Tiny bits of organic matter bobbing at the ocean’s surface appear to help clouds freeze in some of the most pristine air on Earth.



New research shows that complex sugar molecules shed by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-microbes-can-tell-us-about-global-changes-in-the-ocean/">marine microbes</a> can trigger ice formation in cloud droplets across the vast Southern Ocean. This happens right in the temperature range that governs how long bright, cooling clouds survive and how much sunlight they bounce back to space.



The work draws on years of field campaigns, lab tests, and computer modeling led by scientists at the <a href="https://www.tropos.de/en/">Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research</a> (TROPOS) and its partners.



It helps explain why climate models have struggled to match observed cloud brightness over remote southern seas. In these regions, dust is scarce and human-made pollution is low.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clouds-need-help-to-freeze">Clouds need help to freeze</h2>



Clouds do not freeze on their own; they need ice-nucleating particles (INPs). These microscopic seeds coax liquid droplets into ice. The kind of particle that dominates changes with temperature.



In the cleaner air around Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, INP levels are tiny. Even small shifts can strongly affect cloud reflectivity, precipitation, and lifetime.



Getting the mix right in climate models is essential for predicting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-accelerating-beyond-control-as-co2-levels-rise/">global warming</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sugar-spike-reveals-a-clue">A sugar spike reveals a clue</h2>



Scientists have long suspected marine biology as a source of INPs, but the actual substances remained mysterious. A turning point came during the 2017 Polarstern expedition PS106.



“During the Polarstern expedition PS106 in 2017, we observed increased glucose concentrations in Arctic samples and concluded this glucose could be an indicator of ice nuclei in seawater,” said senior author Sebastian Zeppenfeld from TROPOS.



“The monosaccharide glucose is a degradation product of polysaccharides. It was therefore obvious to us that polysaccharides could be the missing piece of the puzzle.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-sugars-and-freezing-clouds">Ocean sugars and freezing clouds</h2>



To test the idea, researchers collected material from the ocean’s surface microlayer. This living film teems with bacteria, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/algae-revived-after-7000-years-beneath-the-baltic-sea/">algae</a>, diatoms, fungi, protists, viruses, and more. Researchers had largely overlooked marine fungi as possible ice starters.



Study co-author Susan Hartmann from TROPOS examined ice nucleation in the laboratory using the INDA (Ice Nucleation Droplet Array) droplet freezing test.



“We investigated the ice nucleation of marine polysaccharides derived from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-fungi-can-be-trained-to-degrade-plastic-faster/">marine fungi</a> and protist, as well as commercially available standard polysaccharides,” she said.



Those droplet-freezing experiments produced the first temperature‑resolved data showing how many ice nuclei these marine polysaccharides generate. 



The results fill a key gap: between roughly -15°C (5°F) and -20°C (-4°F), the ocean sugars could account for nearly all biologically driven ice formation in cloud droplets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cloud-models-get-missing-ice-link">Cloud models get missing ice link</h2>



Earlier work had shown that proteins tend to initiate freezing in relatively “warm” clouds (above about 28°F), while mineral dust dominates in very cold clouds (below -4°F).



But the Southern Hemisphere offers limited dust sources. Many mixed-phase clouds linger in the middle range - exactly where the new study shows marine polysaccharides are most potent.



Study lead author Roland Schrödner from TROPOS analyzed the data using the TM5 global atmospheric chemistry transport model.



“In our simulations, we were able to show that at -15 to -16 degrees Celsius (5 to 3°F), the polysaccharides over the gigantic areas of the oceans in the clean Southern Hemisphere are probably the most important ice nuclei," said Schrödner.



"They contribute more to ice formation than mineral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-storms-are-a-surprising-source-of-deadly-air-pollution/">dust</a> emitted from the deserts, which is the main type of ice nuclei in climate models. This is a new and important finding for climate models.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-years-of-data-point-to-sugars">Years of data point to sugars</h2>



The study knits together aerosol microphysics, atmospheric chemistry, and global modeling groups at TROPOS.



Polysaccharide concentrations had been sampled during multiple expeditions: the Spanish Antarctic PI‑ICE mission, the German Arctic PASCAL/PS106 cruises, the tropical Atlantic MarParCloud campaign, and long‑term measurements on Spitsbergen.



Only by combining those datasets with lab freezing tests and model simulations could the team quantify the climatic punch of marine sugars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-cloud-ice-research">Next steps for cloud ice research</h2>



If nations succeed in cutting man‑made emissions, natural aerosol particles will matter even more for cloud behavior. Clean‑air regions respond sharply to even small aerosol changes, making the Southern Hemisphere a prime natural laboratory.



