When you look at a forest, the variety of trees you see above ground is only part of the story. Beneath the soil, vast networks of fungi influence which trees thrive, which coexist, and how forests respond to the challenges of climate and geography.



A new study led by researchers from <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a> and <a href="https://english.pku.edu.cn/">Peking University</a> has revealed how these underground fungal allies shape tree diversity across the globe. Their influence varies depending on latitude, moisture, and environmental stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungi-hidden-beneath-forests">Fungi hidden beneath forests</h2>



Jingjing Liang, an associate professor of quantitative forest ecology at Purdue, co-led the study with Zhiheng Wang from Peking University.



“What we can see above ground is governed to a large extent by what is happening belowground,” said Liang.



The experts analyzed data from over 442,000 forest plots worldwide and focused on two main groups of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-distribute-enormous-amounts-of-co2-to-mycorrhizal-fungi/">mycorrhizal fungi</a>: ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. 



Both form partnerships with tree roots, trading nutrients for carbohydrates, but they do so in different ways that profoundly influence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-rich-tree-diversity-adapt-better-changing-climate/">forest diversity</a>.



“The loss in tree species diversity may damage the ecosystem services provided by forests," Wang said. "Understanding the mechanisms driving the maintenance of tree species forest diversity is fundamental for the conservation of tree species diversity.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solving-a-forest-diversity-puzzle">Solving a forest diversity puzzle</h2>



For years, scientists have debated how fungal partnerships impact tree species diversity, proposing three competing hypotheses. This comprehensive global study found that all three are valid, depending on environmental context.



“Our findings reconcile inconsistencies regarding how mycorrhizal symbiosis influences tree species diversity,” Wang said.



Using precise forest inventory data collected worldwide, the team applied advanced statistical methods to filter noise from complex ecological data, revealing hidden patterns.



“With this data, we were able to very accurately capture this relationship between different types of mycorrhizal fungi and forest tree species diversity,” Liang explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungal-effects-shift-with-climate">Fungal effects shift with climate</h2>



<a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> ecologist Peter Reich, a senior co-author, highlighted the value of the study’s comprehensive approach. 



“This insight would have been impossible to detect without the comprehensiveness of this dataset, which allows us to test across large gradients of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-altering-the-temperature-in-66-of-tropical-forests/">temperature</a>, moisture, and latitude,” he said.



Reich explained that ectomycorrhizal fungi often dominate in cold, nutrient-poor regions that naturally have fewer tree species. Without a broad dataset, this dominance could obscure the fungi’s more nuanced effects.



“But by being able to tease apart temperature and moisture, we can see that when conditions are generally good," he said. "The more abundant the ectomycorrhizal are, the more they do to reduce tree richness.”



The process is complex. While dominant tree species naturally suppress less competitive species, root <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-pandemic-looms-as-pathogens-move-from-wild-plants-to-crops/">pathogens</a> usually check the dominance, allowing diversity. 



Ectomycorrhizal fungi suppress these pathogens, enabling dominant trees to thrive unchecked, which can reduce species diversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harder-climates-stronger-alliances">Harder climates, stronger alliances</h2>



The study also found that under stressful conditions - such as low moisture or cold climates - the combination of both fungal types fosters greater diversity.



In these environments, resource-sharing partnerships help more tree species survive, while pathogen suppression plays a smaller role.



“Both ways of influencing tree diversity are real, but their relative balance and magnitude of impacts vary with environmental context,” Reich said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healing-forests-from-below">Healing forests from below</h2>



Liang emphasized that understanding the hidden fungal networks in forests is akin to treating a patient holistically. 



“We should not just look at the surface symptoms. We should look deep down, literally to the roots of the problems, and that is belowground mutualism,” he said.



This work, supported by the <a href="https://www.gfbinitiative.org/">Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative</a> and its Science-i platform, demonstrates how global collaborations can untangle complex ecological questions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-conservation-and-fungal-networks">Forest conservation and fungal networks</h2>



The findings open pathways for further research: How do these underground alliances affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-forests-with-many-tree-species-are-more-effective-at-carbon-storage/">carbon storage</a> in forests? Can fostering specific fungal partnerships enhance forest resilience in a changing climate?



