In the face of global biodiversity loss, protected areas have emerged as a crucial conservation strategy. These regions are set aside to limit human interference and provide wildlife with a safe space. 



Conservationists often focus on species counts when measuring success. But are these protected zones doing enough to preserve the entire structure of ecosystems?



This question is at the heart of a new study from <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swansea University</a>. Instead of focusing only on species richness, the researchers examined how protected areas affect the complex interactions between species. 



These species interactions - especially predator-prey relationships - build the food webs that make <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extinction-by-design-should-we-genetically-erase-harmful-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a> stable and functional.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-species-count-is-not-enough-nbsp">Species count is not enough&nbsp;</h2>



Species richness is important. However, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-millions-of-fungal-species-still-remain-unknown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a> are more than a list of species. The relationships between organisms play a key role in ecological balance. A hawk hunting smaller birds or a songbird feeding on insects reflects interactions that keep ecosystems working.



The Swansea team wanted to understand if protected areas help maintain this ecological balance. They examined the structure of food webs rather than just counting how many species lived in each location. 



A food web includes all the feeding relationships between animals in a region. It shows who eats whom and how energy flows through the environment.



To conduct this study, the researchers turned to citizen science. They used data from platforms like eBird, where volunteers record bird sightings. This allowed the experts to track 509 bird species across 45 ecological networks from Spain to Finland.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-webs-inside-and-outside-reserves">Food webs inside and outside reserves</h2>



Using this large database, the team combined observational bird records with known predator-prey links. For example, if a particular raptor feeds on smaller birds, that relationship was mapped. Each network captured the structure of a local bird community and its food web.



The team compared food webs inside protected areas to those in surrounding, non-protected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-lynx-day-2025-protecting-the-silent-hunters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">landscapes</a>. These comparisons were not simple. 



The researchers controlled for many variables. They looked at habitat diversity, the percentage of forest and agricultural land, and levels of human pressure.



The experts also considered the designation status of the protected areas. Some zones were part of the European Bird Directives, which provide stronger conservation measures. Others had more general protections. 



These different conservation levels allowed the team to ask whether clearer goals led to better ecological outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protected-areas-help-in-some-places">Protected areas help in some places</h2>



So, what did the researchers find? In some cases, protected areas improved the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-for-biological-diversity-2025-bonding-with-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">structure</a> of food webs. The networks inside protected zones tended to have more species overall. Intermediate-level species - those neither top predators nor at the bottom - were more common. 



Also, predators inside protected areas tended to be larger in body size, both at the top and middle levels of the food web.



However, not all of the results were encouraging. The length of food chains and the connectivity of species within the web did not show consistent improvement. In other words, simply having more species did not guarantee a healthier or more connected ecosystem.



The effects varied across Europe. Food webs in Spain responded differently from those in Finland or central Europe. This suggests that local conditions still matter greatly. Protection alone cannot guarantee the same results everywhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-behind-food-web-differences">Factors behind food web differences</h2>



What caused the variation in results? Several environmental factors played a role. Areas that were more remote generally had healthier food webs. Places with higher habitat diversity also performed better. Human pressure and the amount of nearby farmland had a strong influence too.



Interestingly, areas under the European Bird Directives showed stronger positive trends. This suggests that clearer conservation planning makes a real difference. Just designating a region as "protected" is not enough. What matters is how that protection is implemented.



Study co-author Dr. Miguel Lurgi, who leads the Computational Ecology Lab, emphasized the significance of the research. 



“Studies like ours highlight the complexity of conservation action and the importance of considering key aspects of biodiversity beyond species richness, such as ecological interactions and the tangled networks that they form, into biodiversity assessments,” noted Dr. Lurgi.



“These networks not only structure communities and enable their persistence, but they also play important roles in the functions that ecosystems fulfil in nature.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-must-protect-species-and-their-roles-nbsp">We must protect species and their roles&nbsp;</h2>



This study challenges a common assumption in conservation planning. Many projects measure success by the number of species saved. The research shows that relationships between species are equally vital. 



Protecting one bird species is good. Ensuring that it still plays its ecological role - as predator, prey, or pollinator - is better.



Protected areas clearly help in some ways. They offer space for species to live and grow. But without active planning, their impact on food webs may fall short. Conservation needs to think about networks, not just numbers.



