Seagrass meadows are more than just coastal greenery. Beneath the waves, they capture carbon and bury it in the seafloor, storing it safely for decades or centuries. This makes seagrass a powerful ally in the fight against climate change



But there’s a catch. When humans flood coastlines with too much nutrient pollution - especially from wastewater - it doesn’t just mess with the water. It messes with the seagrass, too.



Scientists wanted to find out exactly how this works, and they didn’t take shortcuts. Over nine years, researchers observed what happened when they added extra nutrients to seagrass beds. What they found was a balancing act between helping and hurting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-balance-of-seagrass-and-nutrients">The balance of seagrass and nutrients</h2>



In the warm, shallow waters of tropical bays, seagrass grows in sandy beds. Such places are usually poor in nutrients. That may sound bad, but it is one of the reasons why seagrass is good at capturing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-plays-a-major-role-in-global-carbon-storage/">carbon</a>. 



The plants grow slowly and consistently, extending their roots deep into the sediment where carbon is stored and trapped.



But when researchers added <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-phosphorus-will-limit-growth-of-the-amazon-rainforest/">phosphorus</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kelp-farms-could-help-clean-up-coastal-nitrogen-pollution/">nitrogen</a> to these beds, something interesting happened. The seagrass responded with a burst of growth. 



First, it strengthened its root systems. Then, it put more energy into its blades - the flat, grass-like leaves. As the roots grew quickly, they also died more quickly, sending extra carbon into the sediment. That should be good news, right? 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-shadow-of-too-much-nitrogen">The shadow of too much nitrogen</h2>



Here’s where things got complicated. When nitrogen levels went too high, the team saw a surge in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-forest-of-phytoplankton-thrives-in-a-warming-climate/">phytoplankton</a> - tiny algae that float in the water. These blooms blocked sunlight, putting the seagrass at risk.



“People thought excess nutrients were killing seagrass,” said Jacob Allgeier, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a>. 



“But we show that as long as there are not too many nutrients, which would also increase phytoplankton, the seagrass will just increase growth with excess nutrients.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-experiment-worked">How the experiment worked</h2>



To figure out what was really going on, a team led by recent doctoral graduate Bridget Shayka went hands-on - literally. The team collected seagrass samples from test plots in the Bahamas. 



Shayka and 17 undergraduate students separated each plant into parts: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-meadows-still-thrive-on-floridas-nature-coast/">blades</a>, sheaths, roots, and rhizomes (the stems that grow underground). Next, the parts were freeze-dried, crushed, and tested for nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon.



The researchers found that nutrients from human sources had a bigger effect than those from fish.



“The systems we study are pretty low-nutrient systems, so adding nutrients can increase seagrass production,” said Shayka, now a program officer at Ocean Visions. 



“But we also know that when you go too far and add too many nutrients, it really destroys these systems. It's one of the leading causes of their destruction around the world and in coastal systems.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nitrogen-isn-t-the-only-problem">Nitrogen isn’t the only problem</h2>



In another experiment, the researchers tried 21 varied nutrient ratios in bottles of seawater and phytoplankton. They were curious to know if the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus mattered more than just the amount of each nutrient. The results surprised them.



In this system, phosphorus had a stronger positive effect on seagrass growth. Nitrogen, on the other hand, caused phytoplankton levels to spike. That meant more light-blocking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-algae-play-an-unexpected-role-in-cooling-the-earth/">algae</a> in the water and more stress for the seagrass beds.



“When you grow tomatoes, you don't just add nitrogen. You add a perfect ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus. That idea is replete in our society,” said Allgeier. “But because we tested the water column and because we tested the seagrass, we're able to say that model doesn't work in our system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seagrass-and-carbon-storage">Seagrass and carbon storage</h2>



It’s unlikely that we’ll stop nutrient pollution altogether. But these findings suggest we don’t need to. Instead, we need to manage it better.



“We're not stopping nutrient enrichment. It's just not going to stop,” said Allgeier. “But we can manage it. And how do you best manage it? We scrub it for nitrogen.”



If local communities can control nitrogen runoff - especially from sewage and agriculture - they might give seagrass a better chance to grow, store carbon, and stay alive. This matters, not just for marine ecosystems, but for climate action too.



Seagrass may not get the attention coral reefs or rainforests do, but when it comes to carbon storage, it’s one of the most powerful tools in nature.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70401">Global Change Biology</a>.



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Seagrass is a powerful climate weapon - unless we drown it in nutrients

Seagrass meadows are more than just coastal greenery. Beneath the waves, they capture carbon and bury it in the seafloor, storing it safely for decades or centuries. This makes seagrass a powerful ally in the fight against climate change But there’s a catch. When humans flood coastlines with too much nutrient pollution - especially from wastewater - it doesn’t just mess with the water. It messes with the seagrass, too. Scientists wanted to find out exactly how this works, and they didn’t take shortcuts. Over nine years,...

Living organisms have always been a source of fascination. Recent work has suggested that all living things give off a subtle glow during life and that this disappears with death.



These findings come from a team of researchers led by Dr. Daniel Oblak at the <a href="https://www.ucalgary.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Calgary</a>. The experts investigated a phenomenon known as ultraweak photon emission.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-organisms-emit-a-faint-glow">Living organisms emit a faint glow</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Life</a> involves constant chemical activity inside each cell. Sometimes, these <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10634501/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolic processes</a> release extremely low-intensity light in the spectral range of 200 to 1,000 nm. 



This is too faint for the naked eye to see, but many animals, plants, and even bacteria give off this gentle energy.



Experts studying this glow see potential in measuring it for non-invasive tests. By tracking light changes, they can learn how organisms respond to challenges such as heat or chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-emission-reveals-cellular-health">Light emission reveals cellular health</h2>



The researchers discovered that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/luca-last-universal-common-ancestor-progenitor-all-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">living</a> animals show higher emissions than animals that have recently died. They used specialized imaging setups to capture the photons in a pitch-black space. 



These setups included electronic sensors that detect light at the single-photon level.



A rise or drop in glow intensity might hint at shifts in cellular health. Scientists believe <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/reactive-oxygen-species" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reactive oxygen species</a> are a key factor in generating the light. These molecules form naturally in cells as they process oxygen, but they can build up under stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plants-respond-to-stress-with-light">Plants respond to stress with light</h2>



In botanical studies, experts have observed that plants alter their glow after temperature changes or physical injury. 



Burns or cuts induce a measurable spike in the faint light. Research has also indicated that certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-k2-18b-strongest-evidence-yet-of-extraterrestrial-life-discovered-webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemicals</a> cause the injured spots to intensify their emissions.



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11035250/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxidative stress</a> seems to accompany these brightening effects. Under normal conditions, cells keep a balanced environment. 



When that balance is lost, however, the glow appears to increase, offering a handy way to gauge how a plant is coping.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-disease-through-living-glow">Detecting disease through living glow</h2>



Scientists have been exploring whether this emission can serve as a biological gauge. Some suspect it could help detect early signs of disease. 



A surge in low-intensity light might pinpoint internal damage before more serious outcomes develop.



Researchers have also looked at plant-based healing or protective strategies. If the glow diminishes after a treatment, that may suggest a recovery in the tissues. This opens new avenues for studying plant physiology without inflicting harm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-matters-for-medicine">Why it matters for medicine</h2>



The potential for non-invasive testing is of great interest to clinical science. Experts foresee scenarios where measuring these emissions could aid in monitoring tissue recovery or spotting damage.



The method offers a gentle approach. No extra dyes or radioactive substances are needed. If perfected, it could simplify certain diagnostic tasks by highlighting subtle changes in cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-glow-to-find-life-beyond-earth">Using glow to find life beyond Earth</h2>



Some scientists are asking whether ultraweak photon emission could help in the search for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/detecting-life-on-mars-a-breakthrough-in-space-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extraterrestrial life</a>. 



If all living systems emit faint light, then detecting these emissions on other planets, or in enclosed ecosystems like Mars habitats, might serve as a low-risk method for life detection.



It also sparks new ideas in science fiction and future tech. If bodies truly glow when alive and stop glowing when dead, visual tools might someday be built to “see” vitality itself, offering a new way to tell whether something is alive, under stress, or dying.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applications-of-the-living-glow">Applications of the living glow</h2>



Scholars have been investigating ways to enhance sensitivity to this weak light. Some advanced cameras can capture more detail by lowering background noise. 



Other experts are testing portable systems that might track changes in real time, allowing for field studies that document plant health or monitor animals in outdoor settings.



Though still in early stages, the technology points toward a future where farmers, veterinarians, or wildlife experts might benefit from such tools. They could respond quickly to unseen stresses and intervene before problems get out of hand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-glow-patterns">Future research on glow patterns</h2>



Future directions include mapping each type of organism’s signature light pattern. Different species may have distinct behaviors under stress. 



By collecting more data, experts aim to understand how quickly these emissions change and whether they can predict outcomes for sick or damaged tissue.



Researchers also plan to study a broader range of organisms to see if there are exceptions or special cases. These efforts might reveal unique biological adaptations in creatures that live in extreme habitats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-about-glow-in-living-organisms">Questions about glow in living organisms</h2>



Researchers still don’t fully understand the biological purpose of this faint light. Is it just a byproduct of stress and metabolism, or does it serve a deeper function in communication or defense within cells?



There’s also uncertainty about how consistent the glow is across different species or life stages. Do younger or older organisms emit more light? Can emotions or circadian rhythms influence emission levels in humans?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faint-light-and-health-diagnostics">Faint light and health diagnostics</h2>



The science behind this faint glow is still growing. The discovery of its link to life signals an intriguing frontier that blends physics, biochemistry, and environmental research. As sensors become more refined, further breakthroughs seem likely.



Although the light is faint, it might hold an abundance of clues. This once-overlooked signal could help diagnose diseases or track how organisms cope under challenging conditions.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c03546" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters</a>.