Beginning July 2025, the HALO‑South aircraft mission - led by TROPOS - will probe clouds, aerosols, and radiation over the Southern Ocean near New Zealand. 



A coordinated ground campaign, goSouth‑2, will deploy advanced remote‑sensing gear near Invercargill from September 2025 to March 2027. The goal is to watch clouds evolve in this pristine environment.



Life at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-draining-nutrients-from-the-oceans-surface/">ocean’s surface</a> shapes cloud brightness, revealing deep links between biology and the atmosphere.



The new evidence that marine polysaccharides help seed ice over huge swaths of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-storage-mystery-emerges-in-the-southern-ocean/">Southern Ocean</a> is a vivid reminder: what grows in the water below can change the sky above - and, through clouds, influence Earth’s climate itself.



The study was presented at the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU General Assembly 2025</a> in Vienna, Austria. An abstract of the article can be found <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-15357.html">here</a>.



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How tiny sugars in the Southern Ocean help clouds freeze

Tiny bits of organic matter bobbing at the ocean’s surface appear to help clouds freeze in some of the most pristine air on Earth. New research shows that complex sugar molecules shed by marine microbes can trigger ice formation in cloud droplets across the vast Southern Ocean. This happens right in the temperature range that governs how long bright, cooling clouds survive and how much sunlight they bounce back to space. The work draws on years of field campaigns, lab tests, and computer modeling led by scientists...

Every year, more than 1,000 tons of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/massive-concentrations-of-microplastics-found-on-the-seafloor/">plastic</a> rains down on protected areas in the western United States, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.usu.edu/">Utah State University</a>. The research was focused on samples of microplastics and other particles collected in 11 national parks and wilderness areas. 

A team led by Professor Janice Brahney analyzed the composition of the particles to identify the sources of atmospheric plastic and to track its movement and fallout. 

"We were shocked at the estimated deposition rates and kept trying to figure out where our calculations went wrong," said Professor Brahney. "We then confirmed through 32 different particle scans that roughly 4% of the atmospheric particles analyzed from these remote locations were synthetic polymers."

Global production of plastic reached 348 million metric tons in 2017, and this amount continues to grow. Due to the resilience of plastic, it persists in the environment and breaks down into microplastics that accumulate in wastewater, rivers, and oceans. The new study shows that microplastics also accumulate in the atmosphere. 

"Several studies have attempted to quantify the global plastic cycle but were unaware of the atmospheric limb," said Professor Brahney. "Our data show the plastic cycle is reminiscent of the global water cycle, having atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial lifetimes."

The researchers investigated the source and life history of wet and dry microplastic deposition. The team found that cities and population centers were the initial sources of plastics that were deposited by rain. These microplastics were also redistributed by secondary sources, such as soil and surface waters. 

On the other hand, dry microplastic deposits transported by wind were associated with large-scale atmospheric patterns and showed indications they had been carried over long distances. 

Most of the plastics deposited in both wet and dry samples were microfibers sourced from clothing and industrial materials. In addition, 30 percent of the particles were brightly colored acrylic microbeads that likely originated in industrial paints and coatings. 

"This result, combined with the size distribution of identified plastics, and the relationship to global-scale climate patterns, suggest that plastic emission sources have extended well beyond our population centers and, through their longevity, spiral through the Earth system," wrote the study authors. 

Over 14 months, the team collected wet particle samples weekly and dry samples monthly across 11 sites. Ultimately, the experts estimated that more than 1,000 tons of microplastics are dumped on protected lands in the western U.S. each year. This is equivalent to more than 123 million plastic water bottles. 

The researchers noted that some particles were excluded from the study because they did not meet the criteria for visual counting under magnification, which suggests that plastic deposition rates are even higher than what was calculated.

The presence of microplastics in the atmosphere has unknown health consequences, but the microplastics analyzed in the study were small enough to accumulate in lung tissue if ingested. The atmospheric plastic also has the potential to adversely impact ecosystems in the protected areas.

"This ubiquity of microplastics in the atmosphere and the subsequent deposition to remote terrestrial and aquatic environments raise widespread ecological and societal concerns," said Professor Brahney. "Identifying the key mechanisms of plastic emission to the atmosphere is a first step in developing global-scale solutions."

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;

Microplastics are raining down on protected areas in the western U.S.

Every year, more than 1,000 tons of plastic rains down...

Late-night <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/resveratrol-treating-depression/">eating</a> has been linked to a wide range of adverse effects, including indigestion, inadequate sleep, memory problems, and even more serious issues like diabetes and heart disease. 

