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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Protected areas don't always protect food webs

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

Tree <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/poison-frogs-flourish-competitors/">frogs</a> have developed a clever strategy for evading predators while producing mating calls. According to researchers at <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a>, the frogs overlap their mating calls with neighboring frogs, escaping harm through the use of auditory illusion.

The tree frogs enhance these false perceptions by overlapping their calls at nearly perfect synchrony with nearby frogs. Predators are more attracted to the leading call, which allows the illusive frogs to find a mate without putting their life on the line.

"The male frogs are essentially manipulating the eavesdroppers through creating this auditory illusion," said study author Henry Legett. "Humans experience this illusion too, it's called the 'precedence effect.' When we hear two short sounds in quick succession, we think the sound is only coming from the location of the first sound."

Legett led the research with Ximena Bernal, an associate professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue. Studies at the Bernal lab are primarily focused on the relationship between predation and communication, which the researchers simply refer to as eavesdropping.

"The illusion created by the male tree frogs calling in synchrony has no effect on female frogs, which was a surprising observation," explained Bernal.

"These male frogs have figured out a way to trick their enemies. We thought the females might be more attracted to the leading caller, but it didn't really affect attraction at all. It's a win-win for the frogs because it helps reduce attacks from those enemies who were hoping to prey on the male frogs and females are not tricked by the illusion."

The researchers played back recorded mating calls in both lab and field settings at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. The team discovered that after the initial male tree frog sends out a mating call, other frogs chime in within milliseconds.

"It's so fast, it's almost like a reflex," said Legett. "There's no way their brains have time to process that information. They hear their neighbor and they react immediately."

The study authors said the research has cultivated even more questions about how frogs communicate.

"You have to wonder why a male frog would call first, given that it increases his chances of being eaten," said Legett. "It's a very strategic game they're playing. The frog that calls first might not get lucky that time, but maybe he knows he'll get his chance the next time he hears one of his friends make the first call. These are the questions we'll keep asking as we move forward."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/an/current">American Naturalist</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Tree frogs rely on illusions to deceive their enemies 

Tree frogs have developed a clever strategy for evading predators...

While it is widely accepted that hot air rises, a new study from <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">UC Davis</a> has proven that sometimes cold air can rise too. In a tropical <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-droughts-hotter/">climate</a>, the lightness of water vapor allows cold air to rise.

According to the researchers, this water vapor buoyancy effect helps to offset global warming in tropical climates.

The study is one of the first to demonstrate the profound effects that water vapor has on Earth's climate and energy balance.

Study senior author Da Yang is an assistant professor of Atmospheric Science at UC Davis and a joint faculty scientist with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

"It's well-known that water vapor is an important greenhouse gas that warms the planet," said Professor Yang. "But on the other hand, water vapor has a buoyancy effect which helps release the heat of the atmosphere to space and reduce the degree of warming. Without this lightness of water vapor, the climate warming would be even worse."

Even with the same temperature and pressure conditions, humid air is lighter than dry air, which is called the vapor buoyancy effect. 

The research team discovered that cold, humid air rises and forms clouds and thunderstorms in the tropics, while warmer dry air sinks in clear skies. This means that Earth's atmosphere emits more energy to space than it would without water vapor buoyancy.

The study revealed that the lightness of water vapor increases the planet's thermal emission by about 1 to 3 watts per square meter over the tropics. This amount of energy is comparable to the energy captured by doubling carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

According to the researchers, their calculations indicate that the radiative effects of water vapor buoyancy increase with climate warming. 

The team concluded that a better understanding of the water vapor buoyancy effect and its stabilizing role in the tropics can improve cloud and thunderstorm simulations, as well as climate models.

"Now that we understand how the lightness of water regulates tropical climate, we plan to study whether global climate models accurately represent this effect," said study lead author Seth Seidel.

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;

Water vapor buoyancy mitigates climate warming in the tropics

While it is widely accepted that hot air rises, a...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> have discovered that temperate and dry forests are home to the same level of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/1880486/">biodiversity</a> as tropical rainforests. 

Conservation efforts are widely focused on rainforests because they contain so many unique tree species.

