James,Webb,Telescope,In,Outer,Space,On,Orbit,Of,Earth.

Astronomers have been searching for water ice outside of our solar system for years. They expected to find it. They knew it existed on moons and dwarf planets around Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond. But they couldn’t confirm it around other stars. Until now.



The James Webb Space Telescope just changed everything. Researchers aimed its Near-Infrared Spectrograph (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/nirspec/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIRSpec</a>) at HD 181327, a Sun-like star 155 light-years away. What they found was crystalline <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-might-have-formed-long-before-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water</a> ice swirling in a dusty debris disk around the star.



Chen Xie is the lead author of the study and assistant research scientist at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a>.



“Webb unambiguously detected not just water ice, but crystalline water ice,” said Xie. “It’s also found in locations like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-earth-had-planetary-rings-like-saturn-466-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn’s rings</a> and icy bodies in our solar system’s Kuiper Belt.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-ice-around-distant-stars">Water ice around distant stars</h2>



Astronomers have long suspected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-may-have-existed-in-the-universe-far-earlier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water</a> ice in these distant disks. Spitzer, a retired space telescope, hinted at it back in 2008. But its instruments weren’t sensitive enough to confirm it. That’s where Webb comes in.



<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a> can detect the faintest traces of ice, dust, and rock. Its instruments can pick up on tiny particles that other telescopes miss. This level of precision allowed researchers to confirm the presence of crystalline water ice around HD 181327.



Xie emphasized the significance of the discovery. “The presence of water ice helps facilitate planet formation,” he said. “Icy materials may also ultimately be ‘delivered’ to terrestrial planets that may form over a couple hundred million years in systems like this.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-chaotic-debris-disk">A chaotic debris disk</h2>



HD 181327 is young. Just 23 million years old. Compare that to our Sun, which is 4.6 billion years old. This star is hotter and more massive than the Sun, and its system is a mess. Dust, rock, and icy bodies collide and scatter, creating a chaotic debris disk.



Christine Chen, co-author and associate astronomer at the <a href="https://www.stsci.edu/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Space Telescope Science Institute</a>, described the scene. 



“HD 181327 is a very active system. There are regular, ongoing collisions in its debris disk. When those icy bodies collide, they release tiny particles of dusty water ice that are perfectly sized for Webb to detect,” noted Chen.



Webb detected a significant gap between the star and its debris disk. A wide, empty zone. This gap could indicate the presence of forming planets, sweeping up debris as they orbit. Beyond that gap, the disk resembles our Kuiper Belt - a region filled with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-arrived-on-earth-gradually-not-in-one-big-event/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">icy</a> bodies, comets, and dwarf planets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-ice-everywhere-almost">Water ice everywhere - almost</h2>



Water ice isn’t spread evenly in the HD 181327 system. In the outer disk, where temperatures are colder, ice particles make up more than 20% of the material.



Move closer to the star, and the amount of ice drops to around 8%. Here, icy particles form faster than they break apart. But the inner disk? Almost no water ice - ultraviolet light from the star likely vaporizes it, or rocky planetesimals might be trapping it inside their cores.



“When I was a graduate student 25 years ago, my advisor told me there should be ice in debris disks,” said Chen. “But prior to Webb, we didn’t have instruments sensitive enough to make these observations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-ice-and-planet-formation">Water ice and planet formation</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/enough-water-to-fill-trillions-of-earths-oceans-found-circling-black-hole-quasar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Icy</a> bodies do more than drift through space. They collide, break apart, and scatter particles. These particles can clump together, forming the seeds of new planets. Over millions of years, icy debris could deliver water and other vital compounds to rocky worlds.



Researchers think this is how Earth got its water - icy comets and asteroids crashing into a young, molten planet. Now, they’re looking at HD 181327’s disk and asking the same questions. 



Could icy bodies there deliver water to forming planets? And if so, could these planets develop habitable conditions?



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



Webb has only just begun its mission. It’s equipped to scan more debris disks around other stars, searching for signs of water ice. Each discovery adds a new piece to the puzzle of how icy bodies evolve and interact in young planetary systems.



NASA, ESA, and CSA built Webb to answer the big questions: How do stars and planets form? Where does water come from? And could <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-best-view-ever-of-icy-objects-from-the-early-solar-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">icy bodies</a> in distant systems deliver the same life-sustaining molecules that once fell to Earth?