&nbsp;“And what can we do to enhance the health of our forest ecosystem by not just seeing what is on the surface, but what is belowground?” Liang asked.



By revealing the profound influence of underground fungal networks on forest diversity, this research underscores that the key to healthier forests - and perhaps a healthier planet - may lie hidden beneath our feet.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt5743">Science Advances</a>.



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How an invisible fungal alliance helps forests thrive

When you look at a forest, the variety of trees you see above ground is only part of the story. Beneath the soil, vast networks of fungi influence which trees thrive, which coexist, and how forests respond to the challenges of climate and geography. A new study led by researchers from Purdue University and Peking University has revealed how these underground fungal allies shape tree diversity across the globe. Their influence varies depending on latitude, moisture, and environmental stress. Fungi hidden beneath forests Jingjing Liang, an associate...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-have-a-memory-of-drought/">Plants</a> play a major role in cycling toxic mercury through the environment. This discovery was made by researchers at the <a href="https://www.uml.edu/">University of Massachusetts Lowell</a> while they were studying mercury gas in the atmosphere. The team found that a large amount of mercury is absorbed by plants and then deposited into soils.

Each year, hundreds of tons of mercury are emitted into the atmosphere from industrial activities, such as burning coal and mining, and also from natural processes.

Mercury emissions are absorbed by plants in a process that is similar to how they take up carbon dioxide. After the plants shed their leaves or die, and the mercury is transferred into soils, it can make its way into watersheds where it becomes a threat to wildlife and people who eat contaminated fish.

Study lead author Professor Daniel Obrist is an expert on mercury cycling within the environment. He explained that exposure to high levels of mercury over long periods of time can lead to neurological and cardiovascular problems in humans.

For the current investigation, the researchers analyzed more than 200 published studies with data on mercury levels in vegetation across more than 400 sites worldwide.

The analysis revealed that about 88 percent of the mercury found in plants was absorbed from the atmosphere. According to study co-author Jun Zhou, vegetation can take up more than 1,300 tons of mercury each year globally, which accounts for 60 to 90 percent of that which is deposited over land.

"When I walk outside here in New England, I am always amazed at the greenness of our forest, grasslands and salt marshes," said Professor Obrist. "One goal of my research is to determine how strongly vegetation controls the cycling of elements - some of which can be toxic pollutants - so we can better mitigate damaging effects."

Zhou noted that the research moves scientists toward a greater understanding of how mercury cycling works.

"Researchers have worked on the role that vegetation plays on cycling of mercury for over 30 years now, but the full extent of these impacts are still not yet fully realized," said Zhou.

"It was timely to write this comprehensive review and communicate to colleagues and the public about the current state of knowledge in this area."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natrevearthenviron/">Nature Reviews Earth &amp; Environment</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plants play a major role in mercury cycling

Plants play a major role in cycling toxic mercury through...

Fiber is an essential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-ground-squirrels-recycle-their-own-nutrients-during-hibernation/">nutrient</a> that has been linked to weight loss, healthy blood sugar levels, and lower cholesterol. Now, in a new study from the <a href="https://www.unicamp.br/unicamp/english">University of Campinas</a> in Brazil, researchers have found evidence that fiber may also play an important role in controlling the inflammation associated with COVID-19.

The experts report that compounds produced by gut microbiota during the fermentation of insoluble fiber have the potential to limit the severity of COVID-19. These compounds were found to reduce the expression of a gene that plays a key role in viral cell entry and a cytokine receptor that favors inflammation.

Meanwhile, the molecules did not affect the ability of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to enter and replicate in cells lining the intestines. 

As many as half of all COVID-19 patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. These symptoms have been detected in 17.6 percent of severe cases, and are partly associated with viral entry into intestinal cells that alters their normal functions.

Furthermore, recent studies have found evidence of major changes in the gut microbiota of COVID-19 patients, including a decrease in levels of bacteria that secrete short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by fermenting dietary fiber. These fatty acids are important to colon health and to maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier.