However, the study shows that nearly 30% of tree evolutionary diversity is found in temperate or tropical dry forests, as opposed to just 26 percent in rainforests.

"Our findings show that temperate forests and dry forests have a unique evolutionary history that merits far greater conservation attention," said Professor Toby Pennington.

"Protecting rainforests is obviously vital for many reasons, but we shouldn't ignore the unique tree biodiversity of temperate and dry forests."

The study was focused on data from more than 10,000 forest and savanna sites across the Americas. The researchers pinpointed special tree biodiversity.

"The temperate forests in Chile and further north in the Andes, and scattered and isolated tropical dry forests across the Americas, are highlighted as particularly unique, threatened and in need of conservation action," said study first author Ricardo Segovia.

Temperate forests like those found in Chile and the United States are positioned between the tropics and the cold boreal regions. 

The study revealed that temperate forests have distinctive tree lineages that include members of the oak and elm families. Among the dry forests, unique tree lines include members of the pea and cacti families.

"What is unique about this study is that it uses DNA sequence information from thousands of tree species right across the Americas to give completely new insights into the countries and habitats where the major branches of the tree of life are found," explained Dr. Kyle Dexter.

The researchers investigated the main factors that prevent species from expanding into new areas and environments. The "fundamental divide" was found to be the presence or absence of freezing temperatures, which some plants cannot tolerate.

The team also identified an evolutionary split between trees that dwell in rainforests versus dry tropical forests.

"This is a really important paper in terms of our view of what has controlled the global distribution of plant biodiversity through history," said Dr. Dexter.

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;

Tree diversity in temperate and dry forests should not be overlooked

Researchers at the University of Exeter have discovered that temperate...

Rising temperatures may reawaken an ancient <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-smart-agricultural-practices-will-boost-global-food-security/">climate</a> pattern in the Indian Ocean, according to researchers at the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a>. The team found that if global warming continues at the current rate, a weather system similar to El Niño will emerge in the Indian Ocean as soon as 2050.

The system will disproportionately impact populations that are the most vulnerable to climate change with worsening floods, storms, and droughts. 

The researchers studied simulated climate changes during the second half of the century. They discovered that global warming could disturb the Indian Ocean's surface temperatures, causing extreme annual fluctuations. 

The steep rise and fall of ocean surface temperatures will form a pattern that is very similar to El Niño, a climate event that occurs in the Pacific Ocean and impacts weather on a global scale.

Study lead author Pedro DiNezio is a climate scientist at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.

"Our research shows that raising or lowering the average global temperature just a few degrees triggers the Indian Ocean to operate exactly the same as the other tropical oceans, with less uniform surface temperatures across the equator, more variable climate, and with its own El Niño," said DiNezio.

The study builds on previous work by the researchers, who found evidence of a past Indian Ocean El Niño hidden in the shells of microscopic sea life that lived 21,000 years ago - during the peak of the last ice age.

The team analyzed climate simulations to investigate whether global warming could trigger an Indian Ocean El Niño in the near future. 

The computer models were ranked according to how well they matched present-day observations. The most accurate simulations, which accounted for global warming,  predict that an Indian Ocean El Niño will emerge by 2100.

"Greenhouse warming is creating a planet that will be completely different from what we know today, or what we have known in the 20th century," said DiNezio.

The findings add to a growing collection of research that highlight the potential for the Indian Ocean to drive much stronger climate swings than it does today.

Study co-author Kaustubh Thirumalai, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, said that the way glacial conditions affected wind and ocean currents in the Indian Ocean in the past is similar to the way global warming affects them in the simulations.

"This means the present-day Indian Ocean might in fact be unusual," said Professor Thirumalai.

Today, the Indian Ocean experiences only slight fluctuations because the winds blow gently from west to east, maintaining stable ocean conditions. According to the study, global warming could completely reverse the direction of these winds, resulting in climate extremes such as disruption of the monsoons over East Africa and Asia.

Professor Thirumalai noted that a break in the monsoons would be a significant concern for populations dependent on the regular rainy season to grow their food.

