Most people worry about the gradual loss of stamina, strength, and mental sharpness that comes with aging. Scientists have been exploring new ideas to tackle these concerns and increase not just our years but also our quality of life. 



An international team has been testing a special approach that raises levels of a natural protein in the body.



Their research was led by Professor Miguel Chillón at the Institute of Neurosciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (<a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UB</a>), and it shines a light on what might someday help people stay healthier for a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">longer period</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protein-s-kl-and-its-role-in-aging">Protein s-KL and its role in aging</h2>



The protein at the center of this work is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41581-018-0078-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Klotho</a>, and the form used in the experiments is the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26599613/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">secreted version</a> known as s-KL. 



Some studies suggest that Klotho may influence a wide range of biological processes by managing signals that affect inflammation and cell aging.



The name Klotho first appeared in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/36285" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scientific journals</a> in the late 1990s, when experiments showed that a deficiency of this protein made mice look older and more frail at younger ages.



"We have been working with the Klotho protein for some time, due to its therapeutic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-old-are-you-really-new-tool-measures-aging-from-the-inside-out/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential</a> for treating neurodegenerative diseases. 



In this study, we wanted to see whether s-KL could also be beneficial for healthy aging by examining a broad range of factors," explained Professor Chillón.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-differences-between-males-and-females">Differences between males and females</h2>



The effects of s-KL weren’t the same for male and female mice. Males showed clearer gains in lifespan and muscle strength, while females responded more strongly in measures of bone structure, especially when treated earlier in life.



These sex-based differences might be tied to how male and female bodies process viral vectors or express the s-KL protein. 



Hormonal factors could also play a role, suggesting future human trials may need sex-specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/curiosity-might-help-you-stay-sharp-as-you-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strategies</a> to get the best results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-improvements-with-s-kl-protein">Aging improvements with s-KL protein</h2>



Researchers noticed that mice given s-KL retained better muscle tissue composition, with less of the scarring often linked to older age. They also had stronger performance in tasks that tested endurance and coordination.



Weakened bones can be a big danger in older adults, so it was intriguing that s-KL seemed to keep the inner bone structure more intact. 



This finding aligns with earlier <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16436465/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">observations</a> that Klotho influences mineral balance in bone and may reduce the chances of fractures.



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



Mice treated at 12 months old showed more pronounced improvements in longevity and physical health than those treated at 6 months. One reason could be that the aging mice produced higher levels of the s-KL protein after treatment, which may have amplified its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-two-very-precise-ages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a>.



This finding raises an important question: Could middle age be a better window for intervention than early adulthood? If so, the timing of s-KL therapy in humans could be just as critical as the treatment itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-brain-support">Signs of brain support</h2>



Aside from the physical improvements, the investigators measured changes in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory and cognitive ability. 



They detected heightened markers of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4563705/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adult neurogenesis</a>, which is the process by which new neurons form in mature brains.



There was also evidence that key immune cells in the brain might be working in a more balanced way. This could help remove cellular waste and reduce the chronic inflammation tied to age-related brain diseases.



The researchers used gene therapy vectors that prompted cells to produce s-KL over an extended period. These vectors included genetic instructions, and once inside the mice, the cells took over production of the protein.



The approach was designed to boost s-KL levels in both the brain and other areas of the body. This helped ensure that many of the organs linked to muscle, bone, and memory got the extra support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-s-kl-protein-and-human-aging">s-KL protein and human aging?</h2>



Although this study was done in mice, the results open the door to potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/defying-time-three-ways-to-slow-biological-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">therapies</a> for humans. 



Age-related decline in mobility, memory, and bone strength all contribute to lower independence and quality of life in older adults. A treatment that addresses these together could shift how we think about aging.



Many current drugs only target one issue at a time, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-exercise-amplifies-physical-and-mental-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">osteoporosis</a> or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-sleep-may-predict-memory-loss-years-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory loss</a>. But the effects of s-KL span across systems. 



This points toward the possibility of a more unified strategy to aging - one that works with the body’s existing repair mechanisms rather than replacing them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-s-kl-protein-research">What’s next for s-KL protein research?</h2>



If we can find a viable delivery method, s-KL could make a significant contribution to improving people’s quality of life and helping to build the healthiest society possible.



Scientists continue to explore whether direct protein administration or refined gene-based aging options might work best for humans. They plan to keep studying how s-KL weaves into different biological pathways.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(25)00120-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Therapy</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Protein discovered that boosts lifespan, muscle, and brain power with just one dose

Most people worry about the gradual loss of stamina, strength, and mental sharpness that comes with aging. Scientists have been exploring new ideas to tackle these concerns and increase not just our years but also our quality of life. An international team has been testing a special approach that raises levels of a natural protein in the body. Their research was led by Professor Miguel Chillón at the Institute of Neurosciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UB), and it shines a light on what might someday...

