Skipping a meal can feel like an open invitation to raid the fridge later. Scientists have long suspected that memory influences those cravings, but the brain circuitry behind it remained a mystery.



Scott Kanoski from <a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USC Dornsife</a> and his colleagues now say they have cracked part of the code. Their latest study, which was focused on rats, identifies neurons that save a “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-bacteria-get-hungry-they-turn-on-each-other/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meal</a> memory,” recording both what was eaten and when.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-brain-remembers-meals">Why the brain remembers meals</h2>



Each eating episode imprints a specialized <a href="https://arxiv.org/html/2506.01659v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">engram</a>, a physical trace of memory that carries sensory and temporal details. 



When the team monitored rodents, cells in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/ventral-hippocampus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ventral hippocampus</a> lit up between bites, not during chewing, hinting that quiet pauses are prime time for filing the experience.



“These meal engrams function like sophisticated biological databases,” said Kanoski, the study’s senior author. He explains that location, flavor, and time stamp are <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3607652/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bundled together</a> in that brief neural flash.



Human data back up the idea. Remembering a recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-food-day-fighting-global-hunger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunch</a> can trim afternoon snack intake by as much as 30 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-meal-memories-form">How meal memories form</h2>



The researchers tagged the active neurons with fluorescent markers and saw a tight cluster in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/hippocampal-ca1-region" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hippocampal area CA1</a>. Destroying just that cluster erased the animals’ recollection of a prior feeding spot while leaving other spatial memories intact.



Calcium imaging showed the same cells projecting to the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-025-01451-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lateral hypothalamus</a>, a region that governs hunger. Block that highway and the rats forgot where they last ate, then returned to the bowl sooner than usual.



The brain fails to properly catalog the meal experience when attention drifts, noted study lead author Lea Décarie‑Spain. This raises a practical concern for phone‑scrolling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diners</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-memory-affects-meal-timing">How memory affects meal timing</h2>



Meal memories don’t just help us remember what we <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-our-brains-tell-us-when-we-need-to-eat-or-drink-neurons-hunger-thirst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ate</a>, they also influence when we eat again. In rodent models, weakening this memory system led to shorter intervals between meals, while stronger engrams delayed the next eating session. 



The results suggest that our brains rely on memory to set an internal clock for hunger, not just fullness. In humans, this could explain why some people feel hungry soon after eating when their <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666322002276" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">attention</a> was divided. 



If the brain fails to register that a meal happened, the hunger signal may reboot on a faster schedule, leading to more frequent snacking. This highlights how memory is just as important as metabolism when it comes to managing appetite.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-meal-memory-fails">When meal memory fails</h2>



People with <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10852764/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dementia</a> often eat back‑to‑back meals because the earlier one never registers. Clinical reports list overeating among the most common behavioral changes in late‑stage dementia.



Similar lapses can occur in healthy adults after a busy day. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666322005025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imagining</a> a meal as larger or more satisfying cuts later cookie consumption, showing the brain’s bookkeeping matters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-distracted-eating-trap">The distracted eating trap</h2>



Modern life bombards us with screens that steal those pause‑and‑encode moments. Lab studies find that people who eat while multitasking consume more calories at the next opportunity.



Kanoski’s team argues that distraction weakens the hippocampal trace. Without a solid record, the hypothalamus treats the body as unfed and restarts the appetite drive.



This might help explain why eating at desks or in front of the TV is linked to unintentional weight gain. When the brain doesn’t register the meal, it leaves the hunger signal switched on.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meal-memory-and-hunger-control">Meal memory and hunger control</h2>



Neuroscientists have long known the hypothalamus pushes behavior like a gas pedal, yet what taps the pedal has been murkier. The current work shows that a direct line from the memory hub to the feeding hub times the signal.



The <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4927193/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lateral hypothalamus</a> has a storied past in appetite research, housing neurons that boost seeking and reward. Earlier reviews mapped extensive circuits, but this hippocampal branch clarifies why timing matters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-obesity-care">Implications for obesity care</h2>



Traditional weight‑loss plans emphasize willpower and portion control. The new data suggest that strengthening meal memory could be just as important.



