full data set was released. ESA said this data release contains even more and improved information about almost two billion stars, Solar System objects and extragalactic sources. 



"It also includes radial velocities for 33 million stars, a five-time increase compared to data release 2," explains ESA. "Another novelty in this data set is the largest catalog yet of binary stars in the Milky Way, which is crucial to understand stellar evolution."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Gaia is mapping the Milky Way in unprecedented detail

[sendtonews key="XZh1GxhYo8-2063028-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="bwwJPypCK1-1980821-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The arch is an iconic symbol of French national identity. It is also one of the best-known commemorative monuments in the world.&nbsp;



The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806 to celebrate the country's military achievements, and to honor those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The construction of the monument began on August 15, 1807, and it took 30 years to build.&nbsp;



"The arch stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, the meeting point of 12 grand avenues which form a star (or étoile), which is why it is also referred to as the Arch of Triumph of the Star. The arch is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide," reports ESA.



"The names of all French victories and generals are inscribed on the arch’s inner and outer surfaces, while the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I lies beneath its vault. The tomb’s flame is rekindled every evening as a symbol of the enduring nature of the commemoration and respect shown to those who have fallen in the name of France."



"The Arc de Triomphe’s location at the Place Charles de Gaulle places it at the heart of the capital and the western terminus of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées."



"Often referred to as the ‘most beautiful avenue in the world,' the Champs-Élysées is known for its theatres, cafés and luxury shops, as the finish of the Tour de France cycling race, as well as for its annual Bastille Day military parade."



Video 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

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France

[sendtonews key="bwwJPypCK1-1980821-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="Evx0iGxpOJ-2131734-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> explores how climate patterns influence the behavior of migratory birds. Each year, several billion birds migrate north to the United States in the spring, but the timing of their arrival varies each year. 



"Every spring, migratory birds arrive in the continental United States from south and central America to breed. But precisely when they arrive each spring varies from year to year," says NASA.



"To better understand what is driving variability, scientists decided to turn to climate models, radar stations and a little bit of math. By studying the link between climate patterns and bird migration, scientists can better prepare to protect these birds and the habitats on which they rely."



The experts analyzed 23 years worth of data collected by a network of 143 NOAA radar stations located throughout the United States. The goal was to see if some of the stations had similar year-to-year variability in migration observations.



"What they found is that the U.S. can be divided into two regions - east and west - each with its own specific pattern of variability of migratory bird arrival times," explains NASA.



For example, when climate patterns bring warm temperatures to the eastern United States, the migratory birds arrive earlier.&nbsp;



"Variations in the West, however, seem to be linked to more regional climate conditions, such as sea surface temperatures of adjacent waters."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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

How does the climate affect the behavior of migratory birds?

[sendtonews key="Evx0iGxpOJ-2131734-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="5UDxFt4Uk4-2050120-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> describes the first observation of a white dwarf star ripping apart the rocky and icy material of its planetary system. A white dwarf is a remnant of a dead star that has burned through all of the hydrogen that it once used as nuclear fuel.&nbsp;



When a star like the sun begins to die it expands into a "red giant" and then begins to lose mass as it sheds its outer layers. This alters the gravitational pull that the star has on its planetary system.&nbsp;



Scientists have determined that our sun will reach the end of its life in approximately ten billion years. In about five billion years, the sun will become a red giant. This expansion is expected to completely vaporize Mars, Venus, and Earth.



According to NASA, the star’s death throes have so violently disrupted its planetary system that the dead star is siphoning off debris from both the system’s inner and outer reaches. The agency says that data from the Hubble Space Telescope and other NASA observatories were essential in identifying this "cosmic cannibalism."&nbsp;



"The findings help describe the violent nature of evolved planetary systems and can tell astronomers about the makeup of newly forming systems," reports NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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

Scientists observe a violent dead star

[sendtonews key="5UDxFt4Uk4-2050120-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="CX0ao7dyxg-2121503-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.gatech.edu/">Georgia Tech</a> describes how skin plays an important role in giving elephant trunks flexibility. The researchers found that the skin on an elephant’s trunk does not stretch uniformly. 