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All living things emit a subtle glow that ceases at the time of death

Living organisms have always been a source of fascination. Recent...

What if saving a forest helped both birds and humans? What if the same landscape that shields towns from floods also offered refuge to songbirds? For decades, conservationists and policy makers have argued that nature's benefits reach far beyond wildlife. 



But measuring where and how those benefits align has remained elusive. Now, a new study provides some answers.



Scientists from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a> and the Wildlife Conservation Society (<a href="https://www.wcs.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WCS</a>) explored where areas valued by humans for things like clean water, flood control, and carbon storage also help conserve bird populations.



Their work is rooted in data - over 1.5 billion bird observations from eBird and high-resolution mapping of eleven <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-of-forests-2024-new-solutions-for-a-better-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystem</a> services. It’s an approach that seeks win-wins, or even win-win-wins: for biodiversity, climate, and people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helping-birds-people-and-climate">Helping birds, people, and climate </h2>



"We all know that nature provides us with many benefits - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-still-fighting-climate-change-against-all-odds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, climate regulation, recreation, and many others - but until now, we haven't been able to demonstrate where those benefits coincide in space," noted Dr. Rachel Neugarten, formerly of Cornell and now at WCS.



"Given the limited resources for conservation, this information is critical for helping decision-makers protect our natural heritage. The paper shows that win-win-wins for biodiversity, climate, and people are possible but not guaranteed."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-birds-and-human-needs-overlap">Where birds and human needs overlap</h2>



To find these overlaps, the researchers examined maps that captured where ten ecosystem services - such as food provisioning, flood control, and recreation - are most concentrated.



The team also used separate maps for carbon storage, a priority in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-orangutan-day-2024-protecting-the-people-of-the-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> mitigation. These ecosystem service (ES) and carbon priority areas covered 37% and 44% of the U.S. land area, respectively.



Next, they overlaid these areas with population estimates for 479 bird species. These estimates came from eBird’s Status and Trends project, which uses a sophisticated modeling system to handle observer bias and detectability differences. 



The experts assessed how much of each species’ population lived within these ES or carbon priority zones. The results were surprising and hopeful. More than half of all species - 257 of 479 - had populations better represented in ES priority areas than random chance would predict. 



Carbon storage areas fared slightly worse, with 204 species seeing better-than-random coverage. However, the benefits weren’t evenly spread across species or habitats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-benefit-birds-and-ecosystems">Forests benefit birds and ecosystems</h2>



Forest-dwelling species saw the most gains from ES and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-relocating-in-a-race-against-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon</a> conservation priorities. Of the 202 forest species analyzed, 151 were well represented in ES zones and 159 in carbon-rich zones. This is likely because forests provide many overlapping services: timber, flood control, water purification, and carbon sequestration.



Species like the Cerulean Warbler thrived in these protected forests. Ninety percent of this species' U.S. population lives in ES priority areas. Even more - 93% - overlaps with carbon storage zones.



Other forest birds, such as the Prairie Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Eastern Whip-poor-will, also saw high representation. These findings support the idea that forests are ecosystem service powerhouses. Protecting them meets multiple goals at once.



Some of the country’s richest landscapes for both birds and ecosystem benefits include the Appalachian Mountains, the southeastern U.S., New England, the Ozarks, and the Cascade and Sierra ranges. 



In these regions, forest protection is not just a biodiversity issue - it's a climate and public health matter too.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-at-the-margins">Birds at the margins</h2>



However, not all habitats shared in the success. Birds living in wetlands and aridlands were poorly represented within ES and carbon zones. 



Only 34% of wetland species and 42% of aridland species were well represented in ES priority areas. The numbers were worse for carbon zones: 23% for wetland birds and a mere 10% for those in aridlands.



Tipping Point species - those that have lost more than 50% of their populations in the past 50 years - also faced mixed outcomes. Of the 57 such species examined, fewer than half were well supported by either ES or carbon zones. This suggests that many vulnerable birds occupy habitats outside human-prioritized landscapes.



Some species, like the Yellow-billed Loon and Bendire’s Thrasher, had less than 10% of their populations within conservation priority zones. Others, like the King Eider, had virtually no overlap with carbon-focused areas. 



These gaps show the limits of relying solely on ecosystem services as a guide for biodiversity protection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-birds-benefit-from-carbon-zones">Forest birds benefit from carbon zones</h2>



Carbon priority areas - identified for their role in holding vulnerable carbon stocks - overlapped best with forest species.



For example, the Black-backed Woodpecker, Red-faced Warbler, and Mountain Quail had over 90% of their populations in carbon-rich zones. These findings support policies that link biodiversity protection with climate action.



But the overlap breaks down outside forests. Aridland and wetland species showed little representation in carbon zones. This mismatch suggests that climate-focused conservation, if not paired with broader ecological goals, may overlook entire communities of at-risk birds.



"This study is especially timely, given recent reports of continued, if not worsening, population declines in North American birds," said Amanda Rodewald, co-author and faculty director at the Cornell Lab.



"Now more than ever, we must find ways to conserve birds as part of broader efforts to protect the environment - in this case, safeguarding the ecosystem services that support human health and well-being."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smart-maps-can-guide-better-plans">Smart maps can guide better plans</h2>



The study's most important takeaway is this: co-benefits exist, but they cannot be assumed. High-quality spatial data allows for smarter, more inclusive planning. 



The areas where bird conservation aligns with ecosystem services can be prioritized first. But other areas - particularly wetlands, deserts, and grasslands - need additional, targeted protection.



The researchers urge caution in generalizing the co-benefit narrative. "While win-win situations do exist, we should be careful not to generalize about biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits," noted Neugarten.



"With limited resources and competing demands for land, we need data-driven approaches to achieve multiple conservation goals simultaneously."



Future work should refine ecosystem service models with local data, include cultural values of nature, and consider the needs of vulnerable human communities. Only then can conservation support both people and the full richness of life on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-forests-to-save-birds">Looking beyond forests to save birds</h2>



This study, supported by the National Science Foundation and Cornell’s environmental institutes, provides more than insight. It offers a framework. By mapping where people’s needs and wildlife conservation meet, decision-makers can act with greater precision.



Forests shine as clear examples of mutual benefit. But wetlands, deserts, and many bird species still wait for their moment in the spotlight. 



Protecting these regions will require more than ambition. It will demand targeted action, guided by science and shaped by shared values. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041625000373?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosystem Services</a>.



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Protecting forests helps birds and humans in many ways

What if saving a forest helped both birds and humans?...

Flowers often appear to grow with perfect precision. Each stem, leaf, and petal follows a pattern that repeats with astonishing consistency. But a closer look inside plant cells tells a different story. 



A recent study has uncovered that while flowers may look orderly on the outside, the genetic activity within each cell is anything but predictable.



This surprising discovery could change how scientists design plants or even how we understand cell behavior in fields like cancer research or synthetic biology. The research was led by a team of experts at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-secret-disorder-powering-flowers">The secret disorder powering flowers</h2>



The researchers examined a small flowering plant called thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), often used in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plants-build-their-cell-walls-is-seen-by-scientists-for-the-first-time-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant biology</a>. 



The goal was to investigate what’s known as “stochastic gene expression.” In simpler terms, this means that genes can turn on or off randomly - even if they’re getting the same signals.



To test this, the team looked at how cells responded to auxin, a hormone that tells flowers when and how to grow. 



The experts found something unexpected: even when cells received the same hormone instructions, their genetic reactions were wildly different from one another. 



Some genes turned on in some cells, while others stayed quiet, all without any obvious reason. This wasn’t just background noise. The randomness was significant.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-flower-genes-with-fluorescence">Tracking flower genes with fluorescence </h2>



To see what was happening, the scientists used fluorescent markers - glowing molecules that light up when a gene turns on. They tracked three specific auxin-responsive genes in the flowers, including one known as DR5.



The result? DR5 showed major variation from cell to cell. It wasn’t the hormone levels that changed - those remained constant. The difference came from within the cells themselves, driven by internal fluctuations.



The team observed this activity in the sepals of the plant. Sepals are the small green leaf-like parts at the base of a flower that protect the budding bloom. Despite the noisy internal behavior of each cell, the plant still formed four perfectly placed sepals every time.



“I really thought by the time we got to these four [sepal forming] regions, there would be a lot less randomness - but there’s not,” said Adrienne Roeder, one of the study’s authors. “Somehow, despite the noise, you still get these very clear patches where sepal organs initiate.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-plants-manage-unpredictability">How plants manage unpredictability</h2>



What’s going on here? How do plants produce such predictable results when the internal signals are so chaotic?



The answer lies in how groups of cells behave together. While one cell might act randomly, clusters of cells “average out” the noise. This process, known as spatial averaging, helps the plant form stable and consistent patterns even when individual parts are unpredictable.



“Ultimately, the research challenges the idea that biological precision requires perfect control,” Roeder explained. “Instead, it shows that nature doesn’t eliminate randomness - it builds reliable systems and processes that work despite it.”



The study also showed that not all genes respond with the same level of randomness. Two other auxin-responsive genes, AHP6 and DOF5.8, behaved more consistently than DR5. This suggests that plants may have evolved ways to control randomness when it matters most.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-gene-expression-in-flowers">Beyond gene expression in flowers</h2>



This discovery is more than just a fun fact about flowers. It has real implications for plant engineering, synthetic biology, and even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-research-ai-will-change-the-way-we-see-tumors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer research</a>, where gene expression noise can drive tumor growth.



“The organism can use this randomness when it wants to and ignore it when it doesn’t,” Roeder said. “That’s super powerful.”



“Spatial averaging is one way that plants manage gene expression noise, but how exactly does that buffering happen, and under what conditions does it fail? How can we incorporate that when we’re trying to engineer our favorite gene to express in interesting places?”