For the first time, scientists have discovered the remains of a dinosaur sitting on a nest of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drosophila-flies-prefer-to-lay-their-eggs-in-untouched-fruit/">eggs</a> with fossilized babies, according to a new study published by <a href="https://engine.scichina.com/publisher/scp">Science China Press</a>.

The specimen is an oviraptorosaur, a bird-like theropod dinosaur that thrived during the Cretaceous Period, commonly known as the "Age of Dinosaurs."

The dinosaur was recovered in Ganzhou City in southern China's Jiangxi Province, preserved in Cretaceous-aged rocks that date back as far as 70 million years. 

"Dinosaurs preserved on their nests are rare, and so are fossil embryos," said study co-author Dr. Shundong Bi. "This is the first time a non-avian dinosaur has been found, sitting on a nest of eggs that preserve embryos, in a single spectacular specimen."

The fossil contains the incomplete skeleton of a large oviraptorid crouched in a bird-like brooding posture over a clutch of two dozen eggs. At least seven of these eggs preserve bones or partial skeletons of unhatched embryos inside. 

The close proximity of the adult to the eggs, as well as the late stage of development of the embryos, indicates that the dinosaur died in the act of incubating its nest.

Prior to this study, a few other oviraptorid skeletons have been found sitting on nests. The analyses of those fossils concluded that the animals were simply laying eggs or guarding the nests. 

However, the new study suggests that oviraptorosaurs incubated their eggs to keep them at the proper temperature like modern birds. 

"This kind of discovery, in essence fossilized behavior, is the rarest of the rare in dinosaurs," explained Dr. Matthew C. Lamanna. "Though a few adult oviraptorids have been found on nests of their eggs before, no embryos have ever been found inside those eggs." 

"In the new specimen, the babies were almost ready to hatch, which tells us beyond a doubt that this oviraptorid had tended its nest for quite a long time. This dinosaur was a caring parent that ultimately gave its life while nurturing its young."

The researchers conducted oxygen isotope analyses on the eggs, which revealed that they had been incubated at high temperatures. This supports the theory that the adult dinosaur died in the act of brooding its nest. 

While all of the embryos were well-developed, some were more mature than others, suggesting that oviraptorid eggs of the same clutch may have hatched at slightly different times. Asynchronous hatching appears to have evolved independently in oviraptorosaurs and some modern birds.

"It's extraordinary to think how much biological information is captured in just this single fossil," said Dr. Xing Xu. "We're going to be learning from this specimen for many years to come."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/science-bulletin">Science Bulletin</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

First-ever dinosaur found incubating eggs with embryos

For the first time, scientists have discovered the remains of...

An alarming number of Asian bamboo longhorn beetles have been emerging across Europe over the last century, according to new research from <a href="https://pensoft.net/">Pensoft Publishers</a>. The study, which was based on documentation by citizen scientists, demonstrates the importance of involving the public in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recent-genetic-connectivity-found-among-chimpanzee-subspecies/">species</a> monitoring.

The experts noted that invasive species represent one of the major challenges of a globalized world. 

"These species, while often barely recognized, may represent severe economic and ecological threats (e.g. as agricultural pests, ecological competitors or predators of native species)," wrote the researchers. 

"However, despite their potentially high importance, surveying non-native species is still only performed for a limited number of highly invasive species, as it is time consuming and expensive."

As an alternative to costly research projects, the general public can be included in surveying activities through citizen science initiatives and online platforms.

"While large invasive species, such as mammals, birds and fish, are detected more easily, smaller arthropod species often remain unspotted for some time after their introduction. Nevertheless, arthropods, and especially insects have high invasion potential and can often be detrimental pests," wrote the study authors.

"Insects are frequently transported with raw materials, and agricultural products, or living plants and plant material. One of the groups specifically commonly introduced with plants and wood are the longhorn wood boring beetles of the family Cerambycidae."

The Asian bamboo longhorn beetle feeds on a variety of plants, but prefers bamboo. The species has been continuously expanding its distribution through the international trade of bamboo, as the insects "travel" along with the wood. The beetle's first appearance in England was documented in 1924.

More recently, students at the University of Hamburg were conducting a fieldwork study - held within the city due to COVID-19 restrictions - when they stumbled upon an Asian bamboo longhorn beetle.

