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....

In a new study from USC, experts have found that the timing of the immune response may play a major role in the progression of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/antibodies-from-llamas-may-be-effective-against-covid-19/">COVID-19</a>. The research suggests that suppressing the body's immune system during the early stages of infection may be the best route to control the severity of the disease. 

According to the study, the interaction between the innate and the adaptive immune responses to COVID-19 may be pushing the immune system into overdrive.

Study co-author Weiming Yuan is an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the <a href="https://keck.usc.edu/">USC Keck School of Medicine </a>. and co-corresponding author of the study. 

"The danger is, as the infection keeps going on, it will mobilize the whole of the adaptive immune response with its multiple layers," said Professor Yuan.

"This longer duration of viral activity may lead to an overreaction of the immune system, called a cytokine storm, which kills healthy cells, causing tissue damage."

The innate immune response is the body's first line of defense. This  system sets out to kill a virus and any cells that are damaged at the very first sign of infection. The adaptive immune response is activated days after the initial infection, using what it has learned about the virus to deploy specific T cells and B cells.

The researchers used a mathematical model to compare how the two immune responses interact in COVID-19 and flu patients. 

The flu moves very fast, attacking certain target cells on the surface of the upper respiratory system that can be wiped out in a matter of two or three days. The virus runs out of target cells quickly, and the innate immune system can wipe out the virus before the adaptive system is activated. 

COVID-19 targets more surface cells throughout the respiratory system, including cells in the lungs, and progresses much more slowly than the flu. The model indicated that the adaptive immune response kicks in before the target cells are depleted. This interferes with the innate immune system's ability to wipe out the virus quickly.

The interaction of the innate and the adaptive immune responses may explain why some patients have two waves of the illness. COVID-19 patients often show signs of improvement before getting much worse.

"Some COVID-19 patients may experience a resurgence of the disease after an apparent easing of symptoms," said study lead author Sean Du. "It's possible that the combined effect of the adaptive and the innate immune responses may reduce the virus to a low level temporarily. However, if the virus is not completely cleared, and the target cells regenerate, the virus can take hold again and reach another peak."

A treatment to suppress the immune system in the early phase of COVID-19 infection may seem counterintuitive, but the research suggests it would be effective. 

"Based on the results of the mathematical modeling, we proposed a counterintuitive idea that a short regimen of a proper immunosuppressant drug applied early in the disease process may improve a patient's outcome," said Du. 

"With the right suppressive agent, we may be able to delay the adaptive immune response and prevent it from interfering with the innate immune response, which enables faster elimination of the virus and the infected cells."

Small studies from China, involving both COVID-19 and SARS patients, showed that individuals who received immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids had better outcomes.

According to the researchers, a possible next step could be to take daily measurements of viral loads and other biomarkers in COVID-19 patients to see if the data validates the mathematical modeling. 

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10969071">Journal of Medical Virology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

COVID-19 pushes the immune system into overdrive

In a new study from USC, experts have found that...

For the first time, the USDA Forest Service has publicized state-by-state statistics on carbon <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/co2-emissions-from-inland-waters-hugely-underestimated/">emissions</a>. 

The report provides an overview of the status and trends of emissions, as well details on forest and urban tree removals, for 49 states across the country. 

Grant Domke is a research forester with Forest Inventory and Analysis in the <a href="https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/">Forest Service's Northern Research Station</a>.

"This year, we are delivering a report that is 49 times more useful than it was a year ago," said Domke. 

"From forest managers to policy makers, data on the role of forests in the carbon cycle is critical to decisions that will shape the future of the Nation's forests."

The new publication includes estimates of carbon movement from the atmosphere into living trees, dead wood, and soil. The report also provides state-by-state estimates of emissions from forest fires. 

The only state that is not included in the review is Hawaii, which was due to a lack of data. 

The Forest Service scientists quantified the contribution of forests, harvested wood products, and urban trees to carbon capture and storage. They found that, collectively, these natural systems account for more than 95 percent of Earth's terrestrial carbon sink. 