As scientists continue to uncover the hidden mechanics of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-life-cycles-predicting-the-impacts-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant life</a>, one thing is clear: nature doesn’t need perfect order to create beautiful results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-as-teachers-of-resilience">Flowers as teachers of resilience</h2>



The next time you look at a blooming flower, consider the hidden struggle behind its perfect form. Beneath its calm surface, a world of cellular unpredictability is constantly being managed. This study reminds us that flowers don’t require perfection to flourish - they rely on balance, cooperation, and adaptability.



Understanding how plants like flowers manage genetic noise could inspire new strategies in genetic engineering and beyond. It shows that resilience isn’t about eliminating chaos, but learning how to live with it.



Flowers aren’t just symbols of beauty - they're examples of nature's clever design choices, proving that order can emerge even when everything underneath is uncertain.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59943-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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How flowers grow perfectly despite chaotic gene activity

Flowers often appear to grow with perfect precision. Each stem,...

Caribbean,Sea,Covered,By,Sargasso,Algae.,Seaweed,Top,View

The Atlantic Ocean holds a secret: a patch of calm water ringed by swift currents, sitting about 590 miles east of Florida yet never touching land. Known as the Sargasso Sea, sailors have crossed it for centuries, but few notice the border when they slip into glassy indigo waters. 



Those who linger find the surface scattered with golden-brown seaweed - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-drives-the-great-atlantic-sargassum-belt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sargassum</a> - named for the Portuguese word sargaço, a type of grape-like algae. The plants bob in slow motion, rolling gently like tumbleweeds on a prairie of water.



Within minutes, the stillness feels uncanny. No surf pounds. No gulls scream from cliffs. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sargassum-seaweed-a-growing-problem-could-become-a-sustainable-solution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The seaweed</a>, however, bursts with residents: shrimp the size of rice grains, neon juvenile fish, porcelain-white crabs, and even young loggerhead turtles paddling their first miles of life. 



This floating cover grows so thick that early Spanish crews feared their wooden caravels would halt and “never again feel a breath of wind,” as Christopher Columbus wrote in 1492.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-sargasso-sea-holds-a-drifting-forest">The Sargasso Sea holds a drifting forest</h2>



Strip away the romance, and the Sargasso Sea looks like an 800-mile-wide nursery. Scientists call the drifting mats “habitat islands,” and for good reason. Hatchling turtles hide here until their shells harden.



Porbeagle sharks cruise the shade below, while Bermuda storm-petrels skim the fringe, plucking shrimp in mid-dive.



Researchers have counted more than 100 invertebrate species clinging to the weed—tiny colonists that hitch a ride for years before the mats eventually break apart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-cycles-in-migration">Life cycles in migration</h2>



European and American eels begin their lives beneath these mats, no bigger than clear threads. They drift west or east on ocean currents, slip into rivers as far inland as Indiana, then, after decades in freshwater, swim back the entire 3,000-mile journey to spawn once and die. 



How they locate the same watery cradle baffles zoologists. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-humpback-whales-are-born-in-places-we-didnt-expect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humpback whales</a> also cross the sea each spring, and high-speed tuna streak through on their way to spawning grounds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-climate-engine-calls-the-shots">Unique climate engine calls the shots</h2>



Longtime observers quickly learn that calm water masks heavy lifting. In summer, the surface warms to about 82–86 °F; in winter, it cools to roughly 64–68 °F. 



Those seasonal swings drive mixing that helps push warm, salty water northward and return cooler water south - a conveyor that steadies weather patterns on both sides of the Atlantic. 



The open water also pulls carbon dioxide from the air, locking it into plankton shells that eventually snow to the seafloor.



Only after two years of sampling did chemical oceanographer Nicholas Bates and colleagues at the <a href="https://bios.asu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences</a> realize just how much heat the sea was absorbing. 



“The ocean is the warmest it’s been for ‘millions and millions of years,’” he told LiveScience, warning that the trend could reshape “where it rains or where it doesn’t.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-problems-threaten-the-sargasso-sea">Human problems threaten the Sargasso Sea</h2>



Jules Verne once called the Sargasso “a perfect lake in the open Atlantic.” Today that lake collects trash from four converging currents: the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collapse-of-main-atlantic-ocean-circulaton-current-amoc-is-already-happening/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Atlantic Current</a>, Canary Current, North Equatorial Current, and Antilles Current. 



Those loops act like a mile-wide drain, funneling plastic bags, bottle caps, and ghost fishing gear into a slowly rotating slick. 



One survey estimated roughly 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometer - about 518,000 pieces per square mile - spreading for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-hotspots-currents-identified-cleanup-efforts-great-pacific-garbage-patch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">several hundred miles</a>.



Underwater microphones pick up the growl of cargo vessels cutting straight through mats. Propellers shred the weed; paint chips flake from hulls, releasing copper and zinc. 



Noise can mask the low-frequency calls of sperm whales passing beneath. Meanwhile, floating nets entangle juvenile turtles exactly where they once found refuge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-change-through-decades">Tracking change through decades</h2>



Researchers have monitored these waters near Bermuda since 1954, recording temperature, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caribbean-salt-affects-global-climate-study-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">salinity</a>, dissolved oxygen, and pH every month. 



Instruments show that winter water is slightly saltier than summer water, thanks to dry winds that whisk moisture off the surface, while rainfall each June and July freshens the mix. 



Since the 1980s, the average temperature has climbed roughly 1 °C - a small number that packs a punch. Warmer layers resist vertical mixing, starving deeper water of oxygen and hoarding nutrients that would normally rise to feed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-from-africa-sparked-a-massive-phytoplankton-bloom/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plankton blooms</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sargasso-sea_map-location_credit-Bates-Johnson_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sargasso-sea_map-location_credit-Bates-Johnson_1s.webp" alt="Location map of the island of Bermuda and two ocean time-series (Hydrostation S, 1954 to present; and the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series, BATS, 1988 to present) sites. The position of the Ocean Flux Program (OFP, 1978 to present; deep ocean sediment trap program) is also shown. Ruth Curry is thanked for the main panel figure which is modified here. Credit: Bates and Johnson" class="wp-image-1970759"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Location map of the island of Bermuda and two ocean time-series (Hydrostation S, 1954 to present; and the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series, BATS, 1988 to present) sites. The position of the Ocean Flux Program (OFP, 1978 to present; deep ocean sediment trap program) is also shown. Ruth Curry is thanked for the main panel figure which is modified here. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Bates and Johnson</figcaption></figure>



Scientists have developed new metrics, such as “salinity anomaly” maps and basin-scale alkalinity indices, to compare one year to the next. 



Paired with drifting Argo floats and satellite color scans, the 60-year record has become a gold standard for tracking ocean acidification.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-race-against-warmth">Race against warmth</h2>



<a href="https://www.sargassoseacommission.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sargasso Sea Commission</a>, an intergovernmental body formed in 2014, calls the region a “haven of biodiversity” and urges countries to designate shipping lanes that skirt dense mats. 



Marine protected area status remains complicated; no nation owns the sea, and enforcement on the high seas is costly. 



Yet conservationists note that simple steps - rerouting tankers by 50 miles or banning longline fishing during peak turtle season - could preserve critical habitat without hampering trade.



Policy moves slowly, while climate shifts quickly. 



Between stronger hurricanes and hotter summers, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robot-discovers-surprising-food-source-sargassum-for-deep-ocean-creatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sargassum</a> now grows so prolifically in the Caribbean that beach resorts hire bulldozers to clear it. Excess weed sinks, rots, and releases greenhouse gases, turning a carbon sink into a source. 



Paradoxically, the very organism that lends the sea its name may become a casualty of warming if rising acidity weakens its holdfasts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-protecting-the-sargasso-sea">Importance of protecting the Sargasso Sea</h2>



If we lose the Sargasso Sea, rivers from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico would send eels searching in vain for a birthplace erased by heat. 



Humpbacks might arrive in spring to find the larder bare. Storm tracks over Europe could drift, and the Atlantic might store even more of the planet’s excess heat, accelerating feedback loops we scarcely understand.



Governments are now weighing a treaty to curb plastic discharge at sea and expand no-take zones around key migratory corridors. 



Shipping firms experiment with quieter propeller designs and biodegradable packing bands. None of these fixes alone will restore the Sargasso, but together they could keep the floating forest alive long enough for cooler heads - and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-hidden-skin-could-protect-us-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cooler oceans</a> - to prevail.



For something that looks like an empty patch of blue on a map, the Sargasso Sea manages to knit continents together, nourish creatures halfway across the world, and offer humanity a running log of planetary change. 



The still water speaks softly, but its message rings clear: protect the calm, or brace for the storm that follows.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1289931/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.



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Earth has one sea that touches no land, because it has no shore

The Atlantic Ocean holds a secret: a patch of calm...

In the United States, certain forest landscapes help both people and birds at the same time. A team of researchers has identified forests that store carbon, filter water, and shelter at-risk <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-the-2024-eclipse-revealed-about-bird-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird</a> species.



Dr. Rachel Neugarten of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and formerly of the <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>, explained the motivation behind this study.&nbsp;



“We all know that nature provides us with many benefits - biodiversity, climate regulation, recreation, and many others - but until now, we haven't been able to demonstrate where those benefits coincide in space,” stated Dr. Neugarten.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-help-both-people-and-birds">Forests help both people and birds</h2>



One significant highlight of the work is the finding that a single region can supply benefits for both wildlife and people. Forested landscapes stood out as a prime example.



"Against a backdrop of environmental degradation, climate change, and declining natural resources, there is growing interest in identifying conservation approaches that achieve co-benefits to simultaneously advance multiple goals," wrote the researchers.



Key data showed that 75% of forest-dwelling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-birds-one-tree-complete-evolutionary-map-reveals-hidden-links/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> were found in areas that supply important ecological services, such as water filtration and carbon storage. 