Further investigation revealed that there were even more recent sightings of the beetles that had been recorded across different citizen science platforms, such as iNaturalist and iRecord.

The researchers contacted the citizen scientists, who provided additional collection details and images. Based on this information, the researchers formally confirmed the presence of the Asian bamboo longhorn beetle in Belgium and the Netherlands. 

Overall, the experts identified thirteen new introductions of the species in Europe. This translates to a 42 percent increase of Asian bamboo longhorn beetle records in Europe.

"In light of the warming climate and a growing abundance of ornamental bamboo plants in Europe, the beetle might get permanently established. Not only could it become a garden pest, but it could also incur significant costs to the bamboo-processing industry," said study lead author Dr. Matthias Seidel.

Now that the researchers have witnessed the potential of citizen science for bridging the gaps in invasive species monitoring, they propose that specialized platforms could be established to speed up the surveying process. The platforms would be designed to familiarize citizen scientists with non-native species of interest, while providing them with more sophisticated reporting tools. 

"In order to use the power of citizen science for the monitoring of non-native species more effectively, two approaches may be specifically promising," explained the study authors.

"On the one hand, specialized platforms introducing non-native species of interest to the general public and providing reporting tools may increase public awareness and also recording activities for these taxa." 

"On the other hand, drawing records of specific non-native species of interest, which are flagged and regularly exported from other citizen science databases and platforms may help to provide a better overview of distributions of these taxa."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://biorisk.pensoft.net/">BioRisk</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Citizen scientists monitor invasive Asian bamboo longhorn beetles

An alarming number of Asian bamboo longhorn beetles have been...

Just two servings of fish per week can help prevent recurrent cardiovascular events, according to new research from <a href="https://www.mcmaster.ca/">McMaster University</a>. The experts analyzed multiple large studies involving participants from more than 60 countries. 

The study revealed that eating oily fish on a regular basis substantially lowers the likelihood of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-young-adults-do-not-know-common-stroke-symptoms/">stroke</a> among high-risk individuals.

The critical compound found in fish is omega-3 fatty acid, which is a type of essential fat that the body cannot make on its own. Omega-3 fatty acids are strongly associated with improved heart health. 

The researchers found that, among high-risk individuals, two servings of omega-3-rich fish each week lowered the threat of major cardiovascular events by one-sixth.

"There is a significant protective benefit of fish consumption in people with cardiovascular disease," said study co-lead author Professor Andrew Mente.

"This study has important implications for guidelines on fish intake globally. It indicates that increasing fish consumption and particularly oily fish in vascular patients may produce a modest cardiovascular benefit."

According to Mente, people at low risk for cardiovascular disease can still enjoy modest protection from CVD by eating fish rich in omega-3, but the health benefits were less pronounced than those high-risk individuals.

The investigation was based on data from nearly 192,000 people in four studies, including about 52,000 with cardiovascular disease. It is the first study of its kind to be conducted on all five continents. 

"This is by far the most diverse study of fish intake and health outcomes in the world and the only one with sufficient numbers with representation from high, middle and low income countries from all inhabited continents of the world," said study co-lead author Dr. Salim Yusuf.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine">JAMA Internal Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Eating fish lowers risk of recurrent cardiovascular events

Just two servings of fish per week can help prevent...

Summer could drag out for nearly six months in the Northern Hemisphere by the end of this century, according to a new study published by the <a href="https://www.agu.org/">American Geophysical Union</a>. The experts report that without efforts to mitigate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-can-overcome-climate-change-by-being-flexible/">climate</a> change, a persistent summer season could have far-reaching impacts on agriculture, human health, and the environment.

Beginning in the 1950s, the four seasons arrived in a predictable and fairly even pattern across the Northern Hemisphere. But now, climate change is causing the seasons to become more irregular. 

The research shows that the unpredictable lengths and start dates of the seasons will become even more extreme in the coming decades under a business-as-usual emissions scenario.

Study lead author Yuping Guan is a physical oceanographer at the State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"Summers are getting longer and hotter while winters shorter and warmer due to global warming," said Guan. He was inspired to investigate changes to the seasonal cycle while working with undergraduate student and study co-author Jiamin Wang. 

To measure changes in the length and onset of four seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, the researchers analyzed historical daily climate data from 1952 to 2011.

The team defined the start of summer as the onset of temperatures in the hottest 25 percent during that time period, while winter began with temperatures in the coldest 25 percent. Next, the experts used climate change models to predict how seasons will shift in the future.