Michael McPhaden is a physical oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"If greenhouse gas emissions continue on their current trends, by the end of the century, extreme climate events will hit countries surrounding the Indian Ocean, such as Indonesia, Australia and East Africa with increasing intensity," said McPhaden. 

"Many developing countries in this region are at heightened risk to these kinds of extreme events even in the modern climate."

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;

Destructive weather pattern may return to the Indian Ocean 

Rising temperatures may reawaken an ancient climate pattern in the...

According to a new study published by the <a href="https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/">British Ecological Society</a>, severe <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/brutal-coral-bleaching-event-strikes-the-great-barrier-reef/">coral</a> loss on the Great Barrier Reef has been linked to the appearance of large herbivorous fish with long lives. The reduced turnover, or lack of recycled biomass, may ultimately cause the ecosystem to collapse.

An international team of researchers led by James Cook University compared reef surveys from 2003 and 2018. They found that up to 83 percent of corals had been lost in the hardest hit areas. Severe coral losses were associated with increases in fish biomass, productivity, and consumed biomass.

"It's as if the herbivorous fish community has been scaled up, with larger fish growing and providing more food for predators when they die," said study lead author Renato Morais. "However, this does not come without a cost."

At a glance, it would seem that the appearance of bigger fish after severe coral loss is a good sign which suggests the population is stable. But the researchers warn that decreased recycling of biomass could mean that the bigger fish may not be supported for long. 

"The fish have not multiplied. Instead, there are more bigger fish and less smaller ones," said Morais. "This suggests that many of these long-living herbivorous fishes, such as surgeon fish which can live up to 40 years, could have been there before the corals died, only growing bigger. Eventually, these older fish will die and, if not replaced by young ones, productivity could collapse."

Algal turf, which grows abundantly over dead coral skeletons, is the preferred food of herbivorous fish like surgeonfish and parrotfish. This may explain why the large herbivores seem to thrive after severe coral loss. 

If the corals recover, the fish will lose their main food source and their populations will crash. 

The research was focused on reefs around Lizard Island, where the corals were devastated by two back-to-back bleaching events and two severe cyclones between 2014 and 2017. The collective impacts of these events wiped out 80 percent of the corals around the island. 

Previous studies have primarily looked at the loss of corals. This study examined the cumulative effects of coral mortality over time based on fish growth, mortality, and energy turnover.

The researchers analyzed two snapshot assessments that were 15 years apart, which means they were limited to assessing the long-term trends. 

"If there were changes to the energetic balance of the fish assemblages at that reef that happened between surveys but did not have a lasting effect, they would have gone unnoticed," explained Morais.

He noted that the findings apply to one specific reef and other reefs could behave differently, although a number of factors indicate that similar changes have taken place elsewhere. For example, herbivore populations commonly increase in post-coral reefs. 

The researchers plan to follow up on the Lizard Island reef to see what type of energetic shifts may occur. 

"Any further shifts will depend on what happens to the reef, said Morais. "Will there be a recovery of corals? Or will this degraded state be maintained? Then, will these large and old herbivorous fishes be replaced by younger ones? There are many aspects in this story to be investigated."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652435">Functional Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Fish that thrive after severe coral loss may collapse

According to a new study published by the British Ecological...

By 2050, one in every three Americans will be exposed to extreme <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-smart-agricultural-practices-will-boost-global-food-security/">climate</a> events every year, according to a study led by the <a href="https://www.ornl.gov/">Oak Ridge National Laboratory</a> (ORNL). The researchers used the Titan supercomputer to estimate the frequency of nine types of extreme climate events, ranging from heat waves to intense floods. 

The projections are based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information Climate Extremes Index, or CEI. 

The findings indicate that extreme weather will increasingly threaten human health, ecosystem stability, and regional economies over the next three decades. 

Previous research has been primarily focused on the potential impacts of a single type of weather extreme, such as temperatures or precipitation, on broad climate zones.

The ORNL study has quantified the consequences of coninciding weather extremes on a county level, generating unprecedented regional and climate projections that can pinpoint the areas that will be hit the hardest. 

"We calculated population exposure at a one-kilometer scale, which had never been done before, to provide more precise estimates," explained Moetasim Ashfaq, a climate computational scientist at ORNL.

