In many places, men face a higher risk of disease but receive less timely care. These observations come from a broad international effort examining hypertension, diabetes, and HIV and aids.



Angela Chang from the <a href="https://www.sdu.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southern Denmark</a> led a team that gathered worldwide information on who falls ill and who actually receives help. The analysis pointed to important differences by sex, affecting disease rates and overall health <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outcomes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-differences-affect-health-outcomes">Sex differences affect health outcomes</h2>



Males have higher rates of smoking in most nations according to the <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/343287" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a>. Smoking is a known factor for high blood pressure, making it a key contributor to heart problems. Females tend to lead in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322010249" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> numbers in many regions, which can contribute to diabetes.



These diseases are not just about risk factors. The study shows that males often end up with higher mortality rates once they develop these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rats-are-spreading-a-deadly-disease-across-cities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions</a>. 



Many men <a href="https://menandhiv.org/publication/the-mens-health-gap-men-must-be-included-in-the-global-health-equity-agenda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fail to visit clinics</a> or hospitals as regularly as women, which could mean they don’t get diagnosed or treated when they need it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disease-risks-and-care-gaps">Disease risks and care gaps </h2>



<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4314-hypertension-high-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hypertension</a>, commonly called high blood pressure, is often undetected. Men skip checkups more frequently, so signs that might be obvious in a routine exam can slip under the radar. If left unaddressed, this condition can lead to complications like stroke and heart failure.



Diabetes also showed worrying trends. In around half of surveyed countries, men were more likely to die from this disease than women. In a few areas, women had a greater <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disease</a> burden, but men were still less likely to receive consistent care in those spots.



HIV and aids <a href="https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2020_global-aids-report_en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a> revealed that in most places where statistics were available, men’s prevalence and death rates outpaced those of women. The research suggested that men often lagged behind in testing, treatment, and adherence to medication schedules.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-care-disparities-by-sex">Care disparities by sex</h2>



“Without sex-disaggregated cascade data, we’re flying blind - unable to detect who is falling through the cracks in prevention, diagnosis, and care,” said Angela Chang, senior author of the study.



The team emphasized that many health policies and programs do not consider these persistent differences in how men and women seek health support.



The researchers pointed out that risk factors aren’t only rooted in biology. Gender norms and expectations can increase or lower the likelihood that a person will smoke, receive checkups, or follow a treatment plan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-men-avoid-health-care">Why men avoid health care </h2>



Many men report that they avoid medical care unless absolutely necessary. In <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263198588_Men_and_primary_care_Improving_access_and_outcomes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surveys</a> across different countries, common reasons include fear of diagnosis, lack of time, or the belief that symptoms will go away on their own.



Some researchers suggest that social norms around masculinity encourage toughness and discourage vulnerability. This can stop men from seeking care early, which delays diagnosis and worsens outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-men-s-health-care-disparities">Men’s health care disparities</h2>



“We have long advocated the benefits of publishing sex disaggregated data. Such data can reveal where the health journeys of men and women diverge, be it in relation to the risk factors they are exposed to, their health care seeking behaviors or their experiences in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungal-diseases-that-infect-humans-are-becoming-more-common-in-warming-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health</a> care systems,” said Professors Kent Buse at Global 50/50. 



The experts emphasize that social constructs shape health as much as biology, suggesting that efforts to tackle these disparities should address cultural and systemic factors. The findings highlight the need for balanced health policies. 



Certain measures might need to target men more aggressively, aiming to increase early screening, boost clinic attendance, and raise awareness around symptoms that men are less likely to act on promptly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaps-in-men-s-health-care">Gaps in men's health care</h2>



Policymakers and health professionals may look at these gaps and explore fresh approaches to reach men. From workplace screening programs to flexible clinic hours, there are strategies that address the common reasons men often give for not seeking help.



Experts agree that looking at sex-disaggregated data is the first step toward making sure no one gets left behind. The focus is on gathering stronger, more detailed information. That way, actions can be tailored and effective, ensuring better health for all.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-problem-with-missing-data">The problem with missing data</h2>



A major issue researchers faced was the lack of complete data for many countries. While the team found data on risk and death rates for over 200 countries, full care cascade data, especially broken down by sex, was often missing, particularly for diabetes and hiv and aids.