For now, researchers are focused on HD 181327. They’re mapping the distribution of water ice, measuring its concentration, and tracking how it moves. Webb’s instruments are sensitive enough to detect the tiniest particles, revealing hidden dynamics in these faraway systems.



The presence of crystalline water ice around HD 181327 marks a turning point. For the first time, astronomers can study icy debris disks beyond our solar system with clarity and precision. And as they do, they’re not just looking for water. They’re looking for the building blocks of life itself.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08920-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Webb telescope finds water ice around distant star for the first time

Astronomers have been searching for water ice outside of our solar system for years. They expected to find it. They knew it existed on moons and dwarf planets around Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond. But they couldn’t confirm it around other stars. Until now. The James Webb Space Telescope just changed everything. Researchers aimed its Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) at HD 181327, a Sun-like star 155 light-years away. What they found was crystalline water ice swirling in a dusty debris disk around the star. Chen Xie is the lead...

Predatory insects are very beneficial to farmers because they help control damaging garden pests and reduce the need for chemical pesticides. In a new study from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/">University of Copenhagen</a>, researchers have found that predatory insects live longer when they have access to pollen and nectar in flowers.

The experts analyzed data from studies conducted worldwide and discovered that most predatory insects benefit greatly from flowers, and can even survive for extended periods of time on nectar and pollen alone. This means that farmers can promote the presence of predators and control pests naturally by incorporating flowering strips and margins in their fields.

"By planting flowering margins and strips alongside fields, one can ensure an ever-abundant supply of predatory insects such as hoverflies, lacewings, minute pirate bugs, phytoseiid mites and two-spot ladybugs," explained Professor Lene Sigsgaard.

"Pollen and nectar are supplements that beneficial insects can survive on when pests aren't around. And, the plants in margins and strips provide many other types of insects for to prey on as well. By planting a wide variety of flowers that bloom both early and late in the season, one can ensure for an optimal effect that ensures the survival of predators throughout the growing season."

"This is good news for the green transition, as effective pest control can help reduce the use of agricultural pesticides. On top of the that, the presence of more flowers imroves pollination and biodiversity, as they attract more insects and pollinators into fields."

The researchers pointed out that predatory insects need open flowers like dandelions that provide easy access to nectar, as they are not equipped with the long feeding tubes that bees have. 

The study revealed that among all predatory insects, females survive an average of 2.2 times longer with access to flowers, while males survive 1.7 times longer.

Some flowers were found to provide far more energy than others. For example, insects with access to buckwheat lived an average of 8.6 times longer than insects with access to water only. 

According to the researchers, mallow, yarrow, and ox eye daisy are also highly valuable flowers for predatory insects.

"It's quite an elixir of life. Wisely planted flowers can contribute to robust crop production because predatory insects will live longer and better," said Professor Sigsgaard.

"It pays to design tomorrow's agriculture so as to accommodate wild flowering plants alongside fields. For the greatest impact, this needs to be done on an informed basis, which is why we are looking at how to design mixed flowering strips and flowering margins that benefit both predatory insects and pollinators. This will reduce the need for other forms of pest control while supporting biodiversity."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/biological-control">Biological Control</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Farmers can use flowers to attract predatory insects

Predatory insects are very beneficial to farmers because they help...

In a new study published by <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell Press</a>, experts report that a quarter of all known bee species have not appeared in public records since the 1990s, even though the number of available records has increased. 

A lack of recorded data does not necessarily mean that the bees have all gone extinct, but it does suggest that the bees have become so rare that no one is observing them in nature. 

Study first author Eduardo Zattara is a biologist at the <a href="https://www.conicet.gov.ar/?lan=en">National Scientific and Technical Research Council</a> (CONICET) in Argentina.

"With citizen science and the ability to share data, records are going up exponentially, but the number of species reported in these records is going down," said Zattara. "It's not a bee cataclysm yet, but what we can say is that wild bees are not exactly thriving."

Most previous studies focused on declining bee populations have investigated a specific region or a single bee species. For the current study, the researchers set out to identify more general, global trends in bee diversity.

"Figuring out which species are living where and how each population is doing using complex aggregated datasets can be very messy," said Zattara. "We wanted to ask a simpler question: what species have been recorded, anywhere in the world, in a given period?"

The experts turned to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an international network of databases that contains over 300 years of records from museums, universities, and private citizens. Overall, the data includes over 20,000 known bee species from around the world.

