Hot summers have made bark beetles a familiar menace in northern Europe, but a new twist is now clear. When these insects kill spruce, they also change the air within the forest, raising daytime temperatures close to the ground by as much as 2 degrees Celsius (about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).



That <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-forests-which-tree-species-can-survive-climate-change/">shift</a> matters because many organisms depend on steady conditions near the forest floor. It also affects how new trees take root after a disturbance, and how people feel when they walk these trails on a scorching day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-bark-beetle-outbreaks">Increasing bark beetle outbreaks </h2>



The research was led by Caroline Greiser of Stockholm University and the <a href="https://www.su.se/bolin-centre-for-climate-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bolin Centre for Climate Research</a>. 



The team measured temperatures both beneath and above the trees at 31 spruce-dominated sites in southern Sweden between July and September 2021.



Sensors mounted at 6.5 feet recorded air in the understory, the shaded space below the canopy. A drone flight added a thermal map of treetops over one reserve to compare living crowns with dead ones.



The focus was the European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus. “We’ve known for a long time that hot, dry summers increase bark beetle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-lagging-centuries-behind-in-climate-adaptation/">outbreaks</a>,” said Greiser.



The goal of the study was to see how attack severity plays out in the micro-scale temperatures that plants and animals actually experience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperatures-of-dead-trees">Temperatures of dead trees</h2>



Daytime maximums beneath attacked stands ran up to 2 degrees Celsius warmer along a gradient from healthy to heavily damaged. 



Nights did not drop below the temperatures seen in healthy stands, which suggests a surprising kind of thermal stability after mortality.



Dead trees were not neutral at the top of the forest either. On a sunny day their crowns averaged 2.6 degrees Celsius warmer than living crowns, and on an overcast day the gap shrank to 0.7 degrees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-deciduous-trees-matter">Why deciduous trees matter</h2>



Where birch and aspen were mixed in with spruce, the warming was smaller. Broad leaves restore shade, keep moisture cycling, and help hold down the daily highs under the trees after an outbreak.



“Our study adds a new reason to diversify forests,” said Greiser. Mixed stands also spread risk across species, so a single pest cannot topple everything at once. 



Restoring deciduous trees to conifer heavy stands has been a policy discussion in Scandinavia for years. These results add temperature control to the list of reasons to bring them back.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperature-effects-of-bark-beetles">Temperature effects of bark beetles</h2>



Forests tend to be cooler by day and warmer by night than open areas because of shading, wind reduction, and moisture fluxes. That buffering is documented in a global <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.15569" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> that links canopy structure to steadier conditions below.



Living trees also move water from soils to air through <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/evapotranspiration-and-water-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evapotranspiration</a>, which absorbs heat on hot afternoons. When many trees die, that cooling pathway weakens, so the daytime highs under the canopy can tick upward.



Despite the warmer days, attacked stands did not show colder nights in this work. Crowns and stems, even when dead, still slow the loss of heat to the sky, and that can keep minimums steady.



Earlier field <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037811270100754X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> in shelterwood systems found higher night minimums under partial cover than in clear cuts. That helps explain why leaving some structure standing can still protect frost sensitive seedlings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-dead-trees-run-hotter">Why dead trees run hotter</h2>



The thermal drone maps showed dead crowns run warmer than living crowns, especially on clear days. That pattern lines up with reduced water flow from dead wood and the loss of evaporative cooling at the top of the stand.



Independent remote sensing work in Poland reported roughly a 2.5 degrees Celsius (about 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit) difference between dead and healthy tree canopies on a hot day. Weather conditions and tree species can change the exact number, but the direction is consistent.



Clear skies strengthen these differences because sunlight drives heating while living leaves are busy cooling. Clouds narrow the gap by cutting incoming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protecting-forests-helps-birds-and-humans-in-many-ways/">energy</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-bark-beetles">Preparing for bark beetles</h2>



Once again, diversity proves valuable. Adding birch and aspen to spruce stands softens the heat surge that follows beetle die-offs and reduces the risk of a single insect wiping out the entire stand.



Decisions about salvage logging are not one size fits all. Where standing dead trees help hold night minimums steady and support insects and fungi that need dead wood, managers can leave structure to maintain that buffering.



Fire risk is often raised after beetle outbreaks, yet large scale <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1424037112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyses</a> show area burned in the western United States did not increase directly because of beetles, with fire weather playing a larger role. 



That does not remove local hazards, but it does suggest careful, site specific planning rather than blanket assumptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-bark-beetle-outbreaks">Future bark beetle outbreaks </h2>



Better maps of fine scale temperature will help link microclimate to seedling survival and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-not-adapting-fast-enough-to-climate-change/">wildlife</a> activity. 



Repeated drone flights across seasons and weather types could sharpen guidance on when and where structure matters most.



Microclimate is part of the climate feedback too. As bark beetles change how heat moves through forests, they shape the very environment that affects future outbreaks and regeneration.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192325004150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</a>.



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Bark beetle attacks increase daytime forest temperatures

Hot summers have made bark beetles a familiar menace in northern Europe, but a new twist is now clear. When these insects kill spruce, they also change the air within the forest, raising daytime temperatures close to the ground by as much as 2 degrees Celsius (about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). That shift matters because many organisms depend on steady conditions near the forest floor. It also affects how new trees take root after a disturbance, and how people feel when they walk these trails on a scorching...

For centuries, the Amazon has drawn treasure seekers in search of gold. These days, that pursuit continues, but what’s left is harder to find and comes with a heavy cost – toxic mercury pollution.



Small-scale and artisanal miners often use mercury to extract even the tiniest specks of gold. Unfortunately, this practice releases toxins that harm the natural environment and human health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-mercury-pollution-in-tree-rings">Tracking mercury pollution in tree rings</h2>



Scientists from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a>, working with an international research team, have found a surprising new way to track mercury pollution: tree rings.



By studying trees in the Peruvian Amazon, they’ve shown that mercury <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-directly-linked-to-atmospheric-mercury-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollution</a> can be traced by measuring the amount of heavy metals stored year by year inside tree trunks.



Dr. Jacqueline Gerson is an assistant professor in biological and environmental engineering at Cornell University and the lead author of the study.



“We show that&nbsp;Ficus insipda&nbsp;tree cores can be used as a biomonitor for characterizing the spatial and potentially the temporal footprint of mercury emissions from artisanal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/illegal-gold-mining-dumps-mercury-in-the-peruvian-rainforest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gold mining</a> in the neotropics,” said Dr. Gerson.



“Trees can provide a widespread and fairly cheap network of biomonitoring, by archiving a record of mercury concentration within tree bole wood.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-mercury-ends-up-in-the-forest">How mercury ends up in the forest</h2>



In many artisanal mining operations, workers add mercury to gold-rich soil. The mercury binds with the gold particles and produces a substance called amalgam.



These amalgams have a low melting point, so miners can easily burn them to extract the gold. Consequently, this process releases mercury vapor into the atmosphere.



To test whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-rings-reveal-the-carbon-storage-capacity-of-a-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree rings</a> could record these emissions, the researchers collected core samples from three different tree species: wild figs (Ficus insipida), Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa), and tornillos (Cedrelinga catenaformis).



Only the Ficus insipida trees produced visible rings that could be studied reliably year by year. These trees are common across the region and form annual rings even in tropical climates.



The researchers sampled five sites. Two were far from mining, and three were within five kilometers of gold mining towns. One of the mining sites bordered a protected forest, offering a unique comparison point.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trees-record-heavy-metal-concentrations">Trees record heavy metal concentrations</h2>



“There are many variables that drive individual tree Hg concentrations, and it is difficult to determine the specific drivers,” explained Dr. Gerson.



“The trees in the study were all the same species and from the same sites, exposed to the same atmospheric Hg concentration. That is why we sample multiple trees and then use average values.”



The findings revealed clear patterns. For example, trees closer to mining towns contained significantly higher mercury pollution levels in their bole wood - the dense inner wood of the trunk.



The protected forest site had slightly lower levels. The most distant sites had the lowest concentrations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-levels-surged-after-mining-boom">Mercury levels surged after mining boom</h2>



“Higher atmospheric Hg concentrations are generally associated with nearby mining locations,” noted Dr. Gerson. 



"In the Peruvian <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-is-rapidly-approaching-a-tipping-point/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon</a>, where mining is the main source of Hg, the association between higher Hg concentrations and proximity to a mining site can readily be drawn.”



Notably, mercury levels spiked after the year 2000, especially in trees near the towns. This trend tracks with the region’s mining boom. 