The atmospheric carbon absorbed by forests, harvested wood, and urban trees is equal to more than 11 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States each year between 1990 and 2018.

Tony Ferguson is the director of two Forest Service research organizations, the Northern Research Station and the Forest Products Laboratory.

"The Forest Inventory and Analysis Program has served states for 90 years by producing reliable statistics on forest trends," said Ferguson. "This year marks another evolution in our service to states as we expand the availability of data on forests and carbon storage."

The publication was created by Forest Service scientists as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Greenhouse Gas Report, which was released on April 13.

The report, "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals from Forest Land, Woodlands, and Urban Trees in the United States, 1990-2018," is available <a href="https://doi.org/10.2737/FS-RU-227">online</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Forest Service releases state-by-state details on carbon emissions 

For the first time, the USDA Forest Service has publicized...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/">Newcastle University</a> have engineered a self-forming membrane for carbon capture that is exceptionally effective. The material functions like a coffee filter, holding back <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/co2-emissions-from-inland-waters-hugely-underestimated/">carbon dioxide</a> while allowing harmless gases like nitrogen to escape. 

According to the experts, the system may be used in chemical reaction engineering or for carbon capture to help protect the environment.

The researchers managed to keep the cost of production down by limiting the amount of silver needed for the membrane. 

"We didn't build the entire membrane from silver, instead we added a small amount of silver and grew it within the membrane adding the functionality we desired," explained Dr. Greg Mutch.

"Most importantly, the performance of the membrane is at the level required to be competitive with existing carbon capture processes - in fact, it would likely reduce the size of the equipment required significantly and potentially lower operating costs."

"These savings are important - the cost of carbon capture is one of the key factors limiting uptake of the technology."

The researchers used a method that has never been used before to grow silver using aluminium oxide supports in pellet and tubular form. The silver was added to the membrane under conditions that forced it to grow within the membrane, which improves the material's effectiveness.

When the membrane was tested for performance, the permeation measurements were found to be more than sufficient enough to compete with existing carbon capture processes. In fact, the permeability of the membrane was exponentially higher than what is required for carbon capture. 

Furthermore, the amount of CO2 captured was the highest reported for this class of membrane.

"There is a common metric for membrane performance - the 'upper bound.' As our membrane relies on a unique transport mechanism, we avoid the limitations of most membrane materials and go far beyond the upper bound!" said Dr. Mutch.

"We hope that this study inspires new ways to form membranes, that lower costs, as well as drives interest in this new class of membrane for future application to protect our environment."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/journal/ee">Energy and Environmental 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;

Experts create a new class of membrane for carbon capture

Researchers at Newcastle University have engineered a self-forming membrane for...

Experts at <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">CU Boulder</a> have developed a method that has the potential to predict ocean acidity years in advance. The forecast model could ultimately improve economic and food security by providing critical information to help <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fisheries-lose-billions-global-warming/">fisheries</a> and coastal communities prepare for upcoming challenges. 

Researchers have previously demonstrated the ability to predict ocean acidity a few months in advance, but this study is the first to confirm the feasibility of predicting ocean acidity years before the conditions develop. 

Stud lead author Riley Brady is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

"We've taken a climate model and run it like you would have a weather forecast, essentially - and the model included ocean chemistry, which is extremely novel," said Brady.

The research was focused on the California Current System, which runs from Baja California up into Canada. This system supports a billion-dollar fisheries industry that is a critical component of the U.S. economy.

"Here, you've got physics, chemistry, and biology all connecting to create extremely profitable fisheries, from crabs all the way up to big fish," said Brady. 

"Making predictions of future environmental conditions one, two, or even three years out is remarkable, because this is the kind of information that fisheries managers could utilize."

Due to the upwelling of naturally acidic waters, the California Current System is exceptionally vulnerable to ocean acidification. 

The ocean captures and stores a large portion of atmospheric carbon dioxide. As CO2 levels increase in the atmosphere, they are also increasing in the water and making the oceans more acidic. 