New research from the <a href="https://www.endocrine.org/">Endocrine Society</a> confirms that eating late contributes to excessive weight and high blood sugar, and some people are more susceptible than others. 

More than two billion adults are overweight or obese, which greatly raises the risk of developing health complications. The current analysis indicates that consuming calories later in the day promotes obesity.

Dr. Jonathan C. Jun is an expert in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"This study sheds new light on how eating a late dinner worsens glucose tolerance and reduces the amount of fat burned. The effect of late eating varies greatly between people and depends on their usual bedtime," said Dr. Jun.

"This shows that some people might be more vulnerable to late eating than others. If the metabolic effects we observed with a single meal keep occurring chronically, then late eating could lead to consequences such as diabetes or obesity."

The researchers examined how healthy volunteers metabolized dinner that was eaten at 6 p.m or 10 p.m., with a bedtime of 11 p.m.

The study revealed that, even among individuals that ate the exact same meal, the later dinner time was associated with higher blood sugar levels and lower levels of burned fat.

"On average, the peak glucose level after late dinner was about 18 percent higher, and the amount of fat burned overnight decreased by about 10 percent compared to eating an earlier dinner," said study first author Dr. Chenjuan Gu. 

"The effects we have seen in healthy volunteers might be more pronounced in people with obesity or diabetes, who already have a compromised metabolism."

The study is one the most detailed of its kind to investigate the effects of late-night eating. The volunteers wore activity trackers, gave blood samples, and participated in sleep studies and body fat scans.

According to Dr. Jun, more research is needed to see if these effects continue over time, and if they are caused more by behavior - such as sleeping soon after a meal - or by the body's circadian rhythms.

The study is published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem">The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &amp; Metabolism</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Eating late contributes to obesity and diabetes

Late-night eating has been linked to a wide range of...

A new study published by <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/">Elsevier</a> has confirmed that volunteer work improves the mental and physical health of older adults. The researchers found that adults over 50 who volunteer for about two hours a week are less inclined to developing physical limitations and have a lower risk of death.

A growing collection of research has linked volunteering to many psychological benefits as well, including increased self-confidence and a stronger sense of purpose.

The current study shows that older adults involved in charity work are more physically active and have an improved sense of well-being compared to those who do not volunteer.

However, to develop public health interventions focused on volunteering, more research is needed to confirm the consistency of specific positive outcomes.

In the new study, experts have made progress in clarifying the health benefits of volunteer work by evaluating 34 physical and mental health outcomes. This provided the researchers with an opportunity to compare the likelihood and extent of various effects.

The team also identified some outcomes that were not influenced by volunteering. For example, the study did not link charity work to improvements in chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, obesity, or chronic pain.

Study lead author Dr. Eric S. Kim is an expert in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

"Humans are social creatures by nature. Perhaps this is why our minds and bodies are rewarded when we give to others," said Dr. Kim.

"Our results show that volunteerism among older adults doesn't just strengthen communities, but enriches our own lives by strengthening our bonds to others, helping us feel a sense of purpose and well-being, and protecting us from feelings of loneliness, depression, and hopelessness." 

"Regular altruistic activity reduces our risk of death even though our study didn't show any direct impact on a wide array of chronic conditions."

The investigation was focused on data from nearly 13,000 participants randomly selected from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The individuals were tracked for over four years.

According to the researchers, further research is needed to understand the protective health benefits of volunteering. The experts recommend the adoption of policies that encourage more volunteerism. 

The older adult population possesses a vast array of skills and experiences that can be used to improve society. Through volunteering, older adults also promote a trend of healthier aging. 

The study authors noted that the research was conducted prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which makes social activity risky and unadvisable for the foreseeable future.

However, according to Dr. Kim, this may be a particular moment in history when society needs your service the most. 

"If you are able to do so while abiding by health guidelines, you not only can help to heal and repair the world, but you can help yourself as well." 

"When the COVID-19 crisis finally subsides, we have a chance to create policies and civic structures that enable more giving in society. Some cities were already pioneering this idea before the pandemic and quarantine, and I hope we have the willingness and resolve to do so in a post-COVID-19 society as well."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Volunteering lowers risk of death, improves well-being in older adults

A new study published by Elsevier has confirmed that volunteer...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a> have found that some <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ai-track-chimpanzees/">chimpanzees</a> have a bone in their heart called an os cordis. The discovery of the tiny bones, which measure only a few millimeters in length, may ultimately help experts manage the heart health and conservation of endangered chimpanzees. 

There are not many species of animals that have an os cordis, and the presence of the bone is sometimes indicative of heart problems.

The heart bone is larger in many bovines, such as cattle, ox, and buffalo, and butchers often have to remove it. There are some groups of sheep, dogs, and camels that have an os cordis as well. 

When the heart bone is not present in most individuals within a species, it is usually associated with heart disease. 

Cardiovascular disease is a very common problem among wild chimpanzees. A better understanding of their hearts may present brand new opportunities to protect chimpanzees.

According to the analysis, which was carried out at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, the os cordis was more likely to be present in chimps with idiopathic myocardial fibrosis - a type of heart disease found in both chimps and humans. 

Myocardial fibrosis is the most common type of heart disease in chimpanzees and has been linked to the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.

"The discovery of a new bone in a new species is a rare event, especially in chimps which have such similar anatomy to people. It raises the question as to whether some people could have an os cordis too,' said study lead author Dr.  Catrin Rutland.

In order to scan the chimpanzees' hearts with most detail possible, the team used several techniques including an advanced imaging method called micro-computed tomography. 

The study revealed that cartilage was present in addition to bone, which provides insight into how the bone growth started. The scientists also found that the heart bone in both male and female chimps of different ages.

The underlying reasons for the development of the os cordis are not yet clear, but the bone is thought to perform specific mechanical functions. Experts theorize that the bone may support the essential heart valves or even alter the electrical system which controls the heart.

"Looking for ways to help chimps with heart disease is essential," said Dr. Sophie Moittié. "Understanding what is happening to their hearts helps us manage their health."

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;

Scientists have discovered a rare heart bone in some chimpanzees

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found that some...

In a new study led by <a href="https://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/">Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich</a> (LMU), experts have determined that a spring heatwave contributed to the severity of the summer 2018 <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/latest-climate-models-show-more-intense-droughts-ahead/">drought</a> in Europe. Unusually warm spring temperatures accelerated the timing and rate of plant growth, which depleted soil moisture. 

The 2018 drought hit northern and central Europe particularly hard, triggering wildfires and causing devastating crop losses. The researchers found that the summer drought was intensified by the spring heatwave that preceded it.     

According to the study authors, the drought impacts varied on a regional scale depending on the dominant type of vegetation. 

"Little is known about whether and how preceding weather parameters influence the response of ecosystems to extreme conditions during the summer," said study co-lead author Ana Bastos. "To answer this question, we used the year 2018 in Europe as a case-study and carried out climate simulations incorporating 11 different vegetation models."

The study showed that warmer springtime conditions led to more vigorous vegetation growth, which increased rates of carbon dioxide uptake. However, the impact on annual productivity and the overall carbon balance was found to be highly variable across different regions. 

"When plants resume growth earlier in the year, they use more water," said Bastos. "In Central Europe, rapid plant growth in the spring significantly reduced the water content of the soil. By the summer, the level of soil moisture was already insufficient to maintain the biomass that had accumulated, making ecosystems more vulnerable to the effects of the drought." 

In Central Europe, hot spring temperatures had a negative impact on the productivity of ecosystems and net uptake of carbon dioxide later in the year. 

In Scandinavia, however, the early plant growth compensated for the drought-induced losses later in the summer. Ecosystem productivity and the annual carbon balance were either unaffected by the spring heatwave or slightly improved. 

The study authors linked the variations in regional outcomes to specific differences in vegetation. Arable land and pastures dominate the landscape in central Europe, while forests cover much of Scandinavia. 

"Trees use water somewhat more economically," said Bastos. "If they grow faster in the spring, they also consume more water than they otherwise would. But they can control water loss from transpiration by adjusting the opening of stomatal pores in their leaves." 

In addition, trees have deeper roots that allow them to tap into water at greater depths. This explains how the boreal forests of Northern Europe maintained near-normal levels of carbon fixation during the intense drought.

Overall, the research shows that the spring heatwave of 2018 worsened the vulnerability of ecosystems to summer drought in central Europe, but mitigated the drought impacts in Scandinavia. The findings suggest that monitoring growth rates of vegetation in spring could serve as an early indicator of upcoming summer droughts. 

The team has identified alternative land management strategies that may help mitigate the effects of future droughts.

"In the long term, owing to climate change, spring vegetation will regularly grow at faster rates, consuming more water and increasing the risk of summer droughts," said study co-lead author Julia Pongratz. 

"It might be possible to make ecosystems more resilient by altering the plant cover - for example, by planting stands of trees in the immediate vicinity of cropland." 

