Poke around a British rockpool and you may spot a shell shuffling over the sand. Inside is a hermit crab - an animal that spends much of its life testing the outside world before deciding whether it is safe to venture forth.



New research from the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a> reveals that the speed of that decision, a trait biologists call boldness, hinges on a crab’s built-in sensory toolkit.



The study focuses on microscopic hair-like structures called sensilla that pepper the claws of Pagurus bernhardus, a common UK species.



By counting those hairs on dozens of individuals and matching the totals to behavior in the lab, the team discovered a clear pattern: more sensilla equals faster recovery from a startle response. 



Hermit crabs so equipped are not only bolder, they are also more predictable - showing similar, rapid emergence times across repeated tests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-crab-response-times">Measuring crab response times</h2>



The experiment began with a simple but telling ritual. Researchers placed each crab in a small tank and gently startled it with a puff of water or a light tap on the shell.



That cue mimics the sudden pressure wave generated by a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-chaos-caused-a-mass-extinction-of-top-marine-predators/">predator</a> or rolling wave, prompting the animal to yank its legs and antennae inside its borrowed shell. The team then timed how long it took for eye stalks and claws to reappear.



About a third of a second is considered lightning fast in hermit-crab terms; several minutes, positively timid. Over repeated trials, certain individuals consistently clocked shorter hideouts, indicating a stable personality trait rather than random chance.



“I was especially intrigued by how they used their claws and other sensory appendages, such as their antennae, in their explorations and when re-emerging from their shell,” said lead author Ari Drummond, a PhD student at the University of Plymouth.



That curiosity led to the hunch that claws might act as information-gathering probes, letting crabs “sniff” the water for chemical cues or feel subtle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-ocean-currents-play-a-huge-role-in-earths-climate/">currents</a> that betray lurking threats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-claw-molts-reveal-sensors">Claw molts reveal sensors</h2>



Linking behavior to anatomy required patience. Hermit crabs, like all crustaceans, periodically molt. During this process, they shed the outer exoskeleton, including the thin cuticle covering each sensillum.



Drummond and colleagues waited for each test subject to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cambrian-fossils-reveal-new-clues-about-arthropod-evolution/">molt</a> naturally, collected the discarded claw tissue, and examined it under a scanning electron microscope.



The high-resolution images looked like alien landscapes - ridged terrain studded with evenly spaced bristles. Each bristle is a sensillum, connected to nerve cells that detect touch, water movement, or dissolved chemicals.



By tracing and counting every sensillum in the images, the team created a detailed sensory map for each crab. This noninvasive method marked a major advance over earlier studies, which often required removing limbs.



Analysis revealed striking variation: some claws sported 50 percent more sensilla than others of similar size. When the researchers plotted those numbers against startle data, the trend became unmistakable. Bolder hermit crabs have more sensilla on the claw surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bolder-crabs-have-more-hairs">Bolder crabs have more hairs</h2>



Why would extra sensory hairs translate into courage? The authors propose that better input reduces uncertainty. With richer information about water chemistry or microcurrents, a crab can judge threats more accurately and resume foraging sooner. 



That efficiency, in turn, may feed back into survival and reproductive success, favoring individuals who “invest” in sensory hardware.



They call the concept the “sensory investment syndrome.” It’s a hypothesis linking an animal’s personality - here, boldness - to the resources it allocates to senses. If confirmed across other species, it could reshape how biologists think about behavioral diversity in nature.



“We’ve known for a long time that individual animals of the same species can show consistent behavioral differences from one another,” said senior author Mark Briffa, a professor at Plymouth. 



“Our new research suggests that in hermit crabs, some of this variation may be linked to how individuals sense the world around them.”