According to the study, more than 47 million people in the United States are currently exposed to extreme climate conditions each year - a number which has gradually increased in recent decades. The research suggests that this number will double by the year 2050, when one in every three residents of the United States will be directly affected by extreme climate events on an annual basis.

Human health, food security, and ecosystems will widely suffer from the impacts. 

The researchers determined that human-induced climate change is to blame for the projected increase in extreme weather, and widespread exposure is highly likely within 30 years unless harmful greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. 

"Seeing the same upward trend in the number of climate extremes in our historical simulations and observations strongly suggests that these changes are driven by human activity," said Ashfaq said.

The experts will run another set of simulations based on new scenarios for the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, and their findings have already been incorporated into additional studies. 

"These collaborative efforts could uncover how various climate extremes affect certain areas and help determine the types of policies and mitigation strategies that may be required to prevent or reduce the damage," said Ashfaq.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/23284277">Earth's Future</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Extreme weather will directly impact one-third of Americans by 2050

By 2050, one in every three Americans will be exposed...

Logging likely increased the risk and severity of the recent Australian <a href="http://www.earth.com/image/1877669/">bushfires</a>, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a>. The catastrophic wildfires were the worst in Australia's recorded history. 

The research is part of an international collaboration to investigate land use changes across Australia. 

James Watson is a UQ professor of Conservation Science and the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Science and Research Initiative. Professor Watson said logging regimes have made many forests more prone to fire for a host of reasons.

"Logging causes a rise in fuel loads, increases potential drying of wet forests and causes a decrease in forest height," said Professor Watson. "It can leave up to 450 tons of combustible fuel per hectare close to the ground - by any measure, that's an incredibly dangerous level of combustible material in seasonally dry landscapes."

"By allowing these practices to increase fire severity and flammability, we undermine the safety of some of our rural communities."

Professor Watson added that logging negatively impacts forest wildlife by creating habitat loss, fragmentation, and disturbance for many species.

Study lead author Dr. David Lindenmayer is a professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at Australian National University. Dr. Lindenmayer said there are land management actions that must be taken to stop these fires from occurring in the future.

"The first is to prevent logging of moist forests, particularly those close to urban areas. We must also reduce forest fragmentation by proactively restoring some previously logged forests," explained Dr. Lindenmayer.

"In the event of wildfires, land managers must avoid practices such as 'salvage' logging - or logging of burnt forests - which severely reduces recovery of a forest."

The Australian government has launched a royal commission to find ways to improve the country's level of preparedness, resilience, and response to natural disasters.

Michelle Ward, a researcher in the  UQ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said it is time for the government to act.

"We urge policy makers to recognize and account for the critical values of intact, undisturbed native forests, not only for the protection of biodiversity, but for human safety," said Ward.

"Let's act strongly and swiftly for the sake of our communities, the species they house, our climate and Australia's wild heritage."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Logging intensified the risk and severity of Australian wildfires

Logging likely increased the risk and severity of the recent...

A new study has revealed that sea level rise will increase <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/coastal-flooding-will-soon-be-common-in-the-u-s/">flood</a> risks across Honolulu from multiple sources in the coming decades. Researchers at the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawaii at Manoa</a> School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology found that groundwater inundation will pose the biggest flooding threat for Honolulu.

As sea levels continue to rise, the frequency of extreme high tide events will increase. Honolulu will not only be impacted from seawater washing directly onshore, but also from groundwater inundation and reverse flow through the municipal drainage system.

The researchers determined that direct marine inundation represents only three percent of the predicted flooding, while rising groundwater will be responsible for the majority of the anticipated flooding events.

Study lead author Shellie Habel is a coastal geologist and extension agent with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program and UH Coastal Geology Group. 

"This is significant because many people think that sea level rise can be mitigated by seawalls," said Habel. "But a seawall will not stop groundwater inundation. Our results highlight the need to readjust our thinking regarding the flooding that accompanies sea level rise. We want to be sure to implement flood management strategies that will be effective at mitigating flooding."

The researchers developed a method to assess all types of flooding and to identify vulnerable infrastructure. They simulated the extent and locations of flooding from each of the three sources to produce flood maps. 