By looking at predator-prey relationships, this research opens a path to more holistic conservation strategies. It also highlights the value of citizen science. 



Platforms like eBird make this kind of large-scale ecological work possible. Every birdwatcher’s observation helps build a clearer picture of how our ecosystems function.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protected-areas-need-better-plans">Protected areas need better plans</h2>



Europe's protected areas are not failing, but they are not universally succeeding either. They need tailored strategies, grounded in ecological data. Simple protection does not always support complex ecosystems.



This study gives policymakers a reason to refine their approaches. If the goal is to protect ecosystems, not just individual species, then conservation must shift. It must include ecological interactions, food web structures, and the subtle forces that hold nature together.



As this research shows, conservation cannot afford to stay simple. Nature is complex. Our strategies must match that complexity.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0614" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



-----



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



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



-----

Protected areas don't always protect food webs

In the face of global biodiversity loss, protected areas have emerged as a crucial conservation strategy. These regions are set aside to limit human interference and provide wildlife with a safe space. Conservationists often focus on species counts when measuring success. But are these protected zones doing enough to preserve the entire structure of ecosystems? This question is at the heart of a new study from Swansea University. Instead of focusing only on species richness, the researchers examined how protected areas affect the complex interactions between species....

In a new study published by <a href="https://www.physoc.org/">The Physiological Society</a>, experts report that leg stretches can lower your risk of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-triggers-the-onset-of-diabetes-in-some-patients/">diabetes</a> and heart disease. The study shows that 12 weeks of simple, passive stretches promote dilation of the arteries, which decreases their stiffness and improves blood flow.

Passive stretching (PS) involves another person or the force of gravity stretching you. During active stretching, on the other hand, you stretch yourself.

The changes observed in blood vessels after weeks of passive stretching could help protect against serious conditions like heart disease, the leading killer of men and women worldwide.

"This new application of stretching is especially relevant in the current pandemic period of increased confinement to our homes, where the possibility of performing beneficial training to improve and prevent heart disease, stroke and other conditions is limited," said study co-author Emiliano Ce.

For the investigation, participants were assigned to one of two groups: a group that performed leg stretches 5 times a week for 12 weeks and a control group that did not practice stretching.

The researchers analyzed the effect of passive stretching on the blood flow and found that the arteries in both the lower leg and upper arm had increased blood flow and dilation when stimulated, as well as decreased stiffness.

These improvements could prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes, which are characterized by changes in blood flow control due to impaired vascular function.

If the results are replicated in patients with vascular disease, passive stretching may ultimately serve as a new drug-free treatment for improving vascular health and would be particularly beneficial for people with limited mobility.

"Improvement in blood pressure, arterial stiffness and vascular function was noted in the arteries of the body parts directly and not directly involved in PS training of the lower limbs," wrote the study authors. "Blood pressure was decreased, central and peripheral arterial stiffness was reduced, and vascular function was increased after 12 weeks of PS training."

The research is published in <a href="https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14697793">The Journal of Physiology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Simple leg stretches can lower your risk of heart disease

In a new study published by The Physiological Society, experts...

The potential for <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/beavers-are-exposing-the-arctic-to-harsher-climate-changes/">Arctic</a> shrub communities to store carbon has been overestimated, according to researchers at the <a href="https://www.stir.ac.uk/">University of Stirling</a>.

Recent analyses of climate models have found that tundra ecosystems are becoming more productive as the Arctic warms. With an increase in photosynthesis, more carbon would be removed from the atmosphere.

However, most of these studies failed to account for what happens to the carbon after it is deposited into the soil. The majority of carbon in the Arctic is stored in soil, some of which is permafrost, or frozen soil. 

The researchers analyzed the overall carbon sequestration potential of tall shrubs in the Arctic and found that some of these ecosystem stimulate the recycling of carbon in soils, releasing it back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This means that just because shrubs are more productive, they are not necessarily boosting the amount of carbon being stored.

"While previous studies suggest that a warmer, greener Arctic may increase the rate that carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, our research identified an acceleration in the rate of loss of carbon from soils, back into the atmosphere," explained Professor Philip Wookey.

