Aging doesn’t look the same for everyone. Most people know someone who seems to age faster or slower than others. One person may still run marathons in their 70s, while another starts struggling with memory and energy in their 50s. 



This aging discrepancy raises a basic question: Is there a way to actually measure how fast someone is aging?



Scientists from <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a>, Harvard University, and the University of Otago in New Zealand have created a tool that uses a single brain scan to estimate how quickly your body and mind are aging. And it does this while you’re still in midlife, before major health problems show up.



“The way we age as we get older is quite distinct from how many times we’ve traveled around the sun,” said Ahmad Hariri, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-clues-hidden-in-a-single-scan">Aging clues hidden in a single scan</h2>



The new tool, called DunedinPACE Neuroimaging or DunedinPACNI, can be used with a standard MRI brain scan. It gives doctors and researchers a read on your aging pace and potential risk for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-focused-medicine-physical-activity-reduces-chronic-disease-risk/">chronic diseases</a> long before symptoms appear. 



This kind of early warning system could give people a chance to make changes that might actually slow or prevent serious health problems.



“What’s really cool about this is that we’ve captured how fast people are aging using data collected in midlife,” Hariri said. “And it’s helping us predict diagnosis of dementia among people who are much older.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-most-aging-clocks-get-it-wrong">Why most aging clocks get it wrong</h2>



Many "aging clocks" already exist, but they mostly rely on things like blood tests or genetic markers collected from people of various ages at one point in time. That approach can be misleading.



According to Hariri, things that look like faster aging may simply be because of differences in exposure to things such as leaded gasoline or cigarette smoke that are specific to their generation. "We need to figure out how we can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-technology-uses-eye-scanner-to-measure-biological-aging/">monitor aging</a> in an accurate way."



The new model avoids that problem by using data from a rare and detailed dataset: the Dunedin Study. This long-term project has followed more than 1,000 people born in Dunedin, New Zealand, between 1972 and 1973. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-scans-predict-rates-of-aging">Brain scans predict rates of aging</h2>



Researchers have been tracking the participants' physical and mental health for over 50 years. Every few years, the study measured things like blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index, kidney and lung function - even gum health. 



By analyzing how these markers changed over time, the researchers created a personalized aging rate for each participant.



The team trained DunedinPACNI to predict that rate of aging based only on brain scans taken when the participants were 45. Once the model was trained, it was tested on other datasets from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Latin America.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-brain-keeps-the-score">Your brain keeps the score</h2>



The results held up across different groups. People who were aging faster, according to the tool, performed worse on cognitive tests, experienced faster shrinkage of the hippocampus - the brain’s memory center - and faced a higher risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/speech-pattern-wfd-that-is-a-clear-indication-a-person-is-in-cognitive-decline/">cognitive decline</a>.



In one sample of 624 older adults, those who were aging the fastest had a 60% higher chance of developing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-of-dementia-is-much-higher-than-previously-thought/">dementia</a> and started showing symptoms earlier than their slower-aging peers.



When the team first saw the results, they were amazed. "Our jaws just dropped to the floor,” Hariri said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-the-brain">More than just the brain</h2>



The tool also revealed a strong link between brain aging and overall physical decline. People with high aging scores were more likely to suffer from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sugary-drinks-linked-to-millions-of-diabetes-and-heart-disease-cases/">heart disease</a>, lung issues, strokes, and other chronic illnesses. 



These individuals were 18% more likely to be diagnosed with a major disease and 40% more likely to die in the next few years compared with people aging at an average pace.



“The link between aging of the brain and body are pretty compelling,” Hariri said.



The model worked just as well across different racial and socioeconomic groups, including low-income and non-white participants in the U.K. and people in Latin America. "It seems to be capturing something that is reflected in all brains,” Hariri said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-populations-growing-problems">Aging populations, growing problems</h2>



Globally, the number of people over 65 is expected to double by 2050. That means more people will deal with diseases like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-benefits-alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s</a>, which already cost the world $1.33 trillion in 2020 and could climb to $9.12 trillion by mid-century.



“But because we live longer lives, more people are unfortunately going to experience chronic age-related diseases, including dementia,” Hariri said.



Current Alzheimer’s drugs don’t stop or reverse the disease - they mostly manage symptoms. One reason they may not work well is that they’re given too late. "Drugs can't resurrect a dying brain,” Hariri said.



