Plants can’t move, but they constantly adjust to survive. They reach for light, dig their roots deeper, and seek out water when drought strikes. A new study by researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (<a href="https://ist.ac.at/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISTA</a>) and <a href="https://en.nwsuaf.edu.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwest A&amp;F University</a> in China explores how plants manage this search for water. 



When water becomes scarce, plant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-finally-learn-what-makes-plants-roots-grow-faster-and-stronger-autophagy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roots</a> alter their usual course. They ignore gravity, turning instead toward moisture. This shift, driven by a protein called MIZ1, could be crucial for creating drought-resistant crops in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-roots-usually-grow-downward">Why roots usually grow downward</h2>



Gravity directs plant roots downward, anchoring them in the soil. This process, called gravitropism, ensures roots grow deep enough to absorb nutrients. 



However, when water becomes scarce, plants must switch strategies. Rather than pushing down, roots start bending toward moisture. This behavior, hydrotropism, keeps plants hydrated in dry conditions.



Despite its importance, hydrotropism remains less studied than gravitropism. Scientists have long focused on how plants respond to light and gravity. But understanding how they track water could transform crop management in a warming world. 



"By eliminating gravity, we see that the hydrotropism becomes much stronger," said Professor Jiří Friml. "Under normal conditions with sufficient water, gravitropism usually prevails. However, when you switch off gravitropism, the effects of hydrotropism become evident."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gravity-loss-and-root-responses">Gravity loss and root responses</h2>



To study how plants prioritize water over gravity, researchers needed to eliminate gravity’s pull. Rather than sending plants to space, they used a rotating platform. This setup constantly changed the direction of gravity, confusing the roots and effectively “turning off” their gravity response.



In this gravity-free <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-trees-decide-between-growing-and-breathing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a>, roots bent more sharply toward water. The experiment showed that without gravity’s interference, plants shifted to hydrotropism. 



But how do they make this shift in real-world conditions where gravity still exists? The answer lies in a small but powerful protein: MIZ1.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-protein-that-redirects-roots">The protein that redirects roots</h2>



MIZ1 isn’t new. Scientists first identified it decades ago in Japan. It has since emerged as a master regulator of hydrotropism. MIZ1 helps plants override gravitropism when water is scarce, allowing them to seek out moisture instead.



In the recent study, researchers compared mutant plants lacking MIZ1 with normal Arabidopsis plants. The difference was striking. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-plants-are-not-safe-from-rapid-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plants</a> without MIZ1 continued to grow downward, even in dry conditions. They couldn’t override their gravity response, failing to search for water.



"In essence, without MIZ1, plants struggle to search for water, as MIZ1 helps attenuate root gravitropism," explained Ph.D. student Adrijana Smoljan. The findings highlight how crucial MIZ1 is for managing root direction during drought.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-scarcity-and-root-direction">Water scarcity and root direction</h2>



To simulate drought, researchers applied sorbitol to the roots. Sorbitol mimics dry soil conditions by reducing water availability. In response, wild-type Arabidopsis plants suppressed their gravitropic response, redirecting roots toward moisture.



However, mutant plants without MIZ1 couldn’t adjust. They kept growing downward, ignoring moisture pockets. The absence of MIZ1 prevented them from suppressing gravitropism. 



This failure to redirect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-could-soon-talk-to-farmers-and-listen-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">root</a> growth under drought conditions underscores the importance of MIZ1 in managing root direction during water scarcity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-roots-bend-toward-water">Plant roots bend toward water</h2>



MIZ1 doesn’t just affect root direction. It also interacts with a group of proteins called PINs, which control the flow of auxin, a key growth hormone. Under normal conditions, PIN proteins maintain a specific polarity, directing auxin downward to promote root anchoring.



But drought changes everything. When water is scarce, MIZ1 disrupts PIN polarity, causing auxin to redistribute unevenly. This shift weakens the gravity response, making it easier for roots to bend toward moisture.



Without MIZ1, this adjustment doesn’t happen. PIN proteins remain polarized, and auxin continues to flow downward. The result? Roots miss out on moisture, growing straight down instead of curving toward water.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-root-responses-to-drought">Root responses to drought</h2>



Researchers also tested how plants responded to moisture gradients using a split-agar system. This setup created wet and dry zones, allowing them to track root growth direction under simulated drought conditions.