"But more extreme water shortages in summer will themselves alter the nature of ecosystems, if threshold levels of mortality and fire incidence are more frequently exceeded. So it is not at all clear whether Europe's ecosystems will continue to serve as carbon dioxide sinks in the future."

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;

Spring heatwave intensified the 2018 European drought

In a new study led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich (LMU), experts...

Ant pollination is not very common, and this is likely due to the fact that ants secrete antibiotics that negatively impact plant production. For the first time, experts have identified a plant that has successfully adapted to the antimicrobial substances produced by ants to use them as pollinators. 

Researchers at <a href="http://www.ecu.edu.au/">Edith Cowan University</a> (ECU) discovered a group of shrubs growing on the Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia that are pollinated by both native bees and ants. 

Study lead author and PhD student Nicola Delnevo explained that ant pollination of plants is incredibly rare.

"Ants secrete an antimicrobial fluid that kills pollen grain. So ants have traditionally been considered to be a menace - nectar thieves whose aggression keeps other potential pollinating insects at bay," said Delnevo.

"However this group of plants in Western Australia, commonly known as the Smokebush family, has evolved a way to use ants to their advantage."

The study was focused on six flowering plant species found in Western Australia. The experts tested the effect of the antimicrobial secretion from three local ant species on the plants, and the results were surprising.

"We found evidence that Conospermum plants have adapted the biochemistry of their pollen grains to cope with the antimicrobial properties of the ants," said Delnevo.

"This is the first plant species found to have adapted traits that enables a mutually beneficial relationship with ants."

"About 46 examples of ant pollination have been documented around the world, but these have been due to the ants producing less toxic secretions that allow them to pollinate."

According to Delnevo, the pollination by ants was particularly good news for these plants because honeybee pollination is not entirely reliable.

"Conospermum plants have unscented tubular flowers that are too narrow for honeybees to wriggle inside to pollinate. They rely on native insects carrying a suitable pollen load from visiting other flowers for pollination to occur," explained Delnevo.

He said that Conospermum plants in this region have co-evolved with a native bee, Leioproctus conospermi. The bee has adapted to become a specialist feeder of these flowers. 

"This relationship is mutually beneficial, but it would be risky in an evolutionary sense for the plant to rely solely on the native bee for pollination."

The researchers want to further investigate the prevalence of ant pollination throughout southwestern Australia. The team also plans to study how the plants  evolved to overcome ant defenses.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aob">Annals of Botany</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Some plants have evolved to take advantage of ant pollination

Ant pollination is not very common, and this is likely...

Coral reef islands can naturally adapt to rising water levels, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>. The research suggests that many <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mangroves-and-coral-reefs-provide-critical-protection-from-storms/">reef</a> islands are not doomed to disappear with future sea level rise.

Coral islands are formed by the accumulation of sandy and rocky organic materials. These low-lying islands are expected to become submerged and uninhabitable in the coming decades as a result of climate change. 

"In the face of climate change and sea level rise, coral reef islands are among the most vulnerable coastal environments on the planet," said study lead author Professor Gerd Masselink.

"Previous research into the future habitability of these islands typically considers them inert structures unable to adjust to rising sea level. Invariably, these studies predict significantly increased risk of coastal flooding and island inundation, and the concept of 'island loss' has become entrenched in discourses regarding the future of coral reef island communities." 

"In turn, this has led to attention being focused on either building structural coastal defenses or the exodus of island communities, with limited consideration of alternative adaptation strategies."

The research is the first to combine numerical models of island morphology with physical model experiments to simulate how reef islands will respond to sea level rise.

The analysis revealed that islands composed of gravel material will evolve as overtopping waves transfer sediment from the beach face to the surface of the island. In other words, the island's crest will rise along with sea levels.

The researchers explained that this natural method of adaptation, along with management strategies such as changes to infrastructure, could support near-term habitability. 

"It is important to realize that these coral reef islands have developed over hundreds to thousands of years as a result of energetic wave conditions removing material from the reef structure and depositing the material towards the back of reef platforms, thereby creating islands," said Professor Masselink. 

"The height of their surface is actually determined by the most energetic wave conditions, therefore overtopping, flooding and island inundation are necessary, albeit inconvenient and sometimes hazardous, processes required for island maintenance."

The scientists created a scale model of Fatato Island, which is part of the Funafuti Atoll in Tuvalu, and placed it in the Coastal Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) Lab at the University of Plymouth.

When the model was subjected to a series of experiments designed to simulate sea level rise, the island's crest rose as intense waves deposited sediment on the island's surface.