The analysis revealed that a quarter of all bees are missing from the records, and that these absences are not evenly distributed among bee families. For example, records of halictid bees have declined by 17 percent since the 1990s, while records of the rare bee family Melittidae have declined by as much as 41 percent.

"It's important to remember that 'bee' doesn't just mean honeybees, even though honeybees are the most cultivated species," said Zattara. "Our society's footprint impacts wild bees as well, which provide ecosystem services we depend on."

"It's not really about how certain the numbers are here. It's more about the trend. It's about confirming what's been shown to happen locally is going on globally. And also, about the fact that much better certainty will be achieved as more data are shared with public databases."

Still yet, the researchers warn that this type of certainty may not come until it is too late to reverse the decline, which may not be possible in the first place. 

"Something is happening to the bees, and something needs to be done. We cannot wait until we have absolute certainty because we rarely get there in natural sciences," said Zattara. "The next step is prodding policymakers into action while we still have time. The bees cannot wait."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/one-earth/home">One Earth</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A quarter of all bees no longer appear in public records

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

Growing up in a bilingual home has been linked to cognitive benefits later in life, according to a new study from <a href="https://aru.ac.uk/">Anglia Ruskin University</a>. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated for that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/many-young-adults-do-not-know-common-stroke-symptoms/">adults</a> who acquired their second language as young children are faster at detecting visual changes and attention-shifting compared to bilinguals who learned a second language later in life. 

In a previous study, the researchers had found that infants raised in bilingual homes adapt to their more varied language environment by shifting their visual attention faster and more frequently.

"Experiences such as musical instrument and video game training are known to modify cognitive control processes. So, claims that practicing more than one language increases cognitive demands, and thus cognitive control, come as no surprise," wrote the study authors.

"Because words in both lexicons are activated during language use, it is possible that bilinguals rely on domain-general cognitive control processes to monitor and inhibit the activation of words in the non-target language when speaking. This ‘bilingual advantage’ in cognitive control has even been reported in children as young as 7 months."

"But rather than label it as a ‘bilingual advantage’ as convention dictates, we suggested it was an adaptation to a particular set of constraints - i.e. to a more varied and unpredictable environment."

The experts wanted to know whether the adaptations found in early development persist through to adulthood. To investigate, they tested 127 bilingual adults in two separate trials. 

In the first experiment, the volunteers watched side-by-side images on a screen as one gradually changed and the other stayed the same. Early bilinguals, or individuals who learned a second language as children, picked up on the changes much faster than late bilinguals.

The second experiment confirmed that early bilinguals were better at controlling their attention. In particular, they were faster at disengaging from one picture to focus on another.

"This study is an exciting extension of our previous research, which suggested that infants raised in bilingual homes adapt to their more complex language environments by switching attention faster and more frequently," said study lead author Dr. Dean D'Souza.

"This adaptation may help them to take advantage of multiple sources of visual information, such as mouth movements, facial expressions, and subtle gestures, ultimately helping them to learn multiple languages."

"The findings from our new research with bilingual adults suggest that some of these adaptations, including being quicker at shifting attention, are maintained into adulthood."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/?gclid=CjwKCAiA6aSABhApEiwA6Cbm_9Mu69fXRJQfOKxDEGfpXrV_4iG_xrF_X_qEl02QNc89jAytqGzkjBoC3woQAvD_BwE">Scientific Reports</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bilingual children have lasting cognitive benefits

Growing up in a bilingual home has been linked to...

Researchers have discovered that giant sandworms, previously known only in fiction, actually roamed the seafloor near Taiwan millions of years ago. The predatory creatures were identified based on the reconstruction of an ancient trace <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fish-fossils-provide-new-insight-into-the-origins-of-teeth/">fossil</a> that turned out to be a burrow used by the worms. 

Study lead author Yu-Yen Pan is a PhD student in Earth Sciences at <a href="https://www.sfu.ca/">Simon Fraser University</a>. She explained that the trace fossil was found in a rocky area near coastal Taiwan. These types of fossils are part of a research field known as ichnology. 

"I was fascinated by this monster burrow at first glance," said Pan. "Compared to other trace fossils which are usually only a few tens of centimeters long, this one was huge; two meters long and two to three centimeters in diameter. The distinctive, feather-like structures around the upper burrow were also unique and no previously studied trace fossil has shown similar features."

An international team of researchers, including SFU Professor Shahin Dashtgard, has named the giant sandworm burrow Pennichnus formosae. 