That’s where a tool like DunedinPACNI could change things. If doctors can spot who’s at higher risk earlier, they could try new treatments while there’s still time to protect the brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scans-may-identify-causes-of-faster-aging">Scans may identify causes of faster aging</h2>



Besides tracking dementia risk, the tool could help explain why certain factors - like poor sleep or mental health problems - seem to make people age faster.



“We really think of it as hopefully being a key new tool in forecasting and predicting risk for diseases, especially Alzheimer's and related dementias, and also perhaps gaining a better foothold on progression of disease,” Hariri said.



“More research is needed to advance DunedinPACNI from a research tool to something that has practical applications in healthcare,” said Ethan Whitman, a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology at Duke and the study’s first author.



In the meantime, the researchers hope others will use the tool in studies that already have brain scan data but lack long-term health tracking. It could open a new window into how we age - and how we might slow the process down.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-00897-z">Nature Aging</a>.



Image Credit: Ethan Whitman, Duke University



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How fast are you aging? Brain scans reveal hidden clues

Aging doesn’t look the same for everyone. Most people know someone who seems to age faster or slower than others. One person may still run marathons in their 70s, while another starts struggling with memory and energy in their 50s. This aging discrepancy raises a basic question: Is there a way to actually measure how fast someone is aging? Scientists from Duke University, Harvard University, and the University of Otago in New Zealand have created a tool that uses a single brain scan to estimate how quickly...

An international team of researchers led by the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> has found that illuminating fishing nets with inexpensive LED lights could cut injuries and deaths to seabirds and marine animals by more than 85 percent.

The experts demonstrated that green, battery-powered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/led-lights-last-longer-but-some-shades-are-harmful-to-wildlife/">LED lights</a> can drastically reduce the amount of birds getting caught in gillnets, which are placed in fixed positions and designed to capture fish by the gills. The investigation was focused on 114 pairs of gillnets in fishing waters off the coast of Peru.

The study revealed that, compared to the nets that were not illuminated, the nets with LED lights caught 85 percent fewer guanay cormorants - a native diving bird that commonly becomes entangled in nets.


[caption id="attachment_1216254" align="aligncenter" width="996"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/led-lights.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1216254" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/led-lights-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="996" height="747" /></a> Image Credit: ProDelphinus[/caption]

A previous study conducted by the same team found that LED lighting also reduced the number of sea turtles caught in fishing nets by 64 percent.


The researchers believe that the lights provide a cheap and reliable method that will dramatically reduce the capture and death of birds and turtles, while essentially having no effect on the amount of fish caught in the nets.


“We are very encouraged by the results from this study,” said lead author Dr. Jeffrey Mangel. “It shows us that we may be able to find cost-effective ways to reduce bycatch of multiple taxa of protected species, and do so while still making it possible for fishers to earn a livelihood.”

Peru's gillnet fleet is estimated to set at least 100,000 kilometers of net per year, in which thousands of turtles and seabirds will be unintentionally caught as bycatch.


“It is satisfying to see the work coming from our Exeter Marine PhDs leading to such positive impact in the world,” said study co-author Professor Brendan Godley. “We need to find ways for coastal peoples to fish with the least impact on the rest of the biodiversity in their seas.”


The research is published in the journal <a href="http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/">Royal Society Open Science</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: Andrew F Johnson

LED lights could save seabirds from getting stuck in fishing nets

An international team of researchers led by the University of...

Underneath London lies a network of tributaries that flow into the River Thames and River Lea. These rivers and waterways were once an important part of daily <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fault-lines-london-earthquake/">London</a> life as they powered mills and provided water for cooking to city residents. 

The rivers have since been buried under pavement and concrete as London expanded through the years, but there have been several calls to unearth the rivers so they can once again be used and enjoyed. 

A <a href="http://files.1010global.org.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/LostRivers_heat_seeking_report.pdf">recent report</a> conducted by the climate charity <a href="https://1010uk.org/">10:10 Climate Action</a> and social enterprise Scene suggests that these rivers are an untapped source of low carbon energy that could provide heat to London’s neighborhoods with fuel pumps. 

If heat pumps were employed, it could potentially create a surplus of clean energy to the city and help London meet its zero-emission goals. 