The analysis revealed that during the study period, summer grew from 78 to 95 days, while winter shrank from 76 to 73 days. Spring decreased from 124 to 115 days, and autumn dropped from 87 to 82 days. Overall, spring and summer arrived earlier, while autumn and winter started later. 

The greatest changes in seasonal changes took place in the Mediterranean region and across the Tibetan Plateau. The researchers predict that without climate change mitigation efforts, winter will last less than two months, and the transitional spring and autumn seasons will continue to shrink throughout the remainder of this century.  

"Numerous studies have already shown that the changing seasons cause significant environmental and health risks," said Guan. For example, birds are shifting their migration patterns and plants are flowering at different times, creating potential mismatches between animals and their food sources. Seasonal changes can also be very damaging to crops and budding plants when false springs or late snowstorms occur. 

Furthermore, prolonged warm weather extends pollen and allergy season, as well as the length of time that disease-carrying mosquitoes persist and move northward.

Congwen Zhu is a monsoon researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather and Institute of Climate System, who was not involved in the study. He noted that a shift in the seasons could result in more severe weather events

"A hotter and longer summer will suffer more frequent and intensified high-temperature events - heatwaves and wildfires," said Zhu. Additionally, he explained, warmer and shorter winters may cause instability that leads to cold surges and winter storms, much like the recent snowstorms in Texas and Israel.

"This is a good overarching starting point for understanding the implications of seasonal change," said Scott Sheridan, a climate scientist at Kent State University. "I think realizing that these changes will force potentially dramatic shifts in seasons probably has a much greater impact on how you perceive what climate change is doing."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19448007">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Summers may last for nearly six months by the end of this century

Summer could drag out for nearly six months in the...

Black,Tea,,Herbal,Tea

In a breakthrough study from <a href="https://uci.edu/">UC Irvine</a>, researchers have uncovered an explanation for the antihypertensive effects of tea. The experts report that both green and black tea contain compounds that relax the blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the blood vessel wall. 

The discovery was made in the lab of Dr. Geoffrey Abbott, a professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the UCI School of Medicine. The findings may ultimately lead to the development of new medications for lowering blood pressure.

The researchers identified two flavonoid compounds that each activate a specific type of ion channel protein named KCNQ5. This protein allows potassium ions to diffuse out of cells to reduce cellular excitability. 

The team predicted that since KCNQ5 is found in the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels, its activation by tea catechins would also relax blood vessels.

"We found by using computer modeling and mutagenesis studies that specific catechins bind to the foot of the voltage sensor, which is the part of KCNQ5 that allows the channel to open in response to cellular excitation. This binding allows the channel to open much more easily and earlier in the cellular excitation process," explained Dr. Abbott.

Previous studies have demonstrated that consumption of green or black tea can reduce blood pressure by a small but consistent amount, and catechins were found to contribute to this effect. 

The research has major implications for improving human health. Hypertension is a very common condition that is considered to be the number one modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature mortality, 

Each day worldwide, more than two billion cups of tea are consumed, which is second only to water. The three most popular caffeinated teas - green, oolong, and black - are all produced from the leaves of the evergreen species Camellia sinensis.

In the UK and the United States, black tea is commonly mixed with milk. The researchers found that when black tea was directly applied to cells containing the KCNQ5 channel, the addition of milk prevented its activation. However, Dr. Abbott explained that milk is not likely to interfere with the antihypertensive effects of black tea.

"We don't believe this means one needs to avoid milk when drinking tea to take advantage of the beneficial properties of tea. We are confident that the environment in the human stomach will separate the catechins from the proteins and other molecules in milk that would otherwise block catechins' beneficial effects."

"Regardless of whether tea is consumed iced or hot, this temperature is achieved after tea is drunk, as human body temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius," explained Dr. Abbott. "Thus, simply by drinking tea we activate its beneficial, antihypertensive properties."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.karger.com/CPB">Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Breakthrough study explains why tea reduces hypertension

In a breakthrough study from UC Irvine, researchers have uncovered...

Sea level rise will impact populated areas along the coast up to four times faster as a result of land subsidence, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a>. The investigation is the first of of its kind to analyze global sea-level rise while accounting for measurements of sinking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-one-third-of-the-corn-belt-impacted-by-farmland-erosion/">land</a>.

Prior to this study, the impact of subsidence combined with sea-level rise was thought of as a local issue. But the researchers have found the problem worldwide. 

The experts report that over the past two decades, coastal communities have experienced average sea level rise at a rate of 7.8 - 9.9 millimeters per year. Meanwhile, the global average rise was 2.6 millimeters per year.