Before reconstructing the morphological model of the trace fossil, the experts analyzed 319 specimens preserved in early Miocene strata in northeast Taiwan that dated back at least 20 million years.

"Shahin encouraged us to reach out to marine biologists, marine photographers and aquarium keepers to compare the burrows to biological analogs, which enabled us to reach the conclusion that this trace fossil was produced by giant, ambush-predatory worms," said Pan.

By comparison, the modern-day Bobbit worm is also large and predatory. It is sometimes called the "sand striker" because it uses its antennae to detect prey, grabs them with its jaws, and retreats into its burrow. When the Bobbit burrows, its body occupies the entire space. This explains the two-meter-long burrow observed in Pennichnus.

The researchers found a high concentration of iron around the upper burrow. This indicates that the giant sandworms secreted mucus to reinforce and rebuild their burrow walls after each feeding.

Marine predatory worms have existed since at least 400 million years ago, but their body tissues are soft - when they decay, there is no evidence left behind. Pennichnus formosae is believed to be the first known trace fossil produced by an underwater ambush predator.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/?gclid=CjwKCAiA6aSABhApEiwA6Cbm_9Mu69fXRJQfOKxDEGfpXrV_4iG_xrF_X_qEl02QNc89jAytqGzkjBoC3woQAvD_BwE">Scientific Reports</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Giant sandworms existed in Taiwan 20 million years ago

Researchers have discovered that giant sandworms, previously known only in...

An "attitude of gratitude" keeps older adults in Japan hopeful despite the challenge of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/self-control-in-childhood-linked-to-slower-aging/">aging</a>, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>. Dr. Iza Kavedzija observed individuals in their 80s and 90s in a merchant neighborhood in the city of Osaka. 

"This attitude of gratitude binds together both reflection on the past and attention to the present moment in its fullness. It also, I suggest, opens up space for a particular kind of hope, grounded in the moment," wrote Dr. Kavedzija.

"Thus, the sense of the good and meaningful life that my older friends conveyed encapsulates an attitude of gratitude as a way of inhabiting the present, rather than dwelling in the past or leaping towards the future." 

"Some of my interlocutors and friends in the field spoke about the approaching end of their life. When speaking about the time remaining, many expressed their sense that the future ‘will somehow turn out alright’ (nantonaku)."

Dr. Kavedzija found that feeling grateful for the care and support they have had during their life helps pensioners in the country to be more optimistic, even when they experienced difficulties and were anxious about getting older.

Some of the individuals expressed fears going forward, such as getting dementia or becoming a burden to their children. Despite their concerns, however, many older Japanese adults cultivated a "quiet hope." They accepted the uncertainty ahead, but remained actively engaged in their community, which gave them a sense of security.

"As people move through life, through their later years, many experience a sense of loss. But this time for them also offers opportunities to reflect more on life, with a heightened realization of their interconnections with others," said Dr. Kavedzija. 

"If one habitually invokes the involvement of others and their role in one's life, one is reminded how much other people have helped them, in countless small and more substantive ways. The same events seem different when one focuses on how others have helped."

"An attitude of gratitude was embedded in older peoples' recollections of the past, but also allowed them to think about the present in a hopeful way. A world in which one has received much good will from others is a different place than one in which one has experienced loss, even if the facts of life are the same."

"Gratitude in Japan can be seen to a large extent as a recognition of how much one relies on others as one moves through life. Gratitude highlights feelings of interdependence in the social world."

Many people said they would not be the person they were without others who played various roles in their life. They often used the phrase arigatai, "I am grateful," and also kansha, "gratitude."

"While people in Japan might hesitate to say they are happy, gratitude is mentioned frequently," said Dr. Kavedzija. "Through appreciation, dependence on others is not seen as simply a burden or a potential source of embarrassment, but also as moving and deeply meaningful. Meaningful relationships and encounters with others comprise a valuable foundation for what Japanese people call ikigai, or that which makes life worth living."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://anthro-age.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/anthro-age">Anthropology and Aging</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Gratitude makes life more meaningful

An "attitude of gratitude" keeps older adults in Japan hopeful...

Common pesticides keep some of the most important <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arctic-plants-face-more-competition-for-pollinators-as-temperatures-rise/">pollinators</a> from getting a good night's sleep, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>. The research shows that bees and flies exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides, which are commonly used worldwide, are struggling with their sleep and memory.

As a result of their findings, the researchers are urging policymakers in the UK to protect a ban on neonicotinoid insecticides.