Without this information, it’s hard to see where and why people are dropping off the care pathway. This makes it more difficult to design effective solutions or understand how patterns differ across age, income, and region.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004592" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Medicine</a>.



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Men die more from preventable health issues but seek less care

In many places, men face a higher risk of disease but receive less timely care. These observations come from a broad international effort examining hypertension, diabetes, and HIV and aids. Angela Chang from the University of Southern Denmark led a team that gathered worldwide information on who falls ill and who actually receives help. The analysis pointed to important differences by sex, affecting disease rates and overall health outcomes. Sex differences affect health outcomes Males have higher rates of smoking in most nations according to the World...

As a result of conflict with hornets, some honey <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/measuring-pesticides-in-honey-may-help-protect-bees/">bees</a> have evolved a powerful defense mechanism that is contagious throughout the colony. Guard bees use an intimidating visual approach, known as an "I see you" (ISY) warning signal, to discourage hornets from launching an attack. 

The ISY signal involves guard bees shaking their abdomens sideways, and the movement speeds up as the threat intensifies. The alarm also alerts the bee colony to an urgent need for reinforcements.

Even the so-called murder hornets, or Asian giant hornets, recognize the ISY signal as a warning to back off. The hornets are aware that ISY can lead to a violent counter attack by a mass of honey bees that form a "heat ball," trapping the victims inside of a deadly combination of heat, carbon dioxide, and stinging.

A team of biologists at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a> has investigated interactions between Asian honey bees and hornets. The study shows, for the first time, that the ISY signal is visually driven and contagious across the bee colony. 

"The beauty of the ISY signal is that hornets are only deterred if enough defending bees quickly gather to synchronously produce the signal, thereby showing the hornet that further attack is futile," said study senior author Professor James Nieh. He explained that the ISY signal is contagious and attracts other defenders who immediately copy the signal and rush towards the signaler, even if they cannot detect any danger. 

"Hornets give off smell and sound but we found that the visual of a hornet alone can elicit the signal, which was not known," said Nieh. Previously, experts had speculated that guard bees may produce a pheromone to alert the colony to an approaching predator. 

"Using just a contagious visual signal is better because guards who are too far away to smell or hear the hornet can immediately head towards the threat. In some ways, it's like a fast chain reaction," said Professor Nieh.

Since animal communication often contains errors, and a false ISY alarm could rapidly spread within the colony, Professor Nieh compares the concept of ISY to "fake news." Unlike many people, the honey bees are extremely selective about what they consider a true threat. Using an iPad to display videos, the researchers found that the visual appearance and motion of the hornet alone could trigger ISY signals. However, the honey bees did not respond to visual displays of a butterfly.

The bees turned out to be even more particular about what they considered to be a real ISY signal. "We played back videos of bees performing ISY signals at different speeds, but only the correct bee image at the right speed caused other bees to respond. This helps keep the signal spread honest," said Professor Nieh. He thinks that evolution has limited errors in communication among the honey bees because of how very costly such errors could become, and believes that the findings provide a cautionary tale about fake news.

"Individuals in a honey bee colony are completely interdependent. They can't go out and make it on their own. Cooperation is paramount, especially when faced with a large, heavily armored predator like hornets," said Professor Nieh. "A couple of hornets can kill thousands of bees in a single day. Yet through teamwork that correctly produces synchronized, massed ISY signals, they can get the hornet to back off without harming a single bee. Maybe that's a lesson for us all."

The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652656">Journal of Animal Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Honey bees use a contagious warning signal to scare off hornets

As a result of conflict with hornets, some honey bees...

Arctic ground squirrels recycle their own nutrients . To survive the extremes of a long winter hibernation, Arctic ground squirrels recycle nutrients within their own bodies, according to a study from the <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/">University of Alaska Fairbanks</a>. The researchers examined ground squirrels in the lab for two years, and discovered a flow of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nutrients-in-seabird-poop-transformed-the-falkland-islands/">nutrients</a> during hibernation that is almost completely undetectable.

