An electric current can clear vineyard weeds as effectively as herbicides and mowing, scientists have shown. It offers growers a chemical‑free option that performs well in real‑world conditions while posing only a minor seasonal fire risk.



The discovery comes from research led by  Catherine Borger and Miranda Slaven from <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-primary-industries-and-regional-development">Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development</a>. 



Working with the <a href="https://zasso.com/">Zasso XPower</a> system, the team compared electric weeding with glyphosate spraying and mowing during two consecutive spring seasons.



The findings give fresh momentum to electric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/boosting-crop-colors-with-gene-editing-can-improve-weed-control/">weed control</a> at a time when herbicide resistance and consumer concern over chemical residues are on the rise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-high-voltage-weeding">Testing high-voltage weeding</h2>



The trials took place in 2022 and 2023 at four commercial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-production-in-a-warming-world-the-winners-and-losers/">vineyards</a> near Yallingup, a cool‑climate wine region south of Perth. 



Each site carried dense spring growth. It was dominated by annual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fairy-circles-kill-all-newly-planted-grasses-deepening-their-mystery/">grasses</a> such as rigid ryegrass and long‑flowered veldtgrass, as well as sprawling legumes and hardy kikuyu.



Researchers mounted a 36 kW power unit on a tractor and fitted retractable electrode arrays to reach beneath vine canopies.



Traveling at a cautious 0.7 to 0.9 mph, they applied either the full 48-horsepower or a reduced 32-horsepower setting to each vine row.



Parallel plots received a standard tank mix of glyphosate plus amitrole or were mown at a height of 2 inches.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effective-alternative-to-herbicides">Effective alternative to herbicides</h2>



The researchers harvested the biomass five weeks later, and the numbers were clear.



Electric weeding at either power level removed 84 to 87 percent of weed mass. This matched the 88 percent weed removal rate that glyphosate achieved. Mowing lagged behind at 65 percent.



“We show electric weed control in viticulture has comparable efficiency to that achieved by herbicides,” Borger said.



Just as important for growers, repeated NDVI scans confirmed that neither voltage setting injured the grapevines themselves; canopy greenness and shoot growth were identical across all treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-good-fit-for-organics">Good fit for organics</h2>



Electric pulses kill by puncturing plant tissues and burning roots, and they bring several advantages that chemicals cannot match.



“These advantages include no chemical residues in the environment or food, no rain‑fast period after application, no restrictions on use in windy conditions, no chemical resistance and no impacts on neighboring vegetation or waterways," noted Borger.



The benefits carry particular weight in Australian viticulture. More than six percent of production is now certified organic, and herbicide‑resistant ryegrass threatens many conventional blocks.



“Electric weed control will be of particular importance for organic growers,” Borger added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-electric-weeding">Limits of electric weeding</h2>



The technology is not without drawbacks. The disadvantages include slow application speed and high fuel usage.



Fire was the other concern. To quantify the danger, the researchers applied electricity to plots covered with dry barley straw and oat hay. 



Sparks ignited debris only when plant residues were bone‑dry and the tractor moved slowly. Doubling ground speed cut sparks by 90 percent. Real vineyard passes in damp spring conditions produced no ignition at all.



“In every field experiment we conducted during spring, there were zero fires, and this is the most common time of year for weed management in Western Australia,” Borger said.



“Electric weed control is suitable for use in winter/spring weed management within the Mediterranean climate but not for control of summer or autumn weeds.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrating-electric-weeding">Integrating electric weeding</h2>



Taken together, the findings suggest a practical pathway for growers. Electric treatment can substitute for one or two spring herbicide applications, reducing chemical load and slowing resistance. Conventional spraying or mowing can still tidy escapes later in the season.



Adoption may accelerate as autonomous tractors become common in vineyards. Slow operating speeds are far less costly when machines can run unattended.



Further work will test performance at higher speeds, different soil moistures, and against perennial weeds with deeper reserves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sustainable-weed-control">Sustainable weed control</h2>



By proving that electric weeders can match chemicals under commercial conditions, Borger’s team has electrified the weed‑control debate. They have also supplied rare quantitative data on fire risk, giving growers concrete guidance on when and how to use the tools safely.



If follow‑up trials confirm similar benefits in orchards and row‑crop systems, voltage could become a central pillar of integrated weed management. 