"Ocean acidification is proceeding at a rate 10 times faster today than any time in the last 55 million years," said study co-author Professor Nicole Lovenduski.

Within decades, scientists predict that some parts of the ocean will be so acidic that the water will corrode the delicate carbonate shells or skeletons of corals, oysters, and other creatures. 

"We expect people in communities who rely on the ocean ecosystem for fisheries, for tourism and for food security to be affected by ocean acidification," said Professor Lovenduski.

Considering that the California Current System contains naturally corrosive waters, additional acidification will hit this area particularly hard.

To get real-time measurements of ocean acidity, the CU Boulder researchers turned to historical forecasts from a climate model developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Instead of looking forward, the team generated forecasts of the past using the climate model to see how well their forecast system performed. The analysis revealed that the climate model forecasts were very accurate at predicting ocean acidity. 

While the potential is there to forecast acidity years in advance, this type of climate model forecast requires an enormous amount of computational power, manpower, and time. 

The new forecast method is also capable of informing smaller climate models to improve the accuracy and extent of local forecasts. This will provide critical insight for communities on when and where to harvest seafood, with the added benefit of predicting potential losses in advance.

"In the last decade, people have already found evidence of ocean acidification in the California current," said Brady. "It's here right now, and it's going to be here and ever present in the next couple of decades."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

New forecast method can predict ocean acidity years in advance

Experts at CU Boulder have developed a method that has...

Honey <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-reveal-how-heat-stress-affects-fertility-among-insects/">bees</a> in the UK are increasingly suffering from a viral disease called chronic bee paralysis. According to a new study from <a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/">Newcastle University</a>, the number of colonies affected by the deadly disease has grown exponentially since 2007.

Study lead author Giles Budge is a professor in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

"Our analysis clearly confirms that chronic bee paralysis has been emerging across England and Wales since 2007 and that apiaries owned by professional beekeepers are at greater risk of the disease," said Professor Budge.

The researchers collected data from over 24,000 beekeepers. They found that chronic bee paralysis was confined to Lincolnshire in 2007, but was present in 39 of 47 English and six of eight Welsh counties by 2017. 

The study also revealed that clusters of chronic bee paralysis, or disease cases in close proximity, are appearing more frequently. 

Honey bees suffering from chronic bee paralysis experience abnormal trembling, lose the ability to fly, and develop shiny abdomens with no hair. Infected bees are killed within a week of contracting the disease, which is caused by the chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV).

Beekeepers are finding piles of dead bees just outside honey bee hives and are often losing entire colonies to the disease.

"We do not yet know why colonies of bee farmers are at increased risk from this damaging disease, but many management practices are known to differ significantly between amateur and professional apiarists," said Professor Budge.

The research team also investigated whether disease risk was associated with imported honey bee queens. Using data from 130,000 honey bee imports from 25 countries, the experts found that the disease was nearly twice as likely in apiaries owned by beekeepers who imported honey bees.

The researchers said that further research is needed to examine different virus genotypes, which will be completed at the University of St. Andrews. Future studies will also focus on the susceptibility of different honey bee races and compare the management practices of professional and amateur beekeepers. 

The researchers collaborated with the Bee Farmers' Association, a group that represents professional beekeepers in the UK. The chairman of the organization is Rob Nickless.

"We are pleased to be part of this project and welcome these early results. This is the sort of research that brings practical benefits to the industry - helping bee farmers at grassroots level to improve honey bee health and increase UK honey production," said Nickless.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Deadly honey bee disease is accelerating across the UK

Honey bees in the UK are increasingly suffering from a...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a> are describing how effective protected areas can be in slowing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/deforestation-amazon-beef-consumption/">deforestation</a>. Valuable lessons from the study, which was focused on Columbia, could be used to slow deforestation worldwide. 

Led by PhD student Pablo Negret, the research was designed to compare the state of protected areas and non-protected areas across Columbia between 2000 and 2015.

"In Colombia, there has been constant deforestation within protected areas during this 15-year period," explained Negret.

"This is mainly due to a lack of capacity to control illegal exploitation of resources in these areas.