Wild-type plants with functional MIZ1 curved toward the wet zone, displaying strong hydrotropic growth. MIZ1 mutants, however, remained vertically oriented, unable to adjust to the moisture gradient.



PIN mutants also showed distinct responses. Plants lacking PIN2 and PIN3 displayed exaggerated hydrotropism, curving sharply toward moisture. 



This finding suggests that while MIZ1 regulates hydrotropism, PIN proteins act as secondary controllers, fine-tuning the root response under drought stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guiding-plant-roots-toward-water">Guiding plant roots toward water</h2>



PIN proteins don’t just direct auxin flow. They also control how auxin is distributed in different root regions. Under drought conditions, MIZ1 alters PIN2 and PIN3 polarity, reducing auxin flow and weakening gravitropism.



However, without MIZ1, PIN proteins keep auxin flowing downward, making roots less sensitive to moisture gradients. This rigid auxin flow prevents roots from adjusting to dry conditions, leaving them unable to seek out water.



Interestingly, plants with PIN mutations showed extreme hydrotropism. The absence of PIN2 and PIN3 allowed roots to bend sharply toward moisture, bypassing the typical gravity response. 



This exaggerated hydrotropism underscores the balancing act between MIZ1 and PIN proteins in regulating root direction under stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-this-mean-for-agriculture">What does this mean for agriculture?</h2>



Understanding how plants prioritize water over gravity could revolutionize drought-resistant crop development. The recent findings suggest that targeting MIZ1 and PIN proteins could enhance hydrotropism in key crops, helping them locate water in dry soil.



"By identifying corn or wheat variants with highly active MIZ1 protein, these can be introduced into the high-yield variants," said Friml. "Theoretically, you could end up with more hydrotropic plants, which may improve their water uptake during droughts."



Such modifications could prove invaluable as climate change intensifies droughts worldwide. By enhancing root sensitivity to moisture, crops could maintain growth even in water-scarce regions, reducing the risk of yield losses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-how-plants-seek-water">Understanding how plants seek water</h2>



While the study sheds light on how MIZ1 helps plants seek water, questions remain. How does MIZ1 detect moisture at the cellular level? Do other proteins interact with MIZ1 to regulate hydrotropism?



The role of other hormones, such as abscisic acid and cytokinin, also requires further exploration. These hormones are known to influence root growth under stress, but how they interact with MIZ1 remains unclear.



Additionally, while the study focused on Arabidopsis, extending the findings to crops like wheat and maize could reveal practical applications for agriculture. Testing whether MIZ1-modified crops perform better under drought conditions will be a key next step.



In a world increasingly defined by unpredictable weather patterns, understanding how plants adapt to water scarcity is more important than ever. 



The MIZ1 protein and its interaction with PIN proteins offer a promising pathway for enhancing root hydrotropism, potentially transforming how crops cope with drought.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2427315122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Plant roots defy gravity when water is scarce

Plants can’t move, but they constantly adjust to survive. They reach for light, dig their roots deeper, and seek out water when drought strikes. A new study by researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and Northwest A&amp;F University in China explores how plants manage this search for water. When water becomes scarce, plant roots alter their usual course. They ignore gravity, turning instead toward moisture. This shift, driven by a protein called MIZ1, could be crucial for creating drought-resistant crops in the future....

It has long been assumed that THC in hemp can increase due to environmental stress on the plant. But now, a new study from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> points to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-gut-microbiome-is-strongly-shaped-by-genetics/">genetics</a> as the cause for greater or lesser THC production. 

The research has very real world consequences. Government regulators closely monitor levels of THC in hemp. If plants contain 0.3% THC or less, they’re classified as hemp, if they contain more, they’re said to test “hot.” When plants test hot, farmers can lose entire crops.  

“One of our goals in our research and in fulfilling our extension mission is to reduce the risks to growers as much as possible," explained study senior author Larry Smart.

"With this research, growers should feel some comfort that stresses do not seem to have a strong effect on changing the ratio of CBD to THC.”

To test whether or not environmental stress caused an increase in THC, researchers created five test plots of hemp. The plants were each exposed to a different stressor, such as physical damage, flooding, powdery mildew, or an herbicide. 

The plants were then tested for THC levels throughout a four week trial period as their flowers matured. 

“What we found over the weeks that we were sampling, the amounts of CBD and THC went up proportionately in all of these different cultivars for all of these different stresses," said study lead author Jacob Toth.