Electric weed control would help farmers meet market demands for cleaner produce while protecting the efficacy of precious herbicides.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/weed-science/article/electric-weed-controlhow-does-it-compare-to-conventional-weed-control-methods/488C45B191B97E84E34257E80EB9CFC6">Weed Science</a>.



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Killing weeds without chemicals - the future may be electric

An electric current can clear vineyard weeds as effectively as herbicides and mowing, scientists have shown. It offers growers a chemical‑free option that performs well in real‑world conditions while posing only a minor seasonal fire risk. The discovery comes from research led by  Catherine Borger and Miranda Slaven from Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Working with the Zasso XPower system, the team compared electric weeding with glyphosate spraying and mowing during two consecutive spring seasons. The findings give fresh momentum to electric weed control at a...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.unibas.ch/en.html">University of Basel</a> shows that global warming is drastically changing trends in snow cover across the Alps, which will have a major impact on alpine plants. 

"Snow cover protects alpine plants from frost and the growing season begins after the snowmelt. Changes in the snowmelt have a very strong influence on this period," explained study lead author Dr. Maria Vorkauf. 

The team examined how the date of snowmelt has changed across the Alps in recent decades and what further changes can be expected by 2100.

"The growing season of alpine plants above the climatic treeline is closely tied to snowmelt dates," wrote the researchers.

"Therefore, the mostly long-lived alpine perennials only have about three months for their seasonal development, but there is a high local variability due to the complex topography and substantial snow redistribution by wind in winter. Most of an alpine plant’s growth occurs during the first few snow-free weeks."

The experts report that by the end of this century, it will be a rare occurrence to see continuous snow cover for 30 days at an altitude below 1,600 meters.

The study showed that snow cover has been melting earlier by an average of  2.8 days per decade since the 1960s. According to the researchers, this trend corresponds with rising temperatures and cannot be offset by higher amounts of snowfall. 

"As soon as the three-week running mean of daily air temperatures exceeds 5 °C, snow melts relatively quickly," explained Dr. Vorkauf. "At high elevations in particular, temperature is much more important than the depth of the snow cover."

Based on measurements of snowmelt between 1958 and 2019, the researchers developed a computer model to forecast the future development of alpine snow cover. The data was combined with the latest climate scenarios for Switzerland.

The computer simulations revealed that by 2100, snow cover at an elevation of 2,500 meters could disappear one month earlier than today.

In the coming decades, early snowmelt could extend the growing season of alpine plants by about a third. Previous studies have shown that when alpine plants get an earlier start to the growing season, they produce fewer flowers and have a lower survival rate due to the higher risk of frost. 

"Some species such as the Alpine sedge, which is typical of alpine grasslands, will grow and flower earlier because of the early snowmelt," said Dr. Vorkauf.

The researchers concluded that an earlier snowmelt by up to one month will affect hydropower production, winter tourism in the Swiss Alps, and will expose alpine plants and soils to a higher frost risk with additional consequences on biogeochemical cycles.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.springer.com/journal/10584">Climatic Change</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Alpine plants are gradually losing their protective snow cover

A new study from the University of Basel shows that...

Engaging in daily chores around the house may be beneficial to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soundscapes-of-national-parks-linked-to-striking-health-benefits/">cognitive health</a>. In a recent study, researchers discovered that older adults who spent more time on household chores showed greater brain size.

Study lead author Noah Koblinsky is an exercise physiologist and project coordinator in the Rotman Research Institute (RRI) at <a href="https://www.baycrest.org/">Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care</a>. 

"Scientists already know that exercise has a positive impact on the brain, but our study is the first to show that the same may be true for household chores," said Koblinsky.

"Understanding how different forms of physical activity contribute to brain health is crucial for developing strategies to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults."

The researchers examined the potential links between household chores, brain volume, and cognition among 66 older adults. The study involved three assessments at Baycrest Hospital, including a health evaluation, structural brain imaging, and a cognitive assessment.

The participants reported on how much time they spent on household chores, such as tidying, dusting, meal preparation, shopping, heavy housework, yard work, home repairs, and caregiving.

The analysis revealed that older adults who spent more time busy with household chores had greater brain volume, regardless of exercise. 