The muscles of the ground squirrels slowly break down in temperatures just above freezing. During this process, the animals manage to convert the nitrogen that is released into amino acids. The squirrels use these amino acids to produce protein in tissues such as lungs, kidneys, and skeletal muscle. Arctic ground squirrels recycle their own nutrients 

The findings may ultimately help to unravel some of the biggest mysteries of hibernation, providing new insights in human medicine. Scientists have long been intrigued by the body chemistry of 

Arctic ground squirrels take hibernation to the extreme. They slow their metabolism and cool their bodies down to subfreezing temperatures for up to eight months out of the year. During this time, the squirrels breathe just once per minute.

Yet despite going so long without food or water and barely even breathing, hibernating ground squirrels are uniquely resilient to muscle loss and long-term cellular damage. This makes the animals very intriguing to scientists.

"They're just this extreme hibernator, and during the time they hibernate they don't eat, they don't drink, and they don't have any underlying injuries to their bodies," said study lead author Sarah Rice, who is a PhD student at UAF's Institute of Arctic Biology.

Experts had previously found evidence that hibernators recycle urea, a waste product that is excreted in urine. Researchers had also speculated that hibernating animals recycle nitrogen to retain their body tissue during extreme fasting. The new study has confirmed this theory for the first time. 

Understanding more about the body chemistry of hibernating animals could contribute to a variety of potential medicines for humans, including treatments that could help heal traumatic injuries or those that would prevent muscle loss in cancer patients and the elderly. 

Rice said that by analyzing how hibernators keep themselves healthy, the approach offers a different perspective than therapies that often focus on overcoming and treating injuries. "It's fun to kind of turn that idea on its head. Instead of studying what goes wrong in the world, it's important to study what goes right."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natmetab">Nature Metabolism</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Arctic ground squirrels recycle their own nutrients

Arctic ground squirrels recycle their own nutrients . To survive...

Scientists at the <a href="http://www.izw-berlin.de/">Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research</a> have found the key to solving a cheetah-farmer conflict in central Namibia. In collaboration with local <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/farmers-can-help-make-crops-more-resilient/">farmers</a>, the researchers found that moving cattle herds out of cheetah hotspots reduced losses of livestock by more than 80 percent.

One of the most important refuges for the declining global cheetah population is in rural central Namibia, where the large African cats live on privately owned farmland rather than in protected areas. The proximity causes conflict with cattle farmers because the cheetahs prey on their calves.

"This conflict is an important reason for the decline of the Namibian cheetah population, thus solutions to this conflict that are viable for both farmers and cheetahs needed to be developed," said study co-author Dr. Jörg Melzheimer, who is a spatial ecologist involved with the Leibniz-IZW Cheetah Research Project (CRP) in Namibia.

"Supported by the farmers we caught more than 250 cheetahs and equipped many of them with high resolution GPS collars to thoroughly analyze their spatial behavior," explained study co-author Dr. Bettina Wachter.

Overall, the collars recorded several million individual locations. The researchers analyzed this massive dataset, and identified two distinct spatial tactics of male cheetahs. They found that about one-third of the males own small territories where they mark 20 to 40 prominent landmarks such as trees or rocks with their scent. The other males, called floaters, do not own a territory but roam over vast areas. 

"The territories are not contiguous, but spread evenly across the landscape with a lot of open space between them," said Dr. Melzheimer. "Floaters visit the core areas of the territories frequently to gather information on the current territory holders and to consider their chances of queueing for territory ownership or winning a fight for the territory. At the same time, the females regularly visit these areas in search of mating partners." 

As a result, the core areas of the territories serve as communication hubs for the local cheetah population and are hotspots of cheetah activity. The communication hubs represent areas with a high local predation risk for livestock. On the other hand, the remaining land in between the hotspots, which makes up 90 percent of the total area,  has only a low predation risk. 

The experts mapped out the hotspots and determined that 30 percent of the cattle farmers are affected to varying degrees by cheetah activity, even though these communication hubs cover only a small part of the study area.

Based on the findings, the Leibniz-IZW scientists collaborated with the farmers to design an experiment. Breeding herds with young calves that were located within the newly discovered communication hubs were moved to areas with much less cheetah activity. 

"These experiments were highly successful and reduced the livestock losses of farmers by more than 80 percent," said the researchers. "We demonstrated that cheetahs did not follow the breeding herds, but maintained their spatial system of communication hubs and instead preyed on wildlife occurring naturally on the farms in the hotspot locations. This implies that there are no problem cheetahs, but problem areas with high predation risk."