The study further proves that genetics, rather than environment, determine the THC content and CBD to THC ratios in hemp, said Smart.

According to the experts, further research is now needed to discover the specific genetic components that make up plants with low and high THC content. This could lead to methods of regulatory testing earlier in a plant’s life, before it actually reaches a high level of THC content.  

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcbb.12880">GCB Bioenergy</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Genetics, not environmental stress, increases THC in hemp

It has long been assumed that THC in hemp can...

Adding colorful foods to your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-wolves-survived-the-ice-age-by-changing-their-diet/">diet</a> may significantly lower your risk of cognitive decline, according to a new study published by the <a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a>. 

The research suggests that eating at least half a serving per day of strawberries, oranges, peppers - and other foods high in flavonoids - can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by as much as 38 percent.

Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds in plants that are considered powerful antioxidants. The researchers looked at several types of flavonoids, and determined that flavones and anthocyanins may offer the greatest protection against cognitive decline.

"There is mounting evidence suggesting flavonoids are powerhouses when it comes to preventing your thinking skills from declining as you get older," explained study lead author Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard University. 

"Our results are exciting because they show that making simple changes to your diet could help prevent cognitive decline."

The analysis was focused on nearly 50,000 women with an average age of 48 and nearly 28,000 men with an average age of 51 at the start of the study. The individuals reported on their diet for 20 years.

The study participants also evaluated their own cognitive abilities over the course of the study, answering questions that indicated whether their memory had worsened enough for them to notice. 

The people that represented the highest 20 percent of flavonoid consumers had about 600 milligrams in their diets each day. Per 100 gram serving, strawberries have about 180 mg of flavonoids, while apples have about 113 mg.

According to the study, the flavones found in some spices and yellow or orange fruits and vegetables had the strongest protective effects. This particular class of flavonoids corresponded with a 38 percent lower risk of cognitive decline. 

Anthocyanins - found in blueberries, blackberries, and cherries - were associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline. 

"The people in our study who did the best over time ate an average of at least half a serving per day of foods like orange juice, oranges, peppers, celery, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, apples and pears," said Dr. Willett. 

"While it is possible other phytochemicals are at work here, a colorful diet rich in flavonoids - and specifically flavones and anthocyanins - seems to be a good bet for promoting long-term brain health." 

"And it's never too late to start, because we saw those protective relationships whether people were consuming the flavonoids in their diet 20 years ago, or if they started incorporating them more recently."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://n.neurology.org/">Neurology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Colorful foods help prevent cognitive decline

Adding colorful foods to your diet may significantly lower your...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tomato-fruit-warns-the-rest-of-the-plant-when-attacked/">Fruits</a> from the Mandarin family are popular throughout the world. In Japan, the shiikuwasha and the tachibana are two culturally important varieties, yet the history of these and other mandarin fruits has been a long-standing mystery. 

Now, researchers at the <a href="https://www.oist.jp/">Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University</a> (OIST) have analyzed 69 genomes of the east Asian mandarins. The experts compared the east Asian varieties to those in mainland Asia, revealing an interesting history. 

Wild mandarin diversity originated in southern China, and most domestic varieties have their origins there as well. The scientists discovered that wild mandarins found in the mountains of the area were not one but actually two subspecies. 

Dr. Guohong Albert Wu, who collaborated on the research from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, explained how different the two are.

"We found that one of these mandarin subspecies can produce offspring that are genetically identical to the mother," said Dr. Wu.

"Like many other plants, wild citrus typically reproduces when the pollen of the father combines with the egg of the mother, mixing the genes from both parents in the seed." 

"But we found a subspecies of wild mandarins from Mangshan, in southern China, where the seed contains an identical copy of the mother's DNA without any input from a father. So, the seed grows to be a clone of the mother tree."

In Okinawa, the scientists looked more closely at an odd citrus that is similar to shiikuwasha, with small acidic fruits that are undesirable to local farmers. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that this citrus is a new species they called the Ryuku Citrus, or Citrus ryukyuensis. Unlike the citrus in China, this one reproduces only sexually. 

Interestingly, the experts determined that all of the shiikuwasha citrus varieties are hybrids, with one parent being from mainland China and one parent being from the Ryukyu citrus. It seems that one parent was brought from mainland China to the Ryuku Islands long ago, where it mated with a local citrus, producing a hybrid. 