"However, there was around 40 percent less deforestation in protected areas when compared to similar areas without protection."

Despite poor outcomes across some of the sites, the team found that protected areas slowed the overall rate of deforestation.

"We also looked at regional differences and found that protected areas in the Pacific were less effective than elsewhere," said Negret.

"The Pacific region of Colombia is extremely biodiverse and globally important with a high concentration of endemic species, so ensuring these protected areas work is especially important."

The team used satellite images of forest cover and data on 17 parameters of deforestation to compare protected and non-protected areas that had similar environmental and social characteristics. 

Overall, the researchers analyzed the effectiveness of 116 protected areas, which represent about 10 percent of Columbia's continental area.

According to UQ Professor Martine Maron, the study shows that understanding the effectiveness of protected areas could be extremely useful in informing national and global conservation decisions.

"Protected areas can be less effective - either because they still experience deforestation or because they're placed in locations where no deforestation would have occurred even if they weren't protected," said Professor Maron.

"Evaluating the impact protected areas make to deforestation can help with determining whether to invest in improved management in existing protected areas or increase their coverage in strategic locations - or both."

"We hope that these insights can be taken into account in Colombia and around the globe. A similar approach can help any country or region effectively assess the performance of their protected areas at preventing ecosystem loss."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15231739">Conservation 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;

Columbia holds valuable insights for slowing deforestation worldwide

Researchers at the University of Queensland are describing how effective...

Global calculations of CO2 <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/residents-of-louisville-reap-the-health-benefits-of-reduced-emissions/">emissions</a> from inland waters have been widely underestimated, according to a study led by scientists at the <a href="https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=33573">Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research</a> (UFZ). The researchers found that lakes and reservoirs that dry up periodically play an important role in the global carbon cycle, yet have been largely unaccounted for.

Dr. Matthias Koschorreck is a biologist in the Department of Lake Research at UFZ. The current study was initiated in 2013 when Dr. Koschorreck was collaborating with experts in Spain to measure the release of greenhouse gases in the catchment of a small river. 

"It was summer and parts of the riverbed were dry. On a whim, we decided to take some measurements in those areas too," explained Dr. Koschorreck. "The results surprised us - these dry, gravelly areas of the riverbed released unexpectedly high levels of carbon dioxide." 

Further investigation across various parts of Spain and Germany consistently showed that dry inland waters release measurable, and often substantial, levels of carbon dioxide. 

"We wondered whether this might be the case in other regions of the world, and whether greenhouse gas emissions from inland waters might be fundamentally underestimated," said Dr. Koschorreck. "In studies that scale up emissions of greenhouse gases from land and water surface areas, inland waters that dry out intermittently haven't previously been taken into account."

In 2016, the team launched the dryflux research project in an effort to investigate emissions from dry inland waters worldwide.  

The researchers established a measurement and sampling procedure for the project and then asked for help internationally.

"Every participant at the workshop got in touch with research teams all over the world to see whether they would be interested in taking part in measurement campaigns on freshwater systems in their area," said Dr. Koschorreck. "The response was amazing. Twenty four research teams from all over the world took part, which meant that we were able to collect data from 196 different sites on every continent except Antarctica." 

A large, complex dataset was produced that included air, water, and sediment samples. Study first author Phillip Keller analyzed the data and drew some surprising conclusions. 

"We found significant carbon dioxide emissions from dry areas of inland waters across all climate zones," said Keller. "So this really is a global phenomenon." 

The researchers discovered that these emissions are often higher than typical emissions from water surfaces of the same size. 

"We were able to show that dry areas of inland waters actually account for a significant proportion of total carbon dioxide emissions from these freshwater systems," said Dr. Koschorreck. "If you take account of this in global calculations for inland waters, the carbon dioxide emissions increase by six percent." 

Keller explained that the respiration processes of organisms are responsible for the release of carbon dioxide from dry inland water sediments. 

"The more substrate available - the more organic matter in the soil - and the more favorable the conditions like temperature and sediment moisture, the more active they are and the more carbon dioxide is released." 