By overlapping the simulations, the team managed to pinpoint areas that will be vulnerable to combined flooding in the coming decades.

In collaboration with experts at the UH Sea Level Center, the researchers developed a statistical model that incorporated tide and sea level rise predictions. 

Using the flood simulations, the research team estimated the frequency of flooding in specific areas and identified critical infrastructure that is likely to fail and cause direct impacts, such as dangerous roadways and vulnerable storm drainage inlets. Potential impacts were found to be widespread among Honolulu's primary urban center.

"Because each type of flooding infiltrates through unique pathways, they will require unique engineering strategies to manage," said Habel. "The design of flood management strategies required to mitigate these impacts necessitate site-specific consideration of each mechanism to avoid being ineffective."

The UH researchers will partner with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, the Hawaii Sea Grant, and others to develop a coastal groundwater monitoring network. 

Data collected through monitoring, such as the effects of extreme rainfall, will improve the capabilities of the statistical model developed by the researchers. The monitoring network will also be used to inform short and long-term flood management strategies.

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;

Honolulu faces a high flooding risk from multiple sources

A new study has revealed that sea level rise will...

The transfer of genes from one population to another, or gene flow, was once thought to be an unlikely result of crossbreeding. However,  recent studies have shown that this type of evolution is much more common than what was expected. 

A study led by <a href="https://www.uu.se/en">Uppsala University</a> is providing the latest evidence of this phenomenon. According to the researchers, gene flow between two distinct species of Darwin's finches has changed their beak morphology.

Study co-authors Rosemary and Peter Grant of Princeton University observed populations of Darwin's finches on the small island of Daphne Major for 40 consecutive years. Two distinct species, the common cactus finch and the medium ground finch, occasionally cross-mated. 

The cactus finch has a pointed beak that is specialized to feed on cactus, while the medium ground finch has a blunt beak for feeding on seeds.

"Over the years, we observed occasional hybridization between these two species and noticed a convergence in beak shape. In particular, the beak of the common cactus finch became blunter and more similar to the beak of the medium ground finch," said the Grants. "We wondered whether this evolutionary change could be explained by gene flow between the two species."

"We have now addressed this question by sequencing groups of the two species from different time periods and with different beak morphology," said study co-author Professor Sangeet Lamichhaney. "We provide evidence of a substantial gene flow, in particular from the medium ground finch to the common cactus finch."

Fan Han of Uppsala University analyzed the data as part of her PhD thesis. Han said the team was surprised to find that the observed gene flow was substantial on most autosomal chromosomes but negligible on the Z chromosome, one of the sex chromosomes. 

"In birds, the sex chromosomes are ZZ in males and ZW in females, in contrast to mammals where males are XY and females are XX," explained Han.

"This interesting result is in fact in excellent agreement with our field observation from the Galápagos," said the Grants. "We noticed that most of the hybrids had a common cactus finch father and a medium ground finch mother." 

"Furthermore, the hybrid females successfully bred with common cactus finch males and thereby transferred genes from the medium ground finch to the common cactus finch population. In contrast, male hybrids were smaller than common cactus finch males and could not compete successfully for high-quality territories and mates."

Darwin's finches are imprinted on the song of their fathers. The sons sing a song similar to their father's song and daughters prefer to mate with males that sing like their fathers. 

In addition, hybrid females receive Z chromosomes from their cactus finch father and W chromosomes from their ground finch mother. The fact that parents of the hybrid contribute equally explains why genes on the Z chromosome cannot flow from the medium ground finch to the cactus finch through the hybrid females while other genes can.

"Our data show that the fitness of the hybrids between the two species is highly dependent on environmental conditions which affect food abundance," explained study co-author Leif Andersson. "That is, to what extent hybrids, with their combination of gene variants from both species, can successfully compete for food and territory. Therefore, the long-term outcome of the ongoing hybridization between the two species will depend on environmental factors as well as competition."

"One scenario is that the two species will merge into a single species combining gene variants from the two species, but perhaps a more likely scenario is that they will continue to behave as two species and either continue to exchange genes occasionally or develop reproductive isolation if the hybrids at some point show reduced fitness compared with purebred progeny. The study contributes to our understanding of how biodiversity evolves."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature, Ecology, and Evolution</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;

Cross-mating finches exchanged genes and beak shape

The transfer of genes from one population to another, or...