“Of course, the water temperature is not warm enough to directly heat buildings. But through a combination of energy efficiency measures and the use of heat pumps, we have an incredible opportunity: lower costs, lower carbon emissions, better air quality, and greater energy resilience,” writes Louise Waters, Alex Schlicke and Vijay Bhopal, who authored the report. 

While the use of heat pumps placed in London's underground rivers could potentially provide low carbon heat, the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5933337/A-new-way-tackle-climate-change-Lost-rivers-heat-London-cut-capitals-emissions.html">Daily Mail</a> noted that these pumps have never been used at a scale this large and the report did not consider the financial ramifications of such a project. 

10:10 Climate Action explained the heat pump process and found that a sealed tube containing a gas refrigerant would be placed between a building and a nearby underwater river. 

The refrigerant would change from a gas to liquid as it passed through the tube and release huge amounts of energy in the process, more than enough to meet the heating needs of even Buckingham Palace during the coldest days of the year. 

The rivers carry the same name as the streets under which they currently lie such as the Fleet and Strand. 

One of the rivers, the Effra, was once the second largest river in London and today it could provide heat to several city areas all year round. 

“The Effra by Brockwell Park carries a sizeable flow – some 180 liters per second on average, rising to 250 liters per second at peak times – which represents a heat resource of around 3 megawatts,” the report authors stated. “Tapping into just a tenth of this resource could allow the lido to be kept at a comfortable temperature for swimming in the cooler spring and autumn months.”

London’s current mayor has stated that he wants the city to be a zero-carbon city by 2050, but reaching that lofty aim would require a major shift towards renewable energy and carbon regulations. 

“The mayor has set ambitious targets for phasing out gas burning in London over the coming years and we are going to need every bit of low-carbon heat we can get our hands on to meet these goals,” Leo Murray, director of campaigns at 10:10, told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jul/09/lost-rivers-could-heat-london-to-cut-emissions">The Guardian. </a>

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

London’s lost rivers could heat the city, reduce emissions

Underneath London lies a network of tributaries that flow into...

The world’s smallest dog, holding the Guinness record since 2012, has recently received a new world record for being cloned 49 times. 

She was given the name Miracle Milly because when the tiny Chihuahua was born it was believed that she would not survive, however she is thriving today despite weighing less than a pound. 

Milly has gained worldwide recognition and has thousands of fans, but her size and stature caught the attention of scientists from the <a href="http://en.sooam.com/dogcn/sub01.html">Sooam Biotech Research Foundation</a> in Seoul, Korea. 

Milly’s owners granted the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation permission to clone the dog. 

According to the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5924809/Worlds-cloned-dog-Miracle-Milly-copied-record-breaking-49-times.html">Daily Mail</a>, cells extracted from Milly were then transplanted to a donor egg cell and later an embryo was placed into a surrogate. 

Twelve pups were born from that first litter of clones in August of 2017 and all of them live with Milly's family. 

Today Milly has been now cloned 49 times and researchers are hoping that the clones will provide clues to how Milly is able to thrive given her tiny stature. 

Besides slight size differences, according to Milly’s family, her first 12 clones have similar looks and personalities. 

“The original idea was to make ten clones in total, nine for research and one for us, but they decided to clone her more times,” Vanesa Semler, Milly’s owner, told the Daily Mail. “She was chosen for being the smallest dog in the world. They want to find out why she was so small and then study her genes to find out what makes her so tiny. It's amazing to be around all of her clones, they are so smart, very playful like Milly and have really similar personalities.” 

The research lab in Seoul is hoping to clone other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/domesticated-dogs-lost-pack-mentality/">dogs</a> besides Milly and are offering $100,000 to owners willing to clone their pets. 

In Milly’s case, the research data on her clones will be compiled and analyzed and eventually published in a study which will hopefully reveal the secrets to her size.

“We will be working together with the Director as well as four specialists from the world renown Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) as well as other collaborating scientists to characterize the genetic and epigenetic factors of the of the cloned Milly and the original Milly,” David Kim, from the Soaam, told the Daily Mail. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: AOWR, Caters News

World’s smallest dog is now also the world's most cloned dog

The world’s smallest dog, holding the Guinness record since 2012,...

A team of Chinese scientists has developed a plan to store liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) below the ocean floor. According to the researchers, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-forests-store-co2/">CO2</a> could form hydrates that would prevent the reserve from leaking out into the sea.

The team tested the model under 22 different simulated scenarios that accounted for variations in temperature and pressure. 