The collaboration between the scientists and farmers was based on the concept of a "real-world laboratory," where they worked together to formulate research questions and to determine potential solutions to the conflict. 

"This allowed us to work as partners on a real-world problem and to find solutions together, as well as to communicate them in the relevant communities, thereby helping to spread the successful application of the solutions," said Dr. Melzheimer. "The future of the cheetah does not lie in the hand of scientists or conservationists, it depends on all stakeholders working together on viable solutions."

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

Using a real-world laboratory to resolve cheetah-farmer conflict

Scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research...

A team of experts has developed a device that imitates the hearing capabilities of mosquitoes to identify their <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rare-species-discovered-in-the-deep-sea-near-japan/">species</a> and sex. The researchers, led by Tim Ziemer of the Bremen Spatial Cognition Center at the <a href="https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/">University of Bremen</a>, hope the bioinspired detector will someday be used in the field to save lives.

The team created an imitation "ear" which mimics the organs that mosquitoes use to hear. The detector allowed the experts to identify a mosquito's species and sex based on sound, just like these insects do themselves.

Mosquitoes use tiny hairs on their antennae, which feed information to 15,000 nerve fibers, to help them hear. Their remarkable sense of hearing also helps the insects to monitor their own position and speed.

To identify other individuals, mosquitoes emit sounds that even they cannot hear. They listen to how those sounds distort and combine with the wing beats of others in unique ways that are dependent on the individual's sex and species.

The new detector uses the same approach by imitating the lower part of a mosquito's antenna, which is responsible for transforming the emitted sound into something that can be heard. After the detector transforms the sound, a combination of machine learning and speech recognition tools help differentiate between species and sex.

The detector may ultimately be used to identify mosquitoes in the field, where they would be selectively targeted with pesticides. Beyond reducing pesticide use, the device could revolutionize the way that mosquitoes are controlled and help stop the spread of viruses that cause malaria, dengue fever, and other deadly diseases.

Furthermore, the detector could inform individuals of when potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes are nearby. According to the World Health Organization, mosquito bites cause more than one million deaths every year.

Ziemer will present the research at the 179th Meeting of the <a href="https://acousticalsociety.org/">Acoustical Society of America</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New device identifies mosquitoes using only sound

A team of experts has developed a device that imitates...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en">Kyoto University</a>, researchers have found that Japanese bats are in desperate need of protection. Among the bats that are native to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rare-species-discovered-in-the-deep-sea-near-japan/">Japan</a>, 90 percent are threatened with extinction. 

Bats fill important ecological roles in pest control and pollination. They also disperse the seeds of hundreds of different plant species. But while bats have been the focus of research across many fields, their conservation has been understudied, particularly in Japan. 

Researchers from Kyoto University's Graduate School of Informatics investigated the state of bat research in Japan and found poor alignment between conservation needs and allocation of resources. They noted that research efforts have gradually increased over the last two decades, yet endangered endemic bat species are getting the least attention. 

"Conservation status alone is not enough to promote research on these threatened species," said study co-author Jason Preble. "We systematically reviewed the literature of the last fifty years, assessing patterns in research distribution across multiple categories in order to identify gaps and future priorities."

The researchers found a pronounced shortage of both ecological and conservation-motivated studies on nearly half of the extant species in Japan. Furthermore, even though many threats to Japanese bats have been identified, there was a shortage of data measuring the impacts of these threats.

"All of these factors are immensely concerning," said study co-author Christian E. Vincenot. "We were distressed to see threats such as wind turbines and climate change severely understudied."

Based on their findings, the team established some recommendations for strengthening Japanese bat conservation. 

"For example, we need to prioritize research efforts that provide the ecological information needed to design and implement concrete conservation plans," explained Vincenot. He added that data disclosure is imperative. 

The authors also emphasized the importance of communicating research findings to the public, which in turn can facilitate support from funding agencies.

"While hopeful signs of improvement exist, ultimately a stronger spirit of research and collaboration - along with informed conservation practices - will determine if these creatures can reach the road to recovery or ultimately decline into extinction," said Vincenot.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652907">Mammal Review</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nearly all native Japanese bats are endangered

In a new study from Kyoto University, researchers have found...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> confirms that preserving peatlands, along with the carbon they hold, is critically needed to limit climate change. After investigating peatland losses over human history, the researchers predict these will be "amplified" in the future.