In his opinion, similar mechanisms might operate in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/">insects</a>, fish, or even mammals, where variation in eye size, whisker density, or olfactory receptors could underpin consistent behavioral tendencies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crab-survival-starts-with-sensing">Crab survival starts with sensing</h2>



Hermit crabs face mounting challenges: coastal pollution, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-will-cut-world-gdp-by-a-staggering-40-percent-if-nothing-changes/">rising temperatures</a>, and habitat disturbance all alter the sensory landscape of rockpools. Understanding how these creatures sense and decide may reveal which populations are most at risk from environmental change.



“In a world where environments and species are increasingly at risk from human impacts, it is essential that we gain a better understanding of what information animals detect, how they use that information and then respond to stay alive,” Drummond said.



Future work will test what each sensillum detects and whether diet, growth, or shell choice affects hair abundance. 



For now, the takeaway is clear: in the miniature dramas playing out between tide and shore, knowledge is power - delivered through a forest of microscopic hairs on a tiny claw.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0932">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.



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Microscopic hairs drive courage in hermit crabs

Poke around a British rockpool and you may spot a shell shuffling over the sand. Inside is a hermit crab - an animal that spends much of its life testing the outside world before deciding whether it is safe to venture forth. New research from the University of Plymouth reveals that the speed of that decision, a trait biologists call boldness, hinges on a crab’s built-in sensory toolkit. The study focuses on microscopic hair-like structures called sensilla that pepper the claws of Pagurus bernhardus, a common UK...

A new study published by the <a href="https://www.egu.eu/">European Geosciences Union</a> has found that targeted projects could be used to slow down glacier melting, prevent <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-rise-ice-shelves-collapse/">ice-sheet collapse</a>, and limit sea-level rise. 

The researchers determined that an intervention the size of existing civil engineering projects may have only a 30 percent chance of success, but that a larger intervention would have better odds.  

Study co-author John Moore is a scientist at <a href="http://english.bnu.edu.cn/">Beijing Normal University</a> in China and a professor of Climate Change at the <a href="https://www.ulapland.fi/EN">University of Lapland</a> in Finland.

“Doing geoengineering means often considering the unthinkable,” said Professor Moore. 

“Geoengineering” typically refers to large-scale interventions designed to combat climate change as a whole. In this case,  the researchers recommend a more targeted approach to directly address sea-level rise, which is one of the most drastic consequences of climate change.

Glacial geoengineering involves making changes to the geometry of the seafloor to form an ice shelf near glaciers that flow into the ocean, which could prevent them from melting further. Some massive glaciers, such as the Thwaites ice stream in West Antarctica, are rapidly retreating and could impact millions of people living along the world's coastline. 

“Thwaites could easily trigger a runaway (West Antarctic) ice sheet collapse that would ultimately raise global sea level by about 3 meters,” explained study co-author and <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> researcher Michael Wolovick.

“The most important result (of our study) is that a meaningful ice sheet intervention is broadly within the order of magnitude of plausible human achievements.”

The team evaluated two glacial-geoengineering methods. One idea is to construct an underwater wall to prevent warm water from reaching the base of an ice shelf, which is very sensitive to melting. A simpler concept involves building artificial mounds or columns on the seafloor. The mounds would not block warm water but could help the glacier re-strengthen and re-develop by supporting it and holding it back.

“In either case, we were imagining very simple structures, simply piles of sand or gravel on the ocean floor,” said Wolovick.

Computer simulations showed that even the simpler design could slow down the rate of sea-level rise, and would provide coastal communities with more time to adapt to rising waters.

While glacial geoengineering could work to hold off ice-sheet collapse, the study authors strongly emphasize that reducing greenhouse-gas emissions remains the number one priority in the fight against climate change. 

“There are dishonest elements of society that will try to use our research to argue against the necessity of emissions' reductions. Our research does not in any way support that interpretation,” wrote the researchers.

Wolovick added, “The more carbon we emit, the less likely it becomes that the ice sheets will survive in the long term at anything close to their present volume.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.the-cryosphere.net/">The Cryosphere</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: NASA/J. Yungel

Paid for by Earth.com

Glacial geoengineering could help limit sea-level rise

A new study published by the European Geosciences Union has...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.czu.cz/en/">Czech University</a> have found that dog-assisted therapy may be more effective than standard speech therapy for children. The study revealed that patients with developmental dysphasia were more successful in mimicking vocal signals in a therapy session where a dog was present.

The experts discovered that the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/green-spaces-childrens-respiratory/">children</a> were more motivated and open to communicating in the company of a therapy dog. The researchers also noted that the kids displayed more authentic and natural expressions during their interactions with the animals.

“The presence of the dog improves the relationship with the therapist, as it distracts from the fear of therapy in children and provides them with a form of support during the practice,” said study lead author Kristýna Machová.

The study, which is the first long-term randomized study of its kind, was focused on 69 nursery-school children who were diagnosed with developmental dysphasia. This is a common language disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to formulate words and to understand spoken words.

The goal of the research was to investigate whether speech therapy results may be improved in the presence of a dog. In both a control and an experimental group, the children were evaluated for a baseline measurement of speech and language skills prior to receiving speech therapy months later.

Traditional speech therapy was conducted among participants in the control group, while the experimental group received animal-assisted therapy sessions with a middle-aged Peruvian hairless dog named Agáta.

Improvements were observed in both groups, and the study authors explained that further research would be needed to consolidate the findings. However, the researchers still agree that there is great potential in a canine-assisted approach to therapy.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rfan20">Anthrozoos</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Credit: Josef Ruzicka

Dog-assisted speech therapy found to be effective with children

Researchers at Czech University have found that dog-assisted therapy may...

New insight into episodic memory and how we can recollect specific memories for problem-solving could one day be used to help improve the thinking speed of artificial intelligence. 

Although episodic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-term-memory-starts-at-age-2-study-finds/">memory</a> is a topic of thorough investigation among researchers, there are still some unknowns and it is not clear how people can retrieve specific memories to help with a new problem or task. 

Episodic memory describes the type of autobiographical memory that is easily recalled and details a specific, episodic, event in our past. We can use these memories and combine them with others to come to new conclusions or draw new insights. 

For example, if you see two people driving the same car on different days but on the same street, you would probably infer from your memory of seeing one driver one day that they live together and use the same car. But what mechanisms in the brain allow us to connect these episodic memories? 

Neuroscientists and artificial intelligence researchers at <a href="https://deepmind.com/">DeepMind</a>, <a href="http://www.ovgu.de/en/Otto+von+Guericke+University+Magdeburg.rss">Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg </a>and the <a href="https://www.dzne.de/en/">German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases </a>(DZNE) conducted a study to better understand these questions. 

The results, published in the journal Neuron, show how the brain links episodic memories to solve problems, something that the researchers say could help improve the processing power of AI. 

It was hypothesized by the researchers that individual memories are stored as separate traces in the hippocampus region of the brain, and a crucial brain mechanism that loops out of the hippocampus allows the brain to retrieve those memory traces and connect them to other relevant past events. 

“Episodic memories can tell you whether you have met someone before, or where you parked your car,” said Raphael Koster, a researcher at DeepMind. “The hippocampal system supports this type of memory, which is crucial for rapid learning.”

In order to test this hypothesis, the researchers took high-resolution 7-Tesla functional MRI scans of 26 men and women while they performed a task that required them to use episodic memories to make new insights. 

Each participant was shown pairs of photographs, one with a face and one with an object or place. The photo pairs with linked with other pairs but the participants had to make these conclusions on their own by remembering the different images. 

Next, the researchers asked the participants to connect the faces in the photographs together, there were right and wrong answers and this showed the researchers how a person’s brain made different conclusions drawing on past experiences. 

After conducting the experiment with the participants, the researchers trained a computer algorithm to distinguish between activation for scenes and objects using the observed brain activity from the MRI scans. 

“Our data showed that when the hippocampus retrieves a memory, it doesn't just pass it to the rest of the brain,” said Dharshan Kumaran from DeepMind. “Instead, it recirculates the activation back into the hippocampus, triggering the retrieval of other related memories.”

The results of the study not only shed insight into the underlying mechanisms of episodic memory and our ability to use it to help make new insights and solve problems, but the researchers say their algorithm could help improve the learning the time of AI. 

“While there are many domains where AI is superior, humans still have an advantage when tasks depend on the flexible use of episodic memory,” said Martin Chadwick, another researcher at DeepMind. “If we can understand the mechanisms that allow people to do this, the hope is that we can replicate them within our AI systems, providing them with a much greater capacity for rapidly solving novel problems.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How the brain connects old memories to solve new problems

New insight into episodic memory and how we can recollect...

Scientists have created robotic jellyfish that may ultimately be used to monitor changes across sensitive marine ecosystems. The creators of the new technology predict that the uninvasive machines will eventually serve as “guardians of the oceans.”

The <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/robots-replace-workforce/">robots</a> were designed with soft shells that allow them to slip easily through cracks that are more narrow than their bodies. The maneuvering ability of the tiny machines has already been tested on plexiglass plates with holes. 

The robots could be used one day to measure the vulnerability of sensitive ecosystems, such as coral reefs, without causing any damage. 

Dr. Erik Engeberg is one of the inventors of the jellybot from <a href="https://fausports.com/">Florida Atlantic University</a>.

“Studying and monitoring fragile environments, such as coral reefs, has always been challenging for marine researchers,” said Dr. Engeberg. “Soft robots have great potential to help with this.”

The jellybot is modeled after the shape of the “moon jellyfish” during the larval stage of its life cycle. A hydraulic system driven by two impeller pumps allows the robot to swim and navigate. As water is pumped into the jellyfish, eight silicon tentacles become inflated.

“Biomimetic soft robots based on fish and other marine animals have gained popularity in the research community in the last few years. Jellyfish are excellent candidates because they are very efficient swimmers,” said Dr. Engeberg.

“Their propulsive performance is due to the shape of their bodies, which can produce a combination of vortex, jet propulsion, rowing, and suction-based locomotion.”

“A main application of the robot is exploring and monitoring delicate ecosystems, so we chose soft hydraulic network actuators to prevent inadvertent damage. Additionally, live jellyfish have neutral buoyancy. To mimic this, we used water to inflate the hydraulic network actuators while swimming.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-3190/page/Scope">Biomimetics and Bioinspiration</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: PA

Robotic jellyfish may help to safeguard marine life

Scientists have created robotic jellyfish that may ultimately be used...

Lately, drug overdoses have been in the frequently, as the opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc on many communities, and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rivers-polluted-cocaine-eels/">cocaine</a> use seems to once again be back in vogue. At this point, any sort of treatment for drug abuse or accidental overdoses would be welcome. Luckily, a new gene therapy for drug addiction from the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/">University of Chicago</a> – reported in <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a> – has shown promise at reducing cravings for cocaine and protecting against overdoses in mice.

The enzyme butyrylcholinesterase, or BChE, has been known for decades to destroy cocaine in the bloodstream by breaking it down into its harmless byproducts. However, this enzyme does not act fast enough or stay in the bloodstream long enough to help individuals addicted to the drug. But in making this new treatment, the researchers rewrote DNA in mouse skin stem cells to make them produce a modified form of BChE that is over 4,000 times more potent than the natural enzyme.

Laboratory tests showed that mice fitted with implants containing clumps of these engineered cells lost their appetite for cocaine and were able to survive massive overdoses of the drug, which killed 100% of mice without implants. 

“Compared to other gene therapies, our approach is minimally invasive, long term, low maintenance and affordable. It’s very promising,” says lead researcher Ming Xu, a professor of anesthesia and critical care at the University of Chicago.