"This may more than offset carbon sequestration and would, unexpectedly, turn these ecosystems into a net source of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Significantly, current ecosystem and climate models do not account for this conundrum, which means we may be underestimating future climate feedbacks from Arctic ecosystems."

The investigation was focused on data from a field experiment conducted in 2013 and 2014 in the Mackenzie Uplands of Northwest Territories, Canada. The goal was to analyze how carbon has cycled in plants and soils over the past 50 years. 

The team found evidence that birch shrubs in Arctic tundra are strongly linked to the release of old carbon stored in soil organic matter. However, this was not the case with alder, a different type of Arctic shrub.

"We think this is because, in birch, the products of photosynthesis are transferred to the soil through fungal symbionts, which stimulate the decomposition of soil organic material as a means of releasing the nutrients, like nitrogen, that the birch shrubs require to grow," said Dr. Lorna Street.

"By contrast, in alder, photosynthesis products are mostly retained in plant tissues because alder often has the help of microorganisms in the roots, which are capable of 'fixing' nitrogen directly from the atmosphere."

"These findings indicate that, if - as evidence has suggested - shrub birch proliferates in tundra ecosystems over the next decades, this might directly stimulate the loss, through accelerated decomposition, of pre-existing soil carbon as carbon dioxide."

 "If our results apply across permafrost tundra regions, this suggests there is a previously unaccounted for process which could push the system towards the upper end of those predictions. This is hugely important as it means we may need to do more than currently expected, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions reductions, to meet our climate targets."

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

&nbsp;

Arctic shrubs will not store as much carbon as expected

The potential for Arctic shrub communities to store carbon has...

A small variation in the genetic structure of SARS-CoV-2 led to a more infectious type of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/far-uvc-light-kills-99-9-percent-of-airborne-coronaviruses/">virus</a>, which is now the most dominant strain circulating worldwide. Experts at the <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/">University of Sheffield</a> discovered the mutation while analyzing genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 strains.

"It is possible to track SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) evolution globally because researchers worldwide are rapidly making their viral sequence data available through the GISAID viral sequence database," said study lead author Dr. Bette Korber of the <a href="https://www.lanl.gov/">Los Alamos National Laboratory</a>. 

"Currently tens of thousands of sequences are available through this project, and this enabled us to identify the emergence of a variant that has rapidly become the globally dominant form."

The researchers found that the mutated virus is more infectious in cell cultures under laboratory conditions. This is because the variant, named D614G, changes the spike protein on the surface of the virus so that it is more successful at entering and infecting human cells. According to the experts, the change made by D614G is very small yet effective.

"It's remarkable to me that this increase in infectivity was detected by careful observation of sequence data alone, and that our experimental colleagues could confirm it with live virus in such a short time," said study co-author Dr. Will Fischer.

The analysis revealed that the D614G variant of SARS-CoV-2 became the dominant strain soon after it first appeared. Geographic samples reveal a significant shift from the original to the new strain of the virus.

"We have been sequencing SARS-CoV-2 strains in Sheffield since early in the pandemic and this allowed us to partner with our collaborators to show this mutation had become dominant in circulating strains," said Dr. Thushan de Silva, who led the analysis of data. "The full peer-reviewed study published today confirms this, and also that the new D614G genome mutation variant is also more infectious under laboratory conditions."

"Data provided by our team in Sheffield suggested that the new strain was associated with higher viral loads in the upper respiratory tract of patients with Covid-19, meaning the virus's ability to infect people could be increased."

Dr. de Silva said that fortunately at this stage, it does not seem that viruses with D614G cause more severe disease. However, the researchers emphasized that further laboratory analysis in live cells is needed to determine the full implications of the mutation.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

More infectious strain of COVID-19 evolved and took over

A small variation in the genetic structure of SARS-CoV-2 led...

Climate change will impact the reproductive success of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fish-pass-down-impacts-of-chemical-exposure-for-generations/">fish</a> worldwide, according to an alarming new study. The researchers estimate that rising water temperatures will limit the reproductive ability of up to 60 percent of all fish species.

The study authors report that the risks for fish are much higher than previously realized, especially given the fact that in certain developmental stages they are extremely sensitive to rising water temperatures. 