The boost in brain volume was observed in two critical brain regions: the hippocampus, which plays a major role in memory and learning; and in the frontal lobe, which is involved in many aspects of cognition.

While it is possible that individuals with bigger brains are simply drawn to household chores, there are other explanations for the link between brain size and household physical activity.

First off, heart health is closely tied to brain health. It could be that household chores have a similar effect on the heart and blood vessels as low-intensity aerobic exercise, according to the researchers.

In addition, the planning and organization involved in household chores may promote the formation of new neural connections over time, even as we age.

Furthermore, older adults who engage in more household chores are spending less time being sedentary and more time staying active. Sedentary behavior has been tied to poor brain health.

"Besides helping to guide physical activity recommendations for older adults, these findings may also motivate them to be more active, since household chores are a natural and often necessary aspect of many people's daily lives, and therefore appear more attainable," said Dr. Nicole Anderson.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Geriatrics</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Household chores can improve brain health in older adults

Engaging in daily chores around the house may be beneficial...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a> has confirmed the link between red meat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/work-stress-and-social-strain-raise-risk-of-heart-disease-in-women/">heart</a> disease.  

The researchers found that greater consumption of red and processed meat is associated with poor heart function and stiff arteries, as well as other markers of cardiovascular disease. 

"Previous studies have shown links between greater red meat consumption and increased risk of heart attacks or dying from heart disease," said study lead author Dr. Zahra Raisi-Estabragh of Queen Mary University of London. 

"For the first time, we examined the relationships between meat consumption and imaging measures of heart health. This may help us to understand the mechanisms underlying the previously observed connections with cardiovascular disease."

The study involved nearly 20,000 participants in the UK Biobank, who reported on their intake of red and processed meat. The researchers analyzed three types of heart measures.

The experts determined that greater intake of red and processed meat was associated with worse heart health across all measures. Individuals who reported eating meat frequently were found to have smaller ventricles, poorer heart function, and stiffer arteries.

By contrast, higher consumption of oily fish was linked to significantly better heart health. As the amount of oily fish intake increased, heart function improved and the arterial stiffness was reversed to some degree.

"The findings support prior observations linking red and processed meat consumption with heart disease and provide unique insights into links with heart and vascular structure and function," said Dr. Raisi-Estabragh.

According to the researchers, the associations between heart health and meat intake were partially explained by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity.

"It has been suggested that these factors could be the reason for the observed relationship between meat and heart disease," said Dr. Raisi-Estabragh. 

"For example, it is possible that greater red meat intake leads to raised blood cholesterol and this in turn causes heart disease. Our study suggests that these four factors do play a role in the links between meat intake and heart health, but they are not the full story."

Dr. Raisi-Estabragh noted that the study did not look into alternative mechanisms. "There is some evidence that red meat alters the gut microbiome, leading to higher levels of certain metabolites in the blood, which have in turn been linked to greater risk of heart disease."

"This was an observational study and causation cannot be assumed. But in general, it seems sensible to limit intake of red and processed meat for heart health reasons."

The research was presented at ESC Preventive 2021.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Red meat consumption linked with poorer heart function

A new study from the European Society of Cardiology has...

As fires become more frequent and intense in Alaskan boreal forests, the trees are releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-hotspots-of-opportunity-to-reduce-nitrogen-pollution/">nitrogen</a>. These heat-trapping greenhouse gases can accelerate climate warming.

But now, a new study reveals that the deciduous trees that are replacing burned spruce forests can more than compensate for fire-induced greenhouse gas emissions. This is because deciduous trees store carbon four times faster over a 100-year fire interval compared to spruce trees. 

According to the researchers, the findings suggest that faster-growing, less flammable deciduous forests may act as a stabilizing "firebreak" against escalating fire patterns and nutrient loss in the region.

The study was initiated in 2004 after Alaska endured an extremely severe fire season. Black spruce trees have dominated more than half of this region in the past, but aspen and birch trees have widely grown in their place after wildfires. 

The team surveyed 75 black spruce stands that burned in 2004 and followed their recovery over the next 13 years. The experts collected data from trees and soils of different ages and burn severities to construct a timeliness of how the forests evolved over a 100-year fire cycle.

Study lead author Michelle Mack is a professor of Biology at <a href="https://nau.edu/">Northern Arizona University</a>.