Peatlands are expected to shift from absorbing massive amounts of carbon to releasing it at some point this century, which is mainly due to human development. The study warns that more than 100 billion tons of carbon could be released by 2100, but there are still some unknowns.

The Earth System Models used for climate change projections do not account for peatlands. The researchers say this oversight must be urgently addressed.

"Peatlands contain more carbon than all the world's forests and, like many forests, their future is uncertain," said Professor Angela Gallego-Sala. "Peatlands are vulnerable to climate change impacts such as increased risk of wildfires and droughts, the thawing of permafrost and rising sea levels."

"However, the main threats to peatlands are more direct - particularly destruction by humans to create agricultural land. So the future of peatlands is very much in our hands."

Peatlands can be found in more than 175 countries. These wetlands cover around four million square kilometers, or three percent of the global land surface. 

Professor Gallego-Sala explained that peatlands have been overlooked in some climate models because they are often viewed as being "inert" - neither absorbing nor releasing carbon at a rapid rate when left undisturbed.

It has been difficult to estimate future changes across the wetlands since they are excluded from climate models. For their investigation, the study authors analyzed survey estimates from 44 leading experts as well as existing research. 

The analysis revealed that 104 billion tons of carbon will be lost from peatlands between 2020 and 2100. While the researchers acknowledge that this estimate is highly uncertain, their findings highlight the need for inclusion in models and better preservation.

"Even though we would like more information, we clearly need to make decisions now about how we manage these ecosystems," said Professor Gallego-Sala. "We simply can't afford for peatlands to go up in smoke."

"We have a responsibility to find a way forward that works for people and the planet. Where people have a strong economic incentive - or even necessity - to destroy peatlands, we need plans and policies that offer more sustainable alternatives."

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

Peatlands could release more than 100 billion tons of carbon this century

A new study led by the University of Exeter confirms...

Extreme <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dog-ticks-prefer-human-hosts-in-hotter-weather-conditions/">weather</a> events that have been referred to as "once in a lifetime floods" will become common over the next few decades, according to a study from the <a href="https://www.stevens.edu/">Stevens Institute of Technology</a>.

In particular, the researchers found that by the end of this century, 100-year and 500-year floods will be regular threats to thousands of homes surrounding Jamaica Bay, New York. Hurricane Sandy devastated communities in this region with flood kennels that had not been experienced for generations. 

The study findings will help policymakers and the coastal municipality of Jamaica Bay make decisions on managing flood risk with flood mitigation infrastructure or other strategies. The research also provides insight into how coastal flooding will increase in the areas beyond New York due to the impacts of climate change.

Study lead author Reza Marsooli is an assistant professor of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens.

"While this study was specific to Jamaica Bay, it shows how drastic and costly of an impact that climate change will make," said Professor Marsooli. "The framework we used for this study can be replicated to demonstrate how flooding in other regions will look by the end of the century to help them mitigate risk and best protect communities and assets in impacted areas."

&nbsp;

Based on the, Marsooli and his

&nbsp;

In collaboration with study co-author Ning Lin of Princeton University, Professor Marsooli conducted high resolution simulations based on the anticipated greenhouse gas concentration by the end of the 21st century. They explored various scenarios to estimate the probability of different flood levels being reached. The team accounted for both sea level rise and hurricanes to investigate the future impacts on Jamaica Bay from storm surge and wave hazards.

The study revealed that the historical 100-year flood level would occur every nine years by 2030 to 2050, and would occur annually by 2080 to 2100. In addition, the 500-year flood levels reached by Superstorm Sandy will take place once every four years by the end of the century.

To make matters even worse, sea-level rise will result in larger waves that produce more flood hazards such as erosion and damage to coastal infrastructure.

"Future projections of the hurricane climatology suggest that climate change would lead to storms that move more slowly and are more intense than we have ever seen before hitting Jamaica Bay," said Professor Marsooli. "But the increase in these once-in-a-generation or even less frequent floods is so dramatic because the impact of sea-level rise will create greater flooding, even if the storms we were seeing today stayed the same."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.springer.com/journal/10584">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

100-year floods could occur every year by the end of this century

Extreme weather events that have been referred to as "once...