According to three numerical models, the island rose by just under 0.7m in response to a simulated sea level rise of 0.75m. This demonstrates that islands can keep pace with rising water levels, but the precise rate of sea-level rise will be the critical determining factor.

"The model provides a step-change in our ability to simulate future island responses to sea level rise and better resolve what the on-ground transformations will look like for island communities. Importantly, our results suggest that island drowning within the next few decades is not universally inevitable," said study co-author  Professor Paul Kench.

"Understanding how islands will physically change due to sea level rise provides alternative options for island communities to deal with the consequences of climate change. It is important to stress there is no one-size-fits-all strategy that will be viable for all island communities - but neither are all islands doomed."

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;

Coral reef islands have the potential to adapt to sea level rise

Coral reef islands can naturally adapt to rising water levels,...

A country's economic health is usually measured by its gross domestic product (GDP), but some experts argue that this value does not account for the benefits of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/wisdom-changes-end-life/">nature</a> such as clean water or climate security. 

An international team of researchers has developed a measurement to represent the value of nature's contribution to economic activity. The new metric, Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP), is currently being tested in China.

Study senior author Gretchen Daily is a professor of Environmental Science at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a>.

"We're basically flying blind when it comes to knowing where and how much nature to protect," said Professor Daily. "GEP tracks the vital contributions of nature to society, informs investments in securing them and helps evaluate the performance of leaders and policies." 

Professor Daily is the faculty director of the Natural Capital Project, an initiative that helps governments and organizations incorporate the benefits of nature into economic and development plans. The project managers use open-source mapping and modeling software to calculate this value.

The research team also used this modeling software, known as InVEST, to inform the GEP equation. GEP is calculated by accounting for and combining all of nature's contributions to society in a single, monetary metric. 

"Over the past 50 years, global GDP has risen by 370 percent. Alongside global economic prosperity, we're seeing the degradation of the vital natural capital that fundamentally underpins human well-being," said study co-author Professor Stephen Polasky.

The GEP metric was pioneered by the <a href="http://english.cas.cn/">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>. Using Qinghai as a testing ground, researchers at the academy compiled a large amount of environmental data to inform GEP calculations. 

Qinghai province is known as the "water tower of Asia" because it is the source of China's two largest rivers - the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers - which provide water to much of China and other Southeast Asian countries.

Study lead author Zhiyun Ouyang is the director of the Chinese Academy's Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences.

"Qinghai is rich in natural capital, but its GDP alone does not reflect that value," said Ouyang. "Using this new metric, we were able to place a value on important ecosystem services, especially water supply, that Qinghai currently exports to other provinces but receives no credit for in the GDP calculation."

The provinces that benefit from Qinghai's water supply are often wealthier in GDP and poorer in GEP. Leaders in China are now using GEP calculations to develop eco-compensation programs that would, for example, have downstream water users to pay for the protection of the water source upstream. This type of program can help reduce poverty while protecting critically important environmental benefits.

"GEP by itself is just a metric, a number. But when used to inform and drive policies, it can be a powerful new tool for changing the ways we understand and value nature globally," said Mary Ruckelshaus, managing director of the Natural Capital Project. 

"Being held accountable for reporting GEP may incentivize governments to make decisions that protect the natural resources on which we all depend."

The ultimate goal is for countries all over the world to prioritize and protect the benefits of nature to society. The researchers are currently working with the United Nations Statistics Division to develop ways to standardize GEP as a global reporting metric.

"We see a potential future where GEP is reported alongside GDP in all economies," said Daily. "The use of GEP yielding tangible results already - creating jobs and restoring critical ecosystems. Securing natural capital is at the heart of a future in which all of us can thrive."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Accounting for nature's contribution to economic health      

A country's economic health is usually measured by its gross...

A new report from the <a href="https://www.unenvironment.org/">UN Environment Program</a> (UNEP) highlights the opportunity for countries to invest in clean energy and sustainable economies during COVID-19 recovery. The investigation revealed that renewable energy is now more cost-effective than ever. 

The experts explained that prioritizing clean energy in economic recovery packages would not only create new jobs, but could also put the world on track to meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement.

"Renewables such as wind and solar power already account for almost 80 percent of newly built capacity for electricity generation. Investors and markets are convinced of their reliability and competitiveness," said Svenja Schulze, Federal Environment Minister at <a href="https://www.bmu.de/en/">BMU</a>.

"The promotion of renewables can be a powerful engine for the recovery of the economy after the coronavirus crisis, creating new and secure jobs."

"At the same time, renewables improve air quality thus protecting public health. By promoting renewable energies within the framework of coronavirus economic stimulus packages, we have the opportunity to invest in future prosperity, health and climate protection."

The UN report, Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2020, analyzed clean energy commitments made by countries and corporations for the next decade. 

Collectively, commitments to new non-hydro renewable power capacity are equivalent to 826 gigawatts by 2030. According to the report, the addition of around 3,000 GW is needed in this timeframe to reach the primary climate target of the Paris Agreement - limiting global warming to under two degrees Celsius. 

The study also showed that clean energy investments planned for the upcoming decade fall short of the investments made over the last decade by about 1.7 trillion USD. At the same time, the cost of installing renewable energy has hit new lows, which means that future investments will deliver far more capacity.

"The chorus of voices calling on governments to use their COVID-19 recovery packages to create sustainable economies is growing," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. "This research shows that renewable energy is one of the smartest, most cost-effective investments they can make in these packages."

"If governments take advantage of the ever-falling price tag of renewables to put clean energy at the heart of COVID-19 economic recovery, they can take a big step towards a healthy natural world, which is the best insurance policy against global pandemics."

According to the new report, renewable energy capacity grew by an unprecedented 184 GW in 2019. While this amount of additional capacity is a 12 percent jump compared to 2018, the dollar investment was only one percent higher in 2019.

Improvements in technology and competitive markets continue to drive down the costs of wind and solar power. In the second half of 2019, the costs for electricity from new solar photovoltaic plants were 83 percent lower than a decade earlier.

"We see the energy transition is in full swing, with the highest capacity of renewables financed ever. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis - with demand for coal- and gas-fired electricity down in many countries, and oil prices slumping," said Nils Stieglitz, President of <a href="https://www.frankfurt-school.de/home">Frankfurt School of Finance &amp; Management</a>.

"The climate and COVID-19 crises - despite their different natures - are both disruptions that command attention from policy makers and managers alike. Both crises demonstrate the need to increase climate ambition and shift the world's energy supply towards renewables."

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Clean energy should be prioritized during COVID-19 recovery

A new report from the UN Environment Program (UNEP) highlights...

In a recent study from <a href="https://www.su.se/cmlink/stockholm-university">Stockholm University</a>, experts have found that human eggs show preferential treatment when it comes to male <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/heavy-marijuana-use-sperm/">sperm</a>. While it is known that human eggs release chemicals to attract sperm, the research suggests that not just any sperm is chosen.

People invest a lot of time and energy in finding a suitable partner, but the mate selection process may not be entirely under our control. The new study has revealed that different eggs attract different types of sperm - that do not necessarily belong to chosen mates.

"Human eggs release chemicals called chemoattractants that attract sperm to unfertilized eggs. We wanted to know if eggs use these chemical signals to pick which sperm they attract," said Professor John Fitzpatrick.

The research was focused on the interactions between sperm and the follicular fluids that surround the egg and contain sperm chemoattractants. The team set out to investigate whether substances in follicular fluids promote fertilization by specific sperm more than others.

"Follicular fluid from one female was better at attracting sperm from one male, while follicular fluid from another female was better at attracting sperm from a different male," said Professor Fitzpatrick.

"This shows that interactions between human eggs and sperm depend on the specific identity of the women and men involved."

The study revealed that eggs did not always attract more sperm from their partner compared to sperm from another male.

Professor Fitzpatrick explained that sperm have only one job, which is to fertilize eggs, so it does not make sense for them to be picky. On the other hand, eggs stand to benefit from selecting high quality or genetically compatible sperm.

"The idea that eggs are choosing sperm is really novel in human fertility," said study senior author Professor Daniel Brison, the scientific director of the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Saint Mary's Hospital.

"Research on the way eggs and sperm interact will advance fertility treatments and may eventually help us understand some of the currently 'unexplained' causes of infertility in couples."

"I'd like to thank every person who took part in this study and contributed to these findings, which may benefit couples struggling with infertility in future."

The study is published in the <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/loi/rspb">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</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;

Human eggs are attracted to some sperm more than others

In a recent study from Stockholm University, experts have found...

Scientists at the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a> have found that distress calls from newly-hatched <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-penguins-catastrophe/">chicks</a> contain a wealth of important information. The experts discovered that these calls can be used to predict the behavior, growth, and mortality of entire flocks that contain thousands of chicks.

"By analyzing the calls chicks make in their first few days of life, it seems we are able to predict weight gained and the number of deaths in the whole flock for the whole life," said study co-author Professor Lucy Asher.

"This means we could have a very powerful tool to help chicken welfare. What is particularly useful is that this welfare indicator can be used early on in life, whereas most chicken welfare indicators are taken later in their life when it is too late to make major improvements." 