"This is likely due to the expansion of gold mining activities around this time,” said Gerson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-tree-rings-can-tell-us">What tree rings can tell us</h2>



While the study supports the use of trees as a mercury-tracking tool, it also points out a few challenges. One limitation is that researchers didn’t always know the exact distance of the trees from active mining sites. That’s because many of these operations are illegal and not well documented.



This uncertainty could have affected the mercury <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mercury-levels-found-in-remote-pacific-trenches-are-unprecedented/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollution</a> found in each tree. Even so, Ficus insipida shows strong promise for tracking mercury emissions over large areas.



“Ficus insipida can be used as a cheap and powerful tool to examine large spatial trends in Hg emissions in the neotropics,” said Dr. Gerson. “Using bole wood could allow for regional monitoring efforts.”



This type of monitoring could help international efforts to reduce mercury pollution under agreements like the UN’s Minamata Convention on Mercury. Organizations like limit mercury emissions worldwide and protect people and ecosystems.



By looking inside trees, researchers have found a quiet but reliable witness to decades of pollution. This important data may help protect the future of the Amazon rainforest.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1531800/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Environmental Science</a>.



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Mercury pollution in the Amazon is recorded in tree rings

For centuries, the Amazon has drawn treasure seekers in search...

The new season of “<a href="https://www.hbo.com/the-last-of-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Last of Us</a>” arrives on April 13. In the show, a fictional fungus infects humans and spreads through the air. This idea feels unsettlingly real because some actual fungi spread through airborne spores, causing fungal infections.



Scientists have long known about fungi that invade organisms in surprising ways. One of these is <a href="https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/cordyceps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cordyceps</a>, which can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-may-fuel-the-spread-of-diseases-by-unleashing-frozen-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infect</a> ants and influence their behavior until the fungus extends and scatters spores onto unsuspecting targets on the forest floor.



Mention of the show’s new spore angle has also spotlighted research by <a href="https://www.msl.ubc.ca/people/dr-jim-kronstad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Jim Kronstad</a>, a microbiologist at the Michael Smith Laboratories at the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of British Columbia</a>. 



He is among those who study fungi that can adapt to warming climates, raising concerns that certain species might become more harmful to humans.



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



One fungus called <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coccidioides</a> causes valley fever. It can trigger serious lung <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-infectious-disease-landscape-is-changing-and-we-must-prepare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infections</a>, and scientists suspect that hotter temperatures could expand its range.



Another pathogen, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/candida-auris/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Candida auris</a>, is making headlines for its ability to spread in hospital settings. Many available antifungal drugs do not work against it, and some fear it could thrive more widely in a hotter environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungal-spores-and-deadly-infections">Fungal spores and deadly infections</h2>



“Fungi love to make spores,” remarked <a href="https://kronstadlab.msl.ubc.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Kronstad</a>. Microscopic spores can lodge in the lungs of people who breathe them in, setting off infections.



In real life, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cryptococcosis/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cryptococcus neoformans</a> offers an example of a fungus that enters the body through inhalation of spores. It sometimes leads to meningitis, particularly in individuals who have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-infection-equips-the-body-to-fight-off-the-flu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weakened immune systems</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungi-are-jumping-from-soil-to-humans">Fungi are jumping from soil to humans</h2>



Researchers recently found <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38898217/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis</a> in humans after previously detecting it only in soil. Some see this as more proof that fungi can shift hosts and environments in unexpected ways.



Climate change might encourage certain fungal species to adapt to higher temperatures. Experts are looking into whether these organisms can learn to thrive inside human bodies more easily as global temperatures climb.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungi-also-help-humans-and-the-planet">Fungi also help humans and the planet</h2>



“Fungi are super important, it’s phenomenal what they’ve done for humans,” added Dr. Kronstad. Fungi are not all threats. They break down waste into nutrients, help store carbon in soils, and have long served as food sources.&nbsp;



Scientists have experimented with fungal-based materials in various fields, from eco-friendly packaging to potential construction elements. These unique fibers can be sturdy yet light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiction-highlights-real-fungal-infection-threats">Fiction highlights real fungal infection threats</h2>



The show’s creators might have chosen to highlight spores to reflect real-world research that suggests airborne fungal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antimicrobial-resistance-could-cause-39-million-deaths-by-2050/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transmission</a> can be perilous. 



While an actual fungus controlling human minds is far-fetched, the idea of sneaky microscopic travelers is not so outlandish.



Recent <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08419-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> details how fungal infections in wildlife and humans can intensify with more frequent travel and shifting climate patterns. Scientists hope that exploring fungal biology now will give us the upper hand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-and-beyond">Food and beyond</h2>



People often associate fungi with mushrooms or yeasts. Beyond these, numerous species serve crucial roles in producing bread, cheese, and even alternative meat.



They also offer lifesaving benefits. Penicillin emerged from fungi, sparking a medical revolution that continues to save countless lives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungal-infection-threats-are-rising">Fungal infection threats are rising</h2>



Some fans of “The Last of Us” may wonder if the storyline signals a future fungal threat to humanity. Others feel it simply underscores how versatile and surprising nature can be.



Experts point out that while caution is wise, maintaining perspective is equally important. Practices such as infection control in hospitals and consistent monitoring of emerging pathogens could help address these concerns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-change">Preparing for change</h2>



Environmental scientists encourage efforts to track fungal populations and observe how rising temperatures affect them. They hope to predict potential risks before serious outbreaks happen.



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8962932/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Researchers</a> also emphasize developing new antifungals to tackle resistant infections. This preventive approach could stop the spread of challenging species in healthcare settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adapting-with-knowledge">Adapting with knowledge</h2>



Fungal biology remains a lively area of study. More advanced genetic tools could soon reveal how these organisms evolve to survive in hotter climates or new hosts.



There is growing interest in whether our bodies might also adapt. The interplay between changing fungi and human immune responses is a subject with many questions still to be answered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungi-are-both-dangerous-and-essential-to-life">Fungi are both dangerous and essential to life</h2>



Fungi are ancient, diverse, and often helpful. Their ability to mutate and jump into new niches is a reminder that we share our planet with organisms we are still learning to understand.



The latest season of “The Last of Us” might spark a fresh wave of curiosity about how fungal spores spread. If that curiosity leads to more research and careful preparation, the lessons could be invaluable.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08419-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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The Last of Us? Fungal diseases that infect humans are becoming more common

The new season of “The Last of Us” arrives on...

Urban trees have become popular guinea pigs for studying how climate change might affect plant life in the future. Predicting these effects is complex as there are numerous variables - shifting temperatures, rainfall, soil conditions, and genetics.



To simplify the task, many researchers compare plants growing in cities with those in nearby rural areas. The idea is that cities form heat islands, where concrete and buildings trap warmth, raising local temperatures by a few degrees.



These spots offer a natural glimpse into how plants might respond in a warmer world. But recent research from scientists at <a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a> and <a href="https://www.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a> suggests this common method may be giving us a false sense of security - at least when it comes to forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-city-trees-could-hide-climate-risks">City trees could hide climate risks</h2>



City trees, it turns out, aren’t telling the whole story. While comparing urban and rural plant life seems straightforward, the researchers found that the trees growing in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-the-best-option-to-reduce-the-urban-heat-island-effect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban heat islands</a> often have less genetic diversity than their rural counterparts.



This hidden difference changes the way they respond to heat. In fact, it might be masking the full impact of climate change. 



“The appeal of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tackling-urban-heat-experts-plan-to-cool-a-desert-city-by-4-5c/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban temperature</a> gradients is, well, it's already there,” said David Des Marais, one of the researchers. “We can't look into the future, so why don't we look across space, comparing rural and urban areas?”



The data is readily available, which has made this approach popular among ecologists. 



But even though they knew the method wasn’t perfect - differences in soil nutrients such as nitrogen were already a known issue - researchers still saw urban trees as a useful stand-in to test the possible effects of future conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-city-vs-rural-trees-genetic-mismatch">City vs. rural trees: Genetic mismatch</h2>



This latest study took a different approach. Instead of just comparing how trees grow in the city and the countryside, the researchers looked at their genetics as well.



Specifically, they focused on red oaks in and around Cambridge, Massachusetts, and in the Harvard Forest in rural central Massachusetts. 



The project actually began during the pandemic. With travel limited, the researchers started studying trees close to home.