"In 2005, I thought that there was no way these forests could recover the carbon they lost in this fire," said Professor Mack. "The literature is full of papers suggesting deeper, more severe fires burn more carbon than can be replaced before the next fire. But not only did we see these deciduous trees make up for those losses, they did so rapidly."

The study showed that at the end of a simulated 100-year cycle, the deciduous stands had recovered as much nitrogen as was lost to fire, and more carbon than was lost.

"I was surprised that deciduous trees could replenish lost carbon so effectively and efficiently," said study co-author Professor Heather Alexander. 

"Even though considerable carbon is combusted and emitted into the atmosphere when black spruce forests burn severely, the deciduous trees that often replace them have an amazing ability to recapture and store carbon in their aboveground leaves and wood."

"In a region with only five common tree species, this study shows how changes in tree composition can dramatically alter patterns of carbon storage in boreal forests," said study co-author Jill Johnstone.

Professor Mack said carbon is just one piece of the puzzle. She noted that deciduous forests have other important feedbacks, or interconnected effects, on climate. 

"We know these forests help cool regional climate, and we know that they are less ignitable, so fires are less likely to spread. Taken together, these effects create a relatively strong set of stabilizing climate feedbacks in the boreal forest."

At the same time, there is a lot that researchers do not know about the fate of deciduous boreal forests in a warming world.

"As mature deciduous trees die, will they be replaced with trees with the same structure, composition, and carbon storage abilities?" said Professor Alexander. "And will they recover from fire with the same carbon storage capacities?"

Isla Myers-Smith is a global change ecologist at University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the study. 

"Shifts from slow-growing black spruce to fast-growing deciduous species could balance out the impacts of the intensifying fire regime in the boreal forest," said Myers-Smith. "But it remains to be seen how carbon gains balance losses in future with accelerated warming at high latitudes."The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Deciduous trees can offset carbon emissions from forest fires

As fires become more frequent and intense in Alaskan boreal...

A new study from <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/">UC Santa Cruz</a> has revealed that flood protection provided by coral reefs is worth more than $1.8 billion per year in the United States alone. The research showed that losing one meter of reef height would impact 90 percent more property and increase damages by $5.3 billion.

In collaboration with experts at the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>, the researchers also determined that the country has 200 miles of extremely valuable reefs, mainly located in Hawaii and Florida. For flood protection alone, these reefs are worth more than $1.6 million per mile annually.

"Valuing the flood risk-reduction service of existing ecosystems is one step toward managing them as natural infrastructure," said study lead author Borja Reguero. "This study provides new local information on how reefs protect communities at the building-block level, while maintaining a national focus for policy purposes."

To create detailed estimates of the value of coral reef defenses along U.S. coastlines, the researchers combined computer models of storms and waves with engineering, ecological, mapping, social, and economic tools.

The team analyzed flood risk and assessed reef benefits along reef-lined coasts of Hawaii, Florida, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

"These results identify how, where and when U.S. coral reefs provide the most significant coastal flood reduction benefits, helping state and territorial agencies better direct efforts to safeguard lives, avoid economic losses, and meet the goals of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to protect and preserve U.S. coral reefs," said study co-author Curt Storlazzi.

The study authors calculated how much critical infrastructure - including hospitals, fire stations, roads, and power plants - coral reefs protect from coastal flooding. The researchers developed new computer models that can forecast flood damages with and without coral reefs all along the shoreline at very high resolution.

"Achieving this kind of definition required a complex modeling strategy to account for all the processes relevant in coral reef environments, which are significantly different to those driving flooding in other coastlines," said Reguero. "The approach can also be applied to other ecosystems, and it now allows assessing the impacts of future changes in storms or sea level rise too."

Coral reefs are threatened across the United States, but they can recover if resources are invested in their management and restoration, according to study co-author Michael Beck, who holds the AXA Chair in Coastal Resilience at UC Santa Cruz.

"This work quantifies the critical role of reefs in flood mitigation and provides the evidence needed to invest hazard management, disaster recovery, and insurance funds in these natural defenses," said Beck. 

"We are glad to see that some of the key data and results from this work are already being used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nature Conservancy to inform reef restoration and new insurance options for reefs."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Coral reefs provide $5.3 billion in flood protection on U.S. coast

A new study from UC Santa Cruz has revealed that...