A team of scientists led by Dr. Kiah Tasman in Bristol's School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience conducted two studies to investigate the effects of neonicotinoids on bumblebees and fruit flies. The substances were found to prevent sleep, which may help explain why many insect pollinators are vanishing.

"The neonicotinoids we tested had a big effect on the amount of sleep taken by both flies and bees. If an insect was exposed to a similar amount as it might experience on a farm where the pesticide had been applied, it slept less, and its daily behavioral rhythms were knocked out of sync with the normal 24-hour cycle of day and night," said Dr. Tasman.

In the first study, the researchers examined the neurological effects of the pesticides in the brains of fruit flies. 

The investigation revealed that typical agricultural concentrations of neonicotinoids completely disrupted the flies' ability to remember. The substances also changed the circadian clock in the fly brain that controls sleep-wake cycles.

"Being able to tell time is important for knowing when to be awake and forage, and it looked like these drugged insects were unable to sleep. We know quality sleep is important for insects, just as it is for humans, for their health and forming lasting memories," explained study senior author Dr. James Hodge.

"Bees and flies have similar structures in their brains, and this suggests one reason why these drugs are so bad for bees is they stop the bees from sleeping properly and then being able to learn where food is in their environment," said study co-author Dr. Sean Rands.

"Neonicotinoids are currently banned in the EU, and we hope that this continues in the UK as we leave EU legislation."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/?gclid=CjwKCAiA6aSABhApEiwA6Cbm__YOwy9MowoWdZ8avjx_G1gQMhTPSkWy2lnRlWg48fS8vS5bqsim8xoCKboQAvD_BwE">Scientific Reports</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bumblebees and flies lose sleep when they are drugged by insecticides

Common pesticides keep some of the most important pollinators from...

A new study from <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> describes how sleep clears the brain of waste, which is critical for cognitive <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-why-breastfed-babies-live-healthier-lives/">health</a>. The researchers examined brain activity in fruit flies and found that deep sleep restores the brain by clearing harmful proteins that may cause neurodegenerative disease.

"Waste clearance could be important, in general, for maintaining brain health or for preventing neurodegenerative disease," said study senior author Dr. Ravi Allada. "Waste clearance may occur during wake and sleep but is substantially enhanced during deep sleep."

The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a well-studied model organism for sleep, circadian rhythms, and neurodegenerative diseases. The neurons that control the sleep-wake cycles of fruit flies are strikingly similar to those found in humans. 

For the current investigation, Dr. Allada and his team examined a sleep stage in fruit flies that is similar to deep, slow-wave sleep in humans known as proboscis extension sleep (PES). During this stage of deep sleep, fruit flies repeatedly extend and retract their proboscis, or snout.

"This pumping motion moves fluids possibly to the fly version of the kidneys," explained Dr. Allada. "Our study shows that this facilitates waste clearance and aids in injury recovery."

The team manipulated the flies so that they could not achieve deep sleep. As a result, the flies struggled to clear an injected non-metabolizable dye from their systems, and were found to be more susceptible to traumatic injuries.

According to Dr. Allada, the study brings us closer to understanding the mystery of why all organisms need sleep. All animals are incredibly vulnerable when they sleep, particularly those in the wild. However, a growing collection of evidence shows that the benefits of sleep outweigh the increased risks. 

"Our finding that deep sleep serves a role in waste clearance in the fruit fly indicates that waste clearance is an evolutionary conserved core function of sleep," wrote the researchers. "This suggests that waste clearance may have been a function of sleep in the common ancestor of flies and humans."

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

Deep sleep clears the brain of waste

A new study from Northwestern University describes how sleep clears...

An international team of researchers has discovered that catnip and silver vine offer cats more than just feelings of intoxication and euphoria. The chemicals in these attractant plants also provide <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cats-can-fight-off-sars-cov-2-with-no-symptoms-of-infection/">cats</a> with protection from mosquitoes, according to a study led by <a href="https://www.iwate-u.ac.jp/english/">Iwate University</a>.

"The first appearance of silver vine ("Matatabi" in Japanese) as a cat attractant in literature in Japan dates back to more than 300 years ago," said Professor Masao Miyazaki. "A folklore Ukiyo-e drawn in 1859 shows a group of mice trying to tempt some cats with a smell of silver vine. Still, benefits of the cats' response had remained unknown." 