Even more interestingly, all of the Japanese citrus varieties that the scientists looked at turned out to be hybrids. 

The researchers point out that this information could be valuable. If we can understand the history of hybridization, what new varieties of citrus could also be created through hybridization?  

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

History of Okinawan mandarin revealed

Fruits from the Mandarin family are popular throughout the world....

Dry summers and extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-millions-of-sea-creatures-killed-in-historic-heatwave/">heat</a> are the biggest contributors to tree death in Colorado's subalpine forests, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">CU Boulder</a>. The experts found that the rate of tree mortality has tripled in subalpine forests that have not been impacted by fire or bark beetle outbreaks in more than a decade. 

"We have bark beetle outbreaks and wildfires that cause very obvious mortality of trees in Colorado. But we're showing that even in the areas that people go hiking in and where the forest looks healthy, mortality is increasing due to heat and dry conditions alone," explained study lead author Robert Andrus. "It's an early warning sign of climate change."

The hotter and drier conditions are reducing the forests' ability to store carbon and making it difficult for new trees to become established.

The researchers measured tree mortality over the past four decades in 13 areas of subalpine forest in Colorado. They found that heat and drought alone are responsible for more than 70 percent of tree deaths across these sites. 

By comparison, about 23 percent of tree deaths were caused by bark beetles and only about five percent were caused by wind damage.

Subalpine forests cover more than 10,000 square miles in Colorado. According to Andrus, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce dominate the area above the Peak to Peak Highway in the Front Range, and if you go over any mountain pass in Colorado, you're going into the subalpine zone.

"As trees die in increasing numbers due to fire, bark beetles and drought, the warmer and drier climate is making it much less likely that new tree seedlings can establish and replace the dead adult trees," said study co-author Professor Tom Veblen.

"It was really surprising to see how strong the relationship is between climate and tree mortality, to see that there was a very obvious effect of recent warmer and drier conditions on our subalpine forests," said Andrus. "The rate of increasing mortality is alarming."

The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652745">Journal of Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Tree mortality in Colorado is a warning sign of climate change

Dry summers and extreme heat are the biggest contributors to...

A number of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-become-less-competitive-in-the-deep-shade/">plants</a> and animals in Kenya's Tana River Basin will not be able to survive the current rate of global warming, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a>. 

On the other hand, if the world could meet the climate goals that were established at the Paris Agreement, many of these species could still be saved.

"This research provides the first assessment of the combined effects of development plans and climate change on biodiversity of the Tana River Basin, including identifying potential areas for restoration, and contributes to a greater understanding of biodiversity protection and adaptation options in Kenya," explained the study authors. 

Climate and land use changes are the two biggest threats to biodiversity worldwide. The experts report that land degradation increases the vulnerability of biodiversity on the Tana River Basin. Here, 36 percent of the land has been converted for agriculture. 

The researchers say that some ecosystem restoration may be necessary to best protect species in a changing climate. 

"This research shows how many species within Kenya's Tana River Basin will be unable to survive if global temperatures continue to rise as they are on track to do," said study lead author Rhosanna Jenkins.

"But remaining within the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep global warming well below 2°C, ideally at 1.5°C, would save many species. This is because large areas of the basin act as refugia from climate change."

Jenkins explained that with higher warming levels, these refuges are lost and the potential for restoration becomes more limited.

"The United Nations declared the 2020s as the 'Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'. Our results show the importance of considering climate change within these restoration efforts."

"With higher levels of warming, many of the species you are trying to restore will no longer be able to survive in the places they were originally found."

"Strong commitments from global leaders ahead of the COP climate change summit in Glasgow are needed to stand any chance of avoiding the loss of species - which for the Tana River Basin is clearly indicated by this work."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">Plos ONE</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wildlife on the Tana River Basin will struggle to survive global warming

A number of plants and animals in Kenya's Tana River...

A new study from <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">UC Davis</a> has revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-drought-will-impact-large-parts-of-the-amazon/">drought</a> causes lasting changes within the community of microbes that is found in and around the roots of rice plants. These root microbes are critical components of the plants that help them absorb nutrients from the soil. 

The research may ultimately shed new light on how rice responds to dry spells, and how it can be engineered to withstand drought conditions. 

As irrigated rice plants grow and develop, they go through a series of changes in the root microbiome based on the type of rice and its geographic location. Previous studies have shown that when a growing rice plant is lacking in water, the changes in the root microbiome stall out.