A new report published by <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/">Frontiers</a> has revealed that up to 97 percent of Earth land is no longer ecologically intact. This is ten times less than the amount of remaining intact wilderness areas found in previous assessments.

Study lead author Dr. Andrew Plumptre is head of the Key Biodiversity Areas Secretariat in Cambridge.

"We know intact habitat is increasingly being lost and the values of intact habitat have been demonstrated for both biodiversity and people, but this study found that much of what we consider as intact habitat is missing species that have been hunted by people, or lost because of invasive species or disease," explained Dr. Plumptre.

In past studies on the integrity of natural ecosystems, experts focused on mapping the human impact on wilderness areas. Maps indicated that between 20 and 40 percent of the planet's terrestrial surface remains free from major human disturbance, including development and light and noise pollution.

For the current study, Dr. Plumptre and his team took a different approach. Instead of focusing on the human impact on wilderness, they looked at Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Criterion C, which states that an intact ecological community has the full range of species known to occur in a particular site. 

Based on faunal intactness, as well as functional intactness, the researchers found that only between 2 and 3 percent of Earth's terrestrial surface qualifies as being intact. 

Among the sites that meet the study's criteria, only 11 percent are legally protected. Many of these wilderness areas coincide with territories managed by indigenous communities, which play a crucial role in maintaining them. 

"Areas identified as functionally intact included east Siberia and northern Canada for boreal and tundra biomes, parts of the Amazon and Congo basin tropical forests, and the Sahara Desert," wrote the study authors.

On the bright side, the researchers estimated that up to 20 percent of the planet's land surface could be restored to faunal intactness through reintroductions of only a few species into remaining intact habitat. 

"The results show that it might be possible to increase the area with ecological intactness back to up to 20% through the targeted reintroductions of species that have been lost in areas where human impact is still low, provided the threats to their survival can be addressed and numbers rebuilt to a level where they fulfil their functional role," explained Dr. Plumptre.

Going forward, it is important to identify areas under KBA Criterion C to help focus attention on these sites for conservation and restoration.

"It has been shown that intact habitat has important benefits for both wildlife and people and as a result needs to be a critical target of the ongoing negotiations of the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 global biodiversity framework," said Dr. Plumptre.

"Recognition of these special places within intact habitat, where you have full functional intactness, is needed and plans to focus restoration in areas where ecological integrity might be recovered."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change">Frontiers in Forests and Global Change</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Few of Earth's wilderness areas remain ecologically intact

A new report published by Frontiers has revealed that up...

A compound found in magic mushrooms may treat depression better than medication, according to a new study from the Centre for Psychedelic Research at <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a>.

The study is the most meticulous of its kind to assess the therapeutic potential of a psychedelic compound. Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, proved to be as effective in battling depression as a leading medication.

The experts compared the outcomes of two sessions of psilocybin therapy with six weeks of treatment with a common antidepressant among 59 people with moderate-to-severe depression.

The study revealed that while symptoms of depression were lowered in both groups, the reductions in the psilocybin group occurred more quickly and were greater in magnitude.

Patients treated with psilocybin exhibited noticeable improvements across a range of subjective measures, including their ability to feel pleasure and express emotions. The patients also experienced greater reductions in anxiety and increased feelings of well-being.

Dr Robin Carhart-Harris is the head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial, who designed and led the study.

"These results comparing two doses of psilocybin therapy with 43 daily doses of one of the best performing SSRI antidepressants help contextualise psilocybin's promise as a potential mental health treatment. Remission rates were twice as high in the psilocybin group than the escitalopram group," explained Dr. Carhart-Harris.

"One of the most important aspects of this work is that people can clearly see the promise of properly delivered psilocybin therapy by viewing it compared with a more familiar, established treatment in the same study. Psilocybin performed very favourably in this head-to-head."

The psilocybin group reported fewer cases of dry mouth, anxiety, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction. The most common side effect of psilocybin was headaches experienced one day after dosing sessions 

"These findings provide further support for the growing evidence base that shows that in people with depression, psilocybin offers an alternative treatment to traditional antidepressants," said Professor David Nutt, the study's principal investigator.