Over three years, they gathered temperature data, tracked when trees began to leaf out in spring, and analyzed the trees’ genomes. What they discovered was surprising.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/city-trees_red-oak-genotypes_respond-differently-heat_credit-PNAS_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/city-trees_red-oak-genotypes_respond-differently-heat_credit-PNAS_1s.webp" alt="Meghan Blumstein studied red oak genotypes across New England, concentrating on trees that were within reach in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She then collaborated with people doing research at the Harvard Forest, a research forest in rural central Massachusetts. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025)" class="wp-image-1964704"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meghan Blumstein studied red oak genotypes across New England, concentrating on trees that were within reach in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She then collaborated with people doing research at the Harvard Forest, a research forest in rural central Massachusetts. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025)</figcaption></figure>



“So, lo and behold, you think you're only letting one variable change in your model, which is the temperature difference from an urban to a rural setting,” Des Marais explained. “But in fact, it looks like there was also a genotypic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-trees-protect-their-genetic-diversity-for-millions-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diversity</a> that was not being accounted for.”



Urban red oaks were genetically different from rural red oaks. And those genetic differences made city trees more resistant to warmer temperatures. 



As a result, urban trees didn’t show the same level of sensitivity to heat that rural trees did. 



Because of this, previous studies comparing plant responses in cities and rural areas may have underestimated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-forests-are-being-transformed-by-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how forests will react to global warming</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-affects-climate-predictions">How this affects climate predictions</h2>



“Initially, we saw these results and we were sort of like, oh, this is a bad thing,” Des Marais said. “Ecologists are getting this heat island effect wrong, which is true.” But there’s an upside: the problem is fixable.



“It's not that much more work, because sequencing genomes is so cheap and so straightforward. Now, if someone wants to look at an urban-rural gradient and make these kinds of predictions, well, that's fine. You just have to add some information about the genomes,” explained Marais.



The lack of genetic diversity in urban trees actually makes sense. For decades, growers have selected varieties that can survive harsh city conditions, including poor soil, pollution, and inconsistent drainage. 



Over time, this trial-and-error approach has narrowed the genetic pool of city trees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-global-assessments">What this means for global assessments</h2>



The implications are bigger than a few city parks. These urban-to-rural comparisons are part of the toolset used by organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IPCC</a>), to make global predictions.



“When the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases its regular reports on the status of the climate, one of the tools the IPCC has to predict future responses to climate change with respect to temperature are these urban-to-rural gradients.”



“If these results are generally true beyond red oaks, this suggests that the urban heat island approach to studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-genetics-research-just-got-a-lot-easier-with-a-simple-trick/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant response to temperature</a> is under predicting how strong that response is.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-better-way-forward">A better way forward</h2>



This study doesn’t throw out the idea of using urban environments to study climate change. It just asks researchers to look a little deeper. 



Adding a genetic lens to these comparisons could make future predictions more accurate - and help us better prepare our forests for the changes ahead. 



As climate pressures increase, getting these predictions right could be the difference between a thriving forest and one in decline.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2408564122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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City trees might be misleading us about climate change impact

Urban trees have become popular guinea pigs for studying how...

A recent experiment has shown that certain lichen species can remain metabolically active in an environment similar to that found on Mars. The study challenges assumptions that Mars is entirely inhospitable, highlighting the life's adaptability under extreme conditions.



This research, published in the open-access journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/imafungus.16.145477">IMA Fungus</a>, demonstrates that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/older-trees-help-the-endangered-wolf-lichen-survive/">lichens</a> can function despite exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation and other harsh factors that characterize the planet’s surface.&nbsp;



The discovery builds on prior findings suggesting that some microorganisms can endure environments analogous to Mars, but this is the first time the metabolic activity of the fungal component in lichens has been observed under such conditions.&nbsp;



In this study, the focus centered on two lichen species, Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata. 



The researchers found that the former was especially able to continue its metabolic processes and resistance mechanisms despite exposure to doses of X-ray radiation and temperatures reflecting extremes on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-water-reservoir-discovered-medusae-fossae-formation-two-miles-deep/">Mars</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lichens-accept-the-mars-challenge">Lichens accept the Mars challenge</h2>



Mars has captivated scientists for centuries, primarily because it is the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. 



Yet its thin atmosphere, lack of a global magnetic field, and the resulting bombardment of radiation make the <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">Martian surface</a> an extreme and potentially lethal environment for most known life-forms. 



Temperatures can fluctuate widely, and intense ionizing radiation - particularly during periods of heightened solar activity - is considered a principal threat to any organisms that might attempt to exist there.



Despite these obstacles, researchers have gradually gathered evidence suggesting that some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-life-exist-below-the-icy-surface-of-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">terrestrial extremophiles</a> may find ways to cope with the Red Planet’s challenging conditions. 



This latest study takes that line of reasoning one step further, revealing that lichens - a symbiotic partnership between fungi and photosynthetic organisms - have a surprising capacity for survival and metabolic activity in simulated Mars-like conditions.



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



Lichens are remarkable organisms formed through a symbiotic partnership between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. 



The fungus provides structure and absorbs moisture and minerals from the environment, while the algal or bacterial partner produces food through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-photosynthesis-could-transform-power-generation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>. 



Together, they create a highly adaptable organism capable of surviving in some of the harshest environments on Earth - from tree bark and rocky cliffs to deserts and polar regions. They don’t require soil to grow and can thrive with minimal resources.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mars_lichens_Cetraria-aculeata-species_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mars_lichens_Cetraria-aculeata-species_1s.webp" alt="Cetraria aculeata is a species of lichen that’s known for its tough, spiny appearance and ability to survive in harsh, nutrient-poor environments. It belongs to the Parmeliaceae family and typically forms dark brown to blackish, bushy mats on soil, moss, or rocks." class="wp-image-1964640"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cetraria aculeata is a species of lichen that’s known for its tough, spiny appearance and ability to survive in harsh, nutrient-poor environments. It belongs to the Parmeliaceae family and typically forms dark brown to blackish, bushy mats on soil, moss, or rocks. Click image to enlarge.</figcaption></figure>



What makes lichens especially fascinating is their resilience and ecological value. 



Many species grow extremely slowly, sometimes only a few millimeters per year, yet they can live for decades or even centuries. Scientists often study lichens to monitor air quality, as some species are highly sensitive to pollutants. 



Though they may appear simple, lichens play an important role in ecosystems and continue to offer insight into the complexities of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evolutionary-deja-vu-the-symbiotic-relationships-of-trees-and-ants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">symbiotic life</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exposing-lichens-to-mars-like-conditions">Exposing lichens to Mars-like conditions </h2>



In the new study, scientists exposed Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata lichen species to a mixture of factors replicating what might be encountered on Mars. 



These factors included a rarefied atmospheric pressure, temperatures that could dip and rise in short order, a Mars-like gas composition, and X-ray radiation on par with what would be expected over a year of strong solar activity. 



The experts ran this experiment for five hours, then looked at whether the fungal component of the lichen remained metabolically active.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-lichens-survive-on-mars">Could lichens survive on Mars?</h2>



The results indicated that D. muscorum was particularly adept at coping with these trials. According to the team, this species managed to carry out essential biochemical functions despite being subjected to Mars-like conditions. 



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-fungi-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/">fungus</a> also showed clear signs of triggering defense mechanisms to mitigate the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.



“Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained active while being in an environment resembling the surface of Mars," Kaja Skubała, team leader explained. 



"We found that Diploschistes muscorum was able to carry out metabolic processes and activate defense mechanisms effectively."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-radiation-survival">Exploring radiation survival</h2>



Ionizing radiation poses a grave danger for any organism lacking robust protective strategies or the ability to repair damage to cellular components. 



The research team specifically scrutinized whether high levels of X-ray radiation would effectively halt metabolic activity. 



Previous assertions held that a steady stream of intense radiation from the Sun and cosmic sources might render the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-surface-contains-more-organic-matter-than-previously-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Martian surface</a> permanently sterile. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mars_lichens_survival-experiment_illustration_credit-IMA-Fungus_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mars_lichens_survival-experiment_illustration_credit-IMA-Fungus_1s.webp" alt="Experiment arrangement of vacuum chamber with the additional facility, including metal grate with lichens, cooling table, temperature, pressure and humidity sensors, X-ray lamp with the controller, CO2 valve with cylinder, controllers of vacuum chamber, pressure, cooling table, and computer. Credit: IMA Fungus (2025)" class="wp-image-1964642"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Experiment arrangement of vacuum chamber with the additional facility, including metal grate with lichens, cooling table, temperature, pressure and humidity sensors, X-ray lamp with the controller, CO2 valve with cylinder, controllers of vacuum chamber, pressure, cooling table, and computer. Click image to enlarge. Credit: IMA Fungus (2025)</figcaption></figure>



Yet in this experiment, the fungal partner was clearly able to maintain function, offering insight into how certain organisms might defy radiation-related stress.