The researchers set out to investigate whether SFCAs directly influence the infection of intestinal cells by SARS-CoV-2. 

“In earlier research, we found in animals that compounds produced by gut microbiota help protect the organism against respiratory infection," said Patrícia Brito Rodrigues.

"The model used there was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis and frequently infects children. Similar results have been obtained by other research groups in studies of different respiratory diseases."

For the current study, healthy colon tissue and epithelial cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the lab and subjected to a battery of tests.

“Viral load wasn’t reduced and was the same in cells and tissue treated with SCFAs and in untreated samples," explained Professor Raquel Franco Leal. "However, treated intestinal biopsy samples displayed a significant decrease in expression of the gene DDX58 (an innate immune system receptor that detects viral nucleic acids and activates a signaling cascade that results in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines) and the interferon-lambda receptor, which mediates antiviral activity."

"There was also a decrease in expression of the protein TMPRSS2, which is important to viral cell entry."

Tissue and cell samples were treated with a mixture of compounds that are produced by gut microbiota during the metabolization of the SCFAs present in dietary fiber. The treatments did not alter viral load in colon biopsies or cells, and there were no changes in cell wall permeability and integrity.

“That doesn’t exclude the possibility of significant action by SCFAs on infection by SARS-CoV-2. The antiviral effects could depend on interaction with other cells in the organism,” explained Rodrigues. 

“We’ll continue our investigation in animal models since the action of these compounds on the infection could depend on a more complete system than the samples we used in vitro (isolated cells and tissues).”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/kgmi20/current">Gut Microbes</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fiber may help control inflammation in COVID-19 patients

Fiber is an essential nutrient that has been linked to...

A new study from <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">NC State University</a> reveals how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warm-river-habitats-are-important-for-cold-water-fish/">water</a> cycle is affected by the way that forests are managed. The researchers found that younger trees take up and release less water than mature trees that are ten years or older.

The team tracked water movement in wetland pine forests near the North Carolina coast for 14 years. The findings suggest that managers could adjust the timing of timber harvests to leave older trees alongside new growth to mitigate runoff.

"The water balance, especially in coastal sites, is very important," said study lead author Maricar Aguilos. "We have so much water there. We wanted to understand how land-use changes impact water use and drainage in the forests, as well as how they affect the growth of the trees."

The experts used data from a long-term research project that was designed to understand how pine forests managed for timber and natural hardwood are responding to changing climate conditions. 

For the project, meteorological sensors were placed on towers above the forest canopy. This enabled the researchers to track water flow to and from the site, including during a severe drought in 2007 and 2008. The sensors were also used to track the forests' ability to store carbon. 

"In order to study the response of coastal ecosystems to climate change and sea-level rise, we need long-term observations," said study co-author Professor John King.

"The longer we can let those studies run, the better our data will be, and the more effectively we can help inform policy." 

The current study evaluated how much water the trees use and release as vapor, compared to how much is lost as drainage.

The experts found that younger pine plantations released increasingly higher amounts of water from the evaporation of water from the soil and through transpiration. Mature plantations were found to drain less water than younger pine forests.

"We found that the trees use more water as they mature," said study co-author Ge Sun. "Water use stabilized by about year 10 in the pine forests."

This suggests that clear-cutting a site and replanting it could lead to increased drainage and flooding off the site initially, but the impacts would diminish as the trees grow.

"The mature plantations help to mitigate effects of forest harvesting on drainage at a landscape scale," said Aguilos. "If you harvest to leave trees of different ages, they can help each other."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/agricultural-and-forest-meteorology">Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Younger trees use up and release less water

A new study from NC State University reveals how the...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/university/">University of Würzburg</a> have discovered that plants have a memory of drought and respond accordingly to save water. 

During drought, plants produce the signaling molecule GABA to inhibit the opening of leaf pores and subsequent water loss. The new research shows that plant cells autonomously perceive stress and react to it with GABA production.

