Should humans ever pull the plug on a living species? Advances in genome editing make that possibility concrete, and a recent study asks when, if ever, such power is justified.



The researchers weighed the suffering caused by pests against the intrinsic worth of <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/what-is-biodiversity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, setting a high bar for intentional wipeouts. Their conclusion is that genetically erasing a species might be acceptable, but only under exceptional, tightly bounded circumstances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-erasing-a-species-feels-necessary">When erasing a species feels necessary</h2>



“This question keeps conservationists up at night,” said Dr. Clare Palmer of <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M University</a> after helping draft the report. She and colleagues argue that an animal’s capacity to cause widespread agony can, in rare cases, outweigh its right to persist.



Ethicists usually treat biodiversity as a moral good, yet real-world conflicts force tough trade-offs. When an insect’s life hinges on a calf’s ability to survive, abstract principles meet muddy pens and medical bills.



Most philosophies rank individual suffering above abstract species value once pain passes a certain threshold. Even ecologists concede that leaving sentient creatures to suffer avoidable harm strains any theory of non-intervention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-cases-in-focus">Three cases in focus</h2>



The parasitic screwworm (<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cochliomyia hominivorax</a>) burrows into the flesh of livestock and wildlife, killing thousands of animals every year before treatment can begin. The United States eliminated native populations in 1966 using the Sterile Insect Technique (<a href="https://www.iaea.org/topics/sterile-insect-technique" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SIT</a>).



Mosquitoes of the species <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/anopheles-gambiae" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anopheles gambiae</a> spread <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">malaria</a>, a disease that took an estimated 597,000 lives in 2023 alone - most of them children under five.



Those numbers eclipse fatalities from many better-publicized illnesses and keep public-health agencies searching for stronger tools.



On South Africa’s Marion Island, the humble house mouse (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=info&amp;id=10090" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mus musculus</a>) has started gnawing seabird chicks alive, pushing several albatross species toward local collapse. Conventional traps fail on rugged slopes, and poison risks collateral damage to native invertebrates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-scientists-can-erase-species">How scientists can erase species</h2>



The Sterile Insect Technique remains the standard for humane pest control. Irradiated males mate but produce no viable young, gradually crashing the target population without pesticides.



A newer option, the <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2019.1606" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gene drive</a>, moves lethal or sex-skewing genes through wild populations so quickly that normal inheritance rules break down. 



Researchers working with rodents have already demonstrated systems that turn almost every embryo male, guaranteeing eventual collapse.



For mosquitoes, scientists can now couple a drive to a gene that blocks parasite replication, reducing disease transmission rather than eliminating the insect outright. Palmer’s team notes that such restraint might satisfy the same moral aims with less ecological upheaval.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-killing-pests-sometimes-gains-approval">Killing pests sometimes gains approval</h2>



“Together, we argue, these cases suggest that deliberate full extinction might occasionally be acceptable, but only extremely rarely,” the authors wrote. Where pests impose unrelenting misery on humans or endangered wildlife, even cautious ethicists lean toward eradication.&nbsp;



In farm economies, screwworm outbreaks once cost ranchers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. 



The <a href="https://www.ncba.org/news-media/news/details/43094/ncba-pushes-for-domestic-sterile-fly-facility-to-eradicate-new-world-screwworm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sterile-fly program</a> reduced those losses while sparing cattle surgeries and antibiotic use, making SIT a textbook case of net welfare gain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-and-safeguards">Risks and safeguards</h2>



No <a href="https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-021-00588-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drive</a> can be recalled once released. If a sex-skewing construct escaped from an island to a mainland, the entire species could vanish before regulators reacted. That possibility drives calls for redundant containment layers and staged testing.



Wild genomes hold surprises such as mating behavior, migration corridors, or hidden ecological roles. 



Removing a dominant mosquito might allow a harder-to-control sibling species to fill the gap, canceling health gains while shackling communities to continuous editing cycles.



Governance frameworks must also weigh cultural values. Some communities view rats as food, while others see them as vermin. A one-size rule will not work in global treaties.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-should-decide-to-erase-a-species">Who should decide to erase a species?</h2>



Palmer and colleagues insist that village councils, livestock owners, conservation NGOs, and public health officials should share equal seats at the table. Only broad consent can legitimize an action that removes a lineage that is millions of years old.



The study suggests that formal benefit-harm ledgers need to be updated as new data emerge. There is also a need for sunset clauses that halt projects if early milestones falter. Robust monitoring budgets must be in place before the first transgenic egg hatches.