These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under simulated Martian conditions and reveal how hydrated organisms respond to ionizing radiation - one of the most critical challenges for survival and habitability on Mars. 



Ultimately, this research deepens our knowledge of lichen adaptation and their potential for colonizing extraterrestrial environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



By establishing that lichen fungi can endure - and remain active - amid Mars-like conditions, the study opens new doors for astrobiology. 



It challenges the belief that Mars’s radiation exposure alone is an insurmountable barrier for life, prompting further investigations into how multiple species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extremophiles-and-the-quest-for-alien-life/">extremophiles</a> might cope with the various hazards of the Martian environment.



"The findings call for longer-term studies that examine how chronic exposure to radiation influences lichens and other organisms, as well as how they might adapt or evolve when subjected to such stressors for months or even years," Skubała concluded.



Understanding these processes could be integral not only for unearthing ancient life on Mars (if it ever existed) but also for potentially selecting candidate species that could be used in experimental greenhouses or bio-based life-support systems during future crewed missions to the Red Planet.



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The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://imafungus.pensoft.net/article/145477/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IMA Fungus</a>.



Image Credit: Cetraria aculeata, a species of lichens, superimposed on Mars. Credit: Lichen: Skubała et al. Design: Pensoft Publishers.



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Lichens thrive in Martian simulation, another step towards life on Mars

A recent experiment has shown that certain lichen species can...

The endangered "corpse flower" (Amorphophallus titanum) faces pressure from habitat loss, climate change, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-species-use-wildfires-and-drought-as-an-opening-to-move-in/">invasive species</a>. Unfortunately, a new study reveals that there is yet another threat: incomplete and inconsistent historical records.



Without properly documented plant ancestry and breeding history, horticulturists cannot make informed decisions about pollination. 



This lack of information has led to inbreeding in collections worldwide, which degrades the gene pool and jeopardizes the plant's long-term survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-scent-that-draws-crowds">The scent that draws crowds</h2>



The corpse flower gets its name from the distinctive stench it emits. To attract pollinators (like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beetle-diversity-is-influenced-by-energy-stored-in-dead-wood/">carrion beetles</a> and flesh flies), the plant relies on an overpowering odor that smells like decaying flesh. 



Visitors to botanic gardens line up when this specimen is about to bloom, eager to see - and smell - the giant spadix and brief flower display.



"Usually, you have to get close to a flower to be able to smell it," said Olivia Murrell, lead researcher and first author of the study. "That is not true for the corpse flower. The second you walk into its greenhouse, its smell smacks you across the face." 



When in bloom, the plant also generates heat which disperses the infamous aroma even more effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-complex-living-collections">Managing complex living collections</h2>



Because corpse flower seeds cannot tolerate drying and seed banking, they are carefully maintained as full-sized specimens. 



Botanic gardens and research facilities maintain these plants in "living collections," which is a delicate and complex undertaking.



These institutions work under unpredictable conditions because corpse flowers bloom only rarely and for a very short time - just 24 to 48 hours. 



Adding to this challenge is the bloom timing: female flowers open first, and by the time the male flowers mature, the female flowers are no longer viable.



Researchers from <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> and the <a href="https://www.chicagobotanic.org/">Chicago Botanic Garden</a> set out to understand why the species continues to show declining genetic health in captivity, despite dedicated care.



They discovered that inconsistent data transfer between institutions has muddled the plants' genetic histories. When a corpse flower moves to a new site, its records often don't travel along with it. 



This haphazard approach leads to unintended pollination events, such as using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollen-can-actually-change-the-weather/">pollen</a> from a closely related plant or the same plant's previous bloom, which can lead to inbreeding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-incomplete-corpse-flower-records">Incomplete corpse flower records</h2>



Murrell and her colleagues discovered that the difficulties facing corpse flowers are partly due to missing or inconsistent data.



The team gathered information on nearly 1,200 corpse flowers across 111 different institutions worldwide. They received handwritten notes, spreadsheets, email text, and other varied record formats. 



Ideally, a plant's file should list its parentage, origin, health status, and significant events such as pollination or propagation.



Unfortunately, these details were often absent or fragmented. Many gardens did not record which plant's pollen was used for fertilization. When a plant was transferred, a file might never arrive with it. 



The result is that 24% of the surveyed plants were confirmed clones, while 27% were crosses between close relatives. 



Additional genetic testing on a sample of 65 plants confirmed low overall diversity and a high degree of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/inbreeding-can-actually-be-beneficial-for-some-species-in-the-long-run/">inbreeding</a>.



This troubling data reveals that the problem involves more than a few isolated individuals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-corpse-flowers-and-genetic-diversity">Corpse flowers and genetic diversity</h2>



"There are many risks associated with low genetic diversity," Murrell said. "Generally speaking, inbred plants might not produce as much pollen or might die right after they flower."



In some cases, none of the offspring from an inbred plant survive because they are albino seedlings with no chlorophyll. 



Even if a plant appears healthy, a population dominated by inbred specimens has limited defenses against pests, disease, and environmental change.



According to recent figures published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10531">Biodiversity and Conservation</a>, only 162 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild. 



With such diminished numbers, robust, genetically varied captive populations have grown increasingly important.



The complications of inbreeding are magnified by the corpse flower's challenging reproductive biology. Because female and male flowers do not bloom simultaneously, pollen is often stored or collected from available sources, including closely related genetic lines. 



With each new reproductive event, the overall diversity narrows and pushes the species closer to a genetic bottleneck that could threaten its survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-focus-on-sharing-data">More focus on sharing data</h2>



Recognizing the need for better management, Murrell and her co-authors propose several remedies. They urge institutions to document the plant origins and parentage, standardize data collection practices, track parent plants across gardens, and ensure that documentation follows all relocated plants. 



Adopting a consistent recordkeeping language is also critical. Gardeners, scientists, and conservationists must share data without confusion.



Murrell emphasizes that the clock is ticking for Amorphophallus titanum. Natural habitats in Sumatra continue to degrade, and the species' wild numbers are dwindling. 



Success in botanic collections may be the only hope for restoring the corpse flower to its natural range.



By reducing inbreeding and expanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-trees-protect-their-genetic-diversity-for-millions-of-years/">genetic diversity</a>, gardens, and research facilities can offer a lifeline for this captivating plant. 



However, even the most well-intentioned efforts will fall short without a greater commitment to reliable recordkeeping.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aob/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aob/mcaf038/8104011" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annals of Botany</a>.



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Smells like trouble: Popular 'corpse flower' is headed towards extinction

The endangered "corpse flower" (Amorphophallus titanum) faces pressure from habitat...

When we talk about climate solutions, we often look up - to the canopy of trees that pull carbon from the air. But there’s something unexpected happening below. The logs and branches that tumble into forest streams are quietly locking away carbon, too.



Scientists from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a> have discovered that large dead trees in upland streams store impressive amounts of carbon. In fact, the amount of carbon stored in this submerged wood is increasing over time.



The study was focused on forested headwaters in the northeastern United States. The researchers also found that big, old trees along streambanks play an important role in feeding this natural carbon reserve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-climate-solution">A natural climate solution</h2>



“We know that about 20% of global annual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greenhouse gas emissions</a> come from land use and deforestation,” said study co-author Dr. William Keeton, professor at the University of Vermont.



“But we can also use forests and other land cover as what we call a natural climate solution - finding ways to sequester and store more carbon in vegetation.”



Dr. Keeton had long suspected that fallen logs lying in water were storing carbon, but the scale of it surprised even him.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dead-trees-store-a-lot-of-carbon">Dead trees store a lot of carbon </h2>



Stephen Peters-Collaer is the study’s lead author and a graduate student at the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forest-microclimates-impact-bird-species-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Old-growth forests</a> stored four to five times more carbon in the wood lying in the streams than mature forests did,” said Peters-Collaer.



“And in mature forests, this in-stream, dead-wood carbon pool is about 50% to 60% larger than that stored in downed wood in an area of equivalent size on the forest floor.”



The research showed that while streams take up much less space than the forest floor, they hold an outsize share of carbon - especially when they’re filled with large pieces of wood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-storage-isn-t-well-quantified">Carbon storage isn't well-quantified</h2>



“One of the reasons that we were interested in this question is because there’s been increasing realization in recent years that wood in streams, lakes and other aquatic systems stores carbon, but that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-forests-with-many-tree-species-are-more-effective-at-carbon-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon storage</a> wasn’t well-quantified,” said Peters-Collaer.



To get answers, the team studied streams in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire and old-growth forests in New York’s Adirondack State Park. 