"I've been studying how plants regulate their water balance for over 35 years," said Professor Rainer Hedrich. "To find a completely new and unexpected way for saving water has certainly been one of the most surprising discoveries in my life." 

The team discovered the unexpected strategy in collaboration with researchers at the University of Adelaide. 

The study found that plants use GABA to remember the dryness of a day. The drier it is, the more GABA accumulates in the plant tissue throughout the day. The next morning, the amount of GABA determines how wide the plant opens its leaf pores. 

In both humans and animals, GABA serves as a messenger in the nervous system. Despite the fact that plants have no nerve cells and no brain, GABA has now been linked to memory-like processes.

Hedrich also determined that GABA is involved in short-term memory in Venus flytraps, where its production is regulated by calcium levels. 

According to Professor Matthew Gilliham, the GABA effect has been demonstrated in various crops. "Under the influence of GABA, barley, broad beans and soybeans, for example, close their leaf pores." 

The researchers demonstrated in the lab that plants that produce more GABA due to mutations need less water and can survive in drought conditions longer.

While scientists know of other signaling substances that cause the leaf pores to close in plants, GABA relies on a completely different mechanism of action, explained study lead author Dr. Bo Xu.

A better understanding of the water-saving mechanisms in plants is becoming increasingly important to promote heat tolerance, as climate change threatens to make droughts much more frequent and intense.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plants have a memory of drought

Experts at the University of Würzburg have discovered that plants...

In a new study published by <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell Press</a>, experts are explaining why whiteflies incorporated a portion of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disease-that-kills-bald-eagles-linked-to-invasive-plant/">plant</a> DNA into their genome millions of years ago. The researchers have discovered that whiteflies use the stolen gene to degrade the toxins that plants use to defend themselves against insects.

Study co-author Ted Turlings is a chemical ecologist and entomologist at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

"This seems to be the first recorded example of the horizontal gene transfer of a functional gene from a plant into an insect," said Turlings. "You cannot find this gene, BtPMaT1, which neutralizes toxic compounds produced by the plant, in any other insect species."

Experts theorize that plants use BtPMaT1 to store their noxious compounds in a harmless form so that the plant does not poison itself. 

The research team, led by Youjun Zhang of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, used genetic analyses to reveal that whiteflies stole BtPMaT1 about 35 million years ago. The flies then gained the ability to detoxify toxic plant defense compounds.

"We think a virus within the plant may have taken up this BtPMaT1 gene and, after ingestion by a whitefly, the virus then must have done something inside the insect whereby that gene was integrated into the whiteflies genome," explained Turlings. 

"Of course, this is an extremely unlikely event, but if you think about millions of years and billions of individual insects, viruses, and plants across time, once in a while this could happen, and if the acquired gene is a benefit to the insects, then it will be evolutionarily favored and may spread."

Whiteflies are a major agricultural pest, attacking at least 600 different species of plants worldwide. 

"One of the questions we've been asking ourselves is how these insects acquired these incredible adaptations to circumvent plant defenses, and with this discovery we have revealed at least one reason as to why," said Turlings.

Based on the findings, the team developed a small RNA molecule that interferes with the whiteflies' BtPMaT1 gene and makes the flies susceptible to the plant's toxic compounds.

"The most exciting step of this design was when our colleagues genetically manipulated tomato plants to start producing this RNA molecule," said Turlings. 

"Once the whiteflies fed on the tomatoes and ingested the plant-produced RNA, their BtPMaT1 gene was silenced, causing 100% mortality of the insect, but the genetic manipulation had no impact on the survival of other insects that were tested."

Silencing the whitefly gene could serve as a targeted pest control strategy to combat agricultural devastation caused by whiteflies.

"There are definitely still some hurdles this method needs to get over, most notably the skepticism about using transgenic plants," said Turlings.

"But in the future, I do see this as a very clear way of controlling whiteflies because now we know exactly the mechanism behind it, and we are equipped to deal with possible changes in the whitefly gene that may arise."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/home">Cell</a>. 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Whiteflies stole a gene from plants to survive their lethal toxins

In a new study published by Cell Press, experts are...