Fish have a low tolerance for heat during mating, which means the water temperature in a spawning area has a major influence on how successfully fish reproduce. With this is mind, fish will struggle in every type of  ecosystem that is affected by global warming.

The researchers estimate that as many as 60 percent of fish species will ultimately be forced to abandon their traditional spawning areas due to rising temperatures.

Fish and all animals need more energy in hotter temperatures, and therefore need more oxygen.

Organisms can only adapt to warmer water by providing their bodies with more oxygen. However, some species are more limited than others in obtaining additional oxygen.

A team of experts at the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en.html">Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)</a> set out to investigate when fish are the most sensitive to heat throughout their lifetime. 

The researchers analyzed data on the temperature tolerance of 694 saltwater and freshwater fish species. They examined the temperature that fish can survive in various life phases: as adults ready to mate, embryos in eggs, larvae, and as adults outside the mating season.

"Our findings show that, both as embryos in eggs and as adults ready to mate, fish are far more sensitive to heat than in their larval stage or sexually mature adults outside the mating season," said study first author Dr. Flemming Dahlke. 

"On the global average, for example, adults outside the mating season can survive in water that's up to 10 degrees Celsius warmer than adults ready to mate or fish eggs can."

Fish embryos have no gills to take in more oxygen, while fish that are ready to mate have extra body mass and higher oxygen needs. Even at lower water temperatures, fish are under more cardiovascular strain when they are ready to mate.

The experts report that with every degree Celsius of warming, the pressure on fish stocks will increase. 

"If we human beings can successfully limit climate warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the year 2100, only ten percent of the fish species we investigated will be forced to leave their traditional spawning areas due to rising temperatures," said study  co-author Prof Hans-Otto Pörtner. 

By contrast, if greenhouse-gas emissions remain, average global warming is expected to hit 5 degrees Celsius or more. At this point, up to 60 percent of all fish species will become endangered.

In order to survive future warming, the affected species will have to either adapt through the lengthy process of biological evolution, mate at another time of the year, or find new spawning grounds. Some fish in rivers and lakes, however, are greatly limited so not have many options when it comes to seeking out deeper or cooler waters.

"Some species might successfully manage this change," said Dr. Dahlke. "But if you consider the fact that fish have adapted their mating patterns to specific habitats over extremely long timeframes, and have tailored their mating cycles to specific ocean currents and available food sources, it has to be assumed that being forced to abandon their normal spawning areas will mean major problems for them." 

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

Fish worldwide are shockingly vulnerable to climate change

Climate change will impact the reproductive success of fish worldwide,...

Multiplying by seven is not a reliable method for calculating a dog's <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exercise-can-boost-brain-health-at-any-age/">age</a> in human years, according to a new study. Researchers at <a href="https://medschool.ucsd.edu/Pages/default.aspx">UC San Diego School of Medicine</a> created a formula that more accurately compares the ages of humans and dogs by tracking changes in genetic expression.

The formula is based on the shifting patterns of methyl groups in dog and human genomes as they age. The new methylation-based technique is the first that is universal across species. According to the researchers, it may provide a useful tool for veterinarians, and for evaluating anti-aging interventions.

"There are a lot of anti-aging products out there these days - with wildly varying degrees of scientific support," said study senior author Dr. Trey Ideker. 

"But how do you know if a product will truly extend your life without waiting 40 years or so? What if you could instead measure your age-associated methylation patterns before, during and after the intervention to see if it's doing anything?" 

The formula created in the study provides a new "epigenetic clock" that assesses age based on changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression.

Throughout the lives of humans and other species, chemical modifications - like methylation - occur in response to our age, diet, health, environment, and other factors. These epigenetic modifications actually change which genes are expressed and which are suppressed without altering the DNA sequence itself.

Dr. Ideker explained that epigenetic changes provide scientists with clues to a genome's age.

To compare human and dog aging, Dr. Ideker and study first author Dr. Tina Wang collaborated with experts in dog genetics to analyze blood samples and genomic data from 105 Labrador retrievers. 

Dogs live so closely with humans  that their environmental and chemical exposures are very similar to ours. Dr. Ideker said it is important that we better understand their aging process, as veterinarians frequently use the 1:7 years ratio to determine age and guide diagnostic and treatment decisions.

The study authors have produced a <a href="http://go.ucsd.edu/2Ze8ZCd">graph</a> that can be used to calculate a dog's age in human years. It turns out, the comparable age of dogs starts out much differently than a 1:7 ratio. 

When dogs are young, they age much more rapidly than humans. A one-year-old dog is similar to a 30-year-old human, while a four-year-old dog is similar to a 52-year-old human. By seven years old, dog aging slows dramatically.

"This makes sense when you think about it - after all, a nine-month-old dog can have puppies, so we already knew that the 1:7 ratio wasn't an accurate measure of age," said Dr. Ideker.

Further research is needed to confirm the accuracy of the new epigenetic clock in other dog breeds. Since it is accurate for humans and mice as well as Labrador retrievers, Dr. Ideker predicts the technique will apply to all dog breeds.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-systems/home">Cell Systems</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

In human years, your dog is not the age you expect

Multiplying by seven is not a reliable method for calculating...

A new study has demonstrated that the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/filtration-metals-beer-wine/">metals</a> used in fireworks to produce vibrant colors can damage the health of humans and animals. Lead, copper, titanium, and other toxic metals are released into the air during fireworks displays.

Researchers at <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/our-community/about-us">NYU Grossman School of Medicine</a> investigated the potential health impacts of some of the most popular commercially-available fireworks. They found that two common types of fireworks contained harmful levels of lead.

The team conducted lab experiments with rodents and human tissue. The results showed that lung exposure to particle emissions from five types of fireworks increased oxidation, a chemical process in the body that can damage and kill cells.

"While many are careful to protect themselves from injury from explosions, our results suggest that inhaling firework smoke may cause longer-term damage, a risk that has been largely ignored," said study senior author Dr. Terry Gordon.

The researchers analyzed air quality samples that had been collected by the EPA at dozens of sites across the U.S. over 14 years. The analysis revealed that toxic metals were more prevalent in samples taken around the time of Independence Day and New Year's Eve celebrations than at any other time of the year. 

"Although people are only exposed to these substances for a short time each year, they are much more toxic than the pollutants we breathe every day," explained Dr. Gordon.

According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, more than 258 million pounds of fireworks are purchased every year in the United States. When the metals are exposed to high temperatures, a chemical reaction generates flashes of specific colors. For example, strontium produces red flashes of light, while copper produces blue flashes.

The researchers said this study is likely the first of its kind to examine the effects of firework exposure in human cells and in living animals, and to test for particles of common firework metals ejected into the atmosphere.

Black Cuckoo, a fountain-style firework, was found to be the most toxic of those studied. Compared to a nontoxic saline solution, exposure to Black Cuckoo was 10 times more damaging to human cells.

Dr. Gordon said that the current study is just the first step in the investigation, as it has only addressed the potential effects of a single exposure to the metals in fireworks. Repeated exposure is likely a larger concern, he noted. 

The study is published in the <a href="https://particleandfibretoxicology.biomedcentral.com/">Particle and Fibre Toxicology Journal</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Fireworks release toxic metals that harm human cells

A new study has demonstrated that the metals used in...

Scientists at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> have identified a radar signature that could prove to be critical for determining which storms will produce tornadoes. The research may ultimately lead to more reliable forecasts and life-saving tornado warnings.

"Identifying which storms are going to produce tornadoes and which are not has been a problem meteorologists have been trying to tackle for decades," said Scott Loeffler. "This new research may give forecasters another tool in their toolbox to do just that."

Supercell thunderstorms are the source of most tornadoes. The analysis of radar data from more than 100 supercell thunderstorms revealed a significant difference in the structure of storms that triggered a tornado compared to storms that did not.

"These findings have potentially large implications for the accuracy and confidence of tornado warnings and public safety during severe storms," said Professor Matthew Kumjian. "We look forward to getting this information in the hands of operational meteorologists to assess the impact it has."

The researchers explained that tornado warning times have improved over the last several decades, thanks in part to numerical modeling research and intensive field campaigns, but decision-makers often must rely on readily available information like radar data when issuing storm warnings. 