Xu believes that this new therapy has the potential to become the first intervention approved for treating cocaine addiction. Further studies suggest that human-size implants would be able to release BChE for 20 to 30 years, protecting addicts for decades. Xu also reports that there have been no obvious side effects observed thus far.

&nbsp;

While more research needs to be done before this therapy can be tested in human trials, the results so far are promising. Xu’s research team is also working on similarly engineered cells to treat alcohol and nicotine addiction, and are expected to begin research on therapy for opioid addiction as well. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New breakthrough may lead to cure for cocaine addiction

Lately, drug overdoses have been in the frequently, as the...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/">World Economic Forum</a> (WEF) has revealed that robots will take over 52 percent of the current workforce by 2025. This means that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/robots-respect-personal-space/">machines</a> will be performing in almost twice as many positions over the next eight years. 

According to the WEF’s research, accelerated changes in computers and their processes “could create 133 million new roles in place of 75 million that will be displaced between now and 2022.”

“As technological breakthroughs rapidly shift the frontier between the work tasks performed by humans and those performed by machines and algorithms, global labor markets are undergoing major transformations,” the WEF report states. 

“These transformations, if managed wisely, could lead to a new age of good work, good jobs and improved quality of life for all, but if managed poorly, pose the risk of widening skills gaps, greater inequality and broader polarization.”

While the increasing number of machines in the labor force is expected to create new roles for humans, existing and potential workers will need to upgrade various skills to keep up with the pace of the technological shift.

The researchers explain, “By 2022, no less than 54% of all employees will require significant re- and upskilling. Of these, about 35% are expected to require additional training of up to six months, 9% will require reskilling lasting six to 12 months, while 10% will require additional skills training of more than a year.”

“Skills continuing to grow in prominence by 2022 include analytical thinking and innovation, as well as active learning and learning strategies.”

The experts predict that robots will rapidly replace humans across some fields including client management, accounting, industrial, postal, and secretarial positions. On the other hand,  jobs that require human skills will show an increased demand, such as social media, marketing, and customer service.

“As the Fourth Industrial Revolution unfolds, companies are seeking to harness new and emerging technologies to reach higher levels of efficiency of production and consumption, expand into new markets, and compete on new products for a global consumer base composed increasingly of digital natives,” write the researchers.

“Yet in order to harness the transformative potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, business leaders across all industries and regions will 
increasingly be called upon to formulate a comprehensive workforce strategy ready to meet the challenges of this new era of accelerating change and innovation.”

The report by the WEF, <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf">The Future of Jobs 2018</a>, details the anticipated technological shift and its impact on the workforce across specific industries and individual countries.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Robots will replace half the current workforce by 2025, WEF says

A new study from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has...

Over the past 30 years, the boundary of the Earth’s tropics has shifted by ten degrees latitude, according to the <a href="https://sos.noaa.gov/datasets/tropical-widening/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA).

The tropics make up a large portion of the planet along the equator, and tropical areas are determined by their latitude, precipitation, and climate among other factors. 

Given that around half of the world’s population lives in or near tropical zones, monitoring and predicting this widening is crucial. 

The expanding tropics increases the spread of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-dengue-fever/">tropical diseases like dengue fever</a>, and further widening could adversely impact billions of people. 

There had been concern that the tropics are widening faster than previous models have predicted due to climate change and weather extremes, but a new study has found this is not the case. 

An international collaboration of researchers from <a href="https://www.indiana.edu/">Indiana University Bloomington</a>, the <a href="https://www.pnnl.gov/">Pacific Northwest National Laboratory</a>, the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, the <a href="http://www.virginia.edu/">University of Virginia</a> and the <a href="https://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/">Ludwig Maximilians University Munich</a> found that recent models match current widening rates. 

“If we compare the observed trends of how the tropics have widened to modeling trends, it's actually not outside of what the models predict,” said Paul Staten, a co-author of the study which was published in the journal Nature Climate Change. 