In the first comprehensive report of its kind, experts describe how the impacts of ocean pollution are directly harmful to human health, and plastic is only part of the problem. The researchers found that toxic ocean pollution endangers the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/a-plant-based-diet-can-transform-your-health-and-body/">health</a> and well-being of more than three billion people.

Dr. Philip Landrigan is the director of <a href="https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/centers/schiller-institute/programs/global-observatory-on-pollution-and-health.html">Boston College's Global Observatory on Pollution on Health</a>. "Simply put, ocean pollution is a major global problem, it is growing, and it directly affects human health," said Dr. Landrigan.

"People have heard about plastic pollution in the oceans, but that is only part of it. Research shows the oceans are being fouled by a complex stew of toxins including mercury, pesticides, industrial chemicals, petroleum wastes, agricultural runoff, and manufactured chemicals embedded in plastic. These toxic materials in the ocean get into people, mainly by eating contaminated seafood."

"We are all at risk, but the people most seriously affected are people in coastal fishing communities, people on small island nations, indigenous populations and people in the high Arctic. The very survival of these vulnerable populations depends on the health of the seas."

The researchers analyzed data from more than 584 scientific studies. Beyond food contamination, oil spills and chemical waste threaten the marine microorganisms that provide much of the world's oxygen supply. According to Prince Albert of Monaco, the analysis can be used to mobilize global resolve to curb ocean pollution.

"The link between ocean pollution and human health has, for a long time, given rise to very few studies. Taking into account the effects of ocean pollution - due to plastic, water and industrial waste, chemicals, hydrocarbons, to name a few - on human health should mean that this threat must be permanently included in the international scientific activity," wrote Prince Albert.

"This document on Human Health and the Ocean, prepared with the contributions of the Monaco Science Centre and Boston College, substantiates that the pollution of the ocean is not inevitable."

The researchers found that mercury pollution has become widespread in the oceans, and accumulates to high levels in predator fish. Once mercury enters the food chain, it poses documented risks to humans. The study showed that burning coal is the biggest source of mercury pollution.

The analysis confirmed that human sources of pollution such as industrial waste, agricultural runoff, pesticides, and sewage have increased the frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs). These blooms produce toxins associated with dementia, amnesia, neurological damage, and rapid death.

Plastic waste is now entering the oceans at a rate of more than 10 million tons each year, according to the researchers. This waste is consumed by people in the form of toxic microscopic particles, which are now found in all humans.

The study also revealed that the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, and Asian rivers are the water bodies that are most severely impacted by ocean pollution.

"The key thing to realize about ocean pollution is that, like all forms of pollution, it can be prevented using laws, policies, technology, and enforcement actions that target the most important pollution sources," said Dr. Landrigan. 

"Many countries have used these tools and have successfully cleaned fouled harbors, rejuvenated estuaries, and restored coral reefs. The results have been increased tourism, restored fisheries, improved human health, and economic growth. These benefits will last for centuries."

"Our Global Observatory on Pollution and Health at Boston College is extremely proud to have been able to partner with the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to produce this report and develop the Declaration of Monaco."

"This work advances the mission of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College to use scientific research to benefit society, and it fulfills Pope Francis' call in Laudato Si' to care for our Common Home and to protect the poor and the vulnerable among us."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.annalsofglobalhealth.org/">Annals of Global Health</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Ocean pollution threatens the health of more than three billion people

In the first comprehensive report of its kind, experts describe...

Sea turtles may not survive human-driven temperature changes. Sea turtles born around the Red Sea may now be predominantly female, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/">KAUST</a>. The researchers have been monitoring the sand temperatures at marine turtle nesting sites in the region. 

"Marine turtles are particularly vulnerable to temperature shifts because they demonstrate temperature-dependent sex determination, meaning that the sex of hatchlings is determined by the temperature of the nest during incubation," said study co-author Lyndsey Tanabe.

The Red Sea is home to five out of seven species of sea turtles, including the endangered green turtles and critically endangered hawksbill turtles. 

Previous research suggests that the critical temperature threshold for maintaining a 50-50 sex ratio is 29.2 degrees Celsius. Above this threshold, hatchlings become predominantly female. Temperatures that exceed 33 degrees Celsius can cause widespread deformities and fatalities.