Mindful eating programs already encourage slow, undistracted bites. By reinforcing the engram, such habits may reduce the urge for extra snacks later.



Pharmaceutical routes may follow. Kanoski’s group found that serotonin‑2A receptors on the same cells modulate the effect, suggesting a possible drug target.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tips-for-sharper-meal-memories">Tips for sharper meal memories</h2>



Sit at a table without your phone and notice the first and last bite. Tiny rituals like describing flavors out loud can anchor the episode in neural storage.



Pause for twenty seconds after swallowing, allowing the hippocampus its encoding window. Keep meals in consistent locations to help your brain form spatial associations.



Journaling meals shortly after eating may also help solidify the memory. Even a quick voice note could enhance recall and reinforce satiety.



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



The team plans to test whether similar neurons exist in humans using functional MRI. If so, brain‑stimulation trials might help people with overeating disorders rebuild the missing diary.



Nutrition scientists also want to see if high‑sugar or high‑fat foods blur the trace faster than protein‑rich meals. Such work could explain why some diets promote grazing behavior.



The research also holds implications for aging. If meal engrams degrade over decades, reinforcing them early might stave off later metabolic issues.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59687-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Our brain has a 'meal memory' that controls hunger

Skipping a meal can feel like an open invitation to raid the fridge later. Scientists have long suspected that memory influences those cravings, but the brain circuitry behind it remained a mystery. Scott Kanoski from USC Dornsife and his colleagues now say they have cracked part of the code. Their latest study, which was focused on rats, identifies neurons that save a “meal memory,” recording both what was eaten and when. Why the brain remembers meals Each eating episode imprints a specialized engram, a physical trace of memory...

The extinction rate of land vertebrates is accelerating, and the pressures of human activities are to blame. As vital ecosystem services are lost, humans will be forced to face dire consequences.

In a 2015 study, <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a> Professor Paul Ehrlich and colleagues warned that Earth's sixth mass extinction was already underway. Five years later, Professor Ehrlich is reporting that the situation is even worse than what was previously described. 

The research indicates that the wildlife trade, combined with other human impacts, has wiped out hundreds of species and endangered others at an unprecedented rate.

Across the entire 20th century, around 543 land vertebrate species were pushed to extinction. The current study shows that nearly the same number of species are likely to go extinct in the next two decades alone.

According to the researchers, the cascading effects of this trend include increased threats to human health, such as COVID-19. 

"When humanity exterminates populations and species of other creatures, it is sawing off the limb on which it is sitting, destroying working parts of our own life-support system," said Professor Ehrlich.

"The conservation of endangered species should be elevated to a national and global emergency for governments and institutions, equal to climate disruption to which it is linked."

Human population growth, the wildlife trade, pollution, habit destruction, and climate change are placing an enormous amount of strain on thousands of critically endangered species worldwide. 

The loss of land vertebrates will cause ecosystems to become unstable and will weaken their ability to regulate water and air quality, pollinate crops, and to provide people with protection from natural disasters and disease.

To measure the extent of the extinction crisis, the researchers analyzed the abundance and distribution of critically endangered species. They identified 515 species of land vertebrates that are on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining. Half of these species have fewer than 250 individuals. 

Among the 515 endangered land vertebrate species, more than 237,000 local populations have completely vanished since 1900.

As more and more populations are wiped out, it becomes difficult for a species to serve its function in an ecosystem, which can trigger a domino effect of extinctions. 

"What we do to deal with the current extinction crisis in the next two decades will define the fate of millions of species," said study lead author Gerardo Ceballos. "We are facing our final opportunity to ensure that the many services nature provides us do not get irretrievably sabotaged."

The researchers propose a global agreement to ban the trade of wild animal species. They argue that the illegal capture or hunting of wild animals for food, pets, and medicine is a fundamental ongoing threat not only to wildlife, but also to human health. 

The experts noted that COVID-19, which is believed to have originated in bats and jumped to humans through an intermediate host in a live animal market, is an example of how the wildlife trade endangers humans. 

"It's up to us to decide what kind of a world we want to leave to coming generations - a sustainable one, or a desolate one in which the civilization we have built disintegrates rather than builds on past successes," said study co-author Peter Raven.

The study is published in the <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

&nbsp;

Land vertebrates are vanishing at an unprecedented rate

The extinction rate of land vertebrates is accelerating, and the...

A new study from <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a> suggests that the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/what-we-observe-in-early-life-teaches-our-brain-how-to-see/">brain</a> is better at committing things to memory when it is prepared. The researchers discovered that when neurons are activated in the hippocampus, the brain's ability to form new memories is enhanced. 

The experts analyzed neuronal recordings from the brains of epilepsy patients while they were introduced to a series of words. The researchers found that if the firing rates of hippocampal neurons were already high before an individual was presented with a word, that particular word was more successfully encoded and recalled later.

According to study first author Zhisen Urgolites, the findings suggest that when hippocampal neurons are not already spiking, novel information is more likely to be poorly encoded and later forgotten.

The research also indicates that the hippocampus is equipped with a "ready-to-encode" mode that enhances memory. 

"A key question going forward is how to put our brains into 'encoding mode' when we wish to do so," said co-lead author Professor John Wixted.

"'Encoding mode' is more than simply paying attention to the task at hand. It is paying attention to encoding, which selectively ramps up activity in the part of the brain that is the most important for making new memories: the hippocampus." 

"Since we know, based on earlier research, that people can actively suppress memory formation, it might be possible for people to get their hippocampus ready to encode as well. But how one might go about doing that, we just don't know yet."

At Barrow Neurological Institute, neuronal recordings were captured from the hippocampus, amygdala, anterior cingulate, and prefrontal cortex in 34 epilepsy patients.

Experiments were designed for the patients to either see or hear a steady stream of words. The individuals were asked to indicate whether each word was new or if it was a repeat. 

The researchers calculated the average number of times a neuron fired in response to every word that was introduced. The team also documented the neuronal firing rates immediately preceding each word. 

The study revealed that the firing rate in the hippocampus approximately one second before seeing or hearing a word could reliably predict whether the participants would remember the word when it was repeated. 

"If a person's hippocampal neurons were already firing above baseline when they saw or heard a word, their brain was more likely to successfully remember that word later," said Professor Stephen Goldinger of Arizona State University.

The neuronal activity in the amygdala, anterior cingulate, and prefrontal cortex provided no indication of whether a word would be committed to memory. 

"We think new memories are created by sparse collections of active neurons, and these neurons get bundled together into a memory," said Professor Goldinger. 

"This work suggests that when a lot of neurons are already firing at high levels, the neuronal selection process during memory formation works better."

The study is published in the <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

&nbsp;

Brain activity shows the prime time to form memories

A new study from UC San Diego suggests that the...

A new study suggests that male college students who play video games are less physically active and have poorer eating habits. The research may help to inform colleges and universities on ways to more effectively educate students about diet and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/death-marker-protein-rejuvenates-muscles-after-exercise/">exercise</a>.

Previous studies have established a link between gaming and a higher risk of excessive weight and poor diets among children, but the current study is one of the first to examine the health-related effects of video games in college students. 

"It's important to understand that video games are a risk factor for poor lifestyle habits that may contribute to poor health," said study co-author Dustin Moore of the University of New Hampshire. 

"We know that habits developed in adolescence and early adulthood can stick with people for the rest of their lives, so if we can encourage video game users to eat healthier and exercise more, we could help them live healthier without completely giving up video games."

Moore will present the research as part of Nutrition 2020 live online, a virtual meeting hosted by the <a href="https://nutrition.org/">American Society for Nutrition</a> (ASN).

The study was focused on data from the ongoing College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey (CHANAS), which involves over 1,000 male college students between the ages 18 and 24 at the University of New Hampshire. The survey is directed by principal lecturer and research leader Dr. Jesse Stabile Morrell.

The participants were asked to report on the daily amount of time they spent playing video games and to record the food they ate three days out of the week. Meanwhile, physical activity was tracked with a pedometer.

Nearly 70 percent of participants reported at least some gaming, and more than 40 percent reported playing at least five hours per week. 

The study revealed that college men who play video games consume more saturated fat and sodium, which indicates they are eating more salty snacks than those who do not play video games.

Gamers were also found to consume fewer fruits and vegetables, and engaged in less exercise than non-gamers.

While no weight differences were observed, the researchers noted that the poor lifestyle habits associated with playing video games could contribute to excessive weight gain and chronic disease later in life.

"The video game industry is continuing to grow at a fast pace and more people are playing than ever," said Moore. "If the findings of our study are indicative of general population, increases in video game usage could translate to increases in overweight/obesity and chronic disease in the general population, which is already a big issue."

The preliminary findings will be presented at <a href="https://meeting.nutrition.org/nutrition-2020-live-online-schedule/">Nutrition 2020 live online</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Video games linked to unhealthy habits among male college students

A new study suggests that male college students who play...

Experts call for a digital approach to climate diplomacy. A major <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-cause-abrupt-shifts-in-great-britains-vegetation/">climate</a> change summit has been postponed until next year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of negotiators, policymakers, researchers, journalists. and campaigners were expected to attend COP26, and it was not feasible to move the meeting online. 

The 26th Conference (COP26) of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was scheduled to be held in Glasgow this November. It was recently announced that the summit will not be held until November of 2021.

However, 2020 is a critical time for keeping up worldwide momentum and determination to mitigate climate change. This year, parties were preparing to submit strengthened climate action plans and to publish long-term decarbonization strategies.

A team of scientists from the <a href="https://www.cmcc.it/">CMCC Foundation</a>, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, and University College London (UCL) is calling for a digital solution to support climate ambition throughout 2020. The experts argue that it is time to reevaluate the way climate diplomacy works and to consider the role that digital technology can play in making the UNFCCC process transparent and accessible to everyone. 

The team suggests a "digital COP26-Part 1" as a way to complement, rather than substitute, this year's climate summit.

"If technical feasibility would not be an issue, as demonstrated by many ongoing efforts to move crowded in-person meetings online, there are many reasons why a totally digital climate summit might not be as effective as a traditional one," explained study co-author Elisa Calliari.

"Besides issues of real-time translation into the six UN languages, the digital divide between developed and developing countries could result in an additional source of power asymmetry within the UNFCCC process." 

"Moreover, a digital negotiation would ask to renounce face-to-face diplomacy, which plays an important role in building trust and fostering international cooperation." 

"Yet, after having participated to COPs for many years now, we wonder whether these mega-events are the most efficient and effective way to foster cooperation on climate action."

The team said that securing the benefits of face-to-face negotiation does not mean that all the formal announcements and side events of COPs must be postponed. 

"We suggest imagining a new format, which can maintain political momentum for climate action while ensuring participation from business, research and civil society," said study co-author Jaroslav Mysiak.

"A 'digital COP26-Part 1' can serve this purpose, as a virtual space where all the aspects that do not need to be formally negotiated by countries can be announced and discussed."

"Parties' unilateral pledges on more ambitious national climate plans and strategies to reach net zero emissions by 2050 can be announced in this virtual space, together with their climate finance commitments and initiatives to strengthen communities' resilience."

"Moreover, our proposal includes the translation into video conferences of the rich program of side-events, which characterizes COP each year."

The proposal is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Experts call for a digital approach to climate diplomacy

Experts call for a digital approach to climate diplomacy. A...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a>, experts have discovered unexpected changes in the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-have-memories-they-learn-to-forget/">plant</a> hydraulic system that are associated with dry air. The research suggests that when the atmosphere is dry, plants will release more moisture than previously thought, but they will make sacrifices in the process.

How much water a plant takes in and the rate at which the water is released, or transpired, is influenced by air and soil moisture. According to the new study, global warming will shift this process more than what has been predicted.

The researchers found that current climate models do not accurately account for the extent to which plants ration water use in response to dry air.

The findings indicate that plants will lock away less water during droughts, but that plant growth and carbon intake will suffer more than previously estimated.  

"Whether plants will fare better in future droughts is a more complex question," said lead author Yanlan Liu. "But now we know plants will use less water than expected."

Study co-author Professor Mukesh Kumar noted that for agricultural crops, the findings suggest that the best available estimates of future water needs, growth, and vulnerability are likely to be incorrect when the atmosphere is dry.

The researchers looked at climate model estimates for evapotranspiration, the rate at which water is transferred from land and evaporated from plants back into the atmosphere. 

"So much of the water balance in any given ecosystem goes to evapotranspiration, it has implications for how much water is left over for water resources for people," said study co-author Professor Alexandra Konings. "It also has big effects on weather and climate."

While models usually treat this process like it is a function of soil moisture, Professor Konings said this is not realistic because vegetation responds to drought based on the amount of water inside the leaves.

There are few climate models that reliably account for the effects of both dry soil and dry air when predicting changes in evapotranspiration. 

"The models in use right now work really well if you're averaging wet and dry conditions over multiple years, but not in times of drought," said Professor Konings.

The dynamic between dry soil and dry air will become increasingly complex when combined with climate change. 

As temperatures rise, most droughts will be accompanied by relatively dry air. Professor Konings said that while future changes in soil moisture are hard to predict and will vary by region, atmospheric dryness is going to "go through the roof."

The Stanford team modeled the effects of atmospheric dryness by zeroing in on the plant's hydraulic system. 

Using widely available datasets and advanced mathematical techniques, the experts estimated evapotranspiration rates at 40 sites around the world. The data used for the analysis included records of soil texture, carbon and water vapor flows, and canopy heights.

After cross-checking their method for accuracy, the researchers compared the different model approaches to investigate changes in plant hydraulics under various conditions.

The study revealed that the most common techniques for estimating evapotranspiration fail to account for about 40 percent of the effect of dry air. The analysis also showed that the impact of dry air is most pronounced in areas where plants are not adapted to drought.

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Dry air alters the way plants respond to droughts

In a new study from Stanford University, experts have discovered...

A study from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> is providing new insight into why fish <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/zebrafish-social-support/">shoals</a> are constantly shifting from order to disarray. The experts discovered that some individuals thrive in disorderly conditions are quicker to find food.

About one quarter of fish cluster together in groups part of the time, while half of fish use this strategy all the time. 

Shoaling fish swim loosely together, but can coordinate their movements at anytime to transform into a synchronized school of fish.

Remarkably, fish can transition from schooling back to shoaling - or back again - in a matter of seconds. 

In the Bristol study, the researchers found that certain fish perform better when there is less structure in the group. These individuals are more observant and faster at foraging when the group is in a state of disarray.

In addition, the more conformative fish benefit from following along with the chaos and exploiting the work of disorderly fish.

"We know how animals behave in collective formations, but the benefits of this are less well understood," said study lead author Dr. Hannah MacGregor.

"The findings of our study are intriguing because they reveal why swarm-like fish shoals are in a constant state of flux, as each fish vies for order or disorder to hold sway depending on the state in which they individually perform best."

"It was surprising that the unruly, more disruptive fish can have a competitive edge when it comes to foraging, since they are more alert and able to seek out new food sources which might escape the attention of others."

The study was focused on 12 groups of three-spined sticklebacks. Over the course of a month, the researchers conducted experiments to investigate how quickly fish could locate a food source that appeared suddenly and sporadically. 

The same groups were tested multiple times so that the experts could measure the performance of individual fish under both orderly and disorderly conditions. 

"The disorderly 'first responders' to the food were quickest and in the minority. It was fascinating to see not only how individual styles varied, but also that the fish generally swam in their shoals in the way that was most advantageous for themselves," said Dr. MacGregor.

"Those that thrived in disorder tended to swim less aligned to their neighbors, suggesting they may try to disrupt the shoal in case more food appears."

When fish strike out in a structured group, they have the advantage of sharing information about the location of food. Fish that rely more on this strategy benefit from a highly organized formation that effectively transmits information. 

However, the study revealed that some fish are gifted with the ability to detect food on their own with no input from their shoal mates. 

These individuals perform better without the constraints of an organized group that moves in the same direction while forgaing. 

"Highly organized shoals offer better access to social information and protection from predators. But our research indicated that orderly group behavior may not always be a good thing when foraging if you are a fish that is very good at obtaining your own 'private' information about new food resources," said Dr. MacGregor.

"Conflict between individuals over the preferred organization of the group could explain why shoals of fish spontaneously transition between orderly and disorderly collective behavior, as they swim to their different strengths."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Some fish thrive in chaos, and it gives them the upper hand

A study from the University of Bristol is providing new...

Research from the <a href="https://www.shh.mpg.de/en">Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History</a> has demonstrated that when young <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-changing-where-migratory-birds-breed/">birds</a> are nurtured by their parents for extended time periods, they become more intelligent and better equipped for survival. 

The study places new emphasis on the critical role of parents in the evolution of intelligence. Like birds, children need a supportive environment that helps brain development reach its fullest potential.

While observing two species of birds in their natural habitats, the team investigated the influence of parenting on learning in adolescence and survival in adulthood.

At a study site in Sweden, the researchers observed Siberian jays. The young jays live in family groups for up to four years under the care of a breeding pair. 

Using a field test, the experts discovered that birds who stayed with their parents longer were able to learn faster. As a result, they were more intelligent, better equipped for long-term survival, and more likely to start their own family.

The experts also observed New Caledonian crows in the wild to understand how the young birds learn to make tools for food retrieval, which takes about a year.

The researchers found that Caledonian crows can stay with their parents for up to three years - a childhood that is much longer than that of most other crows. 

The team noted that parents and other adults were extremely patient with young crows. While adults used a tool to get food, they fed the juveniles and let them watch closely. The crows even tolerated tool theft and physical contact by juveniles. 

According to the researchers, this tolerant learning environment is responsible for the large brain size and intelligence of New Caledonian crows.

The study authors argue that the influence of parenting on the evolution of cognition has been overlooked. Parental care gives children the time and opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. 

"Extended parenting has profound consequences for learning and intelligence," explained study co-author Michael Griesser. 

"Learning opportunities arise from the interplay between extended childhood and extended parenting. The safe haven provided by extended parenting is critical for learning opportunities. It creates extended developmental periods that feed back into the extended childhood."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rstb">Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Parents play a crucial role in the evolution of intelligence

Research from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of...

Coffee is linked to a wide range of health benefits, including a lower risk of diabetes, depression, and heart disease. A new analysis has revealed that coffee has a powerful effect on the digestive system as well. 

In a study funded by the <a href="https://www.coffeeandhealth.org/about-us/">Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee</a> (ISIC), experts reviewed the latest studies on the link between coffee consumption and digestive health. 

The results of the analysis suggest that drinking coffee helps lower the risk of certain digestive disorders like gallstone disease and pancreatitis. Coffee was also found to enhance certain aspects of the digestive process, such as gut motility, and stimulate digestion.

Study author Carlo La Vecchia is a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health at the University of Milan.

"The effect of coffee on digestion is an evolving area of research," said Professor Vecchia. "Data indicates benefits against common digestive complaints such as constipation, as well as a potential reduction in the risk of more serious conditions like chronic liver diseases from non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), gallstones, and related pancreatitis."

Gallstone disease is a common digestive disorder caused by the accumulation of hardened deposits of digestive fluid in the gallbladder or bile duct.

Through a mechanism that has not yet been identified, coffee offers protection against gallstone disease. Experts have found that the risk of the condition is decreased as daily coffee consumption is increased. 

According to the researchers, it is likely that caffeine plays a role in reducing the risk of gallstone disease because the effects were not observed among decaffeinated coffee drinkers.

Many studies have examined the potential for coffee to promote mild heartburn or more severe acid reflux. According to Professor Vecchia, the majority of studies did not produce significant evidence of a link between coffee and acid reflux.

The ISIC analysis also looked into research on the relationship between coffee and the gut microbiome. The review identified several recent studies which indicate that the beneficial gut bacteria Bifidobacterium spp. is boosted after drinking coffee.

Experts theorize that the dietary fiber and polyphenols in coffee support the growth of healthy gut bacteria.

The ISIC report not only highlights a number of relevant findings, but also provides insight into areas that demand further research to identify the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of coffee on the digestive system.

The research was funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC).

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Drinking coffee improves digestive health

Coffee is linked to a wide range of health benefits,...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> is providing new insight into the likelihood of developing a psychological disorder from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-potency-chocolate-edibles/">cannabis</a> use. The researchers determined that high potency strains of marijuana greatly increase the risk of mental health problems.

The study showed that high-potency cannabis users are four times more likely to report mental health issues. Stronger strains of marijuana were also found to double the risk of developing an anxiety disorder compared to cannabis strains that are less intoxicating. 

"We know that people who use cannabis are more likely to report mental health problems than those who don't use cannabis, but we don't fully understand how recent increases in the strength and potency of cannabis affects this," said lead author Dr. Lindsey Hines.

"This study gives us an estimate of the increased likelihood of mental health problems from use of high-potency cannabis, compared to use of lower-potency cannabis, and we are able to account for the effect that people's early adolescent mental health symptoms may have on this relationship."

The investigation was focused on data from a long-term health survey, Children of the 90s, which involved more than 14,000 pregnant women and their babies. The participants have continued to report on their health and development since the early 1990s. 

The current analysis is the first to examine the association between marijuana potency and coinciding mental health in a general population sample.

The design of the Children of the 90s study made it possible for the Bristol team to account for whether mental health symptoms were present before the individuals started using marijuana. The researchers also accounted for the frequency of cannabis use.

"The strength of association between the use of cannabis and mental health outcomes is increased when cannabis use is frequent; consequently, increased frequency of use may confound the association between cannabis potency and mental health outcomes," wrote the study authors. 

Among participants 24 and older who reported using cannabis in the previous year, 13 percent had used high-potency cannabis. These individuals were more than four times as likely to have experienced recent psychological problems associated with their cannabis use.

In addition, high-potency marijuana users were twice as likely to report frequent and distressing psychotic experiences and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. 

"People who use cannabis are more likely to report mental health problems than those who don't use cannabis, but reducing the potency and regularity of their cannabis use may be effective for lessening the likelihood of harms from use," said Dr. Hines.

"In countries where cannabis is sold legally, limiting the availability of high-potency cannabis may reduce the number of individuals who develop cannabis use disorders, prevent cannabis use escalating to a regular behavior, and reduce impacts on mental health."

"In countries like the UK, where we are not able to limit the availability of high-potency cannabis, we should make sure there is good treatment and support for those who develop problems from cannabis use."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry">JAMA Psychiatry</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

High-potency marijuana increases risk of mental health issues

A new study from the University of Bristol is providing...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a> describes how the climate changes that are taking place deep in the ocean will likely shift from moderate to drastic in the coming decades. 

At this point, climate change mitigation cannot entirely eliminate the threats that global warming poses to deep sea marine life.   

Despite the fact that the deeper ocean waters are warming more slowly than surface waters, the heat will soon make its way toward the seafloor - impacting organisms that are adapted to much more stable temperatures compared to those in the fluctuating surface waters. 

The scientists analyzed future patterns of climate velocity across layers of the ocean below 1,000 meters to predict how marine life will respond to global warming. 

"We used a metric known as climate velocity which defines the likely speed and direction a species shifts as the ocean warms," said study lead author Isaac Brito-Morales.

"We calculated the climate velocity throughout the ocean for the past 50 years and then for the rest of this century using data from 11 climate models."

"This allowed us to compare climate velocity in four ocean depth zones - assessing in which zones biodiversity could shift their distribution the most in response to climate change."

The study revealed that the rate of climate velocity in the surface waters is currently double the rate in the deep ocean. 

"However by the end of the century, assuming we have a high-emissions future, there is not only much greater surface warming, but also this warmth will penetrate deeper," said Brito-Morales.

"In waters between a depth of 200 and 1,000 meters, our research showed climate velocities accelerated to 11 times the present rate."

"And in an interesting twist, not only is climate velocity moving at different speeds at different depths in the ocean, but also in different directions which poses huge challenges to the ways we design protected areas."

Study senior author Professor Anthony Richardson emphasized that action must be taken to aggressively manage carbon emissions.

"Significantly reducing carbon emissions is vital to control warming and to help take control of climate velocities in the surface layers of the ocean by 2100," said Professor Richardson. 

"But because of the immense size and depth of the ocean, warming already absorbed at the ocean surface will mix into deeper waters."

"This means that marine life in the deep ocean will face escalating threats from ocean warming until the end of the century, no matter what we do now."

"This leaves only one option - act urgently to alleviate other human-generated threats to deep-sea life, including seabed mining and deep-sea bottom fishing."

"The best way to do this is to declare large, new protected areas in the deep ocean where damage to ocean life is prohibited, or at least strictly managed."

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Deep sea marine life will soon feel the heat of global warming

A new study from the University of Queensland describes how...

The fossilized remains of a Chinese pterodactyl have been found thousands of miles away in the United Kingdom, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk/">University of Portsmouth</a>.

The specimen belonged to an unusual group of pterodactyls known as tapejarids, and evidence of these flying reptiles has never before been found in the UK.

A fossil hunter was walking his dog at Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight when he stumbled upon an unusual bone fragment. He turned it over to paleontologists for examination.

Megan Jacobs, a student of Paleontology at Portsmouth, speculated that the fossil was a jaw bone from a pterodactyl. 

Upon further analysis, the experts determined that the fossil was, in fact, part of a pterodactyl jaw.

However, the team was surprised to find that this particular pterodactyl was a tapejarid pterosaur, a flying reptile that once existed in modern-day China and Brazil. 

The jaw bone lacked teeth and strongly resembled a specimen that the Portsmouth team discovered in Morocco last year, which turned out to be a tapejarid pterosaur species that is now named Afrotapejara zouhri.

"Although only a fragment of jaw, it has all the characteristics of a tapejarid jaw, including numerous tiny little holes that held minute sensory organs for detecting their food, and a downturned, finely pointed beak," said Jacobs.

"Complete examples from Brazil and China show that they had large head crests, with the crest sometimes being twice as big as the skull. The crests were probably used in sexual display and may have been brightly colored."

The researchers determined that the new pterodactyl specimen, Wightia declivirostris, is more closely related to Chinese tapejarids than to those that have been uncovered in Brazil.

"This new species adds to the diversity of dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles found on the Island, which is now one of the most important places for Cretaceous dinosaurs in the world," said study co-author Professor David Martill.

The hunter who discovered the fossil donated it to the Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown, where it may be displayed in the future.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/cretaceous-research">Cretaceous Research</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Chinese pterodactyl remains found far away in the UK

The fossilized remains of a Chinese pterodactyl have been found...

Wildfires alter the composition of Arctic watersheds for 50 years. Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of wildfires around the world. In the Arctic, forest fires are further damaging sensitive ecosystems that are already struggling under the strain of global warming. 

A new study from the <a href="http://unh.edu">University of New Hampshire</a> has revealed that forest fires drastically change the chemistry of surrounding watersheds, and the effects persist for decades. 

According to the researchers,  certain effects from fires - such as decreased carbon and increased nitrogen - can last up to five decades.

The finding has major implications for vital waterways like the Yenisei River that drains into the Arctic Ocean, as well as for similar waterways around the world.

"Forest fires in this region of the Arctic used to happen about every hundred years and now we're seeing them every summer," said study lead author Bianca Rodríguez-Cardona. 

"This increase in fires leads to more input of inorganic solutes into local streams which can alter the chemistry and trigger issues like increased algae blooms and bacteria that can be harmful to humans who depend on these waterways for drinking water, fishing and their livelihood."

The researchers collected stream water samples in the Central Siberian Plateau over three years from 2016 to 2018 in the months of June and July. They then compared the levels of nutrients and dissolved organic matter found in various streams.

The study revealed that inorganic nitrogen remained elevated for 10 years after a fire. In addition, levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) were substantially diminished and did not return to pre-burn levels for 50 years.

Forests that grow in high latitudes at low temperatures, known as boreal forests, have been burning with greater frequency, and this adds even more uncertainty as to how Arctic ecosystems will respond to climate change.

Previous studies have documented the effects of wildfires on stream chemistry, but few have evaluated how these changes will impact the nutrients in Arctic watersheds.

"Arctic rivers transfer large quantities of nutrients to the Arctic Ocean, and river water chemistry could be dramatically changed in the coming decades as permafrost thaws and wildfires become more frequent," said study co-author ProfessorWilliam McDowell.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Wildfires alter the composition of Arctic watersheds for 50 years

Wildfires alter the composition of Arctic watersheds for 50 years....

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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