The findings put fears that the tropics are widening at an increased rate to rest and although climate change will continue to expand the boundaries of the tropics, it should match projected rates.

“Climate change should continue to expand the tropics over the next several decades,” said Staten. “But the expansion may not continue at the rapid rate we've seen; at times it may even temporarily contract.”

The researchers calculate that the tropics have been widening at an average rate of about 17 miles per decade, although this rate varies wildly depending on year and location. 

There are many factors that are contributing to this widening, according to the researchers, including increased greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, volcanic eruptions, pollution, and natural climate phenomena like El Niño. 

Even though the researchers can’t specifically point to human activities as the main drivers of tropic expansion, as greenhouse gasses increases, human activities will have more and more of an impact on the widening of the tropic boundaries. 

It will be important to keep a steady eye on the widening tropics and to implement policies that help minimize the negative impacts to humans such as influxes in tropical diseases in future. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists confirm that the tropics are widening at predicted rate

Over the past 30 years, the boundary of the Earth’s...

Over the last 200 million years, mammals have thrived on this planet – and have done so through a unique evolutionary pattern. <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mammals-evolved-brains-babies/">Mammals</a> originated back when dinosaurs dominated the landscape. And while dinosaurs would evolve to become some of the largest land animals to ever exist, new research shows that mammals went the opposite route.

A recent study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a> reports that over the last 200 million years, mammals evolved to shrink in size. Using modern computer analysis to assess mammal skeletons, an international team of scientists focused in on the mammalian jaw.

Every species of vertebrate has a complex lower jaw formed by at least five bones joined together… except for modern mammals. The mammalian jaw is just a single bone that bears teeth. Through the course of evolution, fossils show that the lower jaw of mammalian ancestors became simplified, and formed a new jaw joint while also moving some bones to the middle ear to help with hearing.

The researchers wanted to know how it was possible for these past mammalian species to simplify and restructure their lower jaw, while still being able to feed and hear. Their study involved X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning of many fossil skulls and lower jaws, which aided in generating digital models that they put through numerous computer simulations. The simulations showed that the smaller size of the mammals helped reduce stress in the jaw bones when they were eating, although they were still powerful enough to capture and kill prey – such as insects.

“Our results provide a new explanation of how the mammalian jaw evolved over 200 million years ago,” says Dr. Stephan Lautenschlager, a lecturer at the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx">University of Birmingham</a> and lead author of the study. “Getting very small appears to have been crucial for our mammalian ancestors. This allowed them to reduce the stresses in the jaw during feeding and made the restructuring of the jaw bones possible.”

Mammals’ jaw joint evolution has been the topic of debate for decades, but this study may have just found the answer. 

“Using computational methods we can offer explanations to how our mammalian ancestors were able to maintain a working jaw while co-opting bones into a complex sound detection system,” says study leader Emily Rayfield, a professor at the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>. “Our research is about testing ideas of what makes mammals unique among the animal kingdom, and how this may have come about.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Bob Nicholls, <a href="http://paleocreations.com/">Paleocreations.com</a>

Mammals evolved to shrink in size and it was key to their success

Over the last 200 million years, mammals have thrived on...

The evolution of complex patterns in nature, such as how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/zebrafish-spinal-cord-injuries/">zebrafish</a> develop their stripes or how leopards change their spots, has baffled scientists for many years. Researchers at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> have now created a model that is shedding new light on this mystery. 

By applying just a few parameters to the new mathematical model, the experts can simulate the complex wing patterns of a large group of insects. The system will provide scientists with a framework for analyzing the evolution of diverse tissue patterns. 

The research team compiled a database with more than 500 specimens from 215 different species of dragonflies and damselflies. Next, the experts developed an algorithm to distinguish between each individual shape created by the intersecting veins located on the wings of the insects. 

The study revealed that, while the wing patterns are unique, the distribution of the patterns is remarkably similar across families and species. Using these similarities, the researchers built a mathematical model to represent how these patterns may be formed.