These field sites have long research histories, providing the team with important background and context for their data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dead-trees-boost-carbon-storage">Dead trees boost carbon storage </h2>



The researchers focused on large woody debris - logs and branches that fall from nearby trees into streams. 



These oversized pieces tend to decompose more slowly, especially when submerged. Their large volume and relatively small surface area make it harder for decomposers to break them down, meaning they can store carbon for much longer.



The logs also do more than sit still. In small upland streams, they often stretch all the way across, creating natural dams. These structures trap additional wood, leaves, and organic debris - boosting the amount of carbon held in place even more.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-streams-big-role">Small streams, big role</h2>



Although they may look minor on a map, headwater streams make up about 70% of total river miles. And because they’re usually in upland areas, they tend to be less disturbed by development.



This means that the streams offer a surprisingly stable and effective place for carbon storage - if the right conditions are met.



Taken together, the findings suggest that fallen wood in forest streams may be a more significant piece of the global carbon budget than previously thought. 



Peters-Collaer explained that researchers hadn’t measured this carbon pool in detail before, especially when comparing old-growth to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mature-forests-play-a-surprising-role-in-climate-mitigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mature forests</a>. 



Dr. Keeton believes that part of the oversight comes from how scientists typically work. “Scientists will often study either the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-is-the-climate-impacting-aquatic-life-in-mountain-streams/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">streams</a> or the forest, but not both, or they won’t look at the relationships between them.”



“The connection between stream and forest is not static but dynamic. One of our major messages is that we must take a long view, and we must think of these as dynamic systems.”



The study points to a quiet but important insight. The story of carbon storage doesn’t stop when trees die - it just flows in a new direction.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10021-025-00965-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosystems</a>.



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Dead trees in forest streams hold more carbon than expected

When we talk about climate solutions, we often look up...

The forest holds many wonders - towering trees, elusive animals and, sometimes, plants that seem plucked from myth. Deep in a hill dipterocarp forest in eastern Peninsular Malaysia, scientists have discovered one such marvel: a new species from the mysterious fairy lantern genus, Thismia.



Hidden beneath <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-fungi-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dense vegetation</a> and largely invisible to the casual hiker, this species represents both a scientific breakthrough and a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a> warning.



The discovery was made in Terengganu’s Chemerong Forest Eco Park, a mountainous region known more for waterfalls and trails than rare plants. On the edge of a mountaineering path, something extraordinary emerged from the soil - a glowing flower with a strange structure and a name now etched into Malaysian botanical history: Thismia aliasii.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unveiling-the-world-of-thismia">Unveiling the world of Thismia</h2>



The genus Thismia is a botanical enigma. These plants are mycoheterotrophic, meaning they cannot perform photosynthesis but depend on fungi for nutrition.



In fact, this is a symbiotic relationship involving plants that parasitize fungi in the soil. This underground network links them to nearby trees, forming a delicate chain of dependency. Without sunlight, leaves, or green stems, these unusual plants remain hidden for most of the year, only revealing themselves when they flower.



These flowers are not ordinary. They often resemble small lanterns or otherworldly structures, and are adapted to attract specific pollinating insects. Small flies, especially fungus gnats, act as pollinators, being lured by the plant’s architecture and scent.



This system is highly specialized, making Thismia species incredibly vulnerable to change. Thismia aliasii joins this unique lineage with features that have astonished researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-moment-of-chance-and-recognition">A moment of chance and recognition</h2>



The journey to identify Thismia aliasii began in 2019. Mohamad Alias Shakri, a researcher from the Terengganu Forestry Department, spotted the strange plant during a field expedition.



"The discovery of Thismia aliasii is very interesting as it was found in a mountainous region known for its natural beauty. The discovery was made on the edge of a popular mountaineering trail but, remarkably, the species was first recognised by Alias," the author noted.



“It was not easy to obtain specimens for further study as its habitat is on the mountain and COVID time delayed search efforts. Fortunately, targeted field work to find this plant was successful with the support of NAGAO."



What began as an accidental sighting turned into a focused mission to locate and study the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-of-the-worlds-heliconia-species-are-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant</a>. The pandemic made fieldwork difficult, but the team persisted. Eventually, enough data was gathered to confirm that the plant represented a species new to science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thismia-aliasii-is-endangered">Thismia aliasii is endangered</h2>



In the study, published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys, Thismia aliasii was provisionally classified as Critically Endangered (CR) under the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN Red List</a>. 



Only five individuals were documented across multiple surveys. Such low numbers raise immediate alarm about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-earths-most-endangered-plants-from-extinction-proving-difficult-botanic-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>’ future.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fairy-lantern-plant_new-species_Thismia-aliasii_credit-Siti-Munirah_1big.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fairy-lantern-plant_new-species_Thismia-aliasii_credit-Siti-Munirah_1s.webp" alt="Newly discovered fairy lantern species, Thismia aliasii can't photosynthesize. Credit: Siti Munirah" class="wp-image-1964533"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Newly discovered fairy lantern species, Thismia aliasii can't photosynthesize. Click to enlarge. Credit: Siti Munirah</figcaption></figure>



The biggest threat to Thismia aliasii is its own location. Chemerong Forest is a popular destination for hikers, and foot traffic disturbs the leaf litter and soil layers on which the plant depends.



Unlike tall trees or shrubs, these small organisms can’t withstand repeated damage or shifting microhabitats. If nothing changes to improve their chances of survival, their extinction could happen unnoticed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-terengganu-is-a-sanctuary-for-rare-flora">Terengganu is a sanctuary for rare flora</h2>



The discovery of Thismia aliasii cements Terengganu’s position as a global hotspot for Thismia diversity. 



To date, 13 species of the genus have been recorded in the state, including six found nowhere else in the world. This concentration of diversity signals a unique evolutionary history that has unfolded beneath the forest canopy.



Such richness also carries <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responsibility</a>. Local conservation policies must now take into account these less-visible species. Their survival depends not only on preserving large tracts of land but also on managing how people move through the area.



Public awareness, trail regulations, and scientific monitoring all become essential parts of the solution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-into-life-hidden-from-sight">Window into life hidden from sight</h2>



Thismia aliasii is more than a new entry in a scientific journal. It is a reminder of the unseen lives that flourish in the shadows of the forest. These plants evolved without light, adapting in ways that few other organisms have. They challenge our understanding of survival and symbiosis.



Yet their fragility is just as instructive. A few careless footsteps could destroy a species that took millions of years to evolve.



Their presence urges us to rethink conservation - not as a matter of grand landscapes alone, but as a responsibility that includes even the smallest flowers that are buried in leaf litter, waiting to be seen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-team-behind-the-discovery">Team behind the discovery</h2>



The study was led by Siti-Munirah Mat Yunoh of the <a href="https://www.frim.gov.my/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Research Institute Malaysia</a> and Mohamad Alias Shakri of the <a href="https://trgforestry.terengganu.gov.my/index.php?lang=my" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Terengganu Forestry Department</a>. 



Their research received funding under the 12th Malaysian Plan from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. Additional support came from the <a href="https://www.nagaofoundation.or.jp/e/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nagao Research Grant</a>, which has backed numerous biodiversity studies in Southeast Asia.



Without this backing, the expedition may not have resumed after initial delays. Financial and institutional support remains key to discovering and documenting species before they disappear.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/136085/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PhytoKeys</a>.



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Newly discovered fairy lantern species can't photosynthesize

The forest holds many wonders - towering trees, elusive animals...

The rise of farming ranks among the most significant shifts in human history. For thousands of years, people lived by hunting, gathering, and moving with the seasons. 



Then, around 12,000 years ago, they began to settle, plant crops, and raise animals. This change transformed how societies lived, organized space, and related to the land.



For decades, scholars pointed to the environment as the prime mover behind this transformation. Climate change, richer soils, and predictable rainfall were seen as the main reasons humans started farming. 



A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences offers a different view. It says human interaction, not the natural world, played the biggest role in the shift from foraging to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-of-farming-insect-waste-reshapes-soil-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farming</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farming-as-a-human-driven-process">Farming as a human-driven process</h2>



The research, led by a team from the&nbsp;University of Bath,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>, introduces a fresh approach. Rather than focusing on rainfall or rivers, the team studied people - looking specifically at how groups interacted during this key moment in human history.



They used a mathematical model originally created to study predator-prey dynamics in ecosystems. In this case, early farmers and hunter-gatherers took the place of wolves and deer. The researchers treated them as two populations sharing space and resources but with competing interests.



The model showed that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/agroforestry-could-transform-farming-in-the-midwest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farming</a> transition was not something that happened to humans. It was something they did to each other. Migration, cultural exchange, and even conflict between groups played a critical role in shaping early agricultural societies.