"In our study, psilocybin worked faster than escitalopram and was well tolerated, with a very different adverse effects profile. We look forward to further trials, which if positive should lead to psilocybin becoming a licensed medicine.

The researchers emphasized that while the findings are generally positive, the absence of a straight placebo group and the small number of participants limits conclusions about the effect of either treatment. The experts also noted that patients with depression should not attempt to self-medicate with psilocybin.

 "These latest findings build on our previous research testing psilocybin therapy for treatment resistant depression, and offer the most compelling evidence yet to support efforts towards licensing psilocybin therapy as a regulated mental health intervention. I'm deeply grateful for the philanthropic support that made this trial possible," said Dr. Carhart-Harris.

"I strongly encourage both researchers and the public to delve deeply into our results, including those available as a published appendix to the main report."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/">New England Journal of Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Compound in magic mushrooms effectively treats depression

A compound found in magic mushrooms may treat depression better...

Eurasian Blackcaps have reversed their migrations as a result of backyard gardens and climate change, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>. 

Many Blackcaps, which breed across Europe, migrate south to the Mediterranean region and Africa after the breeding season.

However, with an abundance of backyard feeders and gardens offered by people across the United Kingdom and Ireland, some populations of Blackcaps have started heading north to the British Isles for the winter. 

In addition to bird feeders and fruit-bearing plants, the Blackcaps are getting a boost from warmer weather associated with climate change. 

"Many migratory birds are in decline, but the Blackcap seems to be thriving in a changing world," said study lead author Benjamin Van Doren.

In collaboration with experts at Oxford University, the British Trust for Ornithology, and the Max Planck Institute, the researchers banded hundreds of birds at dozens of sites across the British Isles.

The team recruited citizen scientists to report sightings of the birds at feeders over the course of four winters. The experts also used geolocators to track several dozen individuals and follow their migrations throughout the year.

The study revealed that Blackcaps wintering in the British Isles move around much less than those that head south for winter. Birds that have reversed their migrations are also more likely to return to the same sites from one winter to the next. The difference could be the availability of food, according to the study authors.

"Birds that winter in the Mediterranean and Africa are primarily eating fruit and moving large distances to track local food abundance," said Van Doren. "Blackcaps wintering in British and Irish gardens have a steady, predictable food supply, and as a result they move around a lot less."

The Blackcaps seen wintering in the British Isles appear to be in better shape. The experts report that birds who frequent backyard gardens are in better body condition and maintain smaller fat reserves than individuals who embark on long southward migrations.

Furthermore, the birds were found to return from the north an average of 10 days earlier, which puts them at a major advantage.

There was evidence that backyard gardens may even be influencing the anatomy of Blackcaps. Those seen frequently in gardens had longer bills and more rounded wingtips. The researchers noted that these traits that may be linked to their more generalist diet and sedentary winter lifestyle.

"Our results show that individual Blackcaps have great flexibility in their movement patterns and how they respond to environmental conditions," said Van Doren. "Species with this kind of flexibility will probably be better equipped to face environmental changes in the coming decades."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652486">Global Change Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Backyard gardens have reversed migrations among Blackcaps

Eurasian Blackcaps have reversed their migrations as a result of...

Blow flies could provide scientists with a non-invasive way to monitor the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/legume-crops-boost-nutrition-while-protecting-the-environment/">environment</a> and important changes within ecosystems, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.indiana.edu/">Indiana University</a>. 

The research is based on the analysis of stable isotopes, which provide important information about the diet and surroundings of any given animal. 

Study co-author William Gilhooly noted that the disruptions of climate change have increased the need for new ways to monitor animals' environments without disturbing them.

"Blow flies are found on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica," said Gilhooly. "Therefore, blow flies are effectively sentinels of animal response to climate change in almost any location in the world."

More than four years ago, the researchers set out to investigate what blow flies are eating in the wild.

"We know these types of flies feed on dead animals, but until now, we really had no way of actually determining the types of carcasses they were utilizing without actually finding the carcasses themselves," explained study co-author Charity Owings. 

Stable isotopes including carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen are found in the food we eat and become a part of our body through our diet. 

"When we eat a hamburger, we are getting the carbon isotopes that came from the corn that the cow was fed. Flies do the exact same thing," said Gilhooly.

The researchers collected blow flies in Indianapolis, Yellowstone National Park,  and the Great Smoky Mountains.