A study from the <a href="https://www.salk.edu/">Salk Institute</a> is providing brand new insight into how Venus flytraps and other plants sense touch. The experts have identified a key protein that helps carnivorous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-with-short-lives-are-more-sensitive-to-climate-change/">plants</a> sense and respond to a touch from their prey. 

The slight brush of an insect is all it takes to trigger a Venus flytrap to snap shut. Even though this fascinating ability has been widely studied, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain a mystery.

"Because they're so unusual, people have been interested in these plants for hundreds of years, so there's quite a bit known about them at the gross, macroscopic level, but the molecular details have been hard to tease out," said study co-author Carl Procko.

The new findings could help scientists better understand how plants of all kinds sense and respond to mechanical stimulation, and may ultimately be useful for medical applications.

"We know that plants sense touch. The Venus flytrap, which has a very fast response to touch, provides an opportunity to study a sensory modality that historically has been poorly understood," explained study co-author Joanne Chory.

For their investigation, the researchers cloned Venus flytraps to get plants that were genetically identical. Next, they carefully cut thousands of microscopic, touch-sensitive trigger hairs from the plants and used sequencing technology to identify which proteins were most abundant in the hairs.

Based on previous research, the team speculated that the proteins involved in sensing touch were likely to have the capability of moving an electrical current across the cell. As expected, this type of protein was the second most common type found in the hairs. 

To test the protein, which is now referred to as FLYCATCHER1, experts at Scripps Research introduced it to mammalian cells. The experiment revealed that the mammalian cells responded by producing an electrical current when they were touched. This confirms that the protein is sensitive to mechanical stimuli.

The researchers discovered the same protein in the tentacles of the sundew, a close relative of the Venus flytrap. 

"These findings are further evidence that the FLYCATCHER1 protein plays a critical role in the trigger hairs of the Venus flytrap and the mechanisms of the plant that sense and respond to touch," said Chory.

Next, the experts will conduct a "knockout" test with genetically modified flytraps that are  missing the protein. If the modified flytraps lack their sense of touch, it will prove that FLYCATCHER1 is responsible.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/">eLife</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study sheds new light on how Venus flytraps sense touch

A study from the Salk Institute is providing brand new...

A cup of leafy green vegetables a day improves muscle strength, regardless of physical activity, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/">Edith Cowan University</a> (ECU). The researchers found that people who consumed a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-diet-lowers-the-overall-risk-of-stroke/">diet</a> rich in nitrates, mainly from vegetables, had significantly better muscle function.

The investigation was focused on data from more than 3,700 participants Melbourne's Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute AusDiab study. Individuals with the highest nitrate consumption had 11 percent stronger lower limb strength compared to those with the lowest nitrate intake. 

Study lead author Dr. Marc Sim said the findings reveal important evidence for the role diet plays in overall health.

"Our study has shown that diets high in nitrate-rich vegetables may bolster your muscle strength independently of any physical activity," said Dr. Sim.

"Nevertheless, to optimise muscle function we propose that a balanced diet rich in green leafy vegetables in combination with regular exercise, including weight training, is ideal."

Muscle function is critical for maintaining good overall health, especially bone strength later in life.

"With around one in three Australians aged over 65 suffering a fall each year, it's important to find ways of preventing these events and their potentially serious consequences."

Dr. Sim noted that while leafy green vegetables may be some of our least favorite, they could be the most important. The greatest health benefits were linked to lettuce, spinach, kale and beetroot.

"Less than one in ten Australians eat the recommended five to six serves of vegetables per day," said Dr. Sim.

"We should be eating a variety of vegetables every day, with at least one of those serves being leafy greens to gain a range of positive health benefits for the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system."

"It's also better to eat nitrate-rich vegetables as part of a healthy diet rather than taking supplements. Green leafy vegetables provide a whole range of essential vitamins and minerals critical for health."

Dr. Sim said the next step of his research will be exploring strategies to increase leafy green vegetable consumption in the general population.

"We are currently recruiting for the MODEL Study, which examines how knowledge of disease can be used to prompt people in making long-term improvements to their diet and exercise."