“Our study provides a new perspective on prehistoric societies,“ noted Dr. Javier Rivas, from the Department of Economics at the <a href="https://www.bath.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bath</a>.



“By statistically fitting our theoretical predator-prey model to observed population dynamics inferred from radiocarbon dates, we explored how population growth shaped history and uncovered interesting patterns - such as how the spread of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-threaten-the-future-of-banana-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farming</a>, whether by land or sea, influenced interactions between different groups."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-population-dynamics-and-interaction">Population dynamics and interaction</h2>



At the heart of the study lies a six-parameter model. These parameters include growth rates for both groups, mortality linked to conflict, migration of farmers, and cultural assimilation - the rate at which foragers adopted farming. The model shows that no single factor explains the shift. Rather, it is the combination of these factors that shaped <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-cover-crops-may-be-the-future-of-sustainable-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outcomes</a>.



The researchers tested their model on three regions: eastern Iberia, Denmark, and Kyushu in Japan. Each region showed a unique pattern of interaction. These case studies helped the team test how robust the model was and how well it could explain real-world archaeological data.



The model revealed that interactions could result in coexistence, rapid replacement, or gradual transitions. The team paid special attention to the point at which farming populations exceeded forager numbers, and when hunter-gatherer populations disappeared entirely. 



These events were influenced by the balance between growth, competition, and assimilation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-driven-farming-replaced-foragers">Human-driven farming replaced foragers</h2>



In eastern Iberia, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-farming-could-save-the-future-of-chocolate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farming</a> took over quickly. Farmers surpassed foragers in about 175 years, and the hunter-gatherer population declined sharply within 340 years. The data suggest that early farmers may have entered largely uninhabited areas or replaced the local population rapidly.



This region supports what's called the "Dual Model." It includes two scenarios: one where farmers mixed with foragers and another where they settled nearly empty land. Evidence points to both processes happening in different locations, but the model shows that full replacement happened fast in most cases.



For Iberia, cultural mixing was modest. The dominant trend was population replacement. Archaeological findings also suggest maritime migrations brought farmers along the coastlines, possibly reducing direct land-based interaction with foragers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-different-pattern-in-denmark">A different pattern in Denmark</h2>



In Denmark, the pattern looked very different. Farmers exceeded foragers in population after about 450 years. But many foragers still remained even 700 years after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-diverse-crops-traps-carbon-and-boosts-soil-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farming</a> began.



This suggests a long period of coexistence. Genetic studies and archaeological records support this. The two groups likely interacted for centuries before farming became the dominant lifestyle. 



The model shows that, in over half the simulated scenarios, foragers still had a visible presence at the end of the time window.



The spread of agriculture in Denmark likely involved a mix of demic diffusion (migration of people) and cultural transmission. Unlike Iberia, where rapid dominance happened, Danish foragers appear to have influenced and slowed the spread of farming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kyushu-a-slower-maritime-transition">Kyushu: A slower maritime transition</h2>



On the island of Kyushu in Japan, the pattern was more complex. Farming spread from the Korean peninsula, and the process spanned 800 years. Farmers often moved by sea, and early contact with foragers was slow and uneven.



Farmers in Kyushu had a lower growth rate compared to the European cases. Still, the forager population declined over time. The model suggests this was due more to the decline of the forager population than the rapid rise of farmers.



Assimilation in Japan was lower, meaning few foragers adopted farming. Despite slower growth, farmers eventually replaced the foragers, though only at the very end of the study window.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-model-matters">Why the model matters</h2>



The research team believes their model can be used well beyond these three regions. It applies to any case where two populations share land and compete. 



Whether it’s early farmers and foragers, or even modern societies in transition, the framework holds.



“We hope the methods we've developed will eventually become a standard tool for understanding how populations interacted in the past, offering fresh insight into other key moments in history, not just the shift to farming,” said Dr. Rivas.



This approach highlights the power of demographic processes. Instead of assuming outside forces drove human history, the model lets researchers test how people shaped their own future. It gives weight to population size, group interaction, and human decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-farming-a-tool-for-human-history">Beyond farming: A tool for human history</h2>



The model’s creators suggest it could be applied to other turning points in human history. 



This includes the spread of Homo sapiens, Neanderthal extinction, and later migrations during the Bronze Age. Anywhere two groups meet and compete, the model has potential.



By focusing on human behavior and interaction, the study reminds us that history often comes down to people - how they live, where they go, and who they meet. 



Farming didn't just happen because the earth got warmer. It happened because people made choices, formed communities, and changed the world around them.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10.1073/pnas.2416221122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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The birth of farming was driven by people, not the planet

The rise of farming ranks among the most significant shifts...

Aloe vera is a familiar name in everyday skincare and therapeutic products. Many people trust its soothing gel to help with various skin concerns or to add a gentle touch to cosmetics. 



While the gel is widely used, the leftover aloe peels become waste that might reach millions of tons each year.



This issue recently caught the attention of <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Debasish-Bandyopadhyay-2">Debasish Bandyopadhyay</a>, an assistant professor in chemistry at The <a href="https://www.utrgv.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas Rio Grande Valley</a>, who explored turning the discarded rinds into a natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insecticides-may-be-helping-weeds-thrive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insecticide</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aloe-waste-peels-found-new-purpose">Aloe waste peels found new purpose</h2>



Aloe vera fields, located in places such as Australia, China, India, South Africa, and the U.S., focus on harvesting gel from the thick leaves. The outer covering is rarely used on a large scale.



Some people blend gel with onions or other ingredients to repel bugs, but that approach often leaves the peels out of the equation. 



Hoping to address that gap, researchers decided to test the peels for possible <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9862941/#:~:text=Phytochemicals%20are%20plant%2Dbased%20bioactive,have%20been%20discovered%20to%20date." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytochemicals</a> that might discourage insects.



They noticed that many bugs refuse to munch on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-plants-can-absorb-and-neutralize-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a>. That observation led them to check whether the same compounds protecting aloe in nature could help farms in regions plagued by pests.



They dried the rinds at room temperature without sunlight. This step preserved valuable properties that might otherwise degrade under harsh conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aloe-waste-extract-kills-bugs">Aloe waste extract kills bugs</h2>



Scientists analyzed peel extracts made with different solvents, including dichloromethane (<a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methylene-Chloride" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DCM</a>). They discovered potent activity against insects that destroy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-affect-bumble-bee-health-in-complex-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crops</a>.



“We identified [certain substances] as potential insecticidal compounds,” said Bandyopadhyay. These molecules appeared safe for people while still packing a punch against pests.



Tests showed the insect-killing capabilities might relate to <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/bioactive-compound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioactive substances</a> that disrupt insects’ feeding behavior. That disruption may eventually cause the insects to die, offering a more natural defense for vulnerable fields.



Early findings suggest the compounds in aloe peels could also have antibacterial or antifungal properties. Researchers continue to catalog more elements hidden in the dried peel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farmers-and-the-environment">Farmers and the environment</h2>



Crop losses to insects can be huge, pushing many farmers toward strong chemical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-pesticide-exposure-impacts-their-behavior-in-both-current-and-future-generations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pesticides</a>. A 2021 review in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/16/4835" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecules</a> revealed that the heavy use of these chemicals harms the environment, creates resistant pests, and endangers people’s health.



Natural alternatives that rely on plant-derived elements often offer a kinder impact on local ecosystems. They break down faster, target pests without lingering in soil or water, and pose fewer risks for farmworkers.



Turning aloe waste into a new defense strategy brings financial and environmental upsides. It transforms what was formerly “trash” into a resource that can help feed populations reliant on staple crops.



A shift to plant-based pest controls may also align with sustainable farming approaches. Researchers see aloe-based insecticide as another tool in this more balanced strategy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-plans-with-aloe-spray">Practical plans with aloe spray</h2>



Real-world testing is the next step to verify how peel extracts perform against pests in places where insects often threaten staple grains and vegetables. 



The researchers want to confirm how strongly the compounds repel or eliminate harmful bugs in open fields.



Studies into any anti-mosquito or anti-tick properties of these extracts are also under way. 



“By creating an insecticide that avoids hazardous and poisonous synthetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticide-exposure-increases-the-risk-of-parkinsons-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemicals</a>, we can help the agricultural field,” said Bandyopadhyay. If the extracts repel disease-carrying pests, there might be a public health benefit too.



This approach could cut back on synthetic pesticides, which often have harsh side effects. Natural methods can still be powerful if used correctly and monitored for consistent quality.