These regions include the Appalachian Mountains, the southeastern U.S., New England, the Ozarks, and the Sierra and Cascade ranges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-forest-birds-are-declining-fast">Many forest birds are declining fast</h2>



Many species have been designated as <a href="https://www.stateofthebirds.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tipping Point</a> birds, meaning they have declined by half or more in the last half-century. Some of these birds thrive in forests that also contribute to timber production and climate regulation.



Among these forest-dwelling Tipping Point species is the <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cerulean_Warbler/overview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cerulean Warbler</a>, with 91% of its U.S. population found in areas supporting the forestry industry while locking away substantial carbon. 



By prioritizing these habitats, <a href="https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/01/27/fact-sheet-president-biden-takes-executive-actions-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad-create-jobs-and-restore-scientific-integrity-across-federal-government/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">decision-makers</a> can help both local economies and declining bird populations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-habitats-have-equal-benefits">Not all habitats have equal benefits</h2>



Not every <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wings-without-borders-the-significance-of-world-migratory-bird-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird</a> group benefits from the same zones. Aridlands and wetlands frequently fell outside many of these top-priority areas for human-centric ecosystem services. This gap highlights the risk of generalizing conservation plans. 



Although some locations offer a perfect blend of benefits for people and birds, others need tailored strategies to secure habitats that are not automatically covered by human-focused conservation.



Forests that store large amounts of carbon often coincide with hotspots for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-100-bird-species-have-been-lost-for-over-a-decade/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird</a> diversity. This overlap is especially promising for meeting climate targets set by national and international policies.



Some species normally associated with arid regions also gain partial climate benefits when their territory overlaps with carbon-rich zones. But for many desert birds, the match is far weaker than it is for forest dwellers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-conservation-needs-different-plans">Bird conservation needs different plans</h2>



Amanda Rodewald, faculty director of the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a co-author of the research.



“This study is especially timely, given recent <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaw1313" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> of continued, if not worsening, population declines in North American birds,” said Rodewald.



“Now more than ever, we must find ways to conserve birds as part of broader efforts to protect the environment, in this case, safeguarding the ecosystem services that support human health and well-being.”



Researchers believe the next challenge is finding ways to extend these co-benefits to other habitats. Adaptable strategies might involve protecting wetlands for flood control and wildlife, or preserving grasslands that support pollination services.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-planning-for-the-future">Strategic planning for the future</h2>



Teams that focus on forested landscapes can leverage positive outcomes for local communities, industries, and bird populations. However, carefully pinpointing resources for arid and coastal birds remains urgent.



Targeted measures that factor in local environmental conditions may help address the gaps. With limited budgets and rising threats from climate disruption, careful planning is more pressing than ever.



Researchers believe that partnerships among local land managers, government agencies, and conservation groups can stretch funds further. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-forest-birds-and-people">Protecting forest birds and people</h2>



By uniting around data-driven goals, different sectors can look beyond short-term agendas and make decisions that serve birds, ecosystems, and human interests.



Scientists see these findings as a stepping-stone for more informed land-use policies in the U.S. They stress the importance of identifying unique needs for each region instead of relying on one-size-fits-all strategies.



Maximizing conservation gains requires blending science, community support, and political will. Responsible steps taken now could secure crucial habitats that shield people and wildlife against ongoing environmental changes.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041625000373?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosystem Services</a>.



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Many forests that benefit people also shelter endangered birds

In the United States, certain forest landscapes help both people...

Forests have long stood as symbols of hope in climate battles. Towering pines, lush rainforests, and dense boreal woodlands seemed to hold the answer to our rising emissions. Their leaves breathed in carbon dioxide. Their roots locked carbon in the soil. Their presence offered comfort in a warming world.



But this story is quickly unraveling. Climate change, once held at bay by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-of-forests-2024-new-solutions-for-a-better-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature’s resilience</a>, is now overwhelming the very systems built to contain it. Fires rage through continents. Smoke blots out skies. And the forests we once trusted as guardians have begun releasing more carbon than they store.



A recent policy brief by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (<a href="https://unu.edu/inweh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNU‑INWEH</a>) confronts this urgent shift. 



The report delivers a stark warning. Forests, especially in fire-prone zones, are not guaranteed allies anymore.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-are-releasing-more-carbon">Forests are releasing more carbon</h2>



The brief reveals how some forests are now “super‑emitters.” This term refers to landscapes that release massive amounts of carbon due to intense, frequent wildfires. These include boreal forests in the Arctic, stretches of the Amazon, and woodlands across Australia.



Despite this shift, many global carbon policies remain stuck in the past. Voluntary carbon markets still reward <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-orangutan-day-2024-protecting-the-people-of-the-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree</a> planting without considering how heat, drought, and pests are reshaping forest dynamics



“Planting trees is no longer enough - warming, drought‑stressed forests can flip into vast carbon sources when they burn. Forest policy must move from static protection to dynamic risk management,” noted Dr. Ju Hyoung Lee, lead author of the report.



Tree planting, once considered a reliable fix, can now backfire. In regions suffering from water stress, planting more trees might create dense fuel loads. These become dangerous when combined with dry soil, hot temperatures, and wind.



A spark in such an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-still-fighting-climate-change-against-all-odds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a> can undo years of carbon reduction in a matter of days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-planting-programs-ignore-wildfire-risks">Tree planting programs ignore wildfire risks</h2>



The scientists emphasized that carbon-offset programs need to evolve. It's not enough to reward the act of planting. These programs must assess forest longevity and vulnerability. Drought, heatwaves, and pest infestations make it harder for forests to thrive, and easier for them to ignite.



Right now, many policies operate on fixed assumptions. They treat forests as stable, slow-changing entities. But reality no longer matches these models. A tree that grows in 2025 might burn before 2035. Without dynamic monitoring, carbon markets risk crediting projects that increase emissions.



According to the brief, more localized assessments are crucial. Hydrological factors like rainfall levels and soil conditions should guide decisions. So should projections of future droughts and temperature <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-face-rising-damage-risks-as-their-diversity-dwindles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extremes</a>. 



Forest health isn't just about what we plant, but where and how it's maintained over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellites-help-detect-at-risk-forests">Satellites help detect at-risk forests</h2>



Technology offers a path forward. The authors call for better integration of satellite data in forest management. Earth observation tools can detect shifts in tree health, soil moisture, and canopy density. This data, collected in near real-time, provides an early warning system for fire risk.



“Forests are our powerful allies against climate change - but only if we manage them as living, dynamic systems. By coupling satellite data with proactive management, we can prevent fires from erasing decades of carbon‑reduction progress,” noted Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU‑INWEH.



This isn’t just about prevention. It’s about transparency and smart policy design. If a forested area faces rising fire threats, it shouldn’t earn carbon credits the same way a more resilient area does. 



Policies must reflect changing realities. With satellite monitoring, decisions can stay rooted in evidence, not assumptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-fire-risks-and-carbon-storage">Forest fire risks and carbon storage</h2>



The UNU-INWEH policy brief identifies a dangerous mismatch. On one side, global warming is accelerating wildfire risks. On the other, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-forests-which-tree-species-can-survive-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon</a> markets act as if forests are immune to change.



This disconnect has serious consequences. Carbon pricing models and credit verification systems often fail to account for fire-related emissions. 



Even the Paris Agreement and voluntary carbon initiatives continue to rely on static forest data. They rarely measure how likely a forest is to survive the next decade without burning.



Tree-planting campaigns in arid regions, especially those with degraded soil, often overlook this. In such environments, forestation might offer little carbon benefit and even invite disaster. When trees dry out, they become fuel. 



Fires that sweep through them don’t just burn wood - they release all the carbon those trees once held.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptive-strategies-for-a-warming-climate">Adaptive strategies for a warming climate</h2>



The policy brief recommends more than just updated monitoring. It suggests rethinking which actions count as carbon mitigation. In certain regions, the best approach may involve less planting and more managing.



Controlled harvesting can reduce tree density and remove dry biomass. In some cases, carefully managed grazing helps maintain soil moisture and stops flammable shrubs from spreading. These methods may seem counterintuitive, but under certain conditions, they prevent bigger losses.



This isn't a call to abandon forests. It’s a call to respect their complexity. When managed well, they can still absorb carbon and support biodiversity. But when misunderstood or left vulnerable, they can undo climate progress in weeks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creating-a-global-monitoring-platform">Creating a global monitoring platform</h2>



To support better decision-making, UNU-INWEH urges the creation of a dedicated global platform. This system would channel near-real-time satellite data into both voluntary carbon markets and fire management programs.



Such a platform would allow stakeholders - governments, corporations, and NGOs - to adapt strategies as conditions change. It would also bring much-needed accountability. Projects could be evaluated not just at the start, but throughout their lifespan.



The report envisions a future where carbon finance aligns with ecosystem health. To reach that future, we need to move from static carbon accounting to dynamic, informed planning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-need-smarter-carbon-policies">Forests need smarter carbon policies</h2>



The climate era has changed the rules. Forests cannot be treated as unshakable allies. They are living systems, shaped by drought, pests, and fire. 



If we continue using outdated assumptions, we risk turning climate solutions into climate threats.



As the UNU-INWEH report makes clear, real progress depends on embracing complexity. With better data, smarter policies, and an adaptive mindset, forests can still help us fight climate change. But we must protect them as much from policy failures as from flames.



Read the entire study <a href="https://collections.unu.edu/view/UNU:10167" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



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Some forests are now releasing more carbon than they store

Forests have long stood as symbols of hope in climate...

Kirlian,Effect,Of,Electric,Current,Passed,Through,Five,Different,Types

In recent years, Kirlian photography has drawn considerable attention for its dramatic images that seem to show the "aura" of people and plants. 