Funding streams pose another dilemma. Genome projects often depend on philanthropic donors from far away. Affected regions need guaranteed control over long-term stewardship, including the power to veto deployment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-fast-pace-of-technology">The fast pace of technology </h2>



Current international regulations lag behind the pace of synthetic biology. While conventions like the <a href="https://bch.cbd.int/protocol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cartagena Protocol</a> aim to manage genetically modified organisms, they do not directly address deliberate extinction by gene drive.



This leaves a grey area where cross-border impacts, like species drifting across national boundaries, may not fall under clear legal control. Coordinated policy development is needed to prevent gaps that bad actors or accidents could exploit.



The World Health Organization and United Nations Environment Programme have both called for more robust oversight. However, the tools available for enforcement are often limited to guidance rather than mandates, leaving implementation up to individual nations.



The researchers say it’s critical to close these gaps before large-scale extinction drives become common, especially given how rapidly the technology is evolving.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-gene-drives">The future of gene drives</h2>



<a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRISPR</a> keeps shrinking the cost and time required to build custom drives, so ethical debates must stay a step ahead of lab capacity. 



Palmer hopes that clear rules will prevent both reckless releases and sweeping bans that deny relief to suffering animals. She sees the conversation itself as a sign of progress. 



Past generations used lead arsenate or DDT with little scrutiny. Today, genetic strategies face hard questions before a single insect leaves quarantine.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adv4045" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Extinction by design: Should we genetically erase harmful species?

Should humans ever pull the plug on a living species? Advances in genome editing make that possibility concrete, and a recent study asks when, if ever, such power is justified. The researchers weighed the suffering caused by pests against the intrinsic worth of biodiversity, setting a high bar for intentional wipeouts. Their conclusion is that genetically erasing a species might be acceptable, but only under exceptional, tightly bounded circumstances. When erasing a species feels necessary “This question keeps conservationists up at night,” said Dr. Clare Palmer of...

At the end of the last Ice Age, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-turning-the-coast-of-antarctica-green/">Antarctic</a> ice shelves along the coastline retreated at a rate of 50 meters per day. This is about ten times faster than the maximum observed rates of ice retreat today.

The study was led by the Scott Polar Research Institute at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> as part of the Weddell Sea Expedition. 

The researchers set out to estimate how quickly Antarctic ice retreated about 12,000 years ago, as the Earth emerged from the Pleistocene Epoch.

When the ice sheets began to float, wave-like ridges were imprinted in the seafloor sediment as the ice moved up and down with the tides. The experts analyzed patterns in these ridges using high-resolution images that were acquired using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

"By examining the past footprint of the ice sheet and looking at sets of ridges on the seafloor, we were able to obtain new evidence on maximum past ice retreat rates, which are very much faster than those observed in even the most sensitive parts of Antarctica today," said study lead author Professor Julian Dowdeswell.

The use of drones, satellites and AUVs enabled the researchers to study ice conditions in the Weddell Sea in unprecedented detail. The goal was to investigate the past and present flow of the ice shelves that make up about 75 percent of the Antarctic coastline.

"By examining landforms on the seafloor, we were able to make determinations about how the ice behaved in the past," said Professor Dowdeswell. "We knew these features were there, but we've never been able to examine them in such great detail before."

Based on the analysis of seafloor ridges that date back to the end of the last ice age, the team estimated that the ice was retreating as much as 40 to 50 meters per day, or more than 10 kilometers per year. 

By comparison, even the fastest-retreating glaciers in Antarctica today are melting at a rate of about 1.6 kilometers per year.

"The deep marine environment is actually quite quiet offshore of Antarctica, allowing features such as these to be well-preserved through time on the seafloor," said Professor Dowdeswell. 

"We now know that the ice is capable of retreating at speeds far higher than what we see today. Should climate change continue to weaken the ice shelves in the coming decades, we could see similar rates of retreat, with profound implications for global sea level rise."

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

&nbsp;

Antarctic ice sheets once retreated by 50 meters a day

At the end of the last Ice Age, Antarctic ice...

Climate change is transforming forests worldwide. Rising carbon dioxide levels and warming temperatures are transforming the world's forests by accelerating rates of tree mortality. As a result, forest ecosystems are now dominated by younger and shorter <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/resistance-genes-could-save-billions-of-ash-trees-from-beetles/">trees</a>. 

This translates to lower levels of carbon storage and biodiversity, which both play central roles in climate change mitigation. 

The study was led by Dr. Nate McDowell, who is an Earth scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's <a href="https://www.pnnl.gov/">Pacific Northwest National Laboratory</a> (PNNL).

Based on the analysis of satellite imagery and a detailed literature review, the researchers concluded that the global average tree size has declined over the last century.