Peel-based formulations could be simpler to handle than certain standard pesticides. This method might bring cost savings for farmers who pay high prices for chemical products.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anti-aging-properties-of-aloe">Anti-aging properties of aloe</h2>



In addition to being a great insecticide, aloe vera packs a surprising punch when it comes to anti-aging. 



It’s loaded with antioxidants like vitamins C and E, which help fight off free radicals - the little troublemakers that speed up wrinkles and skin damage. 



Aloe also encourages <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-protein-that-reverses-cellular-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collagen production</a>, which is a big deal because collagen keeps your skin firm, bouncy, and smooth. 



As we get older, our natural collagen levels dip, so giving it a boost can help reduce fine lines and keep skin looking fresh.



On top of all that, aloe is a hydration hero. It soaks into the skin fast and locks in moisture, which helps plump things up and make your face look more youthful and dewy. 



It also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scratching-that-itch-science-confirms-it-only-makes-rashes-worse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soothes inflammation</a>, evens out skin tone, and can help calm down any irritation or redness that tends to make aging skin look a little tired.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aloe-waste-and-sustainable-farming">Aloe waste and sustainable farming</h2>



Researchers are collaborating with growers and local producers to see if these extracts fit into their routine spraying practices. They want to ensure that the product meets safety guidelines without being burdensome to apply.



Experts continue to measure the shelf life of this plant-based solution. Proper drying and storage can help maintain stability, ensuring that farmers and communities benefit from a reliable product.



Many wonder if large-scale aloe peel recycling can become a fresh revenue stream. If it does, aloe growers will have an added reason to collect the rinds rather than sending them off as compost or letting them rot.



Sustainability is the underlying theme of this new venture. Adding aloe peel extracts to pest management could aid global efforts to grow healthy produce while protecting soil, water, and wildlife.



The press release is published <a href="https://www.acs.org/pressroom/newsreleases/2023/august/discarded-aloe-peels-could-be-sustainable-natural-insecticide-video.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



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Wonder plant: This natural insect repellent also has anti-aging properties

Aloe vera is a familiar name in everyday skincare and...

Most people have heard that cannabis can boost mood, but not everyone realizes that it can also bring on nervous feelings and anxiety in certain situations. 



<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/add.14842" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Interest in balancing</a> these effects is soaring, with many folks wondering if specific parts of the cannabis plant might soften the jangled moods tied to its psychoactive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tapping-into-the-pain-relief-potential-of-cannabis-without-the-high/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">component</a>.



This newly published work comes from <a href="https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/ryan-g-vandrey/2777317" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ryan Vandrey, PhD,</a> professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.



He and his team uncovered fascinating details about an essential oil that appears to dampen the jittery edge often sparked by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/medicinal-cannabis-helped-patients-feel-better-for-a-full-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THC</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thc-can-relax-or-cause-anxiety">THC can relax or cause anxiety</h2>



<a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2020-nsduh-annual-national-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Experts</a> say more people in the United States are giving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-cannabis-users-face-higher-heart-attack-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabis</a> a try these days. Some do it for medical reasons, while others do it for casual relaxation.



<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/psychoactive-substance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychoactive compounds</a> affect mood and perception. THC, the main psychoactive part of cannabis, can prompt both calm and stress. 



Determining how it influences our minds is central to figuring out ways to reduce the negative side of the experience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reduced-cannabis-linked-mood-anxiety">Reduced cannabis-linked mood anxiety</h2>



The research spotlight is on d-limonene, a terpene in citrus fruits. A terpene is a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38932560/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">naturally occurring oil</a> that can influence taste and scent in plants.



Preclinical results have hinted that d-limonene might help with <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9774566/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxious</a> moods. Many have wondered if it could work in combination with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-reduces-the-unwanted-side-effects-of-thc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THC</a> to curb the uncomfortable restlessness some people feel.



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



D-limonene is a natural compound that gives <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/citrus-fruits-where-did-they-come-from-and-how-would-we-live-without-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">citrus fruits</a> their fresh, zesty smell. Basically, it's what makes oranges smell like oranges. 



It’s found in the peels of lemons, limes, oranges, and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruits-and-plants-are-powerful-allies-for-disease-prevention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">citrus fruits</a>, and companies often extract it to use in cleaning products, air fresheners, and even food flavorings. 



It’s oily, smells amazing, and happens to be a pretty effective solvent, which makes it great for cutting through grease and grime.



Some research suggests it might have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and even anti-cancer properties, though scientists are still figuring out the full picture. 



It’s also used in some natural insect repellents and eco-friendly products because it's biodegradable and less harsh than many synthetic chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-blends-vs-anxiety-changes">Cannabis blends vs. anxiety changes</h2>



Twenty healthy adults, averaging 26 years old, took part in as many as 10 test visits. 



Each participant inhaled various mixtures that included <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-impacts-working-memory-and-brain-function/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THC</a> alone, d-limonene alone, a combination of both, or a placebo (4).



Researchers measured mood shifts, vital signs, and cognitive changes. They also examined blood and urine to see how THC and d-limonene moved through the body. 



The goal was to see if adding d-limonene could help people stay more at ease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-d-limonene-eased-cannabis-anxiety">D-limonene eased cannabis anxiety</h2>



The new <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871624001881" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> found that d-limonene lowered reports of anxious or paranoid feelings with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-potency-cannabis-use-linked-to-epigenetic-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THC</a>. That was true when used with higher levels of THC.



Ratings of other THC effects, such as changes in thought patterns and overall relaxation, were not altered when d-limonene was introduced. 



The essential oil by itself produced no changes in mood, heart rate, or mental clarity that stood out from the placebo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-cannabis-anxiety">Managing cannabis anxiety</h2>



“Our study demonstrates that d-limonene can modulate the effects of THC in a meaningful way and make THC more tolerable to people using it for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes,” said Vandrey. 



His team believes adding d-limonene may widen the comfort range for folks who rely on THC, especially if they are prone to anxiety.



“This study is a first step in uncovering how we can mitigate risks of THC when used in medicine, and also is targeted at making cannabis safer for the general, non-therapeutic consumer,” said <a href="https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/tory-r-spindle/2777649" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tory Spindle, PhD</a>, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Medicine</a>.



He hopes to test other terpenes that may work in tandem with THC.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-impact-on-medical-treatments">Potential impact on medical treatments</h2>



THC-containing <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9223837/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medicines</a> already help with certain conditions, such as chronic pain or chemotherapy-induced nausea. 



However, high doses can sometimes be challenging for people who are easily rattled by the psychoactive “high.”



More studies will show if d-limonene can consistently cushion those uneasy feelings. The prospect of an essential oil that smoothly partners with THC could change how some medical users approach dosing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thc-d-limonene-and-future-health">THC, d-limonene, and future health</h2>



Scientists plan to explore ways to administer THC and d-limonene together in oral forms. They are also eyeing different dose ranges that may yield the strongest relief.



They believe these steps will add clarity to how cannabis components mesh under real-world conditions. Larger, more diverse participant groups may reveal whether d-limonene works similarly for everyone.



There is still much to learn about how cannabis chemicals interact, especially in relation to anxiety. Though d-limonene appears promising, experts say these findings need to be replicated more widely.



People interested in experimenting with a d-limonene combination should talk to a healthcare provider. Personal tolerance matters, and controlled dosing is best done under professional guidance.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871624001881?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Drug and Alcohol Dependence</a>.



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Common essential oil proven to reduce cannabis-related anxiety and paranoia

Most people have heard that cannabis can boost mood, but...

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.2426" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1079404" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.ntu.edu.tw/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-spread-of-butterfly-disease-revealed-in-museum-collections/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-make-life-and-death-decisions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-boost-plant-evolution-in-surprising-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>Every spring, gardens and fields fill the air with rich, floral aromas. But it's more than just a pleasant smell; these plant-released scents play a vital role in the lives of butterflies and moths.



A new <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> study reveals how daily changes in plant aromas influence feeding behaviors among winged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-boost-plant-evolution-in-surprising-ways/">insects</a> that belong to the group known as Lepidoptera.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-scent-and-insect-diets">Plant scent and insect diets</h2>



The research, published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.2426" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>, unveils the Salient Aroma Hypothesis.



This new idea proposes that the chemical cues plants release - particularly during the daytime - are instrumental in shaping how specialized, or how flexible, a butterfly or moth becomes in its diet



“This idea provides a new perspective on why some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-spread-of-butterfly-disease-revealed-in-museum-collections/">butterflies</a> and moths are picky eaters while others are not,” said Po-An Lin, an assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.ntu.edu.tw/english/">National Taiwan University</a>. “It also highlights the critical role of plant volatiles, or scents, in shaping insect-plant interactions and evolutionary adaptations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-picky-eaters-and-their-plant-choice">Picky eaters and their plant choice</h2>



Scientists already knew that many Lepidopterans are surprisingly fussy with their dietary choices.