"Marine turtles have survived since the late Triassic period and have adapted to past climatic shifts," explained Tanabe. "The current rate of anthropogenic-driven temperature change is unprecedented."

"We examined sand temperature profiles at Red Sea nesting sites to improve our understanding of the current turtle population."

The investigation was focused on five sites on the Red Sea shoreline that are favored by hawksbill and green turtles. Sand temperature data was collected by automated loggers at the nest depths of both species every 15 minutes for five months.

With the exception of one study site in the northern Red Sea, the sand temperature exceeded 29.2 degrees Celsius at all study sites. These results indicate that the shift to feminization of hatchlings is already underway.

"We must be cautious in claiming that feminization is definitely happening," said Tanabe. "The Red Sea is generally warmer than other nesting beaches around the world, so these turtles may have already adapted to a higher pivotal temperature threshold."

"It is concerning, however, that sand temperatures as high as 36 degrees Celsius were measured at some sites. This could pose a considerable threat to their survival."

The findings will contribute to ongoing national discussions on marine conservation, which are particularly important with proposed megadevelopments along Red Sea coasts. 

"I hope these development projects prioritize the conservation of turtle nesting sites, especially those likely to produce balanced sex ratios."

Tanabe is also studying sea turtle genetics, as well as the effects of plastic and heavy metal pollution on turtle populations. She said that understanding these factors is critical to the success of conservation strategies.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/25784854">Conservation Science and Practice</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

Sea turtles may not survive human-driven temperature changes

Sea turtles may not survive human-driven temperature changes. Sea turtles...

In a new study from the <a href="http://www.reading.ac.uk/">University of Reading</a>, experts have found that global warming will lead to irreversible melting of the Greenland ice sheet. As the massive ice sheet steadily declines, it is approaching a tipping point at which it will no longer be able to bounce back - and will permanently alter <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/beaches-with-space-to-migrate-will-survive-rising-sea-levels/">sea levels</a> worldwide.

"During 1961–1990 the Greenland ice sheet had a roughly constant mass, in which snowfall was balanced by the sum of surface ablation (meaning all processes of mass loss, predominantly liquid run-off due to melting) and solid discharge of ice into the sea," wrote the study authors. "Over the last 30 years both ablation and discharge have increased significantly, while snowfall has not."

According to the researchers, under scenarios in which global warming goes beyond two degrees Celsius, we can expect significant ice loss and several meters of global sea level rise to persist for tens of thousands of years.

Even if temperatures were to eventually fall, the scientists have shown that the Greenland ice sheet will never fully rebound once it melts beyond a critical point. At this tipping point, sea levels will be permanently two meters higher than they are now, regardless of other factors contributing to sea level rise.

The experts identified some scenarios in which the ice sheet melting could be reversed,  but they rely on urgent action to address global warming. 

The Greenland ice sheet is seven times the area of the UK. At the current rate of decline, ice lost from Greenland results in about one millimeter of sea level rise each year. Despite some seasonal gains, the ice sheet has lost three and a half trillion tons of ice since 2003.

To investigate the future of the ice sheet, the scientists used a computer model that combines climate and ice-sheet models to simulate potential temperature rise. Under all of the climates that were like today or warmer, the ice sheet declined in size and contributed to sea-level rise to some degree.

"Our experiments underline the importance of mitigating global temperature rise," said study lead author Professor Jonathan Gregory. "To avoid partially irreversible loss of the ice sheet, climate change must be reversed - not just stabilized - before we reach the critical point where the ice sheet has declined too far."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.the-cryosphere.net/">The Cryosphere</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

At the current rate, Greenland will lose its ice sheet forever

In a new study from the University of Reading, experts...

Researchers at institutions all over the world have collaborated to track the impacts of climate change on human <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/a-plant-based-diet-can-transform-your-health-and-body/">health</a>. In a comprehensive report, the experts reveal that millions of lives can be saved and improved with urgent climate action. 

Without urgent action, however, we can expect an increasingly hotter world that threatens global health, disrupts lives, and overwhelms healthcare systems, warn the study authors. 

Brittany Shea is the project director of the Global Consortium on Climate &amp; Health Education at the <a href="https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/">Mailman School of Public Health</a>.