The manipulation of a single gene can help <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ancient-species-holds-valuable-evidence-of-plant-evolution/">plants</a> pass on valuable information to their offspring, making them tougher and more productive. Experts at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> discovered that switching off the expression of one gene induced a type of "stress memory" in plants that is inherited by some of their descendants. 

According to the researchers, this discovery has significant implications for plant breeding. Furthermore, the changes are epigenetic and do not require material from another plant, which means that crops bred with this technology would not be included in the controversial "genetically modified" category of foods. 

"One gene, MSH1, gives us access to what is controlling a broad array of plant resiliency networks," said Professor Sally Mackenzie, director of the Plant Institute at Penn State.

"When a plant experiences a stress such as drought or prolonged extreme heat, it has the ability to adjust quickly to its environment to become phenotypically 'plastic' - or flexible."

The researchers explained that there are many ways to inactivate the MSH1 gene and they all have similar outcomes.

"When plants are modified epigenetically, they can modify many genes in as simple a manner as possible," said Professor Mackenzie. Such modifications can be used to trigger growth, reproduction, and resiliency among plants. 

By silencing the MSH1 gene, the plants are able to detect stress and know how to respond to environmental stimuli. For example, the plants can change their root configuration, limit above-ground biomass, or delay flowering time.

According to the researchers, these responses are remembered, and can be passed down to many generations through selective breeding. 

"In our research, we show that this memory condition is heritable by progeny but occurs in only a proportion of the progeny - so that there are memory and non-memory full siblings," said Professor Mackenzie. "That results in definable gene expression changes that impact a plant's phenotypic 'plasticity.'" 

"We suggest that all plants have this capacity, and that the condition that we describe is likely to be an important part of how plants transmit memory of their environment to precondition progeny."

Professor Mackenzie explained that by adjusting the epigenetic architecture of a plant, the researchers were able to access its resiliency network and see how genes are expressed quickly and broadly to adjust the plant's growth to its environment.

The experts can identify pathways that enhance root growth and plant vigor, which increases crop yield. When an MSH1-modified plant is crossed or grafted, the plant vigor becomes even more pronounced.

In follow-up research that is currently underway, Professor Mackenzie's team has suppressed MSH1 genes in tomato and soybean plants, and grafting experiments have shown excellent yield results. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</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;

"Stress memory" helps plants become more resilient

The manipulation of a single gene can help plants pass...

The persistent loss of snow cover in the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region is fueling a destructive algal bloom in the Arabian Sea, according to new research from the <a href="https://www.earth.columbia.edu/">Earth Institute</a>. 

Millimeter-size planktonic organisms called Noctiluca scintillans, which were rarely seen in this region two decades ago, are now thriving in the Arabian Sea. The organisms are forcing out the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/phytoplankton-resilient-nutrient-stress/">phytoplankton</a> that support the local food chain. 

The Noctiluca form thick, foamy green algal blooms that are large enough to be seen from space. The destructive blooms are returning each year and persisting for several months at a time. 

As the Noctiluca disrupt the base of the marine food web, they are essentially threatening local fisheries that support more than 150 million people.

Led by Joaquim I. Goes, the Earth Institute team used field data, lab experiments, and decades of NASA satellite imagery to link Noctiluca in the Arabian Sea to melting glaciers and a weakened winter monsoon.

"This is probably one of the most dramatic changes that we have seen that's related to climate change," said Goes. "We are seeing Noctiluca in Southeast Asia, off the coasts of Thailand and Vietnam, and as far south as the Seychelles, and everywhere it blooms it is becoming a problem. It also harms water quality and causes a lot of fish mortality."

In the wintertime, cold monsoon winds blowing from the Himalayas usually cool the surface of the Arabian Sea. These colder waters sink and are replaced with warmer, nutrient-rich waters from below. 

Meanwhile, phytoplankton thrive in the nutrient-rich surface waters, and communities and fisheries can count on the arrival of an abundance of fish that feed on the phytoplankton. 