"Collecting flies is easy: Have rotten meat, can travel," said Picard. "That is it: We would go someplace, open up our container of rotten meat, and the flies cannot resist and come flying in. Collections never took longer than 30 minutes, and it was like we were never there."

The blow flies were placed in a furnace to convert the nitrogen and carbon into a gas form. The gases were analyzed in a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer.

"Nitrogen and carbon isotopes hold valuable information about diet," said Gilhooly. "Animals that eat meat have high nitrogen isotope values, whereas animals that eat mainly plants have low nitrogen isotope values.

"Carbon isotopes will tell us the main form of sugar that is in a diet. Food from an American diet has a distinct isotope signature because it has a lot of corn in it, either from the corn fed to domesticated animals or high fructose corn syrup used to make most processed foods and drinks. This signal is different from the carbon isotopes of trees and other plants. These isotope patterns are recorded in the fly as they randomly sample animals in the environment."

The stable isotope analysis was used to determine whether the blow flies were feeding on carnivores or herbivores when they were larvae.

"With repeated sampling, one can keep an eye on animal health and wellness," said Picard. "If the flies indicate a sudden, massive of dead herbivores - and knowing what we know right now, that typically the herbivores are readily scavenged and not available for flies - it could tell us one of two things: Herbivores are dying, yet the scavengers don't want anything to do with them as they may be diseased; or there are more herbivores than the carnivores/scavengers, and perhaps the populations of these animals has decreased."

In Indianapolis, the majority of the blow fly larvae had been feeding on carnivores. The researchers believe this is because of the large number of animals being hit and killed by cars, making carcasses more available to the blow flies to lay their eggs.

The experts found that the larvae fed on carnivores across the national parks, despite greater numbers of herbivores. This indicates that the competition is higher to scavenge for the larger herbivore carcasses.

The study also revealed some of the impacts that humans have on the animals. The carbon isotopes of corn-based foods were present in flies from Indianapolis, as expected, but also in flies from the Great Smoky Mountains. As the most visited park in the country, scavengers have greater access to human food in the Smokies.

"This wealth of information provided by the blow flies will be fundamental to detecting changes within the ecosystem," said Picard.

"This research has the potential to revolutionize the way biologists investigate important global issues, especially in the era of climate change," said Owings. "Researchers will no longer be restricted to finding animals themselves, which is a daunting task; the flies can easily find the animals and then can be 'called in' by scientists."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Blow flies can help monitor the environment

Blow flies could provide scientists with a non-invasive way to...

Empty scenic highway in Monument Valley, Arizona, USA

Microplastics have become so prevalent in the natural environment that they now affect how plants grow and impact the air that we breathe. Plastic particles are even appearing in some of the most remote regions of the world.

According to a new study from <a href="https://www.usu.edu/">Utah State University</a>, more than 80 percent of microplastics in the atmosphere are kicked up from roadways, mainly from tires.

Understanding how microplastics move through global systems is essential to fixing the problem, said study lead author Professor Janice Brahney. Her team set out to investigate how tiny plastic particles get into the atmosphere, how long they persist, and where we can expect to find hotspots of microplastics.

The researchers examined different sources of atmospheric microplastic pollution found in the western United States over a period of 14 months. The experts determined that 84 percent of the plastic particles came from road dust, 11 percent from sea spray, and five percent originated in agricultural soil.

Microplastics from the land were found on the surface of the ocean and vice versa, confirming that the particles spread through the atmosphere. The greatest concentration of atmospheric microplastics was estimated to be over the ocean. 

Once in the atmosphere, plastics could remain airborne for up to 6.5 days - enough time to cross a continent, said study co-author Natalie Mahowald. 

The findings suggest that even after atmospheric microplastics settle on land or in water, they can re-enter the atmosphere.

The hotspots for sources of microplastics included Europe, Eastern Asia, the Middle East, India, and the United States.

According to the study authors, roads are a big source of microplastics. As vehicle tires churn, they launch tiny pieces of plastic into the atmosphere.

Ocean waves are full of insoluble plastic particles that used to be food wrappers, soda bottles, and plastic bags. These "legacy plastic" particles are churned up by waves and wind.

In agricultural fields, plastics are introduced to the soil when fertilizers from waste treatments are used. 