The insects feed only on specific plant groups that cater to the nutritional or chemical needs of their offspring. Others are the polar opposite, feeding on a broad range of vegetation.



The hypothesis explains these extremes by focusing on how butterflies and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-defense-against-the-invasive-spongy-moth-is-fading/">moths</a> use their antennae to detect plant scents. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-scent-and-insect-antennae-size">Plant scent and insect antennae size</h2>



Researchers measured insect antennae on 582 specimens from 94 species and linked size to diet and activity patterns. 



Notably, they found that day-active females in particular had noticeably larger antennae than their nocturnal relatives. This adaptation allows them to detect and process the richer daytime scents in the environment.



“The relationship between antennal size and host plant breadth was very strong,” Felton said. “Larger antennal sizes have been associated with a greater number of sensilla, the sensory structures involved in the sense of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-fruit-flies-smell-well-as-humans-with-much-less-nose-neurons/">smell</a>, thereby increasing the surface area for sensory receptors." 



"The enhanced capacity may be a key adaptation for how certain Lepidoptera have evolved to feed on a limited and specific range of plants."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-cues-and-evolution">Chemical cues and evolution</h2>



The scientists confirmed that most vegetation releases a more varied and abundant blend of volatile compounds during the day, in comparison with the night.



This disparity lines up with the greater complexity observed in the olfactory systems of day-active insects. Daytime feeders use abundant daytime chemical cues to find, identify, and eat the plants that best suit their needs.



“This finding demonstrates how the availability of chemical signals influences the evolution of sensory organs in insects,” Felton said. “It provides a fascinating example of how plants have played a direct role in shaping the evolution of the insects that rely on them.”



The study also traced the evolutionary lineages of butterflies and moths in the Lepidoptera family tree. Researchers mapped species’ daily activity and linked it to host plant preferences to reveal feeding behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scent-specialization-in-the-daylight">Scent specialization in the daylight</h2>



The outcome is a nuanced picture of insect-plant dynamics. Daytime pollinators, like monarch butterflies, use their large antennae to detect specific plant scents, and this guides them toward a narrow range of host plants. 



“Insect herbivores, such as butterflies and moths, must find the right plants to feed on and, in the case of females, to lay their eggs,” said Professor Lin. “This is a crucial decision because caterpillars depend entirely on the selected plant for survival. 



In contrast, unlike humans, who eat a variety of foods to stay healthy, many insect herbivores specialize in just a few plant species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-diets-in-the-nighttime-quiet">Broader diets in the nighttime quiet</h2>



Nocturnal moths like the Polyphemus, encounter fewer distinct plant aromas in the dark. Without rich scent cues to guide them, these insects are less likely to lock in on a single preferred food source. Their evolutionary solution? Broaden their diet to improve their odds of survival.



By revealing how something as subtle as the timing and volume of plant odors can direct dietary choices, this study expands our understanding of ecological networks.



The research highlights the delicate interplay between insect sensory capabilities and plant chemistry, laying the groundwork for future research into how these relationships shape biodiversity across ecosystems.



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Scents of survival: How plant aromas shape insect diets

Every spring, gardens and fields fill the air with rich,...

Modern science has been sounding alarms about the sixth mass extinction, prompted by both climate shifts and human activities. Experts note that over 10% of China’s vascular plant species already face serious threats to their survival.



One research team decided to look deeper into the ancient past for guidance. They wondered if palynology - the study of fossil and modern spores and pollen - might offer essential insights that more traditional fossil records sometimes miss.



Professor Xiaomin Fang from the <a href="http://english.itpcas.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research</a>, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is one of the leading scientists behind this effort.



Professor Fang <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265925000228" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collaborated</a> with several experts to compare ancient pollen patterns with modern biodiversity trends, hoping to understand the best ways to protect plants in a changing climate.



“Plant spores and pollen offer a solution - they are abundant, well-preserved, and can fill gaps left by macrofossils,” explained Professor Fuli Wu, a Cenozoic pollen specialist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-pollen-reveals-plant-history">Why pollen reveals plant history</h2>



Scientists become frustrated when partial fossil finds fail to reveal the bigger picture of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-dont-all-plants-grow-everywhere-across-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant evolution</a>. In contrast, pollen grains tend to remain intact in soil layers.



Pollen grains hold indicators of ancient species distributions that might otherwise vanish without a trace. This broader coverage helps to fill in the puzzle of how plant distributions expanded, shrank, or relocated across different landscapes through time.



Pollen grains also reflect environmental conditions. Their presence highlights specific humidity levels, temperature tolerance, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-plants-cant-outrun-climate-change-on-their-own/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vegetation</a> changes. This offers a peek at the long-term responses of plants, and guides efforts to predict future transformations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-biodiversity-and-winter-temperatures">Plant biodiversity and winter temperatures </h2>



The team tested five metrics designed to capture how many pollen types occur in a given region. They cross-checked these metrics with modern data on angiosperms (flowering plants) to see which values aligned best.



“Our results show that the Shannon-Wiener and the Berger-Parker <a href="https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Gettysburg_College/01%3A_Ecology_for_All/22%3A_Biodiversity/22.02%3A_Diversity_Indices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">indices</a> most closely matched modern diversity patterns, making them optimal tools for reconstructing past biodiversity," explained Dr. Yuxuan Jiang, the study’s lead author.



"Moreover, we found climate strongly influenced diversity, with coldest-month temperatures being the dominant factor, followed by annual precipitation."



The researchers discovered that these indices were more sensitive to changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-may-stop-absorbing-carbon-if-temperatures-continue-to-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant communities</a> than other measures. They compared present-day vegetation maps with pollen data to confirm their findings.



The matches were surprisingly close, hinting that fossil pollen could do more than fill historical gaps - it could predict what might occur when winters become harsher or rain patterns shift.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cold-winters-shape-plant-biodiversity">Cold winters shape plant biodiversity </h2>



“Our work highlights the importance of winter temperatures in shaping plant biodiversity. This insight should guide conservation strategies, particularly under climate change,” noted Dr. Wu.



Freezing conditions appear to limit which plants can thrive, especially in places without reliable precipitation and heat. If winter extremes worsen, more plant groups may struggle to survive. 



That possibility has practical meaning for farmers, conservationists, and policy teams who must decide how to guard against escalating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-understanding-of-light-detection-in-plants-may-revolutionize-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threats</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainfall-affects-community-strength">Rainfall affects community strength</h2>



Annual rainfall is another major force. Drier regions tend to support fewer plant varieties, and subtle shifts can tip ecosystems from forest to grassland or even desert. Some parts of China already wrestle with intense dryness, and any dip in seasonal rains could speed up <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predicting-how-climate-change-will-alter-plant-growth-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> loss.



Heavier rainfall, on the other hand, often encourages plant growth and pollinators. That boost can ripple through entire ecosystems, helping soils stay healthy and forests stay lush.



Based on the pollen data, the threshold of 400 mm (16 inches) annual precipitation is a strong line separating more vibrant plant communities from less diverse ones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollen-predicts-future-changes">Pollen predicts future changes</h2>



Pollen grains in sediment layers capture changes over thousands or even millions of years. By analyzing pollens from these layers, researchers can draw parallels between past global warming phases and what may soon unfold here on Earth.



This allows them to test theories about how quickly plants adapt or migrate when temperatures and rainfall patterns become unfavorable.



Many earlier studies relied on scattered leaf or stem fossils, but those did not always cover broad timeframes or extensive geographic zones. Pollen opens a window into overlooked periods and places, revealing critical turning points in the march of plant evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-survival-in-a-changing-climate">Plant survival in a changing climate</h2>



Using the <a href="https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Gettysburg_College/01%3A_Ecology_for_All/22%3A_Biodiversity/22.02%3A_Diversity_Indices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shannon-Wiener and Berger-Parker indices</a>, researchers can sift through ancient samples with more confidence. 



Preservation efforts could then target hotspots where unique plant species once flourished but are now at risk. By mapping pollen patterns and comparing them to precipitation and cold snaps, decisions can be grounded in data that reflect real, long-term trends.



Such insight may also inform future reforestation or seed-bank programs. Officials could select species that handle temperature drops and uncertain rainfall in ways proven effective in similar ancient climates. This method, blending past patterns with modern conditions, may offer a survival roadmap.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265925000228?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plant Diversity</a>.



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Pollen records reveal winter’s role in plant biodiversity

Modern science has been sounding alarms about the sixth mass...

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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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[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;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[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



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[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

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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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