However, shrinking glaciers and declining snow cover in the Himalayas have caused the monsoon winds to become warmer and more humid. This impacts the upwelling process and leaves the upper ocean lacking in nutrients.

While these conditions put diatoms and other phytoplankton at a disadvantage, Noctiluca flourish because they do not rely solely on sunlight and nutrients and can survive by eating other microorganisms. 

Noctiluca blooms not only compete with phytoplankton for replenished nutrients, but also feed on the phytoplankton themselves. 

According to the researchers, the study provides compelling new evidence of the cascading impacts of global warming on the Indian monsoons and the economic stability of large populations along the Arabian Sea. 

"Most studies related to climate change and ocean biology are focused on the polar and temperate waters, and changes in the tropics are going largely unnoticed," said Goes. 

Disproportionate changes and biodiversity loss in the tropical oceans are changing faster than what conventional climate models have predicted. Goes said that this may foreshadow dire consequences over the long term for countries in the region that are already gripped by socioeconomic problems from war, poverty, and loss of livelihoods.

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;

Destructive algal blooms linked to Himalayan snowmelt

The persistent loss of snow cover in the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau...

The best conditions for <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-molecular-recipe-for-heat-resistant-wheat-crops/">crop</a> production in the Midwest are moving north and west as a result of climate change, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a>. The researchers found that if temperatures continue to rise at the current rate, the best spots for growing corn and soybeans will shift from Iowa and Illinois to Minnesota and the Dakotas over the next five decades. 

The experts used machine learning to analyze more than three decades of crop-yield data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The data covered counties across 18 states in the central U.S. where the majority of soybean and corn production takes place.

The researchers combined crop yields, weather data, and climate variables to establish yield predictors specific to each of the crop-growing phases. 

The team also investigated how the climate affected corn, sorghum, and soybean grain yield from 1980 to 2016.

Study co-author Armen Kemanian is an associate professor of Production Systems and Modeling in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

"This kind of research was impossible before the era of big data we are living in now, and of course, it can be done only by using the powerful computing capacity that we can access at Penn State," said Professor Kemanian.

"This study is important because in a climate that is changing relatively quickly, these techniques allow us to foresee what may happen."

Study lead author Alexis Hoffman said the findings do not necessarily mean that the shift north and west in corn and soybean production will occur. However, the research shows that such a shift is already underway, and there is a strong probability it will continue.

"We are not suggesting that such a shift would be a catastrophe," said Professor Kemanian. "It doesn't mean that Iowa will stop producing crops, but it might mean that Iowa farmers adapt to a warmer climate producing two crops in a year or a different mix of crops instead of the dominant corn-soybean rotation. The changes are likely to be gradual, and farmers and the supply chain should be able to adapt. But things will change."

According to Hoffman, one of the most revealing results of the study is that corn, sorghum, and soybean crops have distinct responses to humidity and temperature. Overall, corn needs more humidity, sorghum tolerates higher temperatures, and soybean falls somewhere in between.

Hoffman noted that corn had a uniquely strong response of increased yield to increasing atmospheric humidity, as well as a strong sensitivity to extreme temperatures.

"Humidity is a factor for all crops studied, but what the data are telling us is that it is more of a factor for corn than it is for soybean or sorghum, and in a very narrow time window," said Hoffman. "And by humidity, we mean that soils might be moist, but the data is showing that moisture in the air matters, regardless. That wasn't known before."

Soybean, however, had a strong response to both maximum and minimum temperatures. 

"All crops had threshold-like responses to high temperature, though we documented a comparatively greater tolerance to high temperature for sorghum at 90.5 F versus a range of 84.2 to 86 F for corn and soybean," said Hoffman. "We did not describe that response - machine learning revealed it for us."

Professor Kemanian said the research may have implications for companies selling crop insurance.

"High-temperature swings are damaging. Learning when and by how much for both corn and soybean is critically important," he explained. "Crop insurance companies have an interest in this because they need to assess the risk of a given stress happening and how much they will pay as a result."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Best conditions for growing crops in the Midwest are moving north

The best conditions for crop production in the Midwest are...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[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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