This study is important, said Professor Brahney, but it is just the beginning. Much more work is needed to understand how different environments may influence the movement of microplastics. 

The world hasn't slowed its production or use of plastic, noted Professor Brahney, so these questions become more pressing every passing year.

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

Roadways are a major source of atmospheric microplastic

Microplastics have become so prevalent in the natural environment that...

At the current rate of global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-will-greatly-increase-flood-related-displacement/">warming</a>, India's monsoon rainfall will become more intense and less predictable. A new study from the <a href="https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/home">Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research</a> predicts that India will endure more extremely wet years in the future, with major consequences for more than a billion people.

"As one of the integral components of the global climate system, the Indian monsoon provides water to the densely populated region of South Asia. About 80% of the annual precipitation over India occurs during the summer period supplying water to the crops during the prime agricultural season," explained the study authors. 

To investigate how India's rainfall will change as a result of global warming, the scientists compared more than 30 advanced climate models from all over the world.

"We have found robust evidence for an exponential dependence: For every degree Celsius of warming, monsoon rainfalls will likely increase by about 5%," said study lead author Anja Katzenberger.

"Hereby we were also able to confirm previous studies but find that global warming is increasing monsoon rainfall in India even more than previously thought. It is dominating monsoon dynamics in the 21st century."

The researchers explained that crop yields - especially rice yields - are highly sensitive to the monsoon rainfall variability. This means that more rainfall could do a lot of damage to the overall health and economic well-being of people across India. 

"Crops need water especially in the initial growing period, but too much rainfall during other growing states can harm plants - including rice on which the majority of India's population is depending for sustenance. This makes the Indian economy and food system highly sensitive to volatile monsoon patterns," explained study co-author Julia Pongratz.

The intensification of monsoon rainfall in India is directly tied to human activities. Human disturbances began to overtake slow natural changes beginning in the 1950s. 

For the first few decades of human-induced climate changes, aerosols played a role in blocking sunlight, which led to less rainfall. But in 1980, heat-trapping greenhouse gases took over, driving heavier and less predictable monsoon rainfall. 

Study co-author Professor Anders Levermann is a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Columbia University.

"We see more and more that climate change is about unpredictable weather extremes and their serious consequences," said Professor Levermann. "Because what is really on the line is the socio-economic well-being of the Indian subcontinent. A more chaotic monsoon season poses a threat to the agriculture and economy in the region and should be a wakeup call for policy makers to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions worldwide."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.earth-system-dynamics.net/">Earth System Dynamics</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Indian monsoon rainfall will become heavier and more erratic

At the current rate of global warming, India's monsoon rainfall...

Scientists led by <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a> have evaluated the efficiency of more than 50,000 protected areas (PAs) worldwide in preventing forest loss. The experts report that simply declaring a plot protected is not enough to guarantee conservation.

The study showed that about 71 percent of protected areas have contributed to the prevention of forest loss. However, there is considerable room for improvement, as only 30 percent of forest loss in protected areas has been prevented.

"Globally, the number and extent of terrestrial protected areas (PAs) are expanding rapidly," wrote the study authors. "Nonetheless, their impacts on preventing forest loss and the factors influencing the impacts are not well understood, despite the critical roles of forests in biodiversity conservation, provision of ecosystem services, and achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals."

According to the results of the analysis, the forests exposed to the most threats are those located close to cities. The researchers found that in these areas, strict rules must be enforced in order to stop deforestation.

"Our findings highlight the potential benefits of strict protections, involving private entities in the establishment of PAs, and situating PAs in areas exposed to high risks of forest loss to enhance the capacity to combat global forest loss."

The experts noted that more than four million square kilometers have been designated as protected areas in the past decade, yet without documentation of how effective such areas across the globe are at protecting.

The researchers emphasized that declaring an area as protected is not enough, and more attention needs to be given to improving the quality of forest protection. 

"Protecting forests is crucial to achieve sustainability," said study co-author Jianguo "Jack" Liu. "To ensure we are directing our efforts to the right places, it's important to scrutinize protected areas across the globe."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/science-of-the-total-environment">Science of the Total Environment</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Declaring an area protected is not enough to prevent forest loss

Scientists led by Michigan State University have evaluated the efficiency...

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



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

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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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

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

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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



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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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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