Cats experience undeniable feelings of pleasure when they encounter catnip or silver vine. They rub their faces against the plants and sniff them, roll around on the ground, and ultimately lounge around in a seemingly intoxicated state. 

Despite the strong effects, the specific component of cat attractant plants underlying the response has been a mystery, as well as the neurophysiological mechanisms involved.

The researchers isolated the substances in silver vine leaf extracts and administered each of them to cats. They found that the most potent active ingredient is nepetalactol, which activates the opioid reward system in both domesticated and big jungle cats.

"We applied nepetalactol to laboratory paper filters and tested with eighteen laboratory and seventeen feral cats. They displayed the typical response to silver vine. We also tested the substance with larger, non-domestic cats (jaguar, Amur leopard, and Eurasian lynx). They showed a similar reaction. We concluded nepetalactol is responsible for the typical feline reaction to silver vine," explained study first author Reiko Uenoyama.

The experts theorized that the cats' opioid reward system, which is associated with euphoric effects in humans, is activated by the intoxicating plant compound. 

"We tested β-endorphin levels before and after nepetalactol-induced response in cat blood. We found that silver vine activates the nervous system that is responsible for the euphorigenic reaction," said Professor Miyazaki.

Since this reaction was already shown in feline animals when they evolved from other species about 10 million years ago, the researchers believed that the plant had another biologically important function.

"On the basis of some reports that nepetalactone, the feline attractant in catnip, has mosquito repellent activity, we thought that the response allows cats to transfer plant's nepetalactol or nepetalactone on their fur for protection against mosquitoes. This led to a strong hypothesis when we found the mosquito repellent activity of nepetalactol." said Uenoyama.

To investigate whether cats purposefully transfer nepetalactol, the team placed paper filters with nepetalactol on different parts of the cat cage, including the floor and ceiling. The results of the experiment showed that the cats make it a priority to transfer the substance to their faces and heads.

"Next, we tested the mosquito repellent property of nepetalactol on cats," said Miyazaki. "We counted the numbers of mosquitoes landing on cat heads with and without application of nepetalactol. The mosquitoes landed less on the nepetalactol heads." 

"To see whether mosquitoes react the same in a more natural setting, we compared the mosquito reaction between cats that responded to silver vine leaves and nonresponsive cats. Mosquitoes avoided the responsive cats."

"From these results, we found that the cats' reaction to silver vine is chemical defense against mosquitoes, and perhaps against viruses and parasitic insects. This was the most significant finding of our study."

Based on the results, the researchers see great potential for many future studies and practical applications. 

"Why is this reaction limited to cats? Why don't non-feline animals react to the plant? To find answers, we want to identify the gene responsible for the reaction. The findings of this study may be used in various applications, including development of new mosquito repellant products."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Catnip is not just intoxicating - cats use it to repel mosquitoes

An international team of researchers has discovered that catnip and...

In a new study published by <a href="https://plos.org/">PLOS</a>, experts have found a late rainy season often precedes <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/earths-forests-are-threatened-by-drought-and-human-development/">drought</a> in regions prone to food insecurity. This discovery may provide an early warning to help mitigate food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Crop yields are strongly impacted by climate-driven seasonal drought, which is a major contributor to food insecurity. Over the last five years, food insecurity has become an increasing threat to people living in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The conditions here can become so desperate that communities have to rely on emergency food assistance.

By identifying the environmental factors that 0lead up to food insecurity, early drought warning systems can be developed. This would support proactive steps that could be taken to prevent threats to people's lives and livelihoods.

A team of researchers led by Shraddhanand Shukla at <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">UC Santa Barbara</a> theorized that one such early warning signal could be the onset date of the rainy season, which can be calculated from precipitation data.

To investigate, the experts examined the relationship between the onset date, drought conditions, and the risks of food insecurity. The team studied past drought conditions using satellite images of vegetation cover, and analyzed quarterly reports on food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa from April 2011 through February 2020.

The analysis revealed that a delay of about 10 days from the average onset date of the rainy season was associated with a substantially higher chance of seasonal drought in regions with the highest risk of severe food insecurity. In addition, a 20-day delay coincided with a 50 percent chance of drought in those regions. 

Upon further analysis, the researchers confirmed the predictive relationship between rainy season onset date and drought risk across all of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in East Africa.

"Timing of rainfall onset can be tracked using remotely sensed observations and forecasted using climate models, and the results of this study show that it can be a reliable indicator of agricultural droughts, particularly in the most food insecure regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, which makes it a simple yet powerful tool to support effective early warning of food insecurity, thus saving lives and livelihood," wrote the study authors.