According to the researchers, the findings show that the factors responsible for carbon dioxide release are essentially the same all over the globe. 

"The interaction of local conditions like temperature, moisture and the organic matter content of the sediments is crucial, and it has a bigger influence than regional climate conditions," said Keller.

"Our study shows that carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters have been significantly underestimated up until now," said Dr. Koschorreck. 

"We hope that our work will help ensure that dry areas of freshwater systems are included in future calculations. With the progression of climate change, more surface waters are probably drying out and thus, CO2 emissions will likely increase."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

CO2 emissions from inland waters are vastly underestimated 

Global calculations of CO2 emissions from inland waters have been...

Coffee plants have core relationships with certain bacteria and fungi. A team of ecologists based in Toronto has identified certain fungi and bacteria that have consistent relationships with coffee plants. The study, which is published by the <a href="https://www.apsnet.org/">American Phytopathological Society</a>, is shedding new light on how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/coffee-alcohol-live-past-90/">coffee</a> plants will respond to changing climate conditions.

The experts turned to the tissues of coffee roots to search for a "core microbiome," or microorganisms that are tightly associated with coffee plants.

The research team used advanced sequencing techniques on coffee samples from a number of Central American farms that had drastically different environmental conditions and management practices. 

The consistent presence of certain microbes within a particular plant is strongly indicative of symbiotic relationships, which are partnerships formed for the benefit of one or both organisms.

The researchers discovered 26 bacterial and 31 fungal species that met their criteria for belonging to the core microbiome. Some of the species have been previously recognized for having plant-beneficial properties and are good candidates for further research.

"The bacterial core microbiome is much stronger and consistent, while the fungal microbiome is more sensitive to environmental conditions that are expected to expand in range with climate change," explained study co-author Roberta Fulthorpe. "We also found that fungi appear to be related to coffee root characteristics while bacteria are not."

The finding that a number of highly abundant microbial species persist in coffee is a remarkable one, according to study co-author Adam Martin.

"That the same species are found across a huge range of temperatures, precipitation, soil conditions, and light availability, is novel evidence of a core microbiome that actually exists in real-world conditions," said Martin. 

"Our results open the door for understanding if or how microbiomes can be managed in real-world cropping systems. Our work also leads to interesting questions on whether or not the flavor of our morning cup of coffee is influenced by the plant's microbes."

The study is published in the <a href="https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/loi/pbiomes">Phytobiomes 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;

Coffee plants have core relationships with certain bacteria and fungi

Coffee plants have core relationships with certain bacteria and fungi....

A new study published by <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</a> has identified a combination of plant extracts that ease hangover symptoms. According to the research, the prevailing theory that hangovers are primarily caused by alcohol-related dehydration and loss of electrolytes may be misguided. 

Many natural remedies have been proposed to treat hangovers, but they are not scientifically proven to help. The researchers set out to investigate the potential of specific plant extracts, vitamins and minerals, and antioxidant compounds to relieve hangover symptoms.

The plant extracts evaluated for the study included Barbados cherry, prickly pear, ginkgo biloba, willow, and ginger root. The vitamins and minerals included magnesium, potassium, sodium bicarbonate, zinc, riboflavin, thiamin, and folic acid.

Over 200 study participants between the ages of  18 and 65 were divided into three groups. The individuals were given a 7.5-gram dose of a water soluble supplement 45 minutes before and immediately after consuming beer, white wine, or white wine spritzers.

The supplement for the first group contained plant extracts, vitamins and minerals, and additional antioxidant compounds. The second group was given the same supplement without the plant extracts, and the third group was given a placebo.

Blood and urine samples were collected and blood pressure measurements were taken before and after the start of a four-hour study period, and then participants were sent home to sober up.

The same samples and measurements were taken twelve hours later, and participants reported on the type and severity of their hangover symptoms.

The study revealed that symptom intensity varied widely among the participants. Overall, the individuals who had taken the supplements with plant extracts had substantially less severe symptoms than those in the other groups.