"This trend is likely to continue with climate warming. A future planet with fewer large, old forests will be very different than what we have grown accustomed to," said Dr. McDowell. "Older forests often host much higher biodiversity than young forests and they store more carbon than young forests."

According to study co-author Dr. Tom Pugh, there is mounting evidence that climate change is accelerating tree mortality and increasingly altering the age and stature of Earth's forests. 

"This implies a reduction in their ability to store carbon and potentially large shifts in the mix of species that compose and inhabit these forests," said Dr. Pugh.

"This is likely to have big implications for the services those forest provide, such as mitigating climate change. Increasing rates of tree mortality driven by climate and land-use change, combined with uncertainty in the mix of species that will form the next generation, pose big challenges for conservationists and forest managers alike."

Dramatic tree losses in recent decades can be linked to many factors including pests,  clear-cutting, environmental stress, carbon dioxide fertilization, and the increasing frequency and severity of disturbances such as fires, drought, and wind damage.

When a forest experiences high tree losses, a balance is shifted among three important characteristics: recruitment of new seedlings, growth, and mortality.

"Examination of the global patterns of those three parameters over recent decades shows that mortality is rising in most areas, while recruitment and growth are variable over time, leading to a net decline in the stature of forests," said Dr. McDowell. 

"Unfortunately, mortality drivers like rising temperature and disturbances such as wildfire and insect outbreaks are on the rise and are expected to continue increasing in frequency and severity over the next century. So, reductions in average forest age and height are already happening and they're likely to continue to happen."

Dr. McDowell said the conditions promoting deforestation will likely accelerate, drastically altering the living conditions for plants and animals.

"Over the last hundred years we've lost a lot of old forests, and they've been replaced in part by non-forests and in part by young forests. This has consequences on biodiversity, climate mitigation, and forestry."

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

&nbsp;

Climate change is transforming forests worldwide

Climate change is transforming forests worldwide. Rising carbon dioxide levels...

Underwater vision has evolved in sea snakes for 15 million years. In a new study led by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>, researchers have determined that sea snakes have been refining their ability to see underwater ever since they entered the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/marine-species-adapt-to-warming-faster-than-terrestrial-species/">marine</a> environment 15 million years ago. 

The study is the first of its kind to describe when, where, and how frequently a species has adapted its ability to see in color.

The evidence suggests that the vision of sea snakes has evolved over millions of years as the snakes adapted to new environments. Genetic modifications helped the snakes spot their prey, as well as predators, in the deep sea.

Surprisingly, the researchers also discovered that sea snakes have the same adaptive properties as some fruit-eating primates.

"In the natural world, species obviously have to adapt as the environment around them changes. But to see such a rapid change in the sea snakes' vision over less than 15 million years is truly astonishing," said study lead author Dr. Bruno Simões.

"The pace of diversification among sea snakes, compared to their terrestrial and amphibious relatives, is perhaps a demonstration of the immensely challenging environment they live in and the need for them to continue to adapt in order to survive."

Dr. Simões said the study also shows that snake and mammal vision has evolved very differently in the transition from land to sea. 

"Sea snakes have retained or expanded their color vision compared to their terrestrial relatives, whereas pinnipeds and cetaceans underwent a further reduction in the dimensions of their color vision. This contrast is further evidence of the remarkable evolutionary diversity of snake eyesight."

The researchers explained that despite being descended from highly visual lizards, snakes have limited color vision that is attributed to the dim-light lifestyle of their early snake ancestors.

The family of venomous front-fanged snakes, known as elapids, includes around 300 terrestrial species and 63 fully marine sea snakes.

To investigate the evolution of spectral sensitivity in elapids, the team analyzed the genes that produce visual pigments, retinal photoreceptors, and eye lenses of various terrestrial and marine species.

The analysis showed that the visual pigments of sea snakes had diversified much more rapidly in response to their surroundings compared to terrestrial and amphibious snakes.

For example, one particular lineage of sea snake had expanded its UV-Blue sensitivity, which would help the snakes navigate the variable light conditions of the ocean water column.

The study also suggests that sea snakes had two slightly different copies of the same gene, or alleles, just like fruit-eating primates. In sea snakes, this mechanism was used to expand their underwater vision with both UV sensitive and blue-sensitive alleles.

"Different alleles of the same gene can be used by organisms to adapt to new environmental conditions," said study senior author Dr. Kate Sanders. "The ABO blood types in primates are a result of different alleles of the same gene." 

"However, despite being very important for the adaptation of species this mechanism is still poorly reported. For vision, it has been only reported on the long-wavelength opsin of some primates but our study suggests an intriguing parallel with diving sea snakes."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current 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;

Underwater vision has evolved in sea snakes for 15 million years

Underwater vision has evolved in sea snakes for 15 million...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a>, experts have identified a process triggered by <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exercise-boosts-blood-flow-to-the-brain-and-improves-memory/">exercise</a> that keeps our muscles healthy and optimizes their function. 

The researchers found that after physical activity, the "death marker" protein Ubiquitin tags onto damaged proteins that are subsequently degraded and replaced. 

Muscles are not only important for keeping our bodies in motion, but are also responsible for the movement of internal organs.

The new research highlights the critical role of exercise in building and maintaining healthy muscles. By preventing the accumulation of worn-out proteins, Ubiquitin makes room for new, freshly synthesized proteins.

The research team found that an intense 10-minute bicycle ride is enough to increase the activity of Ubiquitin and initiate the protein cleanup process.

"Muscles eliminate worn-out proteins in several ways," explained study co-author Professor Erik Richter. "One of these methods is when Ubiquitin, 'the death-marker,' tags a protein in question." 

"Ubiquitin itself is a small protein. It attaches itself to the amino acid Lysine on worn-out proteins, after which the protein is transported to a Proteasome, which is a structure that gobbles up proteins and spits them out as amino acids. These amino acids can then be reused in the synthesis of new proteins." 

"As such, Ubiquitin contributes to a very sustainable circulation of the body's proteins."

While a lot is known about how muscles regulate the build-up of new proteins during physical activity, much less is known about how muscle contractions and exercise help to clear out damaged proteins.

"The important role of Ubiquitin for 'cleaning up' worn-out proteins in connection with muscular activity was not fully appreciated," said Professor Bente Kiens. "Now we know that physical activity increases Ubiquitin tagging on worn-out proteins."

Professor Jørgen Wojtaszewski explained that the findings serve to strengthen the entire foundation for the effect of physical activity.

"Basically, it explains part of the reason why physical activity is healthy. The beauty is that muscle use, in and of itself, is what initiates the processes that keep muscles up to date, healthy, and functional."

Further research is needed to understand how various factors such as training regimens, gender, or diet influence Ubiquitin and muscle function.

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.fasebj.org/">FASEB 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;

"Death marker" protein rejuvenates muscles after exercise

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

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://thorax.bmj.com/">Thorax</a> has revealed that the prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection may be drastically higher than what was previously realized. 

The research was focused on passengers and crew members who were isolated during the pandemic on an expedition ship. More than 80 percent of those who tested positive for the coronavirus had no symptoms. 

Professor Alan Smyth, joint editor-in-chief of the journal, said the study has implications for the easing of lockdown restrictions. The findings also highlight the urgent need for accurate data on how many people have actually been infected with COVID-19.

The researchers were all present onboard the cruise ship, which was carrying 128 passengers and 95 crew members. The expedition departed from Argentina for a 21-day tour of the Antarctic. 

The ship disembarked in mid-March after the World Health Organization had declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

Passengers who had traveled in countries with high rates of COVID-19 infection over the previous three weeks were not allowed to board, and those who boarded had their temperature taken.

The researchers describe having an abundance of hand sanitizing  stations on the ship, particularly in the dining area.

The first case of fever was reported on day 8, and COVID-19 infection control measures were immediately enforced. This included passenger confinement to cabins with no services provided other than the delivery of meals. 

In addition, any crew members in contact with sick passengers wore personal protective equipment.

Argentina had already closed its borders, and the ship arrived in Uruguay on day 13. At this point, eight passengers and crew members required medical evacuation for respiratory failure.

On day 20, the remaining 217 passengers and crew were swabbed for coronavirus, and 128 individuals tested positive.

There were ten separate instances when two people sharing the same cabin had different test results. According to the study authors, this discrepancy is likely due to the fact that the current swab test produces a substantial number of false negatives.

Among those who tested positive, only 19 percent had symptoms of COVID-19 infection, while 81 percent were asymptomatic.

The researchers conclude that the prevalence of COVID-19 infection on cruise ships is likely to be "significantly underestimated." They say that passengers should be monitored after a cruise ship disembarks to prevent the potential rapid spread of the virus.

"It is difficult to find a reliable estimate of the number of COVID positive patients who have no symptoms," Professor Smyth wrote in a blog post.

"As countries progress out of lockdown, a high proportion of infected, but asymptomatic, individuals may mean that a much higher percentage of the population than expected may have been infected with COVID."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://thorax.bmj.com/">Thorax </a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Prevalence of silent COVID-19 infection underestimated

A new study published in the journal Thorax has revealed...