"As an added benefit this study shows how we can measure chick calls automatically, meaning no extra work for farmers, but more information to help them improve chicken welfare."

Commercial chicken farms rear young chicks in large groups of hundreds to thousands. For the current investigation, a team of animal welfare and behavior scientists captured acoustic recordings of 12 flocks of 25,000 chicks.

In a natural environment, chicks use loud and distinctive distress calls to demand attention from the mother hen when they feel uncertain or unsafe. The researchers found that these calls can be clearly heard above all other noises, including regular chick calls or farm equipment. 

Previous studies linked distress calling to anxiety in baby chicks. But the new research suggests that the distinctive calls are much more significant, serving as an "iceberg indicator" - a single source of a range of welfare information. 

"On their first day in a barn, all chicks are going to call because they are in strange surroundings," explained study lead author Dr. Katherine Herborn. 

"But after that they learn where to find food and water and settle into that new world, so if you are still hearing a lot of distress calling after a few days it could be a sign there is something wrong." 

"With over 50 billion birds being produced each year, tools to support simple interventions at the right time could potentially have big impacts on welfare and quality of life for these birds."

The technique used for the analysis measured the "spectral entropy" of the soundscape. The spectral entropy is the value that describes the complexity of a sound, which can vary from a clear, tonal note all the way to white noise.

When multiple chicks are calling out at the same time, the background noise across the farm becomes more tonal. This provides a computationally simple system for counting distress calls, which could ultimately highlight early warning signals and improve the health of chicks over their lifetime.

"The results of this research show how useful vocalizations can be for monitoring welfare, and especially in an age when animal welfare needs should be central to progress in precision livestock farming," said Dr. Alan McElligott.

The study is published in the <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsif">Journal of the Royal Society Interface</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;

Distress calls from baby chicks predict the health of the whole flock

Scientists at the University of Plymouth have found that distress...

Citrus greening disease is by far the biggest threat to the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/citrus-greening-treatments/">citrus</a> industry. The disease has caused widespread damage in Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States, including billions of dollars worth of citrus fruit losses in Florida alone.

Also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), citrus greening is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid. HLB attacks the vascular tissue that citrus trees use to transport nutrients. The trees still appear healthy at first, but gradually become unproductive and die.

Previous research has been primarily focused on trees that were already infected with the disease, so the factors that promote the spread of citrus greening are not well understood. 

In a new study published by the <a href="https://www.apsnet.org/">American Phytopathological Society</a>, scientists in Texas surveyed commercial and residential citrus trees from 2007 to 2017. The team closely monitored the proportion of citrus trees and the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP).

Study co-author Dr. Olufemi Alabi is an expert in Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Texas A&amp;M University.

"Unlike previous studies on citrus greening disease epidemics that were typically initiated in commercial orchards after the disease had been introduced or became widespread in the area, our study commenced 5-years prior to the first detection of the greening bacterium in Texas and continued for 5 additional years," explained Dr. Alabi.

"This gave us the unique opportunity to obtain a holistic picture of the progression of the disease epidemics from its onset in both commercial and residential ecologies."

Even though citrus greening first appeared in Florida in 2005, the infectious bacteria was not found in Texas until 2011, when scientists detected it in psyllids.

Citrus trees remained disease-free in Texas until 2012, which indicates that psyllids could be used for early detection of the HLB pathogen as it invades new areas.

During the decade-long study, the proportion of infected trees and psyllids increased exponentially over time, according to the researchers. By 2017, at least one citrus tree was infected in 26 percent of fields and in 40 percent of residential backyards.

The experts also identified seasonal fluctuations that will provide new insight into the ongoing citrus greening epidemic in Texas. The findings may also help to inform other regions that have not yet been affected by citrus greening.

"Our study suggests that a flatter progression of citrus greening disease epidemics could be achieved through the implementation of strategies to protect new plantings from infection and the continued implementation of the area-wide ACP management program," said study lead author Mamoudou Sétamou.

The research will bring some relief to Texas farmers, who feared that the epidemic would overwhelm the state's citrus industry just as quickly as it did in Florida. 

"Surprisingly, our research showed that although an exponential growth was observed in progression of infected trees in Texas, the annual rate of increase was relatively slower than reported from Florida," said Sétamou.

"This led us to conduct a series of analyses that enabled us to identify potential climatic and cultural factors that may be contributing to the relatively slow spread of citrus greening disease in Texas."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/loi/pdis">Plant Disease</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Texas scientists share hopeful new insight on citrus greening

Citrus greening disease is by far the biggest threat to...

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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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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