The supplements with plant extracts were associated with headaches that were 34-percent less intense and nausea that was reduced by 42 percent. Feelings of indifference fell by an average of 27 percent and restlessness dropped by 41 percent. 

Previous studies have linked polyphenol and flavonoid compounds - which were present in all five plant extracts - to reduced physiological hangover symptoms, but it is not clear why.

"The underlying mechanisms remain to be unraveled and surely need further investigation," wrote the study authors. 

The finding that vitamins and minerals did not ease hangover symptoms on their own suggests that alcohol might not affect electrolyte and mineral balance, noted the researchers.

The study also showed that levels of water content in the body were not significantly tied to the amount of alcohol consumed. 

"Our results suggest that alcohol-induced increased fluid excretion does not necessarily lead to a significant dehydration process," wrote the study authors.

"It seems to be clear that hangover symptoms are predominantly caused by alcohol and its metabolites."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nutrition.bmj.com/">BMJ Nutrition Prevention &amp; Health</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Plant extracts may be the best cure for a hangover

A new study published by The BMJ has identified a...

Astronomers at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> have developed a spectral field guide to help scientists understand the chemical signatures of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-conditions-support-life/">exoplanets</a> in the path of dead stars. These biosignatures will indicate whether life exists on these far-away rocky planets.

The next generation of space telescopes will be capable of scanning distant solar systems for signs of life. The research will be particularly focused on Earth-like exoplanets accompanied by burned-out stars known as white dwarfs.

"Rocky planets around white dwarfs are intriguing candidates to characterize because their hosts are not much bigger than Earth-size planets," said study co-author Professor Lisa Kaltenegger.

The Extremely Large Telescope, currently under construction in northern Chile's Atacama Desert, and the James Webb Space Telescope are scheduled to launch in 2021. These powerful tools will give astronomers a closer look at exoplanets.

"We show what the spectral fingerprints could be and what forthcoming space-based and large terrestrial telescopes can look out for," said study lead author Thea Kozakis.

The key will be to capture images of an exoplanet in the brief time it crosses in front of a white dwarf - a small, dense star that has exhausted its energy.

"We are hoping for and looking for that kind of transit," said Kozakis. "If we observe a transit of that kind of planet, scientists can find out what is in its atmosphere, refer back to this paper, match it to spectral fingerprints and look for signs of life. Publishing this kind of guide allows observers to know what to look for."

The astronomers assembled spectral models for different atmospheres at different temperatures to create a template for possible biosignatures. The experts explained that catching exoplanets as they pass through the habitable zone of a white dwarf is challenging.

"We wanted to know if light from a white dwarf - a long-dead star - would allow us to spot life in a planet's atmosphere if it were there," said Professor Kaltenegger.

The research suggests that scientists will be able to recognize spectral biosignatures that are indicative of life, such as a combination of methane and ozone or nitrous oxide, if the chemical compounds are present. 

"If we would find signs of life on planets orbiting under the light of long-dead stars, the next intriguing question would be whether life survived the star's death or started all over again - a second genesis, if you will," said Professor Kaltenegger.

The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2041-8205">Astrophysical Journal Letters</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;

Dead stars will help astronomers find signs of life on exoplanets

Astronomers at Cornell University have developed a spectral field guide...

A new study has revealed that many people are using unsafe techniques to cook chicken at home. Common methods used to assess doneness often fail to guarantee safety from bacterial contamination, according to the researchers. 

High temperatures kill infectious <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/laser-treatment-gives-metal-surfaces-the-power-to-instantly-kill-bacteria/">bacteria</a> that is present in raw chicken, such as salmonella and campylobacter, but these microbes can persist if chicken is undercooked. 

The recommendations for cooking chicken at home are widely variable, which means the safety of home-cooked chicken is questionable. 

Study lead author Solveig Langsrud is a senior scientist at the <a href="https://www.uib.no/en/research/74330/norwegian-institute-food-fisheries-and-aquaculture-research-nofima">Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research</a>.

