A remarkable study led by researchers at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> proposes a dramatic shift in our understanding of human evolution. The research suggests that interspecies <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-change-their-schedules-to-adapt-to-city-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">competition</a>, rather than climate alone, significantly shaped the evolutionary trajectory of early humans.



Interspecies competition is a form of interaction where individuals of different species compete for the same resources in an ecosystem, such as food, space, or light. This type of competition can occur when resources are limited, leading to a struggle for survival among the competing species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-vs-interspecies-competition">Climate vs. interspecies competition</h2>



Traditionally, researchers have viewed climate change as the primary driver of the emergence and extinction of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earliest-hominins-migrating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hominin</a> species. This view is consistent with the patterns observed in most vertebrates. 



However, this new research indicates a crucial detail: for hominins - a group that includes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-genes-still-influence-modern-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modern humans</a> and our extinct relatives - competition between species was a crucial factor. This competition significantly influenced our evolutionary history.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-minimal-interspecies-competition">Minimal interspecies competition</h2>



The study reveals that over five million years, competition was fundamental to "speciation," the emergence of new species in hominins.



"We have been ignoring the way competition between species has shaped our own evolutionary tree. The effect of climate on hominin species is only part of the story," explained Dr. Laura van Holstein, a biological anthropologist at <a href="https://www.clare.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clare College</a>.



Using Bayesian modeling and phylogenetic analyses, van Holstein and her team demonstrated a key finding. Like in other vertebrates, most hominin species emerged when interspecies competition for resources was minimal. 



This pattern, where speciation rates increase and then plateau before extinction rates rise, is consistent across many mammalian groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-evolutionary-trends">Unique evolutionary trends</h2>



However, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baleen-whales-rewriting-the-evolutionary-history-of-the-largest-animals-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary pattern</a> of our own genus, Homo, is strikingly different. "The more species of Homo there were, the higher the rate of speciation," noted Dr. van Holstein. 



"This suggests that competition between species actually resulted in the appearance of even more new species - a complete reversal of the trend seen in almost all other vertebrates."



This unique pattern of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-evolution-may-be-the-biggest-roadblock-to-solving-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a> in Homo is paralleled only by certain beetle species that inhabit islands. In these isolated ecosystems, unusual evolutionary trends can emerge.



"The patterns of evolution we see across species of Homo that led directly to modern humans is closer to those of island-dwelling beetles than other primates, or even any other mammal," said Dr. van Holstein.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-records-and-beyond">Fossil records and beyond</h2>



Dr. van Holstein created a new database which tracked each time an example of a species was found and dated in the hominin fossil record - including around 385 occurences.



This comprehensive data allowed the researchers to reconsider the start and end dates for most known hominin species, totaling 17. 



Such an approach helps counteract the inherent limitations of fossil records. These records may not always capture the earliest or latest members of a species, due to geological and climatic factors affecting fossilization.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interspecies-competition-coexistence-and-adaptation">Interspecies competition, coexistence, and adaptation</h2>



Dr. van Holstein's findings suggest a new perspective. Some species previously thought to have evolved through "anagenesis" may have actually "budded." This indicates a branching off from an existing species rather than a linear evolution. 



This realization implies a greater level of coexistence among hominin species. It also indicates heightened interspecies competition - more than previously acknowledged. Additionally, the study underscores the role of technology in the evolution of the genus Homo.



For example, early hominins like Paranthropus evolved physiologically to adapt, developing features like robust teeth. In contrast, Homo species adopted tools, fire, and intensive hunting techniques.



These advancements enabled the latter species to rapidly exploit new ecological niches, bypassing the need for significant physiological changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-of-interspecies-competition">A legacy of interspecies competition</h2>



Ultimately, these findings underscore the complexity of interspecies competition, human evolution and the unique evolutionary path taken by our ancestors. 



"These results show that, although it has been conventionally ignored, competition played an important role in human evolution overall," said Dr. van Holstein. "Perhaps most interestingly, in our own genus it played a role unlike that across any other vertebrate lineage known so far."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02390-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Human evolution was shaped by interspecies competition

A remarkable study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge proposes a dramatic shift in our understanding of human evolution. The research suggests that interspecies competition, rather than climate alone, significantly shaped the evolutionary trajectory of early humans. Interspecies competition is a form of interaction where individuals of different species compete for the same resources in an ecosystem, such as food, space, or light. This type of competition can occur when resources are limited, leading to a struggle for survival among the competing species. Climate vs....

Ever since a peculiar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meteor-shower-hiding-asteroids/">meteor</a> was observed plummeting towards Earth, astrophysicist Avi Loeb became committed to uncovering its true nature, investigating whether it was an alien artifact from another world that had made its way to the Pacific.



Recently, Loeb, a distinguished astrophysicist from <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>, together with his dedicated group of researchers, announced progress in their quest.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-tiny-metal-spheres">Tiny metal spheres</h2>



In a mission undertaken in June near Papua New Guinea, they recovered what they believe are pieces of this enigmatic meteor. On Tuesday, Loeb communicated to the media that preliminary examinations suggest the tiny metal pieces might be alien artifacts, originating from beyond our solar system.



While it remains inconclusive whether these metallic spheres are artificial or natural in origin, Loeb is steadfast in his belief that these samples are unlike any metal alloy known to us.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-historic-discovery">Historic discovery&nbsp;</h2>



“This is a historic discovery because it represents the first time that humans put their hand on materials from a large object that arrived to Earth from outside the solar system,” Loeb said on <a href="https://medium.com/">Medium</a>, his platform of choice for detailing the research and exploration. “The success of the expedition illustrates the value of taking risks in science despite all odds as an opportunity for discovering new knowledge.”



Loeb and his colleagues collaborated with <a href="https://www.eyos-expeditions.com/">EYOS Expeditions</a> for this mission. With the financial backing of entrepreneur Charles Hoskinson, amounting to $1.5 million, they set sail on the Silver Star towards Papa New Guinea in order to retrieve fragments of a unique meteorite, labeled IM1, which entered our atmosphere in 2014.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-alien-origin-of-the-artifacts">Alien origin of the artifacts</h2>



This event went under the radar until 2019, when Loeb, together with Amir Siraj, a then-undergraduate at Harvard, stumbled upon data captured by U.S. government sensors. The genuine origin of the meteor, however, was only publicly recognized in 2022 by experts from the <a href="https://www.spacecom.mil/">U.S. Space Command</a>, who confirmed it to be from another solar system.



This acknowledgment was a pivotal moment for Loeb, who is also the brains behind the <a href="https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/galileo">Galileo Project</a> at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. This initiative is focused on the methodical pursