For years, bacteria dominated gut health research. Now, the gut virome is gaining attention as a major player in health and disease. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-think-they-found-two-key-bacteria-that-cause-multiple-sclerosis/">bacteria</a>, make up around 90% of the gut virome.



Though small in biomass, they outnumber bacteria by up to tenfold. These tiny viruses shape microbial communities, influence immunity, and affect gut health.



A landmark review published recently in Precision Clinical Medicine reveals how the gut virome links to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IBD</a>), <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colonoscopy-vs-stool-tests-doctors-found-out-which-is-better-at-detecting-cancer/">colorectal cancer</a>, and Clostridium difficile infection (<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15548-c-diff-infection" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDI</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-s-virome-changes-across-life-stages">Gut's virome changes across life stages</h2>



The gut virome changes constantly throughout life. Infants show high <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-that-eat-forever-chemicals-discovered-in-contaminated-soil/">diversity</a> in gut bacteriophages (also called phages), which is shaped by birth method, diet, and antibiotic exposure.



As individuals grow, diet and hormones refine the virome. In adults, phages and bacteria form a stable, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-021-00536-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">balanced community</a>.



However, aging shifts this balance. Older adults show more lysogenic phages, which integrate into bacterial genomes and potentially alter metabolism and immune interactions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-and-environment-shape-the-virome">Diet and environment shape the virome</h2>



Diet greatly <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9455721/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">influences</a> the virome. High-fiber diets support beneficial phages by encouraging helpful bacteria. Western diets, rich in fat and sugar, promote harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-bacteria-breathe-by-creating-electricity/">phages</a>.



Urbanization reduces exposure to natural viruses. Studies show that rural diets which are rich in fiber boost gut virome diversity.



Host genetics and immunity also play roles. Genetic variants can affect viral detection and clearance. Immune defenses, like <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/interferons" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interferons</a> and <a href="https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology/receptors-molecules/immunoglobulin-iga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IgA</a>, keep the virome balanced.



However, immune dysfunction can trigger viral imbalances, worsening conditions like HIV and gut inflammation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viruses-and-bacteria-interacting">Viruses and bacteria interacting</h2>



Viruses, including phages, along with bacteria and fungi form a complex and dynamic ecosystem in the gut. The components interact in positive and negative ways, thus affecting host metabolism, immune regulation and resistance to disease. 



The gut virome plays a crucial regulatory role in these intricate interactions. Phages interact with bacteria through lytic, lysogenic, and budding cycles, which regulate bacterial populations and gene flow. 



In a form of microbial arms race, the bacteria defend against phages using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crispr-used-to-remove-extra-chromosomes-in-down-syndrome-and-restore-cell-function/">CRISPR systems</a> and the phages evolve escape mechanisms.



Some phages even boost bacterial metabolism and biofilm formation, affecting disease risk. For instance, phages can transfer genes that enhance bacterial survival in acidic conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virome-s-influence-on-immunity">Virome’s influence on immunity</h2>



The virome affects gut immunity deeply. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-bacteria-get-hungry-they-turn-on-each-other/">Phages</a> can anchor to gut mucus and form a protective barrier. They also shape our own <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459471/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T and B cell</a> activity and regulate macrophages. In addition, viruses that infect eukaryotic cells affect immune pathways and maintain gut balance.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/virome_microbiome_human-gut_graphic_credit-PCM_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/virome_microbiome_human-gut_graphic_credit-PCM_1s.webp" alt="This infographic illustrates four major therapeutic approaches—fecal microbial transplantation (FMT), phage therapy, dietary interventions, and probiotics/prebiotics—that aim to restore gut health by modulating the microbiome and virome. Each strategy offers unique methods, benefits, and challenges in managing gastrointestinal disorders such as IBD, CRC, and CDI, highlighting the growing potential of virome-informed precision medicine. Credit: Precision Clinical Medicine" class="wp-image-1976450"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This infographic illustrates four major therapeutic approaches—fecal microbial transplantation (FMT), phage therapy, dietary interventions, and probiotics/prebiotics—that aim to restore gut health by modulating the microbiome and virome. Each strategy offers unique methods, benefits, and challenges in managing gastrointestinal disorders such as IBD, CRC, and CDI, highlighting the growing potential of virome-informed precision medicine. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Precision Clinical Medicine</figcaption></figure>



However, infections and antibiotics can disrupt this harmony and lead to inflammation. Phages can trigger TLR9 pathways, causing excessive immune responses such as those linked to IBD.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virome-s-role-in-disease">Virome’s role in disease</h2>



Imbalances in the gut virome have been linked to several gut diseases. In IBD, specific phages become abundant and worsen inflammation.



Certain groups of phages (such as Caudovirales) amplify immune responses, while norovirus and rotavirus can damage the gut lining. Viral imbalances are also common in IBS and CDI.



In colorectal cancer, phages and eukaryotic viruses like HPV and JC virus (polyomavirus) appear more often. They may promote tumor growth by altering bacterial communities and gene expression.



Studies suggest that some phages directly influence cancer risk by promoting biofilms and transferring harmful genes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virus-based-treatments">Virus-based treatments</h2>



Several therapies now explore the virome’s potential to treat certain diseases or conditions. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) restores gut balance and reduces inflammation in IBD and CDI.



FMT works not only by shifting bacteria but also by transferring beneficial phages. Studies show that donor phages often align quickly with recipients and promote recovery.



Phage therapy, which uses viruses to kill specific bacteria, is another approach that is gaining traction. It can reduce harmful microbes while preserving beneficial ones.



Researchers have created phage cocktails that target specific gut pathogens like E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and this approach has had promising results in animal models.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-as-a-tool-to-reshape-the-virome">Diet as a tool to reshape the virome</h2>



Dietary strategies also reshape the virome. High-fiber diets boost beneficial phages and support bacterial diversity.



Whey protein has shown potential in managing Crohn’s disease by improving phage-bacteria interactions.



Other interventions, such as exclusive enteral nutrition and low-FODMAP diets, also show benefits in gut diseases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-probiotics-prebiotics-and-phages">Probiotics, prebiotics, and phages</h2>



Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics feed them. Combining them, known as symbiotics, shows promise for restoring and maintaining gut health.



Recent research suggests that adding phages can enhance these effects. Phage-based products, such as PreforPro, have already shown benefits in clinical trials.



These products can reduce populations of harmful bacteria and improve probiotic performance, thereby creating a more stable gut environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-gut-viruses-to-detect-diseases-early">Using gut viruses to detect diseases early</h2>



The gut virome is now being studied as a diagnostic tool. Viral patterns are more stable than bacterial ones, making them reliable biomarkers.



Distinct virome signatures can predict IBD and colorectal cancer. Machine learning models already use virome data to detect these diseases early.



Virome profiling may also track treatment responses, such as FMT success in IBD and CDI.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-future-prospects">Challenges and future prospects</h2>



Despite the excitement over potential new treatments, many hurdles remain. Current methods struggle to capture the full virome due to technical limits.



Many phages are still unculturable, and their roles remain unclear. Researchers are working to improve viral databases and develop targeted therapies. Once these gaps close, virome-based therapies could change how we treat gut diseases.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pcm/article/8/2/pbaf010/8152264" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Precision Clinical Medicine</a>.



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Move over microbiome, it's time for the human gut's "virome" to shine

For years, bacteria dominated gut health research. Now, the gut virome is gaining attention as a major player in health and disease. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, make up around 90% of the gut virome. Though small in biomass, they outnumber bacteria by up to tenfold. These tiny viruses shape microbial communities, influence immunity, and affect gut health. A landmark review published recently in Precision Clinical Medicine reveals how the gut virome links to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer, and Clostridium difficile infection (CDI)....

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brain-lsd-microdosing/">Artificial intelligence</a> continues to be a rapidly developing field with fascinating new advancements. For example, a team from <a href="http://www.botnik.org/">Botnik Studios</a> fed a predictive text keyboard all seven Harry Potter novels by J.K Rowling, and the system then wrote <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2017/dec/13/harry-potter-botnik-jk-rowling">its own version</a> of a Harry Potter book. 

As fun as these technologies can be, many people are weary of one particular faction of artificial intelligence known as machine learning technology, where computer systems improve with more experience. 

There is growing concern that machine learning could potentially take over human jobs, as it has already significantly improved facial recognition technology, credit card fraud detection, and financial market analysis. 

These concerns are not necessarily unfounded, as machine-learning computer systems could have as drastic an impact on the economy as electricity did when it was first introduced.

But according to two researchers, Tom Mitchell from<a href="https://www.cmu.edu/"> Carnegie Mellon University</a> and Erik Brynjolfsson from the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a>, machine learning (ML) will not take over all jobs or replace the workforce entirely.

Mitchell and Brynjolfsson co-authored a Policy Forum which will be published in the journal Science discussing 21 criteria for evaluating whether a job is likely to be completed by ML.

For example, ML is even predicted to be able to detect cancers and conduct medical diagnosis in the future. But does this mean computer systems will replace medical professionals?  

Tom Mitchell and Erik Brynjolfsson say that’s not likely to happen, but instead what will change is the nature of jobs themselves. 

"We don't know how all of this will play out,” said Mitchell. “People whose jobs involve human-to-human interaction are going to be more valuable because they can't be automated.” 

According to the authors, ML is perfect for tasks that require sifting through lots of data like scheduling. 

But ML would not work with making decisions that require lots of thinking, or giving detailed explanations. 

For example, a cancer detection program can study hundreds of thousands of skin lesions and tumors which helps it make an accurate diagnosis, but only a dermatologist or doctor can go into detail as to why a lesion is cancerous. 

Time will tell how ML shapes the economy and jobs, and the researchers note that caution is needed when developing ML technology. 

“The potential for large and rapid changes due to ML, in many cases within a decade, suggests that the economic effects may be highly disruptive, creating both winners and losers,” write Mitchell and Brynjolfsson. “This will require considerable attention among policymakers, business leaders, technologists and researchers.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Machine learning could change the economy as much as electricity

Artificial intelligence continues to be a rapidly developing field with...

When I was very young, I went on a camping trip with my family and some friends.  We visited an expansive prairie filled ranch of an acquaintance.  The ranch was near Badlands National Park, South Dakota.  In my memory there were piles of fossil bones everywhere.  I collected a tooth that was later identified as a mastodon tooth.  I was mesmerized by the smooth enamel surface, worn on the edge by a live animal chewing.  As a child I imagined I could feel the residual energy of the animal’s life force still inside the fossil.  I would brush my fingers along the varnished surface of bone and imagine the life of an ancient creature.  This feeling and the fascination it spawned lead me down a path that landed me a job working at a museum quality fossil replica studio in western Colorado.

Fossil replication is tedious, exacting.  The basic principle is simple: you make a mold by painting a layer of liquid rubber over a fossil, wait for it to harden and peel it off.  Making the fossil replica then involves pouring liquid epoxy into the rubber and waiting for it to harden, then pulling the replica out of the rubber.  The devil is in the details.  

I remember the delicately curved horns arching over the modestly sized frill of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-fossil-racist-nazi-science/">dinosaur</a> skull.  Diabloceratops was aptly named, looking like a horned demon of mythology.  I’ve spent hours trimming the jagged seam lines on casts of ceratopsian skulls from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  Some of the weirdest, alien looking dinosaurs I’ve worked on in about 8 years in the business have been from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and it’s really no great surprise.  Grand Staircase-Escalante has long been looked at a great ‘science monument’ a kind of giant, natural lab where everything from wildlife to archaeology is looked at.  Some of the world’s most important dinosaur fossils have been found in Grand Staircase-Escalante.

To learn more about paleontology in Grand Staircase-Escalante, I got in contact with Randall Irmis, Chief Curator and Curator of Paleontology at Natural History Museum of Utah.  Dr. Irmis describes himself as a kid who liked dinosaurs and never grew up, right out of grad school for a PhD in Integrative Biology, he got a job at NHMU.  Randall describes the scientific curiosity that lead him and other researchers to Grand Staircase-Escalante,

 “One of my major field-based projects is in Late Cretaceous rocks in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), where we are documenting ancient ecosystems on land between ~90 and 74 million years ago.  My collaborators and I are interested in why we find so many unique species in GSENM - does it relate to physical barriers, climate, sea level, or a combination of those factors?  Also, what does it tell us about ecosystem evolution in a greenhouse world?”    

Under Trump’s reduced monument(s) the Kaiparowits Plateau will be cut from National Monument status.  The plateau is the recent site of the excavation of a Tyrannosaur skeleton.  Dr. Irmis tells me about working in the National Monument and what could be lost, “Working in GSENM is a truly spectacular experience.  I love the high desert, and the landscape is beautiful, striking, and stark.  The fossils are really quite abundant, beautifully preserved, and few other places in the United States afford the chance to regularly discover so many new species of ancient animals and plants!  The many moments of discovery make working in GSENM so exciting.  It is incredible to excavate and study new species never before known to science, but literally every fossil we excavate is a visceral experience - as you uncover the specimen its remarkable to think you are the first human to ever lay eyes on this bone, shell or leaf, and the first living thing of any kind to see it in 75+ million years…The areas removed from the monument contain fossil bearing rocks from the Triassic Period (252-201 million years ago) and part of the Cretaceous Period (particularly those from 95-80 million years ago). These include fossils that document the beginning of the age of dinosaurs (Triassic), those documenting marine ecosystems of the Western Interior Seaway and a climate change event that caused a mini-mass extinction in the ocean called 'Oceanic Anoxic Event 2' during the Late Cretaceous (~94 million years ago), and important Cretaceous fossils of early mammals from 90-80 million years ago.”       

On one wall in the fossil casting business hangs a poster.  On the poster is a photograph of a dinosaur trackway.  Tracks with three toes lead through sandstone but end at the edge of a body of water.  The poster reads, “The Lost Trackway” and below that, “Lake Powell”.  The poster is a sad nod to the realities of the west and how land is treated here.  Lake Powell of course is the damming of Glen Canyon, a place that has been spoken of by old timers with the same reverence used for Zion or Canyonlands or Arches.  When Glen Canyon Dam was built sacred Native American sites were flooded; the town of Hite, Utah was destroyed in the deluge and people were uprooted.  A giant sandstone arch was covered by Lake Powell.  Lake Powell has more miles of shoreline than the West Coast of the US.  Imagine the things we don’t even know of covered by Lake Powell.  This time, there isn’t a flood threatening, just the slow, steady wave of development.

What we may potentially lose is priceless.  Dr. Irmis makes the scientific importance obvious.  The curiosity that would drive one to spend a life pouring over fossils from this area is palpable, 

“The paleontological resources of GSENM are truly unique and spectacular.  It preserves fossils from the Late Permian (~270 million years ago) all the way to the Late Cretaceous (~66 million years ago), and nearly every geological layer has significant fossils in it.  Particularly notable are the Late Cretaceous deposits from 95-74 million years ago, where we and others have discovered dozens upon dozens of new species of fossil organisms not found anywhere else on Earth.  These new species include plants, clams, snails, fish, amphibians, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals - basically the entire spectrum.  Because they are unique to GSENM, they document ancient ecosystems not found anywhere else in the world, and as mentioned above, are critical to understanding how life on earth responds to greenhouse conditions (i.e., globally warm temperatures, high atmospheric CO2, high sea levels, and no polar ice caps).  As such, they're an important study system for where our Earth might be going in the future…

Although there are abundant and important dinosaur footprint fossils from the Early and Middle Jurassic sediments in GSENM (~200-165 million years ago), all the named species based on skeletal material come from the Cretaceous sediments that are between 95-74 million years old.  Over two dozen new species of dinosaurs have been discovered from this time interval, but only about half of those have been formally named and scientifically described because we have so many new species, and it takes a lot of time to do the research.  Its worth noting that we also have discovered from these same rocks many new species of turtles, crocodilans, amphibians, lizards, and mammals that are also unique to GSENM.  During this time GSENM was a sub-tropical environment similar to the bayous of Louisiana today - a broad floodplain crisscrossed by rivers and streams with cypress-like conifers and other lush vegetation.” 

The threat to the one-of-a-kind fossils in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument stands in stark contrast to Trump’s declaration.  In reference to the potential loss of protection on fossil sites of Grand Staircase-Escalante Trump proclaims, “The modified monument boundaries take into account this new information and, as described in more detail below, retain the majority of the high-potential areas for locating new fossil resources that have been identified within the area reserved by Proclamation 6920.”  Really in the end it comes down to: do you really believe this president; or is this just another case of ‘Alternate facts’?

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

What will be lost as Trump slashes the Grand Staircase-Escalante

When I was very young, I went on a camping...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a> have found that children who eat fish at least once a week sleep better and have higher IQ scores. The investigation revealed that children who ate fish had IQ test scores an average of four points higher than children who did not eat fish regularly.

Previous studies have linked omega-3s to improved intelligence and also to better <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genes-body-stays-sleep/">sleep</a>,but never linked all three together. The current study identifies sleep as a possible mediating pathway that may be the missing link between fish and intelligence.

"This area of research is not well-developed. It's emerging," said study lead author Jianghong Liu. "Here we look at omega-3s coming from our food instead of from supplements."

The study was focused on 541 9- to 11-year-olds in China who reported on how often they consumed fish in the previous month. The participants also completed the Chinese version of an IQ test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised.

Next, the children's parents answered questions about sleep quality, including  topics such as sleep duration, night waking, and daytime sleepiness.

Analysis of the results showed that children who reported eating fish weekly scored 4.8 points higher on the IQ tests than those who rarely or never ate fish. Participants who reported eating fish sometimes scored 3.3 points higher on the exams. 

Furthermore, increased fish consumption was linked to fewer sleep disturbances, which is a good indication of overall sleep quality.

"Lack of sleep is associated with antisocial behavior; poor cognition is associated with antisocial behavior," said study co-author Adrian Raine. "We have found that omega-3 supplements reduce antisocial behavior, so it's not too surprising that fish is behind this."

Study co-author Jennifer Pinto-Martin pointed out that this study “adds to the growing body of evidence showing that fish consumption has really positive health benefits and should be something more heavily advertised and promoted.”

Pinto-Martin says that children should be introduced to fish by age two. The researchers also recommend serving fish at least once a week to the whole family.

"Doing that could be a lot easier than nudging children about going to bed," said Raine. "If the fish improves sleep, great. If it also improves cognitive performance - like we've seen here - even better. It's a double hit."

The study is published this week in <a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Eating fish leads to better sleep and higher intelligence

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have found that children...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/facts-climate-change-skeptics/">Climate change</a> deniers are always quick to point out that snowfall, cooler weather, or any day that weather norms seem apparent are proof that global warming is a non-issue.

Even top policymakers and government officials look at snowfall as the clear end all to any climate change arguments. However, it’s important to realize that global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions triggers weather extremes that can include heavy precipitation and yes, even heavier snow volume.

For example, snowfall has more than doubled in the Alaska mountain range in the past 150 years, and precipitation levels in the area are at the highest they've been in a little over 1,000 years. 

For reference, the Alaska range typically had around 8 feet of snow per year during the mid-1800s, and snowfall rates are now at 18 feet per year. 

Researchers from <a href="http://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a>, the <a href="https://umaine.edu/">University of Maine</a>, and the <a href="https://www.unh.edu/">University of New Hampshire</a> analyzed two ice core samples that were taken from Mount Hunter in Denali National Park. 

The results show a stark contrast between precipitation levels from the past few years compared to the early 1800s. 

The researchers say their findings help showcase how climate change drastically affects precipitation levels. In this case, warmer oceans likely increased the northward flow of moist air, which created heavy snowfall over the Alaska mountains. 

“We were shocked when we first saw how much snowfall has increased. We had to check and double-check our results to make sure of the findings,” said Dr. Erich Osterberg, lead author of the study. 

Such weather extremes, whether rainfall of snow, can be traced back to warming oceans and climate change. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Snowfall in Alaska mountains doubled, linked to climate change

Climate change deniers are always quick to point out that...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/">University of Tsukuba</a> in Japan have discovered a bizarre creature on the floor of the Pacific Ocean that has no centralized nervous system, kidneys, or anus. The new species of worm may provide scientists with new insight on the evolution of internal organs.

While the pale orange worm, Xenoturbella japonica, is missing plenty of other features, it does have a mouth. This suggests that the digestive organ is a sac instead of a tube, according to the researchers.

To explore the biological characteristics and the origin of the new worm species, the team used microCT scans. The experts also extracted DNA and performed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tasmanian-tiger-extinction/">gene sequencing</a>.

“Molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed that X. japonica is distinct from previously described species of Xenoturbella.” explained study co-author Hideyuki Miyazawa.

The scientists say that the new species may be related to the group Bilateria, which are bilaterally symmetrical and complex animals.

“Species within this genus have previously been divided into ‘shallow’ and ‘deep’ subgroups, and our results place X. japonica in the ‘shallow’ subgroup,” said lead author Hiroaki Nakano. 

Nakano explained that X. japonica surprisingly shares features with both subgroups.

“Thus, features of this species may be ancestral for this genus, and this new species may be particularly important for unravelling the ancestry of Xenoturbella and the early history of the Bilateria,” she said.

Of the two worms examined by the researchers, one was a female which was approximately 5 centimeters long and the other was a young specimen which was only about one centimeter. 

Despite the fact that the worms live as deep as thousands of meters below the surface of the sea, further evaluation of the species will be feasible because the region of the western Pacific where X. japonica was found is easy to access from a nearby marine station.

According to Nakano, “this new species may be particularly important for unraveling the ancestry of Xenoturbella and the early history of the Bilateria."

The study was published in <a href="https://bmcevolbiol.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Evolutionary Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: University of Tsukuba

Weird new worm sheds light on the progression of complex animals

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have discovered...

A team of researchers has identified the traits that are favored by natural selection in modern populations. They found that reproductive success is associated with body-mass index in males and with the age at which females first give birth.

Jaleal Sanjak is a co-author of the study from the <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California, Irvine</a>.

“Natural selection is still happening in modern humans - it is observable, we can detect it,” Sanjak told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk">The Guardian</a>. “But they are fairly weak effects and secular trends, things due to modern medicine and social change, are likely to be bigger drivers of changes in these traits.”

To look for the presence of linear and nonlinear natural selection in a contemporary population, the researchers examined data on thousands of adults over the age of 45 from the <a href="http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a>. They explored the link between genetic variants and the number of children people have in their lifetime.

“Combining high-throughput molecular genetic data with extensive phenotyping enables the direct study of natural selection in humans,” wrote the study authors. “We see firsthand how and at what rates contemporary human populations are evolving.”

For some particular traits such as height and waist size, the researchers found that natural selection does not favor the extremes. The authors of the study explained that “individuals at either extreme of the phenotypic range have reduced fitness - the hallmark of stabilizing selection.”

The researchers discovered that body-mass index is favored by natural selection in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-determines-social-dominance/">males</a>. They explained this may be due to the fact that obesity is linked to infertility. The study also revealed that women who get an early start on having a family are likely to have more children.

While it has been previously believed that extreme weights are not favored in babies, the team discovered that this effect is not very strong and only occurs in females. The experts attributed this weakened effect is to advanced neonatal care, which gives babies of all sizes the chance to thrive.

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

Natural selection is still molding humans, research finds

A team of researchers has identified the traits that are...

Researchers from <a href="https://www.yale.edu/">Yale University</a> have discovered that ground squirrels and Syrian hamsters do not feel cold like some other rodents which do not hibernate, such as rats and mice. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-bears-focus-protein/">hibernating</a> animals have adapted neurons which have a weakened ability to detect freezing temperatures. The scientists believe that this evolution allows the rodents to hibernate because their body temperatures can drop without causing them stress.

"If these animals were to feel cold, they would not be able to hibernate because their sensory system would tell the rest of the body that they need to warm up first," explained senior author Elena Gracheva. "They would not be able to survive as a species."

The researchers found that the two hibernating species evolved their cold-suppressing abilities independently. Experimentation showed that it took a lot more to activate cold-sensing receptors in ground squirrels and Syrian hamsters compared to other animals that do not hibernate.

When the researchers observed the response of squirrels, hamsters, and mice to two temperature-controlled plates, the mice preferred the warm plate at all times. However, the squirrels and hamsters showed no preference unless the cold plate approached 5 degrees Celsius. 

The experts linked this behavior to an ion channel in the neurons of these rodents, called TRPM8. In ground squirrels and hamsters, TRPM8 is less sensitive to cold than it is in mice.

The resistance to feeling cold occurs not only during hibernation but also while squirrels and hamsters are active. For example, 13-lined ground squirrels can survive temperatures of 2 degrees Celsius for up to 9 months.

While species like birds can migrate when the weather gets too cold, smaller mammals cannot travel long distances. Because they do not have the means to change their environment, they must adapt their bodies. 

"This adaptation is the perfect example of how environment can shape properties of the sensory system," said Gracheva.


The research is published in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/home">Cell Reports</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: Gracheva Lab

Squirrels evolved an ability to withstand colder temperatures

Researchers from Yale University have discovered that ground squirrels and...

Scientists now have evidence that a river turtle made an incredible journey out of the ancient continent Gondwana 95 million years ago. The turtle adapted to marine environments and left the African region in the first known dispersal event of a turtle from Gondwana. Its remains were found in the city Algora of Castile-La Mancha, Spain, and also in Portugal.

The turtle, which scientists often refer to as “traveler,” was named Algorachelus peregrinus. It began its long journey in Africa during the Upper Cretaceous before arriving in Spain and Portugal.

"It is not just any turtle, but, as the name suggests, it gives us the necessary clues to describe how a successful migration occurred about 95 million years ago; this journey would have drastic consequences," explained Adán Pérez -García, a researcher at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_University_of_Distance_Education">National University of Distance Education</a>.

Millions of years ago, the supercontinent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/continental-rifting-carbon/">Pangea</a> was broken down into two large continental masses including Gondwana, which is currently Africa and South America, and Laurasia, which included Greenland, Europe, and North America.

"This geographic isolation allowed the development of lineages of independent animals in both continental masses," said Pérez-García.

The “traveler” turtle, which is now extinct, adapted from purely freshwater environments to coastal marine environments. This is how they made their way to Europe much earlier than previously realized.

The turtles settled in the new continent, becoming very abundant and diverse until the end of the Mesozoic, about 65 million years ago. Evidence of this is found in ancient fossils recovered in Guadalajara.

The discovery of the fossilized remains of a turtle shell in Portugal has provided even more insight into this migration out of Africa.

According to the scientists, what makes the journey of the “traveler” turtle a success is that it did not end in Spain. Algorachelus and other closely-related turtles continued their migration to the United States.

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tjsp20">Journal of Systematic Palaeontology</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: José Antonio Peñas / SINC

First African turtle that migrated to Europe made a wild journey

Scientists now have evidence that a river turtle made an...

Scientists now have a better understanding of how cosmic rays from supernovae can affect Earth's cloud cover and climate. They have identified how atmospheric ions produced by cosmic rays promote the development of cloud condensation nuclei, which form clouds.

When there are changes in atmospheric ions, there is also a shift in the number of cloud condensation nuclei. More of these nuclei lead to more clouds and result in a cooler climate. 

Cosmic rays are high-energy particles raining down from exploded stars that knock electrons out of air molecules. This produces ions, or positive and negative molecules in the atmosphere.

Cloud condensation nuclei are formed from small molecular clusters called aerosols. It has been assumed that additional small aerosols could not grow and become cloud condensation nuclei. 

But now, the researchers have demonstrated that interactions between ions and aerosols promote this growth by adding new materials to the aerosols which strengthen them. This allows the aerosols to become stable against evaporation, and linger long enough in the atmosphere to form cloud condensation nuclei. 

Henrik Svensmark from DTU Space at the <a href="http://www.dtu.dk/english">Technical University of Denmark</a> is the lead author of the study. 

"Finally we have the last piece of the puzzle explaining how particles from space affect climate on Earth,” said Svensmark. “It gives an understanding of how changes caused by Solar activity or by supernova activity can change climate."

Clouds make a huge difference in the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface. This breakthrough may help explain climate variation in the past and also help future climate change be more accurately predicted.

The study is published today in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exploding stars can affect clouds and climate on Earth

Scientists now have a better understanding of how cosmic rays...

As the world attempts to transition away from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-conference-fossil-fuels/">fossil fuels</a> to renewable forms of energy, there is heightened interest in solar power. However, photovoltaic panels require a lot of space and can potentially interfere with agricultural land and other protected regions. A team of experts has now determined that it is feasible to generate large quantities of solar energy without impacting valuable areas of land.

Previous research demonstrated that solar panels are often installed in untouched land areas and croplands. An analysis in Lecce, Italy, revealed that 51 percent of the city's solar panels were located on natural and agricultural land, including century-old olive groves. 

A team of researchers including Rebecca R. Hernandez, Michael F. Allen and Madison K. Hoffacker set out to see if it is possible to expand solar power generation without invading preserved areas of land and farms. 

The team focused their study on four alternative solar installation sites in California's Central Valley. For the investigation, the team examined how solar panels could be installed on rooftops and buildings inside of urban areas, on land that is too salty for crops, in water reservoirs, and on contaminated land sites.

The researchers identified the number of these unconventional solar production sites that exist within Central Valley, and calculated how much energy could be produced by installing photovoltaic panels in all of these available areas. 

The team found that the alternative surfaces which could accommodate solar power production totalled more than 1.5 million football fields. This staggering amount of space could generate more than 19,000 terawatt-hours of energy per year without interfering with farmlands or conserved areas, according to the study. 

Overall, the level of energy production established by the researchers is far more than California's projected electricity demand for 2025, which is 321 terawatt-hours.

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Solar energy does not have to interfere with valuable land

As the world attempts to transition away from fossil fuels...

Surveys are used as an important metric to understand and measure public opinion. But as we saw in the 2016 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/public-health-2016-election/">presidential election</a>, surveys and polls are not perfect systems and can sometimes present inaccurate results.

Now, a new study examining surveys found that people exaggerate or over-emphasize negative feelings in their responses. 

Because these feelings are overstated, it represents a type of bias in the survey data, and research has found that over time these negative feelings actually decline. 

The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/">New York University</a> and was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Journal. 

For the study, the researchers asked participants about anxiety, energy level, and physical symptoms in four different experiments. 

Three of the experiments included survey responders that were dealing with a stressful event in school like an important exam. For these experiments, the subjects reported high levels of anxiety and stress. 

The fourth experiment was also a survey of college students, but subjects were asked to report on a bi-monthly basis rather than right before a stressful event.

For the first survey in all four experiments there were reports of high levels of stress and physical complaints. 

As time went on, even if the stressful event neared, these symptoms declined in subsequent surveys. 

The results prove that the initial negative bias that people report on surveys may wear off or decline over time. 

Surveys are typically a one-time occurrence, meant to gather a wide collection of data to get a feel for the population, but this study shows that the nature of these types of surveys will garner skewed results. 

“Because many political and health surveys only ask questions one time, the bias associated with the initial overstatement can be confused with levels of genuine negativity,” said Patrick Shrout, a professor in New York University's Department of Psychology and a co-author of the study. 

The results could help future research based on surveys and shows how unreliable this method can be.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

People exaggerate negative feelings and symptoms in surveys

Surveys are used as an important metric to understand and...

Microscopic fossilized remains recovered from a rock in Western Australia are now being confirmed as the earliest evidence of life on Earth ever discovered. Researchers at <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/">UCLA</a> and the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> have analyzed the fossils, which were recovered from a rock that dates back almost 3.5 billion years.

"People are really interested in when life on Earth first emerged," said study co-lead author John W. Valley. "This study was 10 times more time-consuming and more difficult than I first imagined, but it came to fruition because of many dedicated people who have been excited about this since day one ... I think a lot more microfossil analyses will be made on samples of Earth and possibly from other planetary bodies."

The researchers managed to describe 11 microbial specimens from five separate taxa, linking their structures to chemical signatures that are characteristic of life. Some of the specimens represent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disease-ridden-flies/">bacteria</a> and microbes which are now extinct, while others are similar to microbial species found today. 

The microfossils were described by J. William Schopf and his team in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a> in 1993, when the researchers first documented evidence of their biological identities. The concept was met with criticism by scientists who argued that the fossils are just odd minerals that happen to resemble biological specimens.

Schopf says that the findings of the current study demonstrate that the microfossils are, in fact, biological.

Using a specialized tool called a secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS), the research team was able to separate the carbon contained in each fossil into its constituent isotopes and measure their ratios. Different organic substances, including rocks and animals, contain specific ratios of stable carbon isotopes.

"The differences in carbon isotope ratios correlate with their shapes," explained Valley. "If they're not biological there is no reason for such a correlation. Their C-13-to-C-12 ratios are characteristic of biology and metabolic function."

Based on the carbon isotope ratios, the researchers were able to assign identities and likely physiological behaviors to the fossils. Schopf says that the results show that "these are a primitive, but diverse group of organisms.”

Schopf also explains that the findings of this study suggest that life could be common throughout the universe. As for Earth, the fact that several different types of microbes have been shown to exist 3.5 billion years ago demonstrates that "life had to have begun substantially earlier - nobody knows how much earlier - and confirms it is not difficult for primitive life to form and to evolve into more advanced microorganisms.”

Previous studies by Valley’s team have suggested that oceans existed on Earth as early as 4.3 billion years ago, which was just 250 million years after the Earth formed.

"We have no direct evidence that life existed 4.3 billion years ago but there is no reason why it couldn't have," said Valley. “This is something we all would like to find out."

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

Fossils prove life existed on Earth nearly 3.5 billion years ago

Microscopic fossilized remains recovered from a rock in Western Australia...

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

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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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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