Previous research has shown that liquid CO2 can promote the production of hydrates in conditions with high pressure and low temperatures. The experts explained that these hydrates could create a sealed barrier to secure the CO2 beneath the seabed.

This is one of many carbon capture and storage strategies that have been proposed to combat global warming. While this is not the first time that this particular method of carbon sequestration has been explored, the new study may resolve some of the complications that were identified in previous research.

“CO2’s buoyancy has posed problems, as it can escape back into the ocean and atmosphere through pathways within the sediments,” wrote the study authors.

“The results show that low buoyancy and high viscosity slow down the ascending plume and the forming of the hydrate cap effectively reduces permeability and finally becomes an impermeable seal, thus limiting the movement of CO2 toward the seafloor.”

The researchers said that the liquid and hydrate CO2 would eventually dissolve into pore fluids. The team has found that cold temperatures and deeper injection are critical to the success of their technique.

“Under a deep-sea setting, the high density and viscosity of CO2 result in a small footprint and, thus, high storage efficiency,” said the researchers. “This ensures great storage potential due to the wide distribution of deep-sea sediments globally.”

“Compared with terrestrial sequestration, less lateral expansion reduces the possibility of CO2 reaching a potential permeable pathway to the seafloor. The generation of a hydrate cap and the possible negative buoyancy make this option free from reliance on the caprock in terrestrial storage. In our assumption, the unconsolidated marine sediment is intact.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://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

New carbon storage method would bury CO2 beneath the ocean floor

A team of Chinese scientists has developed a plan to...

Keeping your brain in tip-top shape as you age may mean using your eyes – or at least, taking better care of them. Healthy vision may help slow down age-related cognitive decline, according to a new study.

The connection between eye and brain health mean that fixes like properly prescribed glasses or cataract removal surgery can help keep an aging mind working smoothly.

The link, according to doctoral student Diane Zheng of the <a href="http://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a>, is because seniors with poor vision tend to drop brain-boosting hobbies like crossword and number puzzles. They also spend less time with other people than seniors with healthy vision. 

“If you're aging without good vision, not only are you giving your brain less stimulation, you might be altering your brain at a structural level,” Dr. Heather Whitson of <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a> told the <a href="http://dailymail.co.uk/">Daily Mail</a>. 

The study followed 2,520 people between the ages of 65 and 84. The participants got vision and cognitive tests every year for eight years. The researchers found that the seniors who had worse vision at the start of the study tended to show signs of worse cognitive decline. The worse their vision got, in general, the lower their scores on the cognitive exam.

The team of scientists also discovered that while worsening vision appeared to affect cognition, the influence of declining cognition on vision wasn’t as strong.

Zheng, who led the study, suggested that seniors get regular eye checkups and deal with any symptoms of vision loss quickly.

“Taking care of your vision is important in order to maintain good cognitive function,” she said.

Whitson, who wasn’t involved with the study, said most age-related causes of deteriorating vision can be treated. Many vision problems can be slowed, stopped or corrected if caught early, she told the Mail.

The study was published in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/2686117">JAMA Ophthalmology</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Healthy vision may slow down age-related cognitive decline

Keeping your brain in tip-top shape as you age may...

A new study has shown that inhaling formaldehyde vapor could raise the risk of certain cancer, sources from the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> have told the news site <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/06/epa-formaldehyde-warnings-blocked-696628">Politico</a>.

But agency leaders are not releasing a draft of the assessment, completed before President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, the two sources – one former one current EPA employee – told Politico.

According to the two sources, key agency officials have blocked briefings about the study that would allow it to move closer to release. 

"They're stonewalling every step of the way," the current official said.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring chemical, but it is also used in industrial resins used to treat particle board and in other material coatings, along with other common household items. 

In 2011, the <a href="https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/">National Toxicology Program</a> described formaldehyde vapor as “known to be a human carcinogen,” based on reports by organizations including the <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a> and the <a href="https://www.iarc.fr/">International Agency for Research on Cancer</a>. Other studies have also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chemicals-shampoo-liquor-cancer/">linked formaldehyde to cancer</a>.

According to Politico’s sources, who were not named, the new report links inhaling formaldehyde vapor to leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer. But the sources allege that Trump-appointed officials – including agency chief of staff Ryan Jackson, as well as Richard Yamada with the EPA Office of Research and Development – have purposely delayed the new report’s release to undermine the EPA’s research.