The researchers said that the impacts for coastal communities are far larger than what has been estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Study lead author Professor Robert Nicholls is the director of the UK's Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Chair of Climate Adaptation at the University of East Anglia.

"Climate induced sea-level rise is caused by melting glaciers and thermal expansion of water due to rising global temperatures," said Professor Nicholls.

"Rapid rates of subsidence in deltas and especially cities on deltas are also human-caused, mostly due to groundwater pumping, also oil and gas extraction, and sediment resupply prevented by upstream dams, flood defences, sand extraction or mining."

"About 58 percent of the world's coastal population lives on deltas where land is subsiding. Less than 1 per cent of global coastal population lives where land is uplifting.

"We wanted to look at the big picture globally, to better understand the impact of global sea-level rise combined with measurements of sinking land."

"We found that coastal populations live with sea-level rise at three and four times the global average and that the impacts of sea-level rise being experienced today are much larger than the global numbers being reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)."

According to Professor Nicholls, addressing human-induced subsidence is important in the short term, as it is an essential coastal adaptation to protect people and economies.

The researchers found that the issue is most urgent in coastal communities located in southeastern Asia. This region has many subsiding deltas and coastal flood plains, growing coastal megacities, and more than 70 percent of the world's coastal population.

The team also determined that land subsidence has been stopped or greatly reduced in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Bangkok as a result of reduced groundwater extraction.

"One of the main reasons that Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, is being moved to Borneo is because the city is sinking due to groundwater extraction from shallow wells," said Professor Robert Nicholls.

"We hope that our analysis improves the understanding of how sea-level rise and subsidence are hand-in hand for science and coastal management policy worldwide. Jakarta might be just the beginning."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The sea is rising up to four times faster in coastal communities

Sea level rise will impact populated areas along the coast...

Scientists have discovered that some sea slugs can sever their own heads and regenerate an entirely new body that is complete with a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/low-levels-of-air-pollution-increase-the-risk-of-heart-and-lung-disease/">heart</a> and other organs. In a new study published by <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell Press</a>, scientists could hardly believe what they were witnessing among two types of sacoglossan sea slugs.

To survive long enough for regeneration, the researchers propose that the sea slugs may capitalize on the photosynthetic ability of chloroplasts they incorporate in their diet.

"We were surprised to see the head moving just after autotomy," said study lead author Sayaka Mitoh of Nara Women's University. "We thought that it would die soon without a heart and other important organs, but we were surprised again to find that it regenerated the whole body."

Mitoh is a PhD candidate in the lab of Yoichi Yusa, where experts are raising sea slugs from eggs to study their life history traits. Just by coincidence, Mitoh saw something unexpected in the lab one day - the head of a sacoglossan was moving around without its body. 

The experts report that the head of the sea slug, completely separated from its heart and body, moved on its own immediately after the separation. Within a few days, the wound at the back of the head closed. 

The scientists found that the severed heads of young sea slugs started to feed on algae within hours, regenerated their hearts within a week, and completely regenerated their bodies in about three weeks. On the other hand, the heads of older sea slugs did not feed on algae and died in about ten days.

While the bodies did not regenerate a new head, they moved and reacted to being touched for several days or even months.

It is not yet clear how the sea slugs manage to pull off such an unexpected technique. According to Mitoh, the team suspects there must be stem-like cells at the cut end of the neck that are capable of regenerating the body. 

One possibility for why the sea slugs use this unusual strategy could be that it helps to remove internal parasites that inhibit their reproduction. Going forward, further investigation is needed to determine what cue may prompt the sea slugs to cast off their body.

One thing that makes sacoglossan sea slugs unique is that they incorporate chloroplasts from the algae they eat into their own bodies, a strategy which is known as kleptoplasty. As a result, the animals can fuel their bodies through photosynthesis. 

According to the study authors, this photosynthetic ability may help the sea slugs survive long enough to regenerate a body.

"As the shed body is often active for months, we may be able to study the mechanism and functions of kleptoplasty using living organs, tissues, or even cells," said Mitoh. "Such studies are almost completely lacking, as most studies on kleptoplasty in sacoglossans are done either at the genetic or individual levels."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Some sea slugs sever their own heads and grow new bodies

Scientists have discovered that some sea slugs can sever their...

Antibiotic-resistant strains of staph <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-in-meltwater-sediments-speed-up-ice-loss-in-greenland/">bacteria</a> are spreading between pigs, farmworkers, their families, and communities, according to researchers at the <a href="https://www.jhsph.edu/">Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health</a>. The study, which was focused on pig farms in rural eastern North Carolina, raises new concerns about an emerging public health threat.

Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found in soil and water. It lives on the skin and in the upper respiratory tract of animals like pigs, and also humans. Staph can cause problems ranging from minor skin infections to life-threatening issues like sepsis.

The findings provide evidence that multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains are capable of spreading in and around factory farm communities. 

The study was focused on bacteria samples collected from pigs and humans in the top pig-producing counties of North Carolina. The team used DNA sequencing to analyze relationships among these bacterial strains.

The analysis revealed that the strains were very closely related, which provides evidence for transmission between pigs and people. According to the researchers, most of the strains carried genes that provide resistance to multiple antibiotics.

"We found that these livestock-associated S. aureus strains had many genes that confer resistance to antimicrobial drugs commonly used in the U.S. industrialized pig production system," said study first author Dr. Pranay Randad.

"These findings warrant future investigations into the transmission dynamics in nearby communities and disease burden associated with these strains in the United States," said  study senior author Dr. Christopher Heaney.

Experts have speculated that S. aureus and other bacteria are transmitted from humans to pigs on factory farms. Once they are contained within the pigs, the bacteria have an opportunity to evolve antibiotic resistance. 

Pigs raised on factory farms are routinely given antibiotics to prevent outbreaks in their dense concentrations. The drug-resistant bacterial strains may then be transmitted back to humans, becoming a potentially serious source of disease.

Dr. Heaney and colleagues have been collecting S. aureus isolates from pigs and farmworkers at factory-scale pig farms in North Carolina. In recent years, their research confirmed that livestock-associated strains of S. aureus, many of which are antibiotic-resistant, can be found in the pigs, farmworkers, their family members, and residents living nearby.

For the current study, the team sequenced the entire genomes of 49 of the S. aureus isolates. The DNA analysis showed that all of the isolates, whether from humans or pigs, belonged to a group of S. aureus strains known as clonal complex 9 (CC9).

"This CC9 is a novel and emerging subpopulation of S. aureus that not many people have been studying, apart from a few reports in Asia," said Dr. Randad.

The researchers discovered that the CC9 isolates from North Carolina were closely related, which implies that there has been recent transmission between pigs and people. Furthermore, nearly all of the isolates that were involved in transmission between pigs and humans were multidrug resistant. This suggests that diseases caused by these isolates would be hard to treat.

"In other countries, such as in Europe, we see a high level of coordinated research on this topic from a public health perspective, with open access to collect bacterial isolates from pigs raised on factory farms, but so far in the U.S. not as much is being done," said Dr. Randad.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/">Emerging Infectious Diseases</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pigs are spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans

Antibiotic-resistant strains of staph bacteria are spreading between pigs, farmworkers,...

In North America alone, invasive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recent-genetic-connectivity-found-among-chimpanzee-subspecies/">species</a> cause billions of dollars in annual damages. A new study from the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/index.html">University of Alberta</a> suggests that limiting the presence of non-native wildlife through functional eradication may be a more effective strategy than total annihilation.

"Rather than trying to completely eliminate invasive species that have spread over large areas, which is very challenging, functional eradication aims to limit their abundances below levels that damage the ecosystem in priority locations," said study lead author Professor Stephanie Green.

"Resources that might otherwise be wasted on attempting complete eradication can be spread to other areas, protecting more places from impacts."

The experts propose using a strategy called functional eradication to limit the impact of destructive and widespread invasive species. For their investigation, the researchers surveyed 232 natural resource managers and invasive species specialists in Canada and the United States.

"More than 90 percent of these folks said the most destructive invaders in their regions were spread beyond a scale at which they could eradicate them, and instead local teams were engaged in a long-term battle to suppress or contain the species," explained Green.

At the same time, only two percent of the study participants said they had identified targets that signified when they had done enough to manage a species.

"This points to a major gap between the needs of the people who must make decisions about invasive species, and the information scientists and monitoring programs are collecting," said study co-author Edwin Grosholz.

According to Green, managing widespread invasive species is a long-term endeavour, but not one without hope. "Involving local communities in the functional eradication process is essential for maintaining the capacity needed to continually suppress these invaders."

The researchers pointed to an example of functional eradication among invasive lionfish. These beautiful Indo-Pacific fish, which are popular in aquariums, have spread throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, where they prey on many native species. 

Financial incentives for catching lionfish are now helping to reduce their population below levels that affect native species in the area. The fish are being caught for food and for use in local art. 

The experts report that similar strategies can be applied to the European green crab, an invasive species found along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts in Canada and the United States, as well as Prussian carp.