Ozone layer collapse caused a mass extinction event . At the end of the Devonian period 360 miilion years ago, a large number of plants and aquatic species were wiped out by a mass extinction event. 

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/">University of Southampton</a> have now discovered that the Late Devonian extinction resulted from a breakdown of Earth's ozone layer that exposed the planet to damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. 

This is the first time that a mass extinction event has been linked to the erosion of the ozone layer, and has important implications for the global climate changes that are taking place today. 

In the history of life on Earth, there were five mass extinctions. Three of these major events, including the Great Dying 252 million years ago, were caused by massive volcanic eruptions that destabilized the atmosphere and oceans.

Another mass extinction event 66 million years ago was triggered when an asteroid struck the Earth. Enormous amounts of sulphur and other gases were released into the upper atmosphere where they blocked the sun and triggered a nuclear winter that killed 75 percent of all life on the planet, including the dinosaurs. 

In the current study, researchers have found evidence to suggest that high levels of UV radiation were responsible for the Late Devonian extinction. 

The ozone breakdown occurred as the climate rapidly warmed following an intense ice age. The experts said that Earth could reach comparable temperatures today, possibly triggering a similar extinction event. 

The team analyzed rock samples from polar regions in East Greenland and from the Tropical Andes in South America. This enabled the researchers to compare the impacts of the Late Devonian extinction close to the pole and close to the equator.

A microscopic analysis of the rocks revealed that many of the spores had formed spines on their surface, which is a response to UV radiation damage to DNA. In addition, many spores had dark pigmented walls that may have served as a protective shield against elevated UV levels.

The experts concluded that during a period of rapid global warming, the ozone layer collapsed for a short period and exposed Earth to harmful levels of UV radiation. This led to widespread extinctions on land and in shallow water at the end of the Devonian period.

Study lead researcher Professor John Marshall of the University of Southampton is a National Geographic Explorer.

"Our ozone shield vanished for a short time in this ancient period, coinciding with a brief and quick warming of the Earth," said Professor Marshall.

"Our ozone layer is naturally in a state of flux - constantly being created and lost - and we have shown this happened in the past too, without a catalyst such as a continental scale volcanic eruption."

"Current estimates suggest we will reach similar global temperatures to those of 360 million years ago, with the possibility that a similar collapse of the ozone layer could occur again, exposing surface and shallow sea life to deadly radiation." 

"This would move us from the current state of climate change, to a climate emergency."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Ozone layer collapse caused a mass extinction event 

Ozone layer collapse caused a mass extinction event . At...

Rising ocean temperatures not only threaten coral <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/resilient-coral-reefs-north/">reefs</a> with heat stress and bleaching, but also with damage from intense cyclones. 

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/">Australian Institute of Marine Science</a> (AIMS), experts have discovered that strong cyclones can harm coral reefs as far as 1,000 kilometers away from their paths.

Study co-author Dr. James Gilmour said the research illustrates the complexity and severity of the threats that reefs are now facing.

"Coral reef communities around the world are under increasing threat from a range of stressors, and we must understand which parts of the reef should be the focus of conservation efforts," said Dr. Gilmour.

"In particular, it is the combination of cyclones with exposure to rising water temperatures that is the most significant emerging threat to reefs globally."

Conventional models assume that strong cyclone winds and waves impact coral reefs within 100 kilometers of their track.

To investigate, a team of researchers led by Dr. Marji Puotinen set out to examine Scott Reef off the northwestern coast of Australia. The reef was impacted by Cyclone Lua, a slow-moving storm that developed in 2012.

The study revealed that the most intense cyclone winds did not come any closer than within 500 kilometers of the reef. On the other hand, the reef was battered with waves that were four to 20 meters high for three and a half days.

In the areas that sustained the most damage, Scott Reef lost 50 percent of its massive Porites corals and nearly all of its fragile branching Acropora coral species. 

The researchers observed similar damage on a reef about 300 kilometers away. Computer simulations indicated that waves were intensified up to 1,000 kilometers away from the path of Cyclone Lua.

"This example demonstrates that if we assume damage from all cyclones occurs within a 100 kilometer radius of a cyclone's track, we will underestimate the spatial extent for big, strong cyclones by up to 10 times," said Dr. Puotinen. "This could lead to making unfortunate choices when trying to prioritize conservation targets."

Dr. Puotinen explained that estimates of wave damage from cyclones involve highly complex calculations because they change constantly - varying in strength, size, and speed over time. Storms that move more slowly produce the biggest waves and the highest winds over the largest area.