[caption id="attachment_1647564" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wings.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1647564" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wings-1024x610.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="417" /></a> Image Credit: Harvard University[/caption]

According to the experts, it is likely that an unknown inhibitory signal is transmitted from multiple signaling centers in the regions between the primary veins. They propose that these inhibitory zones emerge randomly and repel each other, which would prevent secondary veins from growing in certain areas. When the wings stretch out as they develop, the zones may form complex geometric patterns as the veins grow around them

By testing the model using many different insect species, the researchers have discovered that it can produce life-like simulations of wings.

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Harvard University

How do insects develop different intricate wing patterns?

The evolution of complex patterns in nature, such as how...

Having to scrape ice off car windshields and windows can add time to one’s already-troublesome winter commute, and can even be quite dangerous.

Research has also shown that frost can cost billions of dollars in taxpayer money due to ice build-up causing power outages, flight delays, and building damage. 

Current de-icing methods like rock salt, antifreeze chemicals, and special anti-frost treatments are not always effective and are sometimes very <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/road-salt-runoff-killing-twin-city-lakes/">harmful to the environment</a>. 

Runoff from salt and chemicals can seep into the soil and waterways and salt is also harmful to animals. 

But now, researchers from <a href="https://vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a> have developed a novel passive solution to the frost problem that’s chemical-free and keeps 90 percent of surfaces dry. 

“Frosting is a big issue, and researchers have been working to solve this problem for years,
 said Farzad Ahmadi, the lead author of the study detailing the new anti-frost technique. “For this project, we're not using any kind of special coating, chemicals, or energy to overcome frost. Instead, we're using the unique chemistry of ice itself to prevent frost from forming.”

[caption id="attachment_1647548" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/frost.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1647548" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/frost-1024x680.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="465" /></a> Image Credit: Virginia Tech[/caption]

The study was published in the journal ACS Applied Materials &amp; Interfaces.

The researchers used untreated aluminum and patterned it with stripes on a microscopic array of elevated grooves. These grooves are “sacrificial areas” where the ice can form by pulling moisture out of the air and allowing it to form ice on the stripes. 

All other surrounding surfaces are then kept frost free and the sacrificial grooves only take up ten percent of the entire area. The researchers say that the method would work on any surface which is a part of its appeal. 

“The real power of this concept is that the ice stripes themselves are the chemistry, which means the material we use is irrelevant,” said Jonathan Boreyko, an assistant professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics. “As long as you have that proper pattern of sacrificial ice, the material you use could be virtually anything. So there are a lot of possibilities.”

The new technology could help keep everything from airplane wings to car windshields to heat pumps and fans from being covered in ice. It would also ensure that harmful antifreeze chemicals won’t damage the environment. 

“The good thing about ice is that it's environmentally friendly,” said Ahmadi. “It's not like other chemicals or even salt, which not only stick around but also get diluted or watered down over time.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.co">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New, clean anti-frost solution keeps surfaces 90 percent ice-free

Having to scrape ice off car windshields and windows can...

Using data from more than 1.5 million survey respondents, researchers at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> have identified  four distinct clusters of personality types, including average, reserved, self-centered,  and role model. The research challenges the existing models that are commonly used in psychology.

The findings of the study, which was led by Luís Amaral of the <a href="https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/">McCormick School of Engineering</a>, could be of particular interest to hiring managers and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/college-freshmen-mental-health/">mental health</a> care providers.

Study co-author William Revelle is a professor of Psychology in the <a href="https://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/">Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences</a>.

“People have tried to classify personality types since Hippocrates' time, but previous scientific literature has found that to be nonsense,” said Professor Revelle. “Now, these data show there are higher densities of certain personality types," said Revelle, who specializes in personality measurement, theory and research.”

The study was focused on the responses from over 1.5 million participants in various personality questionnaires, including the myPersonality project and the BBC Big Personality Test. In the current study, the team used an alternative computational approach to analyze the data. 