"Our study shows that ecologically damaging and widespread invasive species are prime candidates for functional eradication," said Green. "To effectively keep populations down in priority areas, targets need to be based on how many of the invasive species it takes to cause major changes in the ecosystem."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.esa.org/frontiers-in-ecology-and-the-environment/">Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment</a>. 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Functional eradication may be the best approach to invasive species

In North America alone, invasive species cause billions of dollars...

Even though chimpanzees are typically divided into four geographical subspecies, some studies have found evidence of genetic connectivity among all populations. 

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a>, experts have discovered recent genetic connectivity between chimpanzee subspecies, despite periods of isolation.

"Given the high degree of behavioral variability and flexibility across chimpanzee populations, characterizing range-wide patterns of genetic diversity in chimpanzees is important for understanding how they adapt to changing environmental conditions," explained the researchers.

In collaboration with the Pan African Programme: The Cultured Chimpanzee (PanAf), an international team of experts collected over 5,000 fecal samples from 55 sites across the chimpanzee range in 18 countries. This is by far the most complete sampling of chimpanzees to date.

"Collecting these samples was often a daunting task for our amazing field teams. The chimpanzees were almost all unhabituated to human presence, so it took a lot of patience, skill and luck to find chimpanzee dung at each of the sites," said study senior author Mimi Arandjelovic.

"We used rapidly-evolving genetic markers that reflect the recent population history of species and, in combination with the dense sampling from across their range, we show that chimpanzee subspecies have been connected, or, more likely, reconnected, for extended periods during the most recent maximal expansion of African forests," said study first author Jack Lester.

This means that although chimpanzees were separated into different subspecies in their distant past - prior to human disturbances - the geographic barriers were permeable to chimpanzee dispersal. 

"It is widely thought that chimpanzees persisted in forest refugia during glacial periods, which has likely been responsible for isolating groups of populations which we now recognize as subspecies," explained study co-author Paolo Gratton. 

"Our results from fast-evolving microsatellite DNA markers however indicate that genetic connectivity in the most recent millennia mainly mirrors geographic distance and local factors, masking the older subspecies subdivisions."

According to PanAf co-director Hjalmar Kuehl, the results suggest that the great behavioral diversity observed in chimpanzees is not due to local genetic adaptation but to their reliance on behavioral flexibility to respond to changes in their environment.

At sites that were associated with human disturbances and pressures, the researchers noted signals of reductions in diversity. There were even some locations where no chimpanzees were detected, even though they had been present in recent decades. 

"Although not unforeseen, we were disheartened to already find the influence of human impacts at some field sites where genetic diversity was markedly lower than what we expected," said Lester.

The findings highlight the importance of genetic connectivity for chimpanzees in their recent history. While chimpanzees are adaptable and can survive in human-modified landscapes, they are currently facing multiple threats including habitat loss and diseases. The results of this study indicate that if habitat fragmentation and isolation continue, there will be serious consequences for the genetic health and viability of chimpanzees.

Christophe Boesch, co-director of the PanAf and director of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, concluded that every effort should be made to re-establish and maintain dispersal corridors across their range, with perhaps special attention to trans-national protected areas.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/commsbio/">Communications Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Recent genetic connectivity found among chimpanzee subspecies

Even though chimpanzees are typically divided into four geographical subspecies,...

In a new study from <a href="https://vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a>, experts have identified a clear connection between stream quality and human health. Streams represent a critical interface between human beings and the environment. They serve as a major source of drinking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-have-a-major-influence-on-the-global-water-cycle/">water</a>, as well as a place where we often go to enjoy nature.

To explore the relationship between the quality of streams and human well-being, experts in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Biological Systems Engineering analyzed data on local demographics, indicators of human well-being, and indicators of stream health.

The study revealed that health statistics such as cancer rates and food insecurity are strongly correlated with water quality across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The team also identified a link between stream quality and demographics such as race and population density.

Paul Angermeier is a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and assistant unit leader of the Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit for the U.S. Geological Survey.

"We started off wanting to explore the general, intuitive relationship between human well-being and ecosystem health," explained Angermeier. "Many of us intuit that healthy ecosystems produce benefits that accrue to people, but that outcome isn't well documented in a quantitative way."

Environmental quality management processes often separate the natural world from human experiences, and the researchers needed a new approach.

"When we consider natural resources, we tend to think about whether we're managing an environment for nonhuman considerations or human ones," said Professor Leigh-Anne Krometis. "For instance, at the state level we have a department of environmental quality and a department of health, which both deal with the subject of water quality, but in different ways. What we wanted to see was how those two perspectives converge."