“When people extend their tongue – a muscle-filled, boneless tissue similar in composition to an elephant’s trunk – it stretches uniformly. We expected the same when we challenged an elephant to reach for food,” said study lead aptly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schulzscience.com/">Andrew Schulz</a>.



“But when we looked at our high-speed camera footage and plotted the trunk’s movements, we were surprised. The top and bottom weren’t the same at all."



When an elephant is stretching to reach food or other objects, the skin folds on the dorsal surface prove to be more stretchy than the wrinkled ventral skin - allowing the trunk to extend further.&nbsp;



“Flexible skin folds are the elephant’s innovation,” said Professor &nbsp;<a href="https://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/hu">David Hu</a>. “They protect the dorsal section and make it easier for the elephant to reach downward, the most common gripping style when picking up items.”



In addition to gaining a better understanding of elephants, Schulz sees applications for the knowledge in the field of soft robotics.



“Soft robotics created with biologically inspired design are always based on muscle movement. If they were wrapped with a protective skin, like an elephant’s muscle-filled trunk, the machines could apply larger forces,” said Schulz. “Last year we learned that a trunk is a multi-purpose, muscular hydrostat. Now we know that skin is another tool at its disposal.”



Video Credit: Georgia Tech/Zoo Atlanta



---



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

Flexible skin folds help elephants stretch their trunks

[sendtonews key="CX0ao7dyxg-2121503-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Georgia...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="NI7Vm4m68S-1656140-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Great Lakes - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario - captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission.&nbsp;



According to ESA, the lakes represent the largest surface of freshwater in the world with a combined area of around 244,000 square kilometers, covering an area larger than the United Kingdom.



The lakes were formed around 100,000 years ago, when a massive ice sheet and giant glaciers transformed the landscape across most of Canada and part of the United States. As the ice melted, holes left behind from glaciers filled with meltwater and formed thousands of lakes. 



Huron is one of the five American great lakes and one of the largest freshwater lakes. It forms a natural border between the American state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario.



Video 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

The Great Lakes of North America

[sendtonews key="NI7Vm4m68S-1656140-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. This region is one of the most famous places on the planet for viewing wildlife.



The Galápagos Islands are home to many native plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, including giant tortoises and sea lions.&nbsp;



When Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835, his wildlife observations inspired the theory of evolution by natural selection. In 1959, the Ecuadorian government made the entire archipelago a national park to protect its unique diversity.



The archipelago is made up of 13 major islands and several smaller islands and islets across 60,000 square kilometers of ocean. According to ESA, repeated volcanic eruptions and ongoing seismic activity have helped form the rugged mountain landscape of the islands. The most populated islands of Galapagos are San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz and Isabela.



The largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabela, was formed from the joining of six shield volcanoes - Ecuador, Wolf, Darwin, Alcedo, Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul. Volcanic activity persisted in the Galapagos for at least 20 million years, and possibly&nbsp; even longer. The archipelago is characterized by large contemporaneous volcanoes - some with plume magma sources, others from the asthenosphere. 



Video Credit: ESA



---



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

The Galápagos Islands in the eastern Pacific

Today's Video of the Day from the European Space Agency...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="r28dhEJ2og-2027515-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Puglia, a coastal region in southern Italy. Puglia forms the heel of Italy’s "boot," and has the longest coastline of any Italian mainland region.



"Covering almost 20,000 sq km, it is Italy’s seventh largest region and its coastline, dotted with some of Italy’s finest sandy beaches and azure seas, runs for around 800 km," reports ESA. "With a population of around four million, Puglia borders the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the west."



"Puglia is the least mountainous region of Italy, consisting of broad plains and low-lying hills. It is home to two national parks, the Alta Murgia National Park and Gargano National Park. The area is one of the largest and most productive plains in Italy where a significant amount of both wine and olive oil is produced."



Puglia, which is also called Apulia, is known for its vibrant culture. The region provides around 40 percent of Italy’s olive oil, and is the birthplace of many unique Italian foods.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ESA



---



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

The coastal region of Puglia in southern Italy

[sendtonews key="r28dhEJ2og-2027515-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...