Using conventional weather radar systems, it is difficult to distinguish between tornadic and nontornadic supercells. In 2013, the United States upgraded its radar network to include polarimetric capabilities, which provide more details about storms such as the shape and size of raindrops.

The scientists used polarimetric radar data to compare areas within supercell storms that contained large raindrops and regions with smaller drops and denser rain. The study revealed that the two types of areas were positioned differently in tornadic and nontornadic storms.

"We found for nontornadic supercells, the orientation of the separation between these two areas tended to be more parallel to the direction of the storm's motion," said Loeffler. "And for tornadic supercells, the separation tended to be more perpendicular. So we saw this shift in the angles, and we saw this as a consistent trend."

Loeffler noted the algorithm from the study can easily be adapted so operational forecasters could use the program in real time with the latest radar data available.

"Many factors go into issuing a tornado warning, but perhaps knowing the orientation in real time could help them make a decision to pull the trigger or to hold off," said Loeffler.

Further research will provide more insight into the relationship between the orientations and tornado formation.

The study is published in <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19448007">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Radar signature will improve tornado forecasting

Scientists at Penn State have identified a radar signature that...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/health-benefits-of-breast-milk-improved-through-exercise/">Exercise</a> can reduce or prevent the loss of vision loss associated with macular degeneration, according to new research from the <a href="https://med.virginia.edu/">University of Virginia School of Medicine</a>. The study also suggests that exercise slows the progression of other serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

The experts report that the research is the first of its kind to show that exercise can reduce the severity of macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of vision loss. An estimated ten million Americans suffer from macular degeneration, and the eye disease can lead to legal blindness.

The progression of the disease moves faster if an individual develops wet macular degeneration, which is characterized by an overgrowth of blood vessels behind the macula that leak blood or fluid.

Using a mouse model, the experts found that exercise reduced the harmful overgrowth of blood vessels in the eyes by up to 45 percent. 

"There has long been a question about whether maintaining a healthy lifestyle can delay or prevent the development of macular degeneration," said study lead author Dr. Bradley.

"The way that question has historically been answered has been by taking surveys of people, asking them what they are eating and how much exercise they are performing. That is basically the most sophisticated study that has been done." 

"The problem with that is that people are notoriously bad self-reporters, and that can lead to conclusions that may or not be true. This study offers hard evidence from the lab for the very first time."

The findings indicate that the protective effects of exercise on eye health are produced with even low levels of physical activity.

"Mice are kind of like people in that they will do a spectrum of exercise. As long as they had a wheel and ran on it, there was a benefit," said Dr. Gelfand. "The benefit that they obtained is saturated at low levels of exercise."

It is not yet clear how exercise prevents the overgrowth of blood vessels. The researchers said there could be a variety of factors at play, including increased blood flow to the eyes. Dr. Gelfand noted that the onset of vision loss is often associated with a decrease in exercise. 

"It is fairly well known that as people's eyes and vision deteriorate, their tendency to engage in physical activity also goes down. It can be a challenging thing to study in older people. How much of that is one causing the other?"

"The next step is to look at how and why this happens, and to see if we can develop a pill or method that will give you the benefits of exercise without having to exercise." 

"We're talking about a fairly elderly population, many of whom may not be capable of conducting the type of exercise regimen that may be required to see some kind of benefit." 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://iovs.arvojournals.org/">Investigative Ophthalmology &amp; Visual Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exercise can reduce or prevent vision loss 

Exercise can reduce or prevent the loss of vision loss...

During the last Ice Age, sea levels were much lower than today, and the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/virus-killing-dolphins/">coastline</a> of  Australia 160 kilometers farther offshore. As the ice melted and sea levels rose, about two million square kilometers of the continent was submerged, including places where Aboriginal Australians once lived.

A study led by Jonathan Benjamin of <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au/">Flinders University</a> has now documented the first confirmed underwater Aboriginal archaeological sites off the coast of Australia. 

"Managing, investigating and understanding the archaeology of the Australian continental shelf in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional owners and custodians is one of the last frontiers in Australian archaeology," said Benjamin.

"Our results represent the first step in a journey of discovery to explore the potential of archaeology on the continental shelves which can fill a major gap in the human history of the continent."

The findings are the result of extensive field research conducted from 2017 to 2019. The team used aerial and underwater remote sensing technologies to search for submerged archaeological sites, and deployed divers to directly investigate.