The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jn">Journal of Nutrition</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Leafy green vegetables improve muscle strength

A cup of leafy green vegetables a day improves muscle...

As increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide accelerate plant growth, the soil may not be able to keep up with the pace. Researchers at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> found that when elevated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/active-travel-can-greatly-reduce-co2-emissions-in-the-city/">CO2</a> levels give plants a boost, the soil begins to lose its ability to store more carbon. 

One likely explanation is that plants effectively mine the soil for nutrients they need to keep up with carbon-fueled growth, according to the study authors. The extra nutrients are made available to plants through increased microbial activity in the soil, which releases CO2 that would otherwise remain locked away.

Scientists have widely accepted the idea that plant biomass and soil carbon will increase simultaneously. However, the researchers found that this is not the case. 

"When plants increase biomass, usually there's a decrease in soil carbon storage," said lead author César Terrer.

The team analyzed data from 108 previously published studies on high CO2 concentrations, soil carbon levels, and plant growth. The results showed that soils only accumulated more carbon in experiments where plant growth remained fairly steady. 

"It proved much harder than expected to increase both plant growth and soil carbon," said senior study author Professor Rob Jackson. He explained that climate projections do not account for this tradeoff, which means they likely overestimate the potential of the terrestrial carbon sink. 

Each year, plants and soils collectively absorb an estimated 30 percent of the CO2 emissions associated with human activities. It is particularly important to understand how the underground part of the terrestrial carbon sink will change in the coming decades, considering that carbon absorbed by the soil tends to remain stored for a very long time. 

"When a plant dies, some of the carbon that accumulated in its biomass may return to the atmosphere. In soils, carbon can be stored for centuries or millennia," said Terrer.

In 2019, the Stanford team determined that as CO2 levels continue to rise, plants will likely play a far less significant role in drawing down carbon than previously predicted. The new research indicates that the soil will also fall short as a carbon sink as plant biomass increases. 

"Soils store more carbon worldwide than is contained in all plant biomass," said Professor Jackson. "They need much more attention as we project the fate of forests and grasslands to the changing atmosphere."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Soil will release more CO2 as plants hit a growth spurt

As increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide accelerate plant growth,...

Beneficial bacteria can promote heat tolerance in crops and could ultimately be the quickest route to achieving sustainable agriculture, according to a new study by <a href="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en">KAUST</a> scientists.

Severe heatwaves are becoming more frequent and increasingly damaging to agricultural crops. Some plants have natural heat tolerance, while others acquire heat tolerance through exposure to hot and dry conditions. The process of breeding heat-resistant plants, however, can be time consuming and expensive. 

Experts have been exploring the potential for using microbes to protect plants. The new research demonstrates that root-dwelling bacteria can help their host plants survive extreme conditions, including drought and heat.

"Beneficial bacteria could become one of the quickest, cheapest and greenest ways to help achieve sustainable agriculture," said study co-author Kirti Shekhawat. "However, no long-term studies have proven they work in the real world, and we haven't yet uncovered what's happening on a molecular level."

To investigate, the researchers tested the power of the beneficial bacteria SA187 that lives in the roots of tough, resilient desert shrubs. The team coated wheat seeds with the bacteria and then planted them in the lab, along with seeds that were left untreated. 

After six days, the crops were exposed to temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius, or 111 degrees Fahrenheit, for two hours. Any longer exposure would have killed all the plants, explained Shekhawat. 

The experts found that untreated wheat plants suffered leaf damage and stopped growing. Meanwhile, the treated wheat plants were left unharmed and continued to thrive, indicating that the bacteria promoted heat tolerance.  

"The bacteria enter the plant as soon as the seeds germinate, and they live happily in symbiosis for the plant's entire life," said Shekhawat.

The wheat was relocated and raised in natural fields in Dubai, where temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius. In this region, wheat is usually grown only in winter, but the crops treated with bacteria consistently produced yields between 20 and 50 percent higher than normal. 