The study authors used water quality measurements provided by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and county-level demographics data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

"We had large data sets that we had to organize and process," explained Professor Marc Stern. "Our expectations on finding meaningful relationships between stream health and human factors weren't that high. The fact that they showed up so distinctly was a surprise."

The researchers discovered that there is a strong correlation between ecosystem health and human demographics. For example, more polluted streams were associated with higher degrees of overall mortality.

"We still don't have hard data on how people are interacting with nature," said Angermeier. "For instance, we found that mortality rates for people are correlated with contamination levels in fish. What does that mean? Are people eating contaminated fish, are they merely sharing a polluted water source, or is it something else?" 

"A better understanding of the mechanisms by which people are interacting with water will help us draw clearer conclusions about health outcomes."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/ecological-indicators">Ecological Indicators</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Stream quality is strongly correlated with human health

In a new study from Virginia Tech, experts have identified...

In recent decades, nuisance flooding has increased across the U.S. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-coastal-airports-are-threatened-by-sea-level-rise/">coastline</a> as a result of sea level rise. A new study from the <a href="https://www.ucf.edu/">University of Central Florida</a> reveals that coastal development is also promoting more frequent nuisance flooding events.

The researchers found a link between a greater number of nuisance flooding days and higher local tide ranges that are most likely tied to human development.

Nuisance flooding is considered to be minor flooding along the coast that causes problems such as flooded roads and overloaded stormwater systems. The issues associated with nuisance flooding not only cause major inconveniences for people, but also promote bacteria and mosquitoes.

Changes to local tide range are typically found in coastal areas and estuaries where channels are dredged, land is reclaimed, or development occurs. These types of human disturbances cause the local tide range - the height difference between high tide and low tide - to increase in some areas and decrease in others.

The study was focused on data from 40 NOAA tidal gauge locations spread across the continental U.S. coastline. Among these sites, nearly half had more nuisance flooding days because of higher local tide ranges.

"It's the first time that the effects of tidal changes on nuisance flooding were quantified, and the approach is very robust as it is based purely on observational data and covers the entire coastline of the U.S. mainland," said study co-author Professor Thomas Wahl.

The investigation showed that nuisance flooding increased because of tidal changes in about half the locations, decreased in a fourth of the locations, and did not change in the remaining quarter of locations.

For example, Cedar Key, Florida received about 23 additional nuisance flooding days because of increased tidal range in 2019. During the same time frame, Washington, D.C. had about 52 fewer days of flooding due to decreased tidal range.

"Seeing how many nuisance flooding events occurred in the past and are happening today simply because of tidal changes should be motivation for us to keep alterations to sensitive estuarine systems at a minimum as to not further exacerbate the problem, which we already face because of sea level rise," said Professor Wahl. 

"We should at least be aware of these potentially negative impacts in the planning phase of alteration projects, and it might even be possible to reverse some of the negative impacts from past decisions."

"While a few individual instances of these minor flooding events do not cause too many impacts, the cumulative impacts of frequent events can become very large," Wahl says. "Hence, understanding what drives the changes in nuisance flooding is very important."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Coastal development is worsening nuisance flooding

In recent decades, nuisance flooding has increased across the U.S....

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.



In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;



According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;



Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. 



Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.



Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



---



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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. 



"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."



"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.



"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



By <a href="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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes why experts are studying zebrafish to gain a better understanding of how the immune system responds to injury. Zebrafish have the ability to repair and regenerate organs.



“Organ regeneration offers an exciting opportunity for studying the immune system and to inquire why some species can regenerate organs like the heart or missing limbs while others like humans cannot,” explained Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski.



Zebrafish sensory organ hair cells are an ideal system to investigate the pathways and cell types involved in regeneration since they are easily destroyed with antibiotics and begin regenerating within five hours. This enabled the researchers to identify the exact timing and genetic programs for each anti-inflammatory macrophage activation state.&nbsp;



“Our hypothesis is that human macrophages do not receive the proper chemical activation 'cocktail' to instruct pro-regenerative processes,” said Dr. Nicolas Denans. “Identifying the molecular recipe of macrophage activation in zebrafish may one day enable us to design regenerative immunotherapies in humans.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The new evidence is a valuable resource for comparative studies on the genetic programs involved in macrophage-mediated repair and regeneration. In other words, different types of injuries may induce different kinds of inflammatory responses. We want to decipher whether this 'language' is universal or if there are a variety of dialects."



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



---



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Stowers...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.



Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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.

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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;



---



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...

News coming your way