Many enthusiasts claim these vibrant outlines capture the life force or aura of plants, animals, and people.



Much of this fascination began with photos that appeared to show glowing silhouettes around organic objects. These images sparked debates about hidden energies and unseen spiritual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-3d-map-of-the-universe-lets-us-travel-back-11-billion-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">qualities</a>.



“No, Kirlian photographs do not show the soul of an organism,” said Christopher S. Baird, associate professor of physics at <a href="https://www.wtamu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West Texas A&amp;M University</a>. 



Baird has scrutinized Kirlian photography's claims with a scientific lens. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kirlian-auras-and-electricity">Kirlian auras and electricity</h2>



Kirlian photography involves sending high-frequency electricity through an object, which is often placed on a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-captured-in-true-color-like-youve-never-seen-the-red-planet-before/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photographic</a> plate. The energized air around the object glows, forming the bright outlines that some have called “auras.”



This process relies on a well-known effect called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/corona-discharge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corona discharge</a>, where electrified air molecules emit light as they gain and lose electrons. 



Neon signs and fluorescent bulbs work in a similar way, although they typically rely on specific gases at lower pressures.



Researchers often highlight that living leaves and metal objects can produce comparable glows under similar conditions. 



That fact challenges any claim that the glow comes from an invisible soul, since even coins and nails can generate the same luminous borders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-parts-of-leaves-show-an-aura">Why parts of leaves show an aura</h2>



Some experiments drew attention to a curious event called the <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/24080008" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phantom leaf effect</a>, where part of a leaf is removed but still shows up in a Kirlian image. This was perplexing to observers back in the day.



“It is clearly a real phenomenon in need of explanation,” observed William A. Tiller of <a href="https://www.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> in 1976. Reputable voices within academia called for investigation.&nbsp;



“A normally undetected phantom ‘structure,’ possibly evidence of the biological field, can persist in the area of an amputated leaf section,” wrote <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25603488/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Hubacher</a> in 2015, resurfacing the topic for the scientific world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moisture-and-ions">Moisture and ions</h2>



Some argued that residual moisture and <a href="https://www.chemicool.com/definition/ion.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ions</a> on the glass cause these partial outlines. Others point out that local humidity or temperature changes can set off new electrical pathways that trace the leaf’s original shape.



Kirlian photography <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1975-28921-001" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pioneers</a> Semyon D. Kirlian and his wife Valentina K. Kirlian found that non-electrical features of a subject can sometimes be converted into electrical signals under high-frequency currents. 



This transformation may give leaf remnants or moisture traces a chance to appear as hazy extensions in the final photograph.



Electrical experts say the discharge can get influenced by minuscule <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-magnetic-fields-leave-marks-on-nuclear-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">variations in conductivity</a>. If a leaf’s torn edge retains fluid, those molecules might continue conducting electricity in the missing region, at least for a short time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-for-proof">Searching for proof</h2>



Researchers who study these images confirm that small adjustments in voltage, humidity, or temperature can alter the glow. Shapes and brightness hinge on physical factors, not on an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-have-a-communications-system-that-closely-resembles-mental-telepathy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unseen essence</a>.



Investigations with coins and nails that produce similar glows underline the purely electrical roots of Kirlian images. The photos do not differentiate between living and non-living materials when it comes to bright outlines.



Some have tried connecting these outlines to ideas about <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/qi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">qi or other energy fields</a>, but repeated tests show that the effects vanish if the conditions change. 



That leads scientists to emphasize that the glow is not tied to any emotional or mystical energy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-still-remain">Questions still remain</h2>



Even though many see Kirlian photography auras as a sign of hidden forces, critics remain cautious. Researchers note that rigorous protocols are crucial because contamination or leftover ions can create misleading outlines.



“The phantom leaf effect seen in Kirlian photography may help researchers better understand near-death and out-of-body experience,” wrote James Pace and Debora Drumm in 1992. 



Some investigators still find the phantom leaf effect intriguing because it has been linked to questions about near-death or out-of-body <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01074166" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experiences</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-tests-suggest-the-aura-is-physical">New tests suggest the aura is physical</h2>



Discussions continue on whether something more than raw physics might cause these faint outlines. A few researchers have speculated about <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550830721000781" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">morphogenetic field</a> concepts as proposed by <a href="https://www.sheldrake.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rupert Sheldrake</a>, though that remains controversial.



Many modern studies lean toward purely physical explanations, such as conduction pathways formed by torn leaf sap or subtle air ionization. 



The complexity of the effect suggests that even the smallest variables, like how fast the leaf was cut or how the glass was cleaned, can influence results.



Scientists who test phantom leaves often repeat the experiment under different settings to confirm that consistent outcomes are not guaranteed. 



Some get the faint outline, while others see nothing, hinting that it might be a fleeting alignment of conditions rather than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-plant-communication-on-video/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proof of a life force</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kirlian-auras-linked-to-electricity">Kirlian auras linked to electricity</h2>



Kirlian photography creates striking visuals by using high voltage and electrified air. 



Although some believe these colorful borders reveal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-power-plants-impact-climate-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hidden energies</a>, most evidence points to well-known electrical discharges that rely on moisture, conductivity, and the environment.



In cut-leaf images, the missing segment sometimes lights up because of leftover liquids or temporary conduction bridges. Yet this effect does not happen every time, highlighting the unpredictable nature of electrical microcurrents.



Critics have repeatedly shown that coins and other non-living items produce a similar glow, which means there is no special link to an organism’s vitality. 



If a so-called aura depended on a living essence, inanimate objects would not create the same effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kirlian-photography-nature-and-auras">Kirlian photography, nature, and auras</h2>



Researchers across physics, biology, and alternative medicine still test new hypotheses about Kirlian photography. Many focus on how voltage pulses, moisture, and gases shape these images, rather than invoking a spirit or soul.



Evidence to date favors the idea that these glowing outlines arise from physical forces. The sparks, arcs, and discharges are fascinating, but they do not confirm the presence of a spiritual aura. Kirlian photographs show us how easily human perception can mistake natural effects for supernatural ones. They remind us why careful science still matters when beauty and mystery collide.



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Scientific proof that auras exist? Examining the "phantom leaf effect"

In recent years, Kirlian photography has drawn considerable attention for...

After leafy vegetables and fruits are picked from the ground, they start to go bad pretty quickly, unless they’re kept cold. That’s a big reason why roughly 30% of our food ends up wasted and thrown in the garbage to rot. 



This equates to approximately 1.3 billion tons of food annually - enough to feed more than one billion people each year.



While refrigeration helps, it isn’t always available. Many parts of the world lack the infrastructure to keep crops fresh during transport and storage. This reality makes reducing food waste a global challenge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-crops-fresh-longer">Keeping crops fresh longer</h2>



Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>) and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (<a href="https://smart.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SMART</a>) have come up with a unique way to address this issue.



The experts use biodegradable microneedles made from silk to deliver <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharp-increase-in-melatonin-use-among-children-raises-concerns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melatonin</a> - yes, the same compound that helps us sleep - into crops after harvest. These microneedles can pierce the tough outer layer of plants without triggering stress.



Benedetto Marelli is the study’s senior author and an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at MIT. 



“This is the first time that we’ve been able to apply these microneedles to extend the shelf life of a fresh-cut crop,” he said.



The team targeted pak choy, a popular and highly perishable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/leafy-green-vegetables-improve-muscle-strength/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leafy green</a>. Injecting melatonin at the plant base extended shelf life by four days at room temperature and ten days when refrigerated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-melatonin-s-plant-power">Melatonin's plant power</h2>



Melatonin isn’t just for sleep - it plays a role in plant growth and aging too. The researchers tested whether introducing small doses of the hormone could slow the plant’s natural senescence, or aging process.



“The dose of melatonin we’re delivering is so low that it’s fully metabolized by the crops, so it would not significantly increase the amount of melatonin normally present in the food,” Marelli said. 



“We chose pak choy because it's a very important crop in Asia, and also because pak choy is very perishable.”



The researchers used fluorescent dye to show that substances delivered at the plant base reached all tissues. They then applied melatonin using sprays and dips but found no impact. That’s when the microneedles came in.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treated-fresh-crops-last-longer">Treated fresh crops last longer</h2>



When researchers applied the melatonin-loaded patches by hand to the shoot base of pak choy and monitored changes over time, the results were clear.



Untreated plants started yellowing within two to three days. By day four, they were no longer suitable for sale. Treated plants stayed green longer - still looking fresh on day five and even into day eight at room temperature.



“We clearly saw we could enhance the shelf life of pak choy without the cold chain,” Marelli said.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/produce_microneedles_melatonin_extends-shelf-life_credit-Yangyang-Han_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/produce_microneedles_melatonin_extends-shelf-life_credit-Yangyang-Han_1s.webp" alt="MIT and SMART researchers developed a way to extend the shelf life of vegetables by injecting them with melatonin using biodegradable microneedles. Credit: Yangyang Han" class="wp-image-1970982"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MIT and SMART researchers developed a way to extend the shelf life of vegetables by injecting them with melatonin using biodegradable microneedles. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Yangyang Han</figcaption></figure>



Refrigeration made the results even more dramatic. The treated vegetables maintained their color and quality up to day 25 - about five days longer than untreated ones.



Monika Jangir is&nbsp;co-first author and a former postdoc&nbsp;at&nbsp;the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory.



“Spectrophotometric analysis of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-finally-learn-what-makes-plants-roots-grow-faster-and-stronger-autophagy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> indicated the treated plants had higher antioxidant activity," she said. 



"While gene analysis showed the melatonin set off a protective chain reaction inside the plants, preserving chlorophyll and adjusting hormones to slow senescence."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-stress-less-waste">Less stress, less waste</h2>



By helping the plant cope with the stress of being cut, melatonin keeps it alive and fresh longer.