"Most people think you can look at the color change from pink to white and that suggests it's ready," Langsrud told CNN. "We couldn't find anything in the scientific literature backing this up, so we decided to look into it."

The researchers surveyed nearly 4,000 households in France, Norway, Portugal, Romania, and the U.K. to learn how chicken is commonly prepared. The team also observed chicken cooking practices in 75 additional homes.

About half of the households checked the inner color of chicken to judge doneness, while others relied on meat texture or juice color. 

Using lab experiments, the experts demonstrated that color and texture are not reliable indicators of safety. For example, the inner color of chicken changes at temperatures that are too low to kill pathogens.

While the use of thermometers is widely recommended to check for doneness, the researchers found that the surface of chicken can still harbor infectious bacteria after the inside of the meat is sufficiently cooked. 

The findings highlight the need for improved guidelines that can account for consumer habits while ensuring safety. In the meantime, the researchers recommend focusing on the color and texture of the thickest part of the chicken, as well as measuring temperatures on the surface of the meat. 

"Consumers are often advised to use a food thermometer or check that the juices run clear to make sure that the chicken is cooked safely - we were surprised to find that these recommendations are not safe, not based on scientific evidence and rarely used by consumers," said Dr. Langsrud. 

"Primarily, consumers should check that all surfaces of the meat are cooked, as most bacteria are present on the surface. Secondly, they should check the core. When the core meat is fibrous and not glossy, it has reached a safe temperature."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</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;

&nbsp;

Cooking chicken at home is not as safe as you think 

A new study has revealed that many people are using...

An international team of experts has discovered surprisingly large concentrations of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lobsters-break-down-microplastics-and-release-them-back-into-the-deep-sea/">microplastics</a> in the deep sea. The researchers found up to 1.9 million plastic pieces in a single square meter, which is the highest level of microplastics that has ever been documented on the ocean floor.

Each year, over 10 million tons of plastic waste enters the ocean. Previous studies have established that floating microplastics only account for about one percent of all marine plastic pollution, and the fate of the other 99 percent has remained a mystery. 

Study lead author Dr. Ian Kane is a researcher in the School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Environmental Sciences at the <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester</a>.

"Almost everybody has heard of the infamous ocean 'garbage patches' of floating plastic, but we were shocked at the high concentrations of microplastics we found in the deep-seafloor," said Dr. Kane.

"We discovered that microplastics are not uniformly distributed across the study area; instead they are distributed by powerful seafloor currents which concentrate them in certain areas."

The currents cluster the microplastics together and bury them within deep sediment piles, creating large concentrations of particles and fibers that the researchers refer to as "microplastic hotspots." The hotspots are essentially the deep-sea equivalents of the floating garbage patches that are formed by ocean currents on the surface.

The majority of the microplastics that reach the seafloor are made up of fibers from textiles and clothing. These fibers are not effectively filtered out in domestic wastewater treatment plants, and liberally flow into rivers and oceans.

Once they arrive in the deep sea, microplastics are dominated by bottom currents, which herd the particles and fibers into large sediment drifts on the seafloor. The Manchester-led study provides the first direct evidence of this phenomenon. 

The findings will help to predict other microplastic hotspots in deep ocean sediment, and will inform future studies on how microplastics impact marine life.

The team collected sediment samples from the bottom of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea. The experts combined these samples with calibrated models of deep ocean currents and detailed mapping of the seafloor. 

In the lab, the microplastics were separated from sediment and counted under the microscope. To determine what types of plastics were present, the researchers used infra-red spectroscopy. 

The analysis revealed that the distribution of microplastics on the seafloor is controlled by ocean currents.

"Our study has shown how detailed studies of seafloor currents can help us to connect microplastic transport pathways in the deep-sea and find the 'missing' microplastics," said study co-author Dr. Mike Clare. "The results highlight the need for policy interventions to limit the future flow of plastics into natural environments and minimize impacts on ocean ecosystems."

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;

Massive concentrations of microplastics found on the seafloor

An international team of experts has discovered surprisingly large concentrations...

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;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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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

[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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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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