For the current investigation, the experts analyzed changes in root microbial communities as rice plants were deprived of water for 11, 21 or 33 days. This kind of intermittent drought condition is more common in rain-fed crops than terminal drought, explained study co-author Professor Venkatesan Sundaresan.

The researchers were not surprised to find that the microbes changed in drought conditions. However, they were surprised to find that the changes persisted for weeks after plants were watered again.

"Rice plants carry a 'memory' of the drought episode in their root microbiota, so that plants that have experienced drought can be distinguished solely on the basis of their microbiomes," said Professor Sundaresan.

"The persistence of changes to the microbiome means that root elongation continues even after drought has ended. This allows the roots to be better prepared to tap deep water."

Professor Sundaresan explained that for some drought tolerant rice strains - after a drought episode, the roots will continue to grow long enough to penetrate the hardpan.

The microbiome response will be more rapid the next time the rice plants encounter drought, because it has already been altered.

The study authors noted that crops are likely to experience frequent intermittent droughts as extreme climate events become more common. A better understanding of how the plants will respond could lead to strategies to reduce crop losses.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nplants/">Nature Plants</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Drought changes the root microbiome of rice plants

A new study from UC Davis has revealed that drought...

Fresh,Tomato

New research published by <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/">Frontiers</a> has found something very interesting. A certain variety of tomato has fruits that can use chemical and hormonal signaling to notify the rest of the plant when they're attacked by caterpillars. 

"We usually forget that a plant's fruits are living and semiautonomous parts of their mother-plants, far more complex than we currently think," said Dr. Gabriela Niemeyer Reissig of the Federal University of Pelotas.

"Since fruits are part of the plant, made of the same tissues of the leaves and stems, why couldn't they communicate with the plant, informing it about what they are experiencing, just like regular leaves do?"

"What we found is that fruits can share important information such as caterpillar attacks--which is a serious issue for a plant--with the rest of the plant, and that can probably prepare other parts of the plant for the same attack."

To study signaling of tomato plants, the researchers measured the electrical responses of the plant before, during and after herbivory by insects for a 24 hour period. The signals before and after the caterpillars munched on the tomatoes were different, showing that some sort of electrical signaling was taking place. 

The results showed an overall picture of signaling, not a narrow view of specific signals. However, the techniques used in the study can be replicated for a closer look in the future. Dr. Reissig is hopeful this study will lead to more research and important results,   

"If studies like ours continue to advance and the techniques for measuring electrical signals in open environments continue to improve, it will be possible to detect infestation of agricultural pests quite early, allowing for less aggressive control measures and more accurate insect management," said Dr. Reissig.

"Understanding how the plant interacts with its fruits, and the fruits among themselves, may bring insights about how to 'manipulate' this communication for enhancing fruit quality, resistance to pests and shelf life after harvest."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems">Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Tomato fruit warns the rest of the plant when attacked

New research published by Frontiers has found something very interesting....

In a new study led by <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a>, experts have investigated various foods that may protect against severe COVID-19 infection. The researchers found that drinking at least two to three cups of coffee per day lowers the risk of falling ill with COVID-19 by about one-tenth.

"Nutritional status influences immunity but its specific association with susceptibility to COVID-19 remains unclear. We examined the association of specific dietary data and incident COVID-19 in the UK Biobank (UKB)," wrote the study authors.

The team analyzed the records of 40,000 British adults in the UK Biobank. They looked at baseline diet factors including daily intake of coffee, tea, oily fish, processed meat, red meat, fruit, and vegetables. 

"Individual COVID-19 exposure was estimated using the UK’s average monthly positive case rate per specific geo-populations. Logistic regression estimated the odds of COVID-19 positivity by diet status adjusting for baseline sociodemographic factors, medical history, and other lifestyle factors," explained the researchers.

The study produced evidence to suggest that the consumption of coffee provides protection  against the virus, even among some individuals who were known to have been exposed. The researchers believe that coffee contains health-boosting plant chemicals that may turbocharge the immune system.

The results of the analysis indicate that eating vegetables also lowers the risk of developing COVID-19, as well as being breastfed as a baby. By contrast, the regular consumption of processed meat like bacon and sausage appears to increase the risk of severe COVID-19 infection. In addition, the experts found that tea and fruit did not have a significant effect. 