Future research could investigate the relationship between the timing of the rainy season and additional food insecurity indicators, such as crop yields.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Late rainy season signals upcoming food insecurity

In a new study published by PLOS, experts have found...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> (UEA) and the British Antarctic Survey, experts describe how a network of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ancient-marine-predator-could-float-motionless-in-the-water/">marine</a> protected areas could help safeguard Antarctic penguins. According to the researchers, these areas represent some of the most important breeding grounds for Antarctic penguins.

The findings show that if all of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that have been proposed in the Southern Ocean were adopted, the permanent conservation of high-quality areas for the penguins would increase by between 49 and 100 percent, depending on the species.

The Southern Ocean is home to four species of penguins - the Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and Emperor. Many critical penguin habitats remain unprotected, which exposes the animals to human-related threats such as pollution and overfishing. For example, penguins rely heavily on krill, tiny shrimp-like crustaceans, which are also targeted by large commercial fisheries.

For their analysis, the researchers used a new approach based on colony location, population estimates, and tracking data. The team identified globally important areas for penguin species around Antarctica.

Overall, the experts pinpointed 63 key sites known as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). These sites surround the breeding colonies of several thousands of penguins when the animals congregate to raise their chicks.

"Our findings provide critical evidence about the location and relevance of some of the most important areas globally for chick-rearing adult penguins breeding in Antarctica and nearby islands," said study lead author Dr. Jonathan Handley of <a href="https://www.birdlife.org/">Birdlife International</a>.

"Over the past five decades, krill fisheries have concentrated into a small number of areas in Antarctic waters, some of which we identified as important penguin foraging grounds. This poses a likely threat for several penguin colonies, especially when they are rearing chicks."

In 1982, an international convention was established to control the increasing commercial interest in Antarctic fisheries - particularly krill resources. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) proposed the creation of a network of MPAs around Antarctica. So far, only two of these MPAs have been implemented, and three more have been discussed.

Study co-author Dr. Aldina Franco said the new research supports the adoption of the MPA network. 

"Recent studies have shown that krill fisheries could be directly competing with penguins for critical food supplies," said Dr. Franco. "The proposed Marine Protected Area network, which has recognized go/no go areas for krill fisheries, can help guarantee that enough krill is available for penguins."

"Marine resources need to be managed in a sustainable way if we are to guarantee the existence of these emblematic penguin species in the future," added study co-lead author Marie-Morgane Rouyer. 

The study revealed that Adélie and Emperor penguins currently have about 30 percent of their important areas within adopted MPAs, Chinstraps have one percent, and Gentoos have none. If all proposed MPAs in the Southern Ocean were adopted, an average of 80 percent of the Antarctic penguins would have their key breeding grounds within an MPA. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Antarctic penguins need protection from human activities

In a new study from the University of East Anglia...

The response of Arctic insects to climate change is much more complex than expected, and the magnitude of the potential consequences is not yet clear. A new study from <a href="https://international.au.dk/">Aarhus University</a> indicates that rare Arctic insects are declining, and climate change may favor common <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/native-species-in-the-eastern-mediterranean-are-vanishing/">species</a>.

The analysis was based on 24 years of insect abundance data collected in Northeast Greenland from 1996 to 2018. The ongoing research project, Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring, is conducted at the field station Zackenberg.

At this remote location, it is possible to isolate the effects of climate change on Arctic insects because there is no agriculture or industry in the area. There are also no cities within the nearest thousand kilometers of the field station.

"Arctic regions provide an important opportunity to isolate the ecological impacts of climate change because direct anthropogenic disturbances are largely absent," wrote the researchers. "The region is also warming rapidly and snowmelt, which strongly affects invertebrate activity, is occurring earlier."

Study lead author Toke T. Høye is a senior scientist in the Department of Bioscience and Arctic Research Center at Aarhus University.

"Data from Europe, North America and the tropics show that many species of insects are in strong decline," said Høye. "Luckily, we are now able to show that there is no profound crash in high arctic insect populations."

The results of the study show that there is great variation on how Arctic insects are responding to climate change. The study authors indicate that the broad range of long-term insect responses may be due to the diversity of lifestyles and adaptations to extreme conditions. In other words, it is not likely that insect declines are driven by the same single factor. 