EPA officials have denied the accusation.

"Mr. Yamada and Mr. Jackson have not cancelled briefings on assessments or during the [Integrated Risk Information System] process, and in fact have requested briefings," an EPA spokesman said in a statement to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a>.

Another EPA official said that the study includes thousands of pages of information currently being analyzed by scientists.

But two U.S. Senators, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, said that their inquiries into the study’s progress have gone unanswered.

"Delaying the EPA's latest assessment of the health risks of formaldehyde only further endangers the public's health. The EPA should move past politics and focus on its job of protecting Americans' health,” Markey told CNN.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Politico: EPA blocking report that links formaldehyde vapor, cancer

A new study has shown that inhaling formaldehyde vapor could...

Goats were one of the first animals that early humans domesticated, kept close as a source of meat, milk, and hides. They have been a partner animal since 8,500 BC, with the earliest evidence of domestic goats being found in the Fertile Crescent region of Southwest Asia – the area where crop farming and animal herding first began. Now, a team of international scientists has sequenced the genomes of ancient goat bones found in this region, and their results give great detail into the 10,000-year history of local farmer practices involving genetic exchange between wild and domesticated herds, as well as selection by early farmers.

Prior to herding, local hunters would go after wild goats – known as bezoar – which ultimately led to the start of goat management and livestock keeping. But determining how early farmers practiced domestication is difficult due to thousands of years of migration and mixture.

“Just like humans, modern goat ancestry is a tangled web of different ancestral strands,” explains Dan Bradley, a professor at <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/">Trinity College Dublin</a> and lead investigator of the study. “The only way to unravel these and reach reliably into the past is to sequence genomes from actual ancient animals; a kind of molecular time travel.”

The researchers used genetic data from more than 80 ancient wild and domestic goats, charting the initial patterns of domestication, and finding a surprising amount of genetic differentiation between goats throughout the Fertile Crescent and surrounding areas. 

“Goat domestication was a mosaic rather than a singular process with continuous recruitment from local wild populations,” says Pierpaolo Maisano Delser, a research fellow at Trinity and joint first author of the paper. “This process generated a distinctive genetic pool which evolved across time and still characterizes the different goat populations of Asia, Europe and Africa today.”

This study was the earliest genetic discovery of the domestication process in human history. The findings show that – like modern breeders – early farmers were interested in animal appearance. “Whole genome sequences from the past allowed us directly analyze some of the earliest goat herds,” says Kevin Daly, a PhD researcher at Trinity and first author of the paper. “We found evidence that at least as far back as 8,000 years ago herders were interested in or valued the coat color of their animals, based on selection signals at pigmentation genes.”

Additionally, they found distinct but parallel patterns of this selection in various early herds, which shows that this was a repeated phenomenon. Other evidence points towards animals being selected for liver enzymes that gave better tolerance to toxins, potentially from fungus growing on food, as well as production traits such as fertility and size.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Marjan Mashkour

Goat genome reveals oldest genetic discovery of domestication

Goats were one of the first animals that early humans...

First discovered in September of 2017 by the <a href="https://panstarrs.stsci.edu/">Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System</a> in Hawaii (PasSTARR), a comet with a green dust cloud so massive it was nicknamed “The Incredible Hulk” is heading toward our inner solar system. 

Officially named PANSTARRS (C/2017 S3), the comet’s dust cloud is so bright that astronomers say it could soon be visible to the naked eye. 

C/2017 S3’s dust cloud is unstable and astronomers are not sure if the comet itself will disintegrate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-comet-near-apocalypse/">as it heads toward the sun</a> or be catapulted back into the far reaches of the solar system. 

The atmosphere of the comet is 161,556 miles wide according to the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5922963/The-incredible-hulk-comet.html">Daily Mail</a>, which nearly twice as large as Jupiter. 

“It looked suspiciously 'gassy,' so I applied the Swan Band filter and both the brightness and size of the coma increased, a sure sign of a gas blast from the outburst,” Bob King wrote in <a href="https://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/4th-of-july-fireworks/">Sky and Telescope magazine</a>. “'The outburst could continue or even trigger the comet's disintegration.”

The coma of the comet is the resulting cloud of dust and gases that form around the nucleus or ice ball center of the comet as it travels through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-americans-want-the-us-to-remain-leader-in-space-exploration/">space</a>. 