"Whether it's the spread of viruses and infectious diseases, heat exposure, or wildfires, the 2020 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change U.S. Policy Brief shows how climate change makes communities and health care systems more vulnerable," said Shea. "The Brief lays out how climate action across sectors will lead to major environmental and public health gains."

The researchers investigated the potential impacts of converging climate crises across 41 key indicators. These indicators are organized into five categories: climate change impacts, exposures, and vulnerabilities; adaptation planning and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co-benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement.

"An important aspect of public health involves ensuring food security following a climate change induced extreme event. Here we look for common occurrences, problems and potential solutions that can be used as recommendations to ensure that no one goes hungry following a hurricane, flood or intense windstorm. But more needs to be done," explained study co-author Dr. Lewis Ziska.

According to Dr. Kim Knowlton, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, this year's report from the Lancet is the latest warning that the United States is going in the wrong direction on climate action and human health. 

"But it's not too late to change course," said Dr. Knowlton. "The incoming Biden/Harris administration should seize this opportunity to embrace the knowledge, expertise, and passion of the American public health and healthcare community. Together, we can build back a healthier, more equitable, and climate-resilient nation."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/">The Lancet</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

Urgent climate action could save and improve millions of lives

Researchers at institutions all over the world have collaborated to...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.uri.edu/">University of Rhode Island</a>, scientists have discovered single-celled microorganisms that live in boiling hot deep sea sediments. Professor Arthur Spivack explained that while water boils on the Earth's surface at 100 degrees Celsius, the team found organisms living in deep sea sediments at 120 degrees Celsius.

"Marine sediments represent a massive microbial ecosystem, but we still do not fully understand what factors shape and limit life underneath the seafloor," wrote the study authors.

In 2016, Professor Spivack was part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 370, which aimed to explore the limits of life in the deep subseafloor biosphere.

The study follows a recent report that microbial diversity below the seafloor is as rich as it is on Earth's surface. The researchers had discovered 40,000 different types of microorganisms from core samples from 40 sites around the globe.

The current investigation focused on the Nankai Trough off the coast of Japan, where scientists drilled a hole 1,180 meters deep to reach deep sea sediment at 120 degrees Celsius. 

According to Professor Spivack, one way to identify life is to look for evidence of metabolism. "We found chemical evidence of the organisms' use of organic material in the sediment that allows them to survive. This research tells us that deep sediment is habitable in places that we did not think possible.'

Professor Spivack said the research could point to the possibility of life in harsh environments on other planets.

According to the study, sediments that lie deep below the ocean floor contain increasingly extreme and inhospitable environments. Temperature and pressure steadily rise with depth, and the energy supply becomes more and more scarce. 

It was only about three decades ago that scientists discovered that microorganisms inhabit the seabed at depths of several kilometers despite the harsh conditions. The deep biosphere is still not well understood, and many basic questions remain such as what are the limits of life and what factors determine them.

"Only a few scientific drilling sites have yet reached depths where temperatures in the sediments are greater than 30 degrees Celsius," explained Professor Kai-Uwe Hinrichs. "The goal of the T-Limit Expedition, therefore, was to drill a thousand-meter deep hole into sediments with a temperature of up to 120 degrees Celsius - and we succeeded."

The researchers said that, like the search for life in outer space, determining the limits of life on the Earth is full of technological challenges.

"Surprisingly, the microbial population density collapsed at a temperature of only about 45 degrees," said study co-author Fumio Inagaki. "It is fascinating - in the high-temperature ocean floor, there are broad depth intervals that are almost lifeless. But then we were able to detect cells and microbial activity again in deeper, even hotter zones - up to a temperature of 120 degrees."

Professor Spivack said the project was like going back to his roots. He and fellow URI Professor David Smith had been involved in a drilling expedition at the same site about 20 years ago. The findings from that expedition helped to spark interest in the study of the deeply buried marine biosphere.

The experts will continue to analyze the samples for months and years to come. "The technology to examine samples collected from the moon took several years to be developed, and the same will be true for these samples from deep in the ocean sediments," said Professor Spivack. "We are developing the technology now to continue our research."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">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

Life in deep ocean sediments can survive boiling hot temperatures

In a new study from the University of Rhode Island,...

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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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

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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



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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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



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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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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