"Another major finding from our results is that climate factors outside the growing season may be key drivers of arthropod abundance even in the harsh Arctic environment," wrote the study authors.  

"The strong links between our climate variables and overall abundance, combined with the opposing patterns of overall abundance and diversity, suggest that conditions characterized by cool summers but warm 'off-seasons' favor some taxa over others."

"Overall, our findings suggest that, even for a 'simple' food web, there are few straightforward relationships between arthropod abundance and climate variables."

Climate change extends the growing seasons in the Arctic. This often means that the ground repeatedly freezes and thaws over a longer period of time. 

"This period is a big challenge for many insects and climate change is thus especially affecting insects during parts of the year where they are in a dormant stage. The insects are tricked into expecting spring to arrive, just to be hit by hard frost afterwards," explained Høye.

Over the course of monitoring, the researchers have found that permafrost thawing dries out the top soil layer. This has an impact on insects in their larval stages and can have delayed effects on adult insect populations. The consequences may only become apparent after a number of years, and could lead to a series of cascading effects across the food web.

"Unlike findings on insect trends from parts of Europe and North America in the last decade, we have not found evidence of alarming overall population declines, although some taxa do exhibit strong negative trends in abundance at our site," wrote the researchers. "Opposing trends in abundance and diversity also suggest a concerning increase in dominance of a smaller number of taxa." 

"Importantly, we demonstrate that overall measures of abundance can give misleading information about long-term dynamics of individual taxa and the associated impacts of environmental factors."

According to Høye, it is too early to say that there will not be an insect crisis in the Arctic. "Our data shows that a range of rare taxa are in decline, while more common insects are doing OK." 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change favors some Arctic insects over others

The response of Arctic insects to climate change is much...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.gsu.edu/">Georgia State University</a> have found evidence that the most severe cases of COVID-19 infection start in the brain, not in the lungs. When the team infected the nasal passages of mice with SARS-COV-2, they observed a rapid, escalating attack on the brain that triggered severe illness.

The symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection of the brain intensified even after the lungs were successfully clearing themselves of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plant-compounds-in-muscadine-grapes-block-coronavirus-replication/">virus</a>.

Professor Mukesh Kumar, the lead researcher of the study, said the findings have implications for understanding the wide range in symptoms and severity of illness among humans who are infected by the coronavirus.

"Our thinking that it's more of a respiratory disease is not necessarily true," said Professor Kumar. "Once it infects the brain it can affect anything because the brain is controlling your lungs, the heart, everything. The brain is a very sensitive organ. It's the central processor for everything."

The researchers measured virus levels in multiple organs of the infected mice. For comparison, a control group of mice was given a dose of sterile saline solution in their nasal passages.

Early in the pandemic, studies involving mice focused on the lungs and did not examine whether the virus had invaded the brain, explained Professor Kumar. His team found that virus levels in the lungs of infected mice peaked three days after infection, and then began to decline. 

Meanwhile, very high levels of the coronavirus were found in the brains of all the affected mice on the fifth and sixth days. This is also when the severe symptoms emerged, including difficulty breathing, weakness, and disorientatiom. 

Alarmingly, the researchers found that virus levels in the brain were about 1,000 times higher compared to other parts of the body.

According to Professor Kumar, the research could help explain why some COVID-19 patients seem to be on the road to recovery, with improved lung function, only to rapidly relapse and die. 

The findings indicate that the severity of COVID-19, as well as the symptoms of the disease, are influenced by where the coronavirus initially enters the body. Professor Kumar said the nasal passages provide a more direct path to the brain than the mouth. He noted that while the lungs of mice and humans are designed to fend off infections, the brain is ill equipped to launch the immune response needed to clear viruses from the body. 

"The brain is one of the regions where virus likes to hide. That's why we're seeing severe disease and all these multiple symptoms like heart disease, stroke and all these long-haulers with loss of smell, loss of taste. All of this has to do with the brain rather than with the lungs."

Professor Kumar said that COVID-19 survivors whose infections reached their brain have an increased risk of future health problems, including auto-immune diseases, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and cognitive decline.

"It's scary. A lot of people think they got COVID and they recovered and now they're out of the woods. Now I feel like that's never going to be true. You may never be out of the woods."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses">Viruses</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Most severe COVID-19 infections start in the brain, not the lungs

Researchers at Georgia State University have found evidence that the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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;



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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.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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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



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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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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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;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://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



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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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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;



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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 the immune system responds to injury

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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



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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