"Coral reefs have been living with cyclones for millions of years. But recovery after a big battering is a slow process, which can take a decade or more. This means that many coral reefs around the world will not have time to fully regrow before the next cyclone hits."

Some climate change models predict that the total number of cyclones will not increase during any given time period. According to Dr. Puotinen, however, this is not necessarily good news for vulnerable reefs.

"Changes in the atmosphere mean it will be harder for cyclones to form in the first place, but warmer ocean water, which fuels their intensity, means it will be easier for them to strengthen once they do," said Dr. Puotine.

She hopes that the findings will help to improve reef management and conservation strategies.

"When deciding where on the Great Barrier Reef, for instance, to invest millions of dollars to repair or enhance reefs, you don't want to select a location likely to be regularly battered by cyclone waves."

"Our research should make it easier for reef managers to choose between candidate reefs."

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;

Cyclones impact coral reefs 1,000 kilometers away

Rising ocean temperatures not only threaten coral reefs with heat...

By copying the proteins that keep plants and animals from freezing in cold conditions, researchers at <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">UC Boulder</a> have developed a way to minimize freeze-thaw damage in concrete <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/engineers-are-improving-the-resilience-of-civil-infrastructure/">infrastructure</a>.

The experts demonstrated that a synthetic molecule which mimics compounds found in Arctic and Antarctic organisms can be added to concrete as a "natural antifreeze." 

The research has the potential to greatly improve the strength and durability of concrete infrastructure while reducing carbon emissions over its lifetime. 

The study also challenges more than 70 years of conventional approaches in mitigating frost damage in concrete.

"No one thinks about concrete as a high-tech material," said study co-author Professor Wil Srubar III. "But it's a lot more high-tech than one might think." 

"In the face of climate change, it is critical to pay attention to not only how we manufacture concrete and other construction materials that emit a lot of carbon dioxide in their production, but also how we ensure the long-term resilience of those materials."

Since the 1930s, small air bubbles have been mixed into concrete to protect it from water and ice crystal damage. This way, any water that seeps into the concrete has room to expand when it freezes.

This process, however, makes concrete more permeable and compromises some of its strength. For example, the concrete is more vulnerable to degradation by road salts and chemicals that can leach into the air bubbles. 

"While you're solving one problem, you're actually exacerbating another problem," said Professor Srubar.

In the United States, billions of dollars are spent each year to prevent damage in aging infrastructure. The antifreeze molecule could dramatically reduce costs.

Testing has already shown that concrete made with the new molecule in place of air bubbles has equivalent performance, improved strength, lower permeability, and a longer lifespan.

The team has patented their method, and Professor Srubar hopes it will enter the commercial market in the next 5 to 10 years.

Concrete is one of the most consumed materials on Earth - second only to water. Currently,  two tons per person are manufactured each year. According to Professor Srubar, this amount of concrete is equivalent to a New York City being built every 35 days for at least the next 32 years.

"Its manufacture, use and disposal have significant environmental consequences. The production of cement alone, the powder that we use to make concrete, is responsible for about 8 percent of our global CO2 emissions."

Climate change itself will worsen the strain on concrete and aging infrastructure, with increased freeze and thaw cycles occurring more often in many regions.

"The infrastructure which is designed today will be facing different climatic conditions in the future," said Professor Srubar. "In the coming decades, materials will be tested in a way they've never been before. So the concrete that we do make needs to last."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/home">Cell Reports Physical Science</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

"Natural antifreeze" could revolutionize the future of concrete 

By copying the proteins that keep plants and animals from...

Global warming is changing where birds breed. Global warming is shifting the behavior of migratory <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/why-do-some-birds-develop-so-much-faster-than-others/">birds</a> in the eastern regions of North America. Researchers have discovered that the breeding range of some birds is shrinking, while for others this range is expanding. 

A research team led by Professor Clark Rushing at Utah State University's <a href="https://qcnr.usu.edu/">Quinney College of Natural Resources</a> set out to investigate how climate change has affected where birds breed. 

In collaboration with experts at the U.S. Geological Survey, the team analyzed data from the Breeding Bird Survey. 

"Thousands of devoted volunteers, cooperators, and a joint U.S.-Canadian wildlife management team have contributed to the success of the surveys for the last 54 years," said study co-author Andy Royle, a USGS senior scientist. 

"The Breeding Bird Survey is fundamental to our understanding and management of wild bird populations in North America."

Survey data was combined with computer models to reveal breeding range shifts for 32 species of birds found in eastern North America. 

According to the study, birds that both breed and winter in North America are extending their ranges north where warming temperatures have created new, suitable places to breed. 