“The thing that is really, really cool is that a study with a dataset this large would not have been possible before the web,” said Amaral. “Previously, maybe researchers would recruit undergrads on campus, and maybe get a few hundred people. Now, we have all these online resources available, and now data is being shared."

From the massive dataset, the experts used various algorithms to map the Big 5 personality traits - neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness - and four main personality types emerged. 

First, there are those who are high in neuroticism and extraversion, while low in openness. These are the “average” type of individuals. Study first author Martin Gerlach explained, “I would expect that the typical person would be in this cluster.

People who are emotionally stable, but not open or neurotic, fall into the category of “reserved.” These individuals are described as being somewhat agreeable and conscientious and not particularly extraverted.

“Role models” are individuals with low levels of neuroticism and high levels of all of the other primary traits. The likelihood that someone is a role model increases dramatically with age. According to the experts, women are more likely than men to be role models.

“These are people who are dependable and open to new ideas,” said Amaral. “These are good people to be in charge of things. In fact, life is easier if you have more dealings with role models.”

“Self-centered” people exhibit high levels of extraversion with low levels of openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. “These are people you don't want to hang out with,” said Professor Revelle. 

Among both men and women, the number of self-centered individuals drops with age.


In addition to serving as an aid for mental health service providers, Amaral said the study findings could be helpful for hiring managers looking for the right employee or for single people looking for a partner who is a good fit.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nathumbehav">Nature Human Behaviour</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Experts introduce four newly-identified personality types

Using data from more than 1.5 million survey respondents, researchers...

A research team led by <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> has conducted a thorough investigation into the potential impacts of transitioning from coal to natural gas in China. The study has examined the possible effects on air quality, carbon mitigation, and water stress by the year 2020.

As China attempts to shift from coal to natural gas, the country is considering a variety of solutions, including domestic and imported gas or the creation of synthetic gas from coal.

The study has revealed that the use of coal-based synthetic natural gas (SNG) would cause a spike in both carbon emissions and water demand, particularly in regions of China that already face high levels of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/chinas-carbon-emissions-decline/">carbon emissions</a> and water insecurity.

Overall, the researchers found that a transition from coal to other natural gas sources would produce significant environmental benefits when methane leakage is controlled. However, the extent of improvements for air quality and water scarcity greatly depend on where the natural gas is being used as an alternative.

This study is one of the first to investigate  the interactions between air quality, carbon emissions, and water use in both energy production and consumption. 


“Assessing air quality, carbon emissions, and water scarcity impacts across local, regional, and global levels is crucial to capturing potential co-benefits while avoiding unintended consequences," said study first author Yue Qin.

Denise L. Mauzerall is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public and International Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the School of Applied Science and Engineering. Professor Mauzerall is also the study's lead investigator.

“Although there is a lot of discussion on the need for a clean energy supply transition, in what sector the clean energy is used and what it is displacing is also critical in determining air quality, carbon, and water co-benefits,” said Professor Mauzerall. “While the paper focuses on China, its general conclusions are widely applicable.”

The researchers ultimately found that, with the exception of coal-based SNG, replacing coal with natural gas will benefit air quality, carbon mitigation, and water stress. 

On the other hand, SNG increases carbon emissions and water consumption in China's northwestern provinces, which already suffer from high per capita carbon emissions and severe water scarcity.

“Importantly, as the regions with high air pollution do not overlap with regions with high water stress, and substitution in different sectors bring different levels of air quality and water impacts, there are trade-offs in the magnitude of air quality and water improvements,” said Qin.

“Our findings show why it is critical to understand the underlying air-carbon-water synergies and trade-offs so that China, as well as other developing countries, can properly design clean energy transition pathways according to their local environmental priorities.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain">Nature Sustainability</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Energy production methods must consider environmental trade-offs

A research team led by Princeton University has conducted a...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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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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