If you get a glimpse of the comet, King said to expect to see a tailless comet with a vivid gas cloud surrounding it. 

What is interesting about the comet is the rate at which its coma is brightening. 

Just this week, an astronomer from Austria told the Daily Mail that the coma brightened at a 16 fold increase. 

The comet is expected to reach perihelion, a comet’s closest approach to the sun, on August 15 or 16 and this will mark the first time that C/2017 S3 has ever been so close to the inner planets of our solar system.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Michael Jager/Weiberikirchen Austria

“Incredible Hulk” comet may explode as it heads toward the sun

First discovered in September of 2017 by the Panoramic Survey...

A team of scientists from the UK have created a method of turning straw into environmentally friendly plastic. The experts have pinpointed a gene editing technique that accelerates the modification of the plant material into bioplastics.

According to the researchers, using just five percent of the country's annual straw could produce half of the billions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seattle-bans-plastic-straws/">plastic</a> water bottles distributed across the UK each year using biodegradable plastic.

The breakthrough process utilizes lignin, which is a complex organic compound that hardens and strengthens the cell walls of plants. The scientists edit the DNA of a specific microbe to speed up its production of the enzyme that converts lignin into a substance that is used to make bioplastic.

Dr. Tim Bugg is a professor of Biological Chemistry at the <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/">University of Warwick</a>.

“The breakthrough is that bioplastics can be made from lignin, which ten to 15 years ago people thought could not be done,” said Dr. Bugg. “Gene editing improves the yield of bioplastic from lignin and decreases the time this takes, so that we can manufacture this plastic in bulk.”

“Lignin is a great raw material to use because it is found in wheat straw and is a byproduct of paper manufacture, so has little environmental cost.”

The process uses molecular tools that empower scientists to quickly and inexpensively target and replace genetic material. According to the British firm Biome Technologies, this system could also edit E.coli bacteria to produce a catalyst that could be used to speed up chemical reactions.

An experiment at the University of Warwick and the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/">University of York</a> has produced the first bioplastic from wheat straw, and the scientists report that the process could be scaled up for major production in as little as five years.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

UK scientists are developing a biodegradable plastic from straw

A team of scientists from the UK have created a...

Walking upright marked a major landmark for the evolution of our ancient ancestors. Bipedalism is one of our major defining traits as homo-sapiens, and paleontologists have now discovered evidence of bipedalism as early as <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/becoming-human-the-evolution-of-walking-upright-13837658/">4 million years ago. </a>

Experts in early human origins can study fossils and determine how they walked and what life was like back then. 

A new study, published in the journal Science Advances, found that young toddlers millions of years ago walked on two feet but also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-hominids-walk-upright/">spent considerable time in trees</a>. 

Researchers from <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> were able to paint a vivid picture of how young children learned to navigate ground and trees thanks to one of the most complete skeletons of a young child dating back 3.32 million years. 

The skeleton belongs to the species Australopithecus afarensis and was discovered in the Dikika region of Ethiopia in 2002. 

“For the first time, we have an amazing window into what walking was like for a 2½-year-old, more than 3 million years ago,” said Jeremy DeSilva, the study’s lead author. “This is the most complete foot of an ancient juvenile ever discovered.”

The researchers studied the Dikika skeleton foot and discovered a wealth of information about why the bones formed the way they did and why the child both walked and lived in trees clinging to its mother.  

The fossil found in 2002 is the same species as Lucy, a famous find that effectively changed our entire understanding of humanity's origins. The Dikika skeleton was alive 200,000 years before Lucy.

“Placed at a critical time and the cusp of being human, Australopithecus afarensis was more derived than Ardipithecus (a facultative biped) but not yet an obligate strider like Homo erectus,” said Zeresenay (Zeray) Alemseged, a senior author of the study and the person who found the Dikika skeleton. The Dikika foot adds to the wealth of knowledge on the mosaic nature of hominin skeletal evolution.” 

The Dikika skeleton was 2 and half years old when she died and the Dartmouth researchers found that the toddler was already waking at this point. However, there was also evidence in the skeleton's foot that the young child foraged for food in the trees because of the shape of its big toe. 

The researchers even suggest that young Australopithecus afarensis children spent more time in trees than their parents. 