"We were incredibly happy to see that a single bacterial species could protect crops like this," said Shekhawat.

Genetic analysis revealed that the bacteria produce metabolites that are converted into the hormone ethylene, which primes the plant's heat-resistance genes for action. "Essentially, the bacteria teach the plant how to use its own defense system."

Thousands of other bacteria have the potential to protect plants against threats ranging from drought to fungi, and the team is already testing some of these microbes on vegetables and other crops. 

"We have just scratched the surface of this hidden world of soil that we once dismissed as dead matter," said study lead author Heribert Hirt. "Beneficial bacteria could help transform an unsustainable agricultural system into a truly ecological one."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.embopress.org/journal/14693178">EMBO Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bacteria can activate heat tolerance in crops

Beneficial bacteria can promote heat tolerance in crops and could...

A new study shows that certain plant characteristics such as generation time can predict how sensitive species are to climate change. An international team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.idiv.de/en/index.html">German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research</a> (iDiv) set out to investigate how plant populations have responded to climate change over time. 

To address this question, the experts collected all of the relevant data available worldwide, which was mostly from Europe and North America. The investigation revealed that plant species with short generation times are more sensitive to climate change than species with long generation times. 

According to the researchers, their work has important implications for predicting which plant species need the most protection and conservation attention.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to plant diversity. In order to protect biodiversity, it is critical for experts to understand which species are the most urgently threatened and where. 

The iDiv team compiled all long-term studies on plants that measured population growth rates. The experts assessed how climate factors, particularly precipitation and temperature, influenced the growth rate during each study period. 

The researchers then analyzed how specific features of a plant species, such as the length of a generation, influenced its growth responses to climate variation in the past.

"We were able to show that generation duration is a useful indicator value for a species' susceptibility to climate change," said study first author Dr. Aldo Compagnoni. 

For example, the experts found that plants with short lifespans, including those that only live a few years, suffered much more from climate extremes than long-lived species. 

The researchers also clarified that rising temperatures were not the main climate-related factor that limited plant growth. On average, precipitation had a three times greater impact on plant populations than temperature.

"This work helps us identify which species might be climate-vulnerable, even if we have limited information about those species," said study co-author Professor Tiffany Knight. 

"For example, while we have long-term population data for a small subset of plant species on Earth, we can estimate the approximate generation duration for most plant species. This is an important first step towards determining species' vulnerability to climate change at a global scale."

At the same time, however, the experts noted that there are important data gaps that limit the ability to make general predictions on a global scale. The researchers found suitable long-term datasets only for 62 of the 350,000 plant species on Earth, and the vast majority of these were species occurring in temperate zones.

The study authors conclude that to be able to make reliable predictions about the consequences of climate change for all regions of the world and all known species, new population ecology research is needed on woody plant species and plants in the tropics.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</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

Plants with short lives are more sensitive to climate change

A new study shows that certain plant characteristics such as...

Artificial light is known to disrupt ecological processes such as the nighttime pollination of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-found-beneath-greenland-ice-represent-a-troubling-reality/">plants</a> by nocturnal insects, which could be detrimental to plant reproduction and agricultural crop yields. In a new study from the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich</a>, experts have demonstrated that artificial light at night also interferes with insects' pollination behavior during the daytime.

"A 'luminous fog' of artificial light at night is enveloping the locations inhabited by humans, with about 18.7% of the world’s terrestrial surfaces (excluding Antartica) currently being exposed to it," wrote the researchers. "Furthermore, the area experiencing direct emissions from artificial light sources is estimated to expand at about 2–6% per year while already illuminated areas become brighter at a similar rate." 

"In addition to effects on the physiology and behavior of organisms with consequences for mortality, reproduction, species abundance, and community composition, artificial light at night affects species interactions and ecosystem functioning."

For the investigation, the experts used commercial street lamps to illuminate natural plant-pollinator communities overnight on six natural meadows, while six other natural meadows were left dark. The research analyzed the interactions of 21 naturally occurring plant species and their pollinators.

"Our findings indicate that artificial light during the nighttime alters the number of plant-pollinator interactions during the daytime, depending on the plant species," explained study co-author Eva Knop.