Yangyang Han is co-first author and a research scientist&nbsp;at the Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group at SMART.



“We studied melatonin’s effects and saw it improves the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-find-new-way-to-measure-stress-in-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress response of the plant</a> after it’s been cut, so it’s basically decreasing the stress that plants experience, and that extends its shelf life,” she said.



This method could be a game-changer in regions that don’t have reliable refrigeration. It may also open new doors in food logistics and global supply chains, where every extra day of freshness counts.



Sarojam Rajani, co-senior author of the study, is a principal investigator at the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory in Singapore.&nbsp;



“Post-harvest waste is a huge issue. This problem is extremely important in emerging markets around Africa and Southeast Asia, where many crops are produced but can't be maintained in the journey from farms to markets,” said Rajani.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-to-other-produce">Expanding to other produce</h2>



Although the current method is manual, researchers aim to use tractors, drones, or other machines for more efficient patch application in the future.



“For this to be widely adopted, we’d need to reach a performance versus cost threshold to justify its use,” Marelli explains. “This method would need to become cheap enough to be used by farmers regularly.”



The team is also planning to test other plant hormones and different fresh crops. Their goal is to not only extend shelf life, but possibly even improve texture, shape, and nutritional value.



“We’re going to continue to analyze how we can increase the impact this can have on the value and quality of crops,” said Marelli. 



“For example, could this let us modulate the nutritional values of the crop, how it’s shaped, its texture, etc.? We're also going to continue looking into scaling up the technology so this can be used in the field.”



With more research and development, these tiny silk needles could be a big step toward <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-food-waste-greater-food-security-less-environmental-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reducing food waste</a> and getting more fresh produce to more people. One patch at a time.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c00487" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nano Letters</a>.



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Food tech: Microneedles injections of a sleep hormone keeps fruits and veggies fresh much longer

After leafy vegetables and fruits are picked from the ground,...

For centuries, botanists have pondered the oddities of reproduction in plants. Among them, Charles Darwin expressed a clear distrust for species that relied solely on self-fertilization. “It is hardly an exaggeration to say that Nature tells us, in the most emphatic manner, that she abhors perpetual self-fertilization,” he wrote. 



Darwin’s concerns were rooted in the belief that such a strategy would lead to genetic stagnation and eventually, extinction. Yet deep in Japan's Ryukyu Islands, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orchid-parents-nurture-seedlings-through-fungal-networks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature</a> seems to have bent this rule.



A pair of orchid species, Gastrodia takeshimensis and Gastrodia kuroshimensis, have evolved to reproduce in complete isolation. Their flowers never open, and their genes carry the quiet imprint of an evolutionary gamble: total reproductive independence. 



This floral silence is more than just a botanical oddity. It challenges long-held ideas about survival, isolation, and how plants persist in the absence of genetic mixing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orchids-survive-without-blooming">Orchids survive without blooming</h2>



These orchids live on the islands of Kuroshima, Takeshima, and Yakushima. Botanist Suetsugu Kenji of <a href="https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kobe University</a>, who led a ten-year investigation into their lives, found these orchid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-orchids-have-fingers-to-pollinate-themselves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flowers</a> both elusive and revolutionary.



“I’ve long been captivated by Darwin’s skepticism about plants that rely entirely on self-pollination,” he said. “When I found those non-blooming orchids, I felt this was a perfect chance to directly revisit this issue.” Suetsugu and his colleagues spent a decade observing more than a hundred individuals. None of them ever opened their flowers. 



The team’s observations, supported by partnerships with local plant lovers, confirmed what no one had confidently documented in the wild before: complete cleistogamy, or self-pollination without any floral opening.



These flowers don’t just avoid blooming. Their very structure is built to bypass it. Genetic tests, including SSR marker analysis and MIG-seq SNP profiling, revealed that these plants show extreme genetic uniformity. 



In short, they are genetically identical clones. The absence of variation confirmed that they have been self-pollinating for generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orchid-flowers-that-self-pollinate">Orchid flowers that self-pollinate</h2>



The genomic findings added another layer to the mystery. Despite the high mutation rates of the genetic markers used, G. takeshimensis and G. kuroshimensis had near-identical genotypes across individuals. This suggested that the evolutionary shift to selfing happened recently, within the last 100 to 200 generations.



Considering that each orchid generation spans about five to ten years, this puts the origin of these lineages within the past 2,000 years. Suetsugu’s team believes that this timing is more than a coincidence. 



The analysis showed that the ancestors of these orchids, although once insect-pollinated, already had low genetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solenangis-impraedicta-new-orchid-species-sets-world-record/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diversity</a>. This means that even when cross-pollination occurred, the genetic mixing was minimal.



Their pollinators, primarily drosophilid flies, do not travel far. The flies often move from one orchid flower to another on the same plant or to a nearby one, limiting true genetic exchange.



As a result, self-pollination, though theoretically limiting, offered little additional cost and instead delivered a reliable method of reproduction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-survival-strategy">A survival strategy</h2>



The benefits of this approach are clear in harsh or isolated environments. Reproductive assurance, the ability to reproduce without relying on pollinators, is a strong evolutionary advantage. This is particularly relevant for plants living on islands where populations are small and pollinators are often scarce or unreliable.



The research showed that even the chasmogamous relatives, G. foetida and G. fontinalis, exhibit signs of selfing. Their genomes, while more diverse than their cleistogamous cousins, still bear the marks of inbreeding. 



These include low heterozygosity and a buildup of deleterious mutations. This discovery points to a broader trend: selfing may be more common and more tolerated among island orchids than previously thought.



Interestingly, the genomic selfing syndrome, characterized by high loads of harmful mutations and low genetic variation, was not significantly different between cleistogamous and chasmogamous species. 



This suggests that the genetic load already existed before the shift to full selfing. In effect, the orchids were already halfway down the selfing path before they sealed their flowers shut.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orchid-flowers-block-hybrids">Orchid flowers block hybrids</h2>



One of the most significant outcomes of cleistogamy is its role in maintaining species identity. In the wild, these selfing orchids often grow near their relatives. 



Yet, no hybrids have ever been observed. “Darwin’s statement was motivated by the idea that a purely self-pollinating lineage would accumulate harmful mutations and eventually face an evolutionary dead end,” Suetsugu said.



In this context, cleistogamy acts as a strict genetic gatekeeper. It eliminates gene flow entirely. Even in sympatric habitats where two related <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asparagus-and-orchids-share-surprising-similarities-in-their-cell-walls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> coexist, the orchids show no signs of introgression. 



The research team confirmed this through rigorous genomic testing. Each orchid species has remained genetically distinct, suggesting that flower closure serves not just reproduction but also isolation.



This separation may help explain how such species can coexist without eroding their genetic identities. Autonomous selfing ensures that reproductive interference, such as competition for pollinators or accidental hybridization, is completely avoided.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clones-in-island-isolation">Clones in island isolation</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-migrations-to-the-ryukyu-islands-were-led-by-explorers-not-drifters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ryukyu Islands</a> offer a natural laboratory for these patterns. Many island populations show traits of founder effects: reduced diversity, small sizes, and limited gene flow.



These islands are home not just to G. takeshimensis and G. kuroshimensis, but also to other cleistogamous Gastrodia species. The repeated emergence of self-pollination across this genus hints at a broader ecological pattern.



In these remote environments, reproduction through selfing allows plants to persist even when conditions are poor. 



The capacity to establish a population from a single seed without waiting for mates or pollinators gives selfing species a crucial edge. It explains why G. takeshimensis and G. kuroshimensis are found on islands with and without their sister species.



However, this strategy comes at a cost. “The fact that these orchids truly never outcross raises intriguing questions about their long-term viability, especially under pressures like habitat fragmentation and climate change,” noted Suetsugu.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-shortcut-with-consequences">Evolutionary shortcut with consequences</h2>



Suetsugu’s findings reinforce the idea that cleistogamy might be more of a temporary fix than a long-term solution. 



With no way to introduce new genetic material, these orchids may be vulnerable to sudden environmental changes. Once a lineage becomes genetically uniform and cut off from outcrossing, it risks extinction from even minor disturbances.



Despite these risks, cleistogamy has evolved multiple times in Gastrodia. Its repeated emergence suggests that for short periods, it offers enough benefits to persist. 



The study proposes that the low mobility of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruit-flies-have-a-new-weapon-to-defend-against-parasitic-wasps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruit fly</a> pollinators, reduced genetic diversity from past events, and the need for reproductive assurance all combined to push some species toward complete floral closure.



While it remains unclear how long such lineages can survive, their existence helps clarify the evolutionary pressures at play. These orchids aren’t evolutionary failures. They are snapshots of strategy under constraint.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orchid-flowers-rewrite-the-rules">Orchid flowers rewrite the rules</h2>



Though Darwin doubted the long-term success of selfing plants, he also recognized nature’s capacity for surprises. 



The Gastrodia orchids of Japan have shown that even evolutionary warnings can be skirted, if only briefly. Their quiet, unblooming lives challenge what we know about survival, isolation, and the bounds of genetic resilience.



Suetsugu Kenji and his collaborators continue to unravel these mysteries. “Each new data point, each newly described species, brings me closer to grasping the full spectrum of evolutionary possibilities,” said Suetsugu.



As the orchids remain sealed in silence, their genetics speak loudly. They remind us that in the margins of biology, life often writes its own rules.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0574" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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Some orchids can reproduce without ever opening their flowers

For centuries, botanists have pondered the oddities of reproduction in...

In terms of pollination, much of the spotlight shines on the color and scent of flowers. These features attract insects, especially bees, who help transfer pollen and ensure plant reproduction. But beneath this visual and olfactory spectacle, another sense may quietly shape this relationship: sound.



Scientists have long studied how flowers use color and scent to communicate with their pollinators. But could they also be listening?