“If you were living in Africa 3 million years ago without fire, without structures, and without any means of defense, you'd better be able to get up in a tree when the sun goes down,” said DeSilva. 

The new study brings us closer to understanding our early origins and evolution. 

“These findings are critical for understanding the dietary and ecological adaptation of these species and are consistent with our previous research on other parts of the skeleton especially the shoulder blade,” said Alemseged. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Jeremy DeSilva &amp; Cody Prang

Ancient ancestors could walk as toddlers but also lived in trees

Walking upright marked a major landmark for the evolution of...

More than eight million babies have been born around the world thanks to in-vitro fertilization (IFV), according to the <a href="http://www.icmartivf.org/">International Committee for Monitoring Advanced Reproductive Technology</a> (ICMART).

The <a href="https://www.eshre.eu/">European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology</a> (ESHRE) has been collecting national registry data of ART cycles performed in Europe since 1997, and the first successful baby born from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertility-treatment-likelihood-divorce/">IVF</a> was Louise Brown in 1978. 

Since then, IVF treatments have skyrocketed and estimates show that more than half a million babies are born from IVF and ICSI treatments every year. 

ICMART along with ESHRE have collected information on infertility treatments in Europe and found inconsistencies with how ART is used throughout different countries to help would-be parents. 

Researchers collected data from 1991 to 2014 and also found that more than 2 million treatment cycles are performed each year. 

Spain is the most active country in ART use and in 2015, a record 119,875 treatment cycles were performed in Spain, more than any other country. 

Russia was close behind Spain, with 110,723 treatment cycles performed and 96,512 in Germany. 

France used to be the most active for IVF and ICSI but in 2015, the country was behind Germany with 93,918 cycles. 

IVF and ICSI, as well as egg donations, have given options to millions of hopeful parents who for whatever reason are unable to conceive, and the efforts of ESHRE and ICMART show how much ART is used throughout <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-scale-deforestation-europe/">Europe</a> as well as highlighting any disparities between countries. 

This most recent report includes a total of 800,000 treatment cycles performed in 2015 which resulted in the successful births of 157,449 babies. It is the largest and most accurate representation of ART in Europe. 

In Europe, the report shows that clinics favor ICSI over IVF by two to one and this something that is increasing throughout the rest of the world. 

Pregnancy rates throughout Europe with ART are also rising and stabilizing with fewer twins born each year. 

Italy and Austria offer fewer treatments to their populations than other countries and the report shows that many countries do not meet the demand for ART. 

The report will be presented in Barcelona at the 34th annual meeting ESHRE. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Over 8 million babies have been been from IVF since 1978

More than eight million babies have been born around the...

A study from the <a href="http://www.ufl.edu/">University of Florida</a> has revealed that most asteroids and meteorites emerged from the disintegration of just a few minor planets that formed during the earliest days of our solar system. The researchers found that at least 85 percent of the 200,000 asteroids contained in the inner asteroid belt came from only five or six small, primitive planets. 

Study lead author and theoretical astronomer Stanley Dermott explained that the other 15 percent may also be traced back to the same minor planets. He said that the discovery is important for understanding the materials that shaped the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-triggered-global-warming/">Earth</a>.


The revelation also provides a more accurate interpretation of the evolutionary history of asteroids and the materials that form them. According to Dermott, the finding could prove to be critical in protecting the Earth and its inhabitants from massive meteorites that are as large as the Statue of Liberty and asteroids that are more powerful than atomic bombs.

“These large bodies whiz by the Earth, so of course we're very concerned about how many of these there are and what types of material are in them,” said Dermott. “If ever one of these comes towards the earth, and we want to deflect it, we need to know what its nature is.”


The research team demonstrated that the size of an asteroid determines its trajectory. Dermott pointed out that this indicates that the differences in meteorites found on Earth are caused by evolutionary changes that occurred inside a few large bodies more than four billion years ago.

“I wouldn't be surprised if we eventually trace the origins of all asteroids in the main asteroid belt, not just those in the inner belt, to a small number of known parent bodies.”

Dermott said that understanding the evolutionary history of the space bodies that formed our early solar system helps theoretical astronomers answer questions related to where planets like our own might exist in the universe. Before this, however, we have to understand the processes that are responsible for producing the planet that we live on.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natastron/">Nature Astronomy</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Over 85 percent of asteroids formed from the same ancient planets

A study from the University of Florida has revealed that...

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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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



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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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