The search zeroed in on two specific areas off the Murujuga coast of northwest Australia: Cape Bruguieres Channel and Flying Foam Passage. These sites represent the first confirmed underwater archaeological sites found on Australia's continental shelf.

In Cape Bruguieres Channel, divers identified 269 artefacts that date back at least 7,000 years. One particular artifact recovered from a freshwater spring in Flying Foam Passage dated back at least 8,500 years. 

The findings demonstrate the usefulness of the exploratory techniques used for the study. According to the experts, the research serves as a foundation for developing new strategies to identify submerged archaeological targets on the Australian continental shelf and elsewhere.

"Emphasis is also placed on the need for legislation to better protect and manage underwater cultural heritage on the 2 million square kilometers of drowned landscapes that were once available for occupation in Australia, and where a major part of its human history must lie waiting to be discovered."

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

&nbsp;

First underwater Aboriginal sites have been discovered 

During the last Ice Age, sea levels were much lower...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en">University of Helsinki</a> report that wildlife tourism has enormous potential for supporting <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/conservation-efforts-are-needed-to-save-california-salmon/">conservation</a> efforts. According to the study authors, failing to encourage tourists to do more on behalf of wildlife represents a missed opportunity for conservation. 

Study lead author Dr. Alvaro Fernández-Llamazares is a researcher at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science.

"We argue that the combination of emotional engagement and knowledge-driven action provided by wildlife-based tours will pave the way for a new area of conservation-oriented tourism," said Dr. Fernández-Llamazares.

"Some years ago I took a whale-watching tour in Iceland, and it surprised me to see that while the guide provided very detailed information about the ecology, life cycle and foraging habits of whales, she did not mention any single time the huge conservation threats that these animals are facing."

"My colleagues had noticed similar patterns in other corners of the world. Concerned about this, we decided to thoroughly review the academic literature on wildlife-based tourism and examine to which extent was conservation messaging lacking in wildlife-based tours."

Upon their review, the researchers found that many mainstream wildlife-based tourism operations fail to incorporate messages about conservation into their programs.

"There is increasing research evidence that wildlife-based tourism could help to transform the environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of tourists through first-hand encounters with wildlife, complemented by effective conservation messaging," said Dr. Fernández-Llamazares. "However, such conservation messaging is not always a priority for many wildlife-based tourism operators, who often fail to provide a well-designed environmental interpretation."

Previous research has shown that the emotional and educational experience of viewing wildlife firsthand presents many opportunities to inform tourists on how to engage in conservation action.

"I have experienced it myself: when you have the opportunity to see wildlife in situ, it creates a deep emotional connection between you and wildlife. However, as tourists we do not always have the tools to act beyond that experience, to transform the emotional bonds towards environmental stewardship," said study co-author Aina Brias-Guinart. 

"For this reason, in this study, we thought of a set of principles that wildlife-based tourism operators could use to maximize the conservation potential of the tourist experience."

The study authors have proposed new ideas to improve the conservation messaging of wildlife tourism based on five principles: promote positive messaging, provide actionable information, engage tourists in research and practice, link experience with consumption choices, and foster long-term interactions. These concepts promote emotional engagement among tourists while empowering them to take meaningful conservation action.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/25758314">People and Nature</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Wildlife tourism has the potential to transform conservation

Experts at the University of Helsinki report that wildlife tourism...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en">University of Turku</a> have discovered 40 new <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/threats-posed-by-invasive-species-are-enormous/">species</a> so far this year, including 17 spiders, 23 insects, one millipede, and one lizard. In addition, the experts have described four genera that were previously unknown.

Based on patterns of biodiversity, scientists have reached different conclusions about how many species that are yet to be discovered on Earth. By all accounts, there are millions more that are unknown. 

Recent estimates show that around 15 million species exist, yet only two million have been scientifically described. At the current rate of biodiversity loss, we are losing groups before they are ever even found. Discovering new species gives us an opportunity to protect them.

Ilari E. Sääksjärvi is a professor in the Biodiversity Unit at the University of Turku.