For example, three plant species received significantly fewer pollinator visits during the daytime after LED illumination. By contrast, one plant species received substantially more pollinator visits.

Nocturnal pollinator activity was also found to vary in the presence of artificial light. For example, woodland geraniums received the same number of pollinator visits in illuminated and dark meadows, but not by the same insects. Dipterous insects reduced their visits to plants that were lit up during the night, and beetles tended to visit more frequently. 

"Since insects play a vital role in pollinating crops and wild plants and are already endangered by habitat destruction and climate change regardless of artificial light, it is important to study and clarify these indirect mechanisms," said Knop.

The study authors are calling for the ecological impact of light pollution to be researched more thoroughly and for actions to be devised to prevent adverse effects on the environment. 

"We conclude that the effect of artificial light at night on plant-pollinator interactions is not limited to the night, but can also propagate to the daytime with so far unknown consequences for the pollinator community and the diurnal pollination function and services they provide," wrote the researchers.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</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

Artificial light disrupts plant pollination, even during the day

Artificial light is known to disrupt ecological processes such as...

A new study reveals how climate change is affecting plant growth beyond the effects of rising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-permafrost-is-releasing-even-more-co2-than-expected/">CO2</a> levels. The researchers found that rising temperatures are impacting photosynthesis and plant viability.

The experts report that excessive heat reduces the efficiency of enzymes that drive photosynthesis and can hinder plants' ability to regulate CO2 uptake and water loss. They explain that certain aspects of a plant's structure can make it more or less susceptible to heat stress.

Features of the ecosystem, such as the density of plants or local atmospheric conditions, also influence how crop yields will respond to heat.

Study co-lead author Caitlin Moore is a research fellow at the University of Western Australia and an affiliate research fellow at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</a>. 

"It's important to have an understanding of these issues across scales - from the biochemistry of individual leaves to ecosystem-level influences - in order to really tackle these problems in an informed way," said Moore.

According to study co-author Professor Carl Bernacchi, there has been a lot of focus on rising CO2 and the impact that it has on plants. "And it is an important factor, because we are changing that carbon dioxide concentration enormously. But it's a small part of the bigger story." 

"Once you throw changing temperatures into the mix, it completely messes up our understanding of how plants are going to respond."

"Take Rubisco, the key enzyme that fixes carbon dioxide into sugars, making life on Earth possible," said study co-lead author Amanda Cavanagh. "Rubisco speeds up as the temperature increases, but it's also prone to making mistakes."

Instead of binding CO2 to sugars, Rubisco sometimes fixes oxygen, initiating a different pathway that wastes a plant's resources. Higher temperatures make this more likely, said Cavanagh. The enzyme will begin to lose its structural integrity and become increasingly ineffective. Heat can also compromise a plant's reproductive capacity. 

When temperatures are too warm, plants open up pores on their leaves called stomata to cool themselves. The stomata also allow plants to absorb CO2, but when they are fully open, the leaves can lose too much moisture.

"Temperature affects the atmosphere above the plant," said Moore. "As the atmosphere heats up, it can hold additional water, so it's pulling more water from the plants."

Cavanagh, who studies the molecular biology of plants, said some plants are more heat tolerant than others, and scientists are searching their genomes for clues to their success.

"For example, you can look at wild Australian relatives of rice that are growing in much harsher climates than most paddy rices. And you see that their enzymes are primed to work more efficiently at hotter temperatures."

One goal is to transfer heat-tolerant genes to rice varieties that are more susceptible to heat stress.

"The world is getting hotter at a shocking rate," said Cavanagh. "And we know from global models that each increase in gross temperature degree Celsius can cause 3% to 7% losses in yield of our four main crops. So, it's not something we can ignore."

"What makes me optimistic is the realization that so much work is going into globally solving this problem."

The study is published in the <a href="https://jeb.biologists.org/">Journal of Experimental Biology</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

Rising temperatures alter photosynthesis and plant growth

A new study reveals how climate change is affecting plant...

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

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[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

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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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