For years, researchers overlooked the possibility that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-bacteria-makes-flowers-more-attractive-to-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flowers</a> might respond to the sounds of visiting pollinators. The low-volume acoustic signals created by insects during flight and foraging were simply too subtle, they thought.



However, a growing body of evidence suggests that these floral visitors generate more than just physical contact. They bring with them a unique sound signature. And now, thanks to a recent international collaboration, the science community is finally beginning to hear what the flowers may already know.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-respond-to-pollinator-sounds">Flowers respond to pollinator sounds</h2>



Francesca Barbero, a professor of zoology at the <a href="https://en.unito.it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turin</a>, is leading a new wave of research into how flowers detect and respond to vibroacoustic signals. 



Her work brings together an unusual alliance: entomologists, plant physiologists, and sound engineers from Spain and Australia. Their shared mission is to understand how the faint buzzes and wing flaps of pollinators influence plant biology.



This novel approach centers on using sound recordings instead of intrusive instruments. By capturing the natural buzz of pollinators and replaying them near flowers, the team can observe how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-new-window-into-the-early-evolution-of-flowering-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> react without physically disturbing them. 



The results offer a new method for monitoring pollinator activity. They also suggest that the link between plants and insects is more complex than previously imagined.



Barbero and her team will present their findings at the joint 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the 25th International Congress on Acoustics, taking place May 18 to 23.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-change-nectar-and-sugar-levels">Flowers change nectar and sugar levels</h2>



To study how flowers respond to sound, the researchers focused on a specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-honey-bee-day-protecting-our-vital-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flower</a>-pollinator pairing: snapdragons and Rhodanthidium sticticum, a bee species also known as the snail shell bee.



This insect is a known pollinator of snapdragons, making it an ideal subject for testing acoustic communication between these species.



The researchers recorded the buzzing of this bee and played the audio back in the vicinity of blooming snapdragons. What happened next surprised even the seasoned scientists.



The flowers responded to the buzzing by increasing the amount of sugar in their nectar. They also boosted overall nectar volume. On a molecular level, the plants even altered their gene expression, particularly the genes involved in sugar transport and nectar production.



This reaction suggests that flowers can perceive and act on sound cues, adjusting their internal processes to match the identity of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-blooming-92-days-earlier-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinator</a> they anticipate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-use-sound-to-boost-pollination">Flowers use sound to boost pollination </h2>



“Plant-<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-soil-day-2024-protecting-our-planets-lifeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinator</a> coevolution has been studied primarily by assessing the production and perception of visual and olfactory cues, even though there is growing evidence that both insects and plants can sense and produce, or transmit, vibroacoustic signals,” Barbero explained.



This shift toward understanding acoustic signals opens a new chapter in coevolution. It proposes that plants are not just responding passively to insects but actively modifying themselves based on the specific visitor. 



If a plant recognizes a pollinator by its buzz, it may enhance its attractiveness by adjusting nectar rewards. In doing so, it may increase the time that pollinators spend within its flowers and build pollinator loyalty.



“The ability to discriminate approaching pollinators based on their distinctive vibroacoustic signals could be an adaptive strategy for plants,” Barbero added.



“By replying to their proper vibroacoustic signal, for instance, an efficient pollinator’s, plants could improve their reproductive success if their responses drive modifications in pollinator behavior.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-flowers-call-pollinators-using-sound">Can flowers call pollinators using sound?</h2>



While the evidence for plants detecting and responding to pollinator sound is growing, the reverse question now arises. Can plants themselves use sound to influence insects?



The answer is not yet clear, but the implications are compelling. “If this response from insects is confirmed, sounds could be used to treat economically relevant plants and crops, and increase their pollinators’ attraction,” Barbero noted.



In agricultural settings, this idea could revolutionize how we manage crops. If scientists can learn to replicate the right buzzing sounds, they might coax more pollinators to visit key crops without needing chemical attractants. 



It opens the possibility of acoustic farming, where soundscapes become tools for boosting yields and biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-pollinators-to-nectar-robbers">From pollinators to nectar robbers</h2>



The team’s work does not stop with one type of bee. They are now examining how snapdragons react to other visitors, including nectar robbers. These insects take nectar without providing any pollination service. 



The comparisons may reveal whether plants can distinguish helpful insects from freeloaders using sound alone.



“The multitude of ways plants can perceive both biotic factors, such as beneficial and harmful insects, [and] other neighboring plants, and abiotic cues, like temperature, drought, and wind in their surroundings, is truly astonishing,” Barbero said.



This line of inquiry reveals that plants are far more perceptive than we assumed. They do not simply react to light and water. They sense their environment in complex, dynamic ways, including listening to the sounds of insects that surround them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-listen-and-adapt-to-insect-sounds">Flowers listen and adapt to insect sounds</h2>



This innovative research is part of a larger project titled “Good Vibes: How do plants recognise and respond to pollinator vibroacoustic signals,” and it is supported by the Human Frontier Science Program.



It involves multiple international partners: the&nbsp;University of Turin,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.i2sysbio.es/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I²SysBio in Valencia</a>, and the&nbsp;Centre for Audio, Acoustics and Vibration at the <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Technology</a>, Sydney.



Their work highlights how sound can be a bridge between species. In a world filled with pesticides, habitat loss, and climate stress, understanding how flowers communicate through vibrations may offer new tools for protecting pollinators and the plants they serve.



Through these discoveries, sound is being given its rightful place in the story of pollination. Flowers, it turns out, are not just beautiful - they are also listeners. And what they hear may shape their survival.



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Flowers 'hear' bee sounds and make sweeter nectar in response

In terms of pollination, much of the spotlight shines on...

Flowers captivate us with their colors, but nature often hides its most remarkable stories in what we overlook. Among Hibiscus blossoms, the bullseye pattern is a bold circle of pigment near the petal base. 



It draws pollinators like bees, making it seem indispensable. Yet in a surprising twist, many Hibiscus species have evolved to lose this feature. Why would evolution erase something so useful?



New research by scientists at the Sainsbury Laboratory, <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>, explores this very question. Their findings reveal a deep genetic mystery and a powerful reminder that what benefits one part of life’s puzzle may constrain another.



Beneath the surface of every petal lies a story of choices shaped by genetics, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteraceae-is-the-worlds-most-diverse-flowering-plant-family/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a>, and the tug-of-war between function and cost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bees-love-bold-petal-spots">Bees love bold petal spots</h2>



The iconic bullseye pattern on Hibiscus petals serves more than aesthetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-new-window-into-the-early-evolution-of-flowering-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">appeal</a>. It functions as a visual cue that guides pollinators - particularly bumblebees - toward the reproductive heart of the flower. 



These dark spots are rich in anthocyanins, a group of pigments that reflect less ultraviolet light and enhance contrast for bee vision.



“We found that bumblebees clearly prefer flowers with large, dark bullseyes, which act as visual guides directing them to the flower’s centre,” said May Yeo, first author and PhD student in Dr. Edwige Moyroud’s group. 



This preference should, in theory, drive the evolution of increasingly bold patterns across generations.



Yet researchers noticed an odd trend. Despite the pollinators' clear bias, some species like Hibiscus verdcourtii have entirely lost these markings. Others, such as H. richardsonii, show only faint, diminished patterns. That contradiction sparked the team’s investigation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-behind-the-bullseye-pattern">Genetics behind the bullseye pattern</h2>



The researchers focused on the genetic basis for these changes and uncovered a single gene, BERRY1, that largely controls the presence or absence of bullseye markings. 



When the gene is active, the plant produces enzymes that turn on pigment synthesis in the petal base. When disrupted or deleted, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-diversity-darkspots-need-urgent-attention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flower</a> loses its bullseye.



In H. trionum, BERRY1 works normally, helping form large purple bullseyes. In H. richardsonii, though, the gene is still present but riddled with mutations, including premature stop codons and insertion sequences. 



These defects deactivate the gene, meaning it can no longer activate downstream pigment genes like DFR1. In some populations of H. verdcourtii, BERRY1 is entirely missing, and the flowers show no sign of the pattern.



“Floral traits like bullseyes do more than look pretty - they have real impacts on plant reproduction and survival,” said Dr. Edwige Moyroud. “By tracing the genetics behind these petal patterns, we’re beginning to understand how relatively simple mutations can lead to major evolutionary changes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-lost-bullseyes-through-mutations">Flowers lost bullseyes through mutations </h2>



What’s striking is not just that bullseyes disappear, but how often and how similarly this has occurred. Across various Hibiscus species, evolution has repeatedly altered the same gene to yield the same outcome: loss of the bullseye. 



This process, called replicated or convergent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plant-diversity-can-help-combat-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a>, is rare at the genetic level and offers powerful insight into how biodiversity arises.



Despite different evolutionary paths, the flowers arrive at similar solutions. These independent losses of BERRY1 or its function suggest strong selective pressure for pattern reduction in some contexts. It also hints at a deeper ecological trade-off. 



The cost of keeping the bullseye must outweigh the benefit under certain conditions, or such a change would never persist.



In effect, what seems like a visual downgrade is in fact an adaptation - one that responds to forces beyond pollination alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-color-may-help-protect-flowers">Losing color may help protect flowers</h2>



Why would natural selection favor this loss? The answer may lie in the biochemistry of plant pigments. 



The same molecular pathway that makes anthocyanins (for color) also makes flavonols, which shield against UV light. These two pigment classes compete for shared building blocks.



In flowers like H. richardsonii with mutated BERRY1, the block on anthocyanin production means more resources shift to flavonols. These flavonols are invisible to bees but may offer better UV protection. Field measurements from the study showed significantly higher flavonol levels in the petal bases of bullseye-less flowers.