"Biodiversity is declining at an accelerating rate and, according to estimates, even a million organisms are in danger of becoming extinct in the next few decades. If we want to protect nature's biodiversity as efficiently as possible, we have to discover as many species as we can," said Professor Sääksjärvi.

In one of the most recent studies from the Biodiversity Unit, phD candidate Alireza Zamani described a new spider, Loureedia phoenixi. The spider was named after Joaquin Phoenix because the bright colors on its back form a pattern that resembles the face paint of the movie character Joker.

"The discovery was amazing as the new species belongs to the genus of velvet spiders, of which only few species have been known so far," said Zamani. 

"They are very shy in their habits so discovering a new species was a great and welcome surprise. The species in this genus are amazingly beautiful and colorful so I hope this new discovery can make people understand the beauty and importance of spiders." 

"We discovered the species from an area that is about 1,500 kilometers outside the known geographical distribution of the Loureedia genus."

Turku researchers have also described tropical parasitoid wasps belonging to the Acrotaphus and Hymenoepimecis genera. The wasps are parasites that prey on spiders and manipulate them in complex ways. The wasp lays its egg on the spider and then manipulates it into spinning a web for its own nesting purposes. 

The team closely studied the Varanus bennetti monitor lizard in the Pacific island nation of Micronesia and drew some important conclusions. Valter Weijola and Varpu Vahtera discovered a new group that was hidden in plain sight.

"The monitor lizard species that was first considered an invasive species to Micronesia turned out to be two separate species native to the islands. We described one of these as new to science," said the  researchers.

The Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku has become well-established in exploring the biodiversity of unknown ecosystems. The team describes dozens of new species each year, and in 2020, they are still counting.

"Our goal is to discover new species and tell their story to the world. At the moment, we are in the process of describing even more new species and genera." 

"Many of these animals live in areas that might transform or even disappear in the next few years. Describing new species to science is a race against the clock." 

"We hope that our research draws people's attention to the life of these unique species and thus promotes the conservation of biodiversity."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://kmkjournals.com/journals/AS">Arthropoda Selecta</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Turku scientists "race against the clock" to save biodiversity

Researchers at the University of Turku have discovered 40 new...

A new study published by the <a href="https://www.sfn.org/">Society for Neuroscience</a> has revealed that resistance training does not just make your <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/death-marker-protein-rejuvenates-muscles-after-exercise/">muscles</a> stronger, but also improves the function of the body's central nervous system. The investigators discovered that in the first few weeks of weight lifting, a major component of the nervous system is strengthened.

The research showed that the early stages of resistance training reinforce the reticulospinal tract, which supports posture and locomotion. This means that the positive results of weight lifting extend beyond what is visible. 

Two major neural highways, or motor tracts, descend from the brain to the spinal cord to facilitate movement: the corticospinal tract (CST) and reticulospinal tract (RST). The CST is believed to be the dominant pathway, while the RST is responsible for controlling posture. The new study suggests that the RST also plays a central role in building up physical strength. 

The researchers did not detect any changes in the corticospinal tract during weight training, indicating that an increase in body strength must originate in the RST, which is the more primitive motor pathway.

Study co-authors Isabel Glover and Stuart Baker are experts at Newcastle University's Institute of Neuroscience. For the investigation, the researchers trained monkeys to pull a weighted handle using one arm, and gradually increased the weight being lifted over twelve weeks. 

Each day, the scientists stimulated the motor cortex and the two motor tracts while measuring the resulting electrical activity in the arm muscles. 

Over the course of the training period, the electrical response in the motor cortex and the reticulospinal tract increased, which means the signaling across this motor tract was improved. 

After three more months of training, stimulation of  the reticulospinal tract triggered a greater response in the side of the spinal cord connected to the arm that was used for weight lifting.

The finding that the electrical outputs of the reticulospinal tract became more powerful during weight training confirms that this motor tract is the driving force behind physical strength. 

"We provide the first report of a strength training intervention in non-human primates. Our results indicate that strength training is associated with neural adaptations in intracortical and reticulospinal circuits, whilst corticospinal and motoneuronal adaptations are not dominant factors," wrote the researchers. 

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/">Journal of Neuroscience</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Weight lifting strengthens the body's nervous system

A new study published by the Society for Neuroscience has...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



---



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



---



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

News coming your way