"Although these findings warrant independent confirmation, adherence to certain dietary behaviors may be an additional tool to existing COVID-19 protection guidelines to limit the spread of this virus," concluded the researchers.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients">Nutrients</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A daily dose of coffee may protect you from COVID-19

In a new study led by Northwestern University, experts have...

Rising temperatures and ozone levels are changing the way that plant roots interact with the soil and promoting carbon loss, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">NC State University</a>. The researchers found that both climate factors have a detrimental effect on soybean plant roots, in particular, and their symbiotic relationship with microorganisms in the soil.

Under the condition of higher levels of both warming and ozone, the experts observed few changes to the plant shoots aboveground, but concerning modifications underground. The plants lost their ability to sequester carbon, releasing it into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas.

"The ability to sequester carbon is very important to soil productivity - in addition to the detrimental effects of increasing greenhouse gases when this carbon escapes," said study co-author Professor Shuijin Hu.

The study was focused on the role of specific organisms - arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) - in promoting chemical interactions that hold carbon in the ground by preventing the decomposition of soil organic matter. 

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are present in the roots of about 80 percent of all terrestrial plants. These organisms take carbon from plants and provide nitrogen and other soil nutrients that plants need in order to grow.

For their investigation, the researchers set up plots of soybeans with increased air temperatures of about three degrees Celsius, plots with higher levels of ozone, plots with higher levels of both warming and ozone, and control plots with no modifications. 

The field experiments revealed that rising temperatures and ozone levels make soybean roots thinner as they attempt to preserve their resources and nutrients.

According to Professor Hu, soybean cultivars are often sensitive to ozone levels. Ozone has recently declined in the United States but has increased in areas of rapid industrialization like India.

"Ozone and warming have been shown to be very stressful to a lot of crops - not just soybeans - and a lot of grasses and tree species," said Professor Hu. "Ozone and warming make the plants weak. Plants try to maximize nutrient uptake, so their roots become thinner and longer as they need to exploit the sufficient volume of soil for resources." 

"This weakness results in a reduction of AMF and faster root and fungal hyphal turnovers, which stimulates decomposition and makes carbon sequestration more difficult. These cascading events may have profound effects underground, although the plant shoots appear normal in some cases."

Professor Hu said he was surprised that the plant shoots were not greatly affected by the stresses of warming and ozone. Perhaps even more surprising, he said, was that more warming and ozone changed the type of AMF that colonized soybean plants.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Ozone alters the behavior of plant roots

Rising temperatures and ozone levels are changing the way that...

Psilocybin - the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms - has long been a recreational drug. A growing collection of research shows that psilocybin has huge potential as an antidepressant, yet not much has been known about how the drug impacts the brain or how long it may be effective. 

A study published by <a href="https://www.yale.edu/">Yale</a> scientists is shedding new light on this mysterious drug. The experts report that in test mice, psilocybin induces a long-lasting increase in connections between neurons. 

"We not only saw a 10 percent increase in the number of neuronal connections, but also they were on average about 10 percent larger, so the connections were stronger as well," explained study senior author Professor Alex Kwan.

A scanning laser microscope was used to look at mouse brain tissue. Within 24 hours of psilocybin being administered, the experts found a growth in dendritic spines. Tracking these changes in living mice, the scientists discovered the new growth was still present a month later. 

Mice subjected to stress also showed improved behavior after the drug was administered. The change in behavior makes sense as dendritic spines are spur-like growths on nerve cells that aid in the connections between neurons and the basic function of the brain.  

Psilocybin users have long reported mystical experiences and profound feelings after using the drug. The "magic mushrooms" that contain the drug have also been used by Native American religions. It may be that these deep feelings and experiences are simply a product of increased connectivity in the brain. 

The big surprise for the researchers was not that the drug was effective, but that it was effective for so long after just a single dose. What more secrets does this drug hold? 

The results suggest that psilocybin can potentially treat depression without the need for a daily pill, considering the transformative changes induced by small doses of the drug. The secret could be that psilocybin changes the brain structures to contain new experiences.  

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/neuron/home">Neuron</a>.

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By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Psychedelic mushrooms and a cure for depression

Psilocybin - the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms - has...

The grass that we depend upon for agriculture relies on healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cities-have-their-own-unique-collection-of-bacteria-and-viruses/">bacteria</a> to survive climate change, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.umass.edu/">University of Massachusetts Amherst</a>. The researchers have discovered that the ability of agricultural grasses to endure drought is directly linked to the health of the microbial community living in their leaves, stems, and seeds.

"Microbes do an enormous amount for the grasses that drive the world's agriculture," said study lead author Emily Bechtold. "They protect from pathogens, provide the grass with nutrients such as nitrogen, supply hormones to bolster the plant's health and growth, protect from UV radiation and help the grass manage drought." 

Prior to this research, it was not very well understood how grass and its microbiome supported one another. Furthermore, not a lot has been known about the effects of drought on bacterial communities.

Considering that more than half of all agriculture is grass-related, the bacteria that live on grass have a major impact on food security and economic development.

"The goal of this research is to be able to manage the interactions between plants and the bacteria they host in order to support a truly sustainable agriculture," explained study senior author Professor Klaus Nüsslein.

For their investigation, the UMass Amherst researchers focused on two different types of grasses, including those that are found in temperate zones and those that are predominant in tropical regions. 

The researchers grew the temperate and tropical grasses in two different greenhouses that mimicked natural climate conditions. After they were grown, the grasses were divided into three sub-groups with either optimal climate conditions, mild drought conditions, or severe drought conditions.

The experts analyzed and compared the DNA of the bacteria found across all six groups. The analysis revealed that when the bacteria showed signs of drought-induced stress, the plants did as well. 

As expected, the tropical grasses were better able to withstand drought than the temperate grasses. Under severe drought, however, all of the bacterial communities exhibited significant shifts. 

The extremely dry conditions led to fewer bacteria overall and less diversity across the microbiomes. Furthermore, in some cases, severe drought triggered an increase in the number of bacteria that can be harmful to grass.

On the bright side, a few potentially beneficial bacteria were shown to thrive under mild drought conditions. According to Bechtold, the research indicates that plans to actively support and biofertilize with these beneficial bacteria could be the key to weathering the drought conditions that will become more widespread in the coming decades. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.asm.org/journal/aem">Applied and Environmental Microbiology</a>.

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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

Agricultural grasses need healthy bacteria to survive drought

The grass that we depend upon for agriculture relies on...

Flower evolution seems to be influenced by the various animals that visit, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/">University of Tsukuba</a>. The researchers have proposed a new theory that trade-offs caused by different visitors play a central role in shaping floral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-biodiversity-crisis-will-take-millions-of-years-to-recover-from/">diversity</a>.

When it comes to interactions between animals and flowers, some visitors are beneficial, like pollinators, while others can be detrimental. As a result, different selection pressures influence flower traits such as scent or color. 

"On the basis of this theory, you'd expect that flowers would mostly be visited by one particular group of pollinators," said study lead author Professor Kazuharu Ohashi. "But flowers often host many different visitors at the same time and flowers appear to meet the needs of multiple visitors. The question we wanted to answer is how this happens in nature."

In the case where a scent attracts one pollinator but deters another, the flower would attempt to accommodate the best pollinator. 

For example, diurnal bees and nocturnal moths can both pollinate goat willow, yet they prefer different smells. The researchers explained that balancing the demands of multiple visitors involves trade-offs.

The experts developed a conceptual framework to examine different types of trade-offs, as well as how flower evolution may be affected. Next, the team analyzed relevant studies to determine whether the research supported the proposed framework.

The researchers discovered a variety of strategies for mitigating trade-offs. In the case of goat willow, flowers produce different scents during the day and night, and therefore attract both pollinators. Furthermore, floral color can change to attract both bees and flies. 

All of the strategies that were mentioned by the researchers involved acquiring novel combinations of traits to attract, or deter, different visitors.

"Most flowers are ecologically generalized and the assumption to date has been that this is a suboptimal solution," said Professor Ohashi. "But our findings suggest that interactions with multiple animals can actually be optimized by minimizing trade-offs in various ways, and such evolutionary processes may have enriched the diversity of flowers."

The researchers predict that future studies will find that the structure of flower-visitor communities and the associated trade-offs have played critical roles in flower evolution.

"Identifying convergent adaptations to particular community contexts may help us to understand better the evolutionary link between diverse floral phenotypes and their visitors.'

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1469185x">Biological Reviews</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Flower evolution is influenced by the animals that visit

Flower evolution seems to be influenced by the various animals...

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

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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 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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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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