In high-UV environments or situations with reduced pollinator reliance, selection may favor flowers that trade color for protection. The balance between attracting insects and shielding reproductive tissues becomes critical.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flower-traits-reflect-survival">Flower traits reflect survival </h2>



This floral transformation isn’t just about pigment. It reflects how environmental pressures sculpt genetic outcomes over time. For plants, the need to reproduce must align with the need to survive.



“Understanding how floral colours and patterns have evolved gives us insight into broader questions about how diversity arises in nature,” noted Yeo. “It also opens up possibilities for improving pollinator-friendly crops and supporting biodiversity in agricultural systems.”



In agriculture, where yield and pollination are crucial, this knowledge may help design better plant varieties. By modulating genes like BERRY1, scientists could encourage desirable flower traits depending on crop and climate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-witnessing-flower-evolution-firsthand">Witnessing flower evolution firsthand </h2>



This genetic drama isn’t hidden behind lab doors. It is now on full display at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where the Moyroud team is showcasing two Hibiscus species - one with a large bullseye, and one without.



The exhibit includes live imaging with a scanning electron microscope and interactive visualizations of their results. Visitors can see firsthand how flower evolution operates on both genetic and visual levels.



The team’s contribution brings the precision of science into the public eye, transforming a garden staple into a model for evolutionary biology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bullseye-loss-shows-how-flowers-evolve">Bullseye loss shows how flowers evolve</h2>



Every petal carries a message written in molecules. In Hibiscus, that message can vanish as quickly as it appears, erased by mutation, UV rays, or changing pollinator preferences. 



The loss of a bullseye might look like a step back - but it’s often a sideways step in nature’s dance of survival.



As this research reveals, biodiversity doesn’t just emerge from change - it emerges from repetition. Nature tries the same path over and over, sometimes reaching different results, sometimes the same. 



Through it all, each bloom writes a quiet record of the forces shaping life. And sometimes, that record is written in the pattern of a flower’s fading ring.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70168" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>.



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Why some Hibiscus flowers lost their bullseye patterns

Flowers captivate us with their colors, but nature often hides...

Peering over the forest-draped ridges of southwestern China, a scar nearly half a mile wide across yawns open, so sheer that light seems to drain straight into the earth. Xiaozhai Tiankeng, also known as the "Heavenly Pit," is the world's largest sinkhole.



 Locals have spoken of Xiaozhai Tiankeng for centuries, yet it was only “discovered” by the wider world in 1994 when a team of British cavers stumbled on its hidden maw.



Measured from rim to floor, the Xiaozhai Heavenly Pit plunges about 2,172 feet - deeper than a stack of six Statues of Liberty - and encloses roughly 4.2 billion cubic feet of space. 



Those numbers secure its place as the planet’s deepest and largest known sinkhole, a title it wears with quiet, vertigo-inducing confidence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-xiaozhai-tiankeng-a-hidden-giant">Xiaozhai Tiankeng - a hidden giant</h2>



Geologists now read the sinkhole’s striped limestone walls like pages in an epic timeline. Rainwater, slightly acidic after mingling with soil carbon dioxide, seeped through fractures in Triassic-age rock for some 128,000 years. 



Bit by bit, it hollowed out caverns below <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fengjie_County" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fengjie County</a>, until the ceiling finally collapsed and birthed the chasm seen today.



Because the limestone lies high above sea level and is free of clay impurities, water could tunnel unimpeded, carving passages that still channel underground streams. 



The Xiaozhai Tiankeng stands as the textbook example of karst topography - what happens when karst processes are given perfect working conditions - and plenty of monsoon rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-karst-topography-the-basics">Understanding karst topography - the basics</h2>



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000202" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karst topography</a> forms when water slowly eats away at soft, soluble rocks like limestone, dolomite, or gypsum. As rainwater seeps into the ground, it picks up carbon dioxide and turns slightly acidic. That weak acid reacts with the rock, gradually wearing it down.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sinkholes_karst-topography_diagram-illustration_annotated_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sinkholes_karst-topography_diagram-illustration_annotated_1s.webp" alt="Water shapes karst landscapes by slowly dissolving soft, soluble rocks like limestone. Over time, this natural process carves out striking features - think sinkholes, hidden caves, and winding underground rivers. You’ll often find these dramatic terrains in rainy regions rich in carbonate rock. Click image to enlarge." class="wp-image-1970449"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Water shapes karst landscapes by slowly dissolving soft, soluble rocks like limestone. Over time, this natural process carves out striking features - think sinkholes, hidden caves, and winding underground rivers. You’ll often find these dramatic terrains in rainy regions rich in carbonate rock. Click image to enlarge.</figcaption></figure>



Over time, the land above starts to sag and collapse, creating sinkholes, disappearing streams, and vast cave systems below the surface. It’s a quiet, powerful transformation that reshapes the landscape from the inside out.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-xiaozhai-tiankeng-got-its-name">How Xiaozhai Tiankeng got its name</h2>



Chinese researchers classify this colossus as a tiankeng, a term reserved for sinkholes at least 328 feet deep and wide, each harboring a river at its base. 



The word translates variously as “heavenly pit” or “sky hole,” both fitting nods to the feeling one gets while peering over the edge. Of the 75 such features documented worldwide, about 50 cluster inside China’s humid karst belts.



The Xiaozhai example dwarfs its peers: it stretches roughly 1,676 to 2,054 feet long and 984 to 1,762 feet across, dimensions that defy easy comparison yet satisfy every benchmark geologists set for these rare landforms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-layered-steep-descent">Long, layered, steep descent</h2>



Two enormous “bowls” stack inside the chasm, each dropping more than 984 feet before giving way to the next terrace. 



After heavy summer storms, a temporary waterfall pours over the rim and ribbons down the vertical walls, then vanishes into the stone. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sinkhole_worlds-largest_Xiaozai-Tiankang_bottom-view_Credit-Research-Gate_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sinkhole_worlds-largest_Xiaozai-Tiankang_bottom-view_Credit-Research-Gate_1s.webp" alt="View along the floor of the Qinlong Tiankeng, towards the natural bridge at its western end, in the Wulong Sanqiao Park. Credit: ResearchGate" class="wp-image-1970451"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">View along the floor of the Qinlong Tiankeng, towards the natural bridge at its western end, in the Wulong Sanqiao Park. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ResearchGate</figcaption></figure>



Where the stream briefly reappears, it leaps in a single 151-foot plunge that echoes through the darkness below.



Scrambling down is a workout: concrete stairways cling to corners of the cliff, but many scientists still rope in, carrying sensors and sampling kits on their harnesses. 



The sense of scale - walls so high the sky shrinks to a blue rectangle - never quite fades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-inside-xiaozhai-tiankeng">Life inside Xiaozhai Tiankeng</h2>



Sunlight weakens but never disappears, nurturing a green haze of ferns, mosses, and towering ginkgo biloba trees. 



Biologists have counted 1,285 plant and animal species in this natural greenhouse, including the elusive clouded leopard, whose total wild population is thought to number fewer than 10,000. 



Dense humidity and steady temperatures create a pocket climate unlike anything on the surrounding plateau.



Winged insects flit among orchids; amphibians breed in clear pools; vines cling to walls slick with mist. 



Each tier supports its own community, separated by the same height difference that splits mountain life into bands. To ecologists, the pit is a ready-made laboratory for studying evolution in vertical space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-river-runs-through-it">A river runs through it</h2>



Near the foot of the second bowl, the Difeng cave yawns open, swallowing a crystal stream that has already traveled 5.3 miles underground. 



The water’s final above-ground act is that 151-foot curtain, after which it threads the darkness beneath the sinkhole and resurfaces downstream at the cliffs of the Migong River. 



Flow-rate monitors reveal seasonal surges that match regional rainfall, tying surface weather to hidden hydrology.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sinkhole_worlds-largest_Xiaozai-Tiankang_Credit-Research-Gate_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sinkhole_worlds-largest_Xiaozai-Tiankang_Credit-Research-Gate_1s.webp" alt="Xiaozhai Tiankeng seen from the southern rim; the path down the stone steps is obscured by trees and shrubs-it curves round to the right and descends the steep debris fan inside the lower pit. Credit: ResearchGate" class="wp-image-1970447"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Xiaozhai Tiankeng seen from the southern rim; the path down the stone steps is obscured by trees and shrubs-it curves round to the right and descends the steep debris fan inside the lower pit. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ResearchGate</figcaption></figure>



Mapping that labyrinth has never been easy. Speleologists tried five times in a decade to trace the torrent from end to end; each expedition turned back amid roar and spray, equipment battered by sudden rises in water level. 



The cave remains one of China’s least charted river systems, a reminder that even in the GPS era some coordinates resist tidy lines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karst-topography-and-xiaozhai-tiankeng">Karst topography and Xiaozhai Tiankeng</h2>



Field teams from Chongqing’s Institute of Karst Geology, often joined by overseas colleagues, now lower radar probes, deploy microclimate loggers, and sample sediments for isotopic clocks that refine the sinkhole’s birth date. 



Their findings feed global climate models and offer clues to safeguarding groundwater in limestone regions where pollution can spread in hours.



Yet the pit keeps its mystique. Nearby villagers swap tales of dragons curling inside the void or celestial doors hidden behind the waterfall. 



Trekkers on the steep trail say the silence at the bottom feels otherworldly, broken only by dripping water and the occasional flap of a bat. 



Maybe that mix of hard data and lingering legend is why the Xiaozhai Tiankeng continues to draw scientists, adventurers, and curious travelers alike - each hoping to understand, if only for a moment, how water, rock, and time conspired to open a doorway straight through the Earth’s surface.



This story was adapted from a report by the BBC, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0crc7bb/china-s-huge-and-mysterious-xiaozhai-tiankeng-sinkhole" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">which you can watch here…</a>



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World’s largest sinkhole showcases the power and beauty of nature

Peering over the forest-draped ridges of southwestern China, a scar...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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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?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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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"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features 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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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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...

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