The findings indicate that bird species such as Carolina wrens and red-bellied woodpeckers will be able to adapt to future climate change.

On the other hand, some birds have breeding ranges that are dwindling. Neotropical migratory birds breed in North America during the summer and migrate to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America for the winter. 

Neotropical migrants include warblers, orioles, flycatchers, and other species that birdwatchers look forward to spotting in the spring. The researchers found that Neotropical birds are not expanding north, yet their suitable southern range is shrinking.

Over the past five decades,  Neotropical bird populations have decreased by about 2.5 billion individuals. 

"There's a real risk that, if these declines continue at their current pace, many species could face extinction within this century," said Professor Rushing. "Neotropical migrants are vulnerable to future climate change, putting them at risk of greater declines."

While it would seem the birds would simply extend their range a bit farther north, the researchers suspect that conditions where the birds are wintering may not provide them with enough food and energy reserves. Many Neotropical habitats in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America are being degraded. 

"That's just one explanation," said Professor Rushing, "and it highlights how little we know and how much more research is needed."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences</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;

Global warming is changing where birds breed

Global warming is changing where birds breed. Global warming is...

A team of researchers at <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/">Tel Aviv University</a> has examined evidence of persistent ear infections in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/worldwide-decline-of-insects-is-a-threat-to-the-environment/">humans</a> 15,000 years ago. The study was focused on the skull remains of humans who lived in the Levant, the eastern Mediterranean region of Southwest Asia.

Before antibiotics became available in the 20th century, ear infections developed into chronic conditions that often caused permanent hearing loss or even death.

"Our research seeks to determine the impact of our environment on illnesses in different periods," explained study lead author Dr. Hila May of Tel Aviv University. 

"Using advanced technologies and unique methods developed in our lab, we have been able to detect signs of prolonged inflammation in the middle ear."

"A prolonged ear infection would cause permanent damage to the bony wall of the middle ear, which is preserved into adulthood. When we sought to investigate changes in communal health over time in our region, we chose to focus on ear infections, developing a special method for doing so."

The researchers inserted a tiny camera mounted on the end of a flexible tube through the skull's ear canal to the middle ear. They also performed high-resolution micro-CT scans to examine the bony walls of the middle ear with a light microscope.

The experts noted a decline in the rate of ear infections after the Levant population shifted from hunting and gathering to farming.

The team also found that ear infections reemerged and peaked among a sedentary population that lived in the region about 6,000 years ago during the Chalcolithic period.

Dr. May explained that the rate of ear infections was driven by both social and environmental factors. 

"We know from archaeological excavations of this period, similar to preceding periods, that people lived in a communal area where all activities, from cooking to raising livestock, took place. As a result, the population density in the 'home' was high, hygiene was poor and they suffered from indoor air pollution," said Dr. May.

"Two other factors known about this period - dietary change, the advent of dairy consumption; and climate change, a dip in temperature and a rise in rainfall - also contributed to the prevalence of ear infections."

The study revealed that as living conditions improved, severe ear infections became less prevalent. 

"Houses were larger and featured several rooms, including separate areas for specific activities, i.e. the kitchen was set up in a separate room or outside, and livestock were kept in a separate area."

"Our study deals with the impact of the environment and social behavior on morbidity rates. To explore this, we examined a common disease that has accompanied humanity since inception - the ear infection."

Dr. May explained that understanding how diseases appear, spread and disappear throughout human history can help prevent and cure modern illnesses. 

"The study clearly points out risk factors and shows how lifestyle changes can affect the incidence of the disease."

"In both ear infections and COVID-19, social distancing and adherence to hygiene reduced the spread of infection, while close quarters and unhygienic living conditions saw infections spike."

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10991212">International Journal of Osteoarchaeology</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;

Ear infections detected in 15,000-year-old human skulls

A team of researchers at Tel Aviv University has examined...

To stop deforestation, we must first understand humans. A research team led by the <a href="https://iiasa.ac.at/">International Institute for Applied Systems</a> has determined that despite years of hard work and widespread negotiations, efforts to stop deforestation are not working. 

The experts are calling for an entirely new approach that will  address the real issue that is driving deforestation - the complexities of human <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/scientists-explore-the-basis-of-animal-decision-making/">decision-making</a>.

According to the researchers, reforestation and forest conservation efforts would have much greater potential if we understood more about human values and why we make certain choices. 

National, international, public, and corporate initiatives to reverse the trend of deforestation have multiplied in recent years. 

However, the IIASA team found no clear evidence to suggest that these initiatives are actually working. The study revealed that targets are being missed and trends of deforestation have persisted.

Last year, both Nestlé and Procter &amp; Gamble announced that they would fail to meet their self-imposed targets for zero deforestation. 

Meanwhile, 10 percent of the countries involved in the Bonn Challenge have set unattainable reforestation goals that involve more land than they have available.

The researchers noted that there has also been a surge of deforestation in Brazil during the COVID-19 crisis. In all of the cases mentioned, the driving force lies in human decision-making.

In order to get back on track, the researchers emphasize the need for a better understanding of how individuals view the world and make decisions.

The fact that human agency has been largely overlooked in decisions about forest transitions may explain why negotiations and commitments often fail or prove ineffective.

The study authors explained that the assumption everyone must share a common goal needs to be thrown out. 

Instead, specially designed board games could be used to help stakeholders and decision makers "align forces" despite their opposing values and worldviews. 

These types of games have been proven to help people overcome biases and resolve deadlocks in the past. 

The researchers hope that negotiators at major international talks, such as the COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the COP26 of the UN Climate Change Conference, will also be willing to participate.

Study lead author Claude Garcia is an ecologist at the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).

"We have been talking for a quarter of a century, and we are nowhere close to reversing the current trends. Maybe it's time to try something new," said Garcia.

The proposed games are designed to help participants become aware of their outlooks and decision-making processes to identify goals that are compatible with other parties. 

This method was particularly successful in 2018 when a psychological game was used to end two years of deadlock over forest landscape management in the Congo Basin.

Study co-author Stephan Pietsch is a researcher in the IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management Program.

"Currently, all our models neglect this human agency. While we may be able to elicit worst pathways and advise policy accordingly, we fail to predict a future that has not happened so far," said Pietsch.

"To include this human agency with its adaptive behavior, changing views, and decision criteria into our models is the logical next step." 

"Instead of just avoiding the worst case scenario, this approach will enable a better understanding on how to shape and style the Anthropocene ensuring a better future for all."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/one-earth/home">One Earth</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

To stop deforestation, we must first understand humans

To stop deforestation, we must first understand humans. A research...

The Chicxulub <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dust-asteroid-ice-age/">asteroid</a> that crashed into the Earth 66 million years ago struck the planet at the deadliest possible angle, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a>. 

Simulations of the event show that the asteroid hit at an angle of about 60 degrees. This trajectory maximized the amount of sulphur and other hazardous gases that were released into the upper atmosphere. 

The researchers estimated that at an angle of 60 degrees, the asteroid impact would have stirred up billions of tons of sulphur. 

The enormous gas cloud completely blocked out the sun, which gave rise to the nuclear winter that killed 75 percent of life on Earth, including the dinosaurs.

"For the dinosaurs, the worst-case scenario is exactly what happened. The asteroid strike unleashed an incredible amount of climate-changing gases into the atmosphere, triggering a chain of events that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. This was likely worsened by the fact that it struck at one of the deadliest possible angles," explained lead researcher Professor Gareth Collins.

"Our simulations provide compelling evidence that the asteroid struck at a steep angle, perhaps 60 degrees above the horizon, and approached its target from the north-east." 

"We know that this was among the worst-case scenarios for the lethality on impact, because it put more hazardous debris into the upper atmosphere and scattered it everywhere - the very thing that led to a nuclear winter."

The Imperial team created the first-ever 3D models to reproduce the entire event, from the asteroid's initial impact to the final stage of the Chicxulub crater formation.

Located in present-day Mexico, the Chicxulub crater is surrounded by porous carbonate and evaporite rocks. When disturbed by the asteroid impact, these rocks released massive amounts of carbon dioxide, sulphur, and water vapor into the air.

The researchers analyzed the shape and structure of the 125-mile-wide Chicxulub crater and used this geophysical data in their simulations to help calculate the angle at which the asteroid struck. 

The 3D Chicxulub simulations reconstructed the crater formation in unprecedented detail.

"Despite being buried beneath nearly a kilometer of sedimentary rocks, it is remarkable that geophysical data reveals so much about the crater structure - enough to describe the direction and angle of the impact," said study co-author Dr. Auriol Rae of the University of Freiburg.

The researchers noted that while the study provides important insights into the Chicxulub impact, it also helps us understand how large craters form on other planets.

"Large craters like Chicxulub are formed in a matter of minutes, and involve a spectacular rebound of rock beneath the crater. Our findings could help advance our understanding of how this rebound can be used to diagnose details of the impacting asteroid," said study co-author Dr Thomas Davison.

The research 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;

Chicxulub asteroid struck at deadliest possible angle

The Chicxulub asteroid that crashed into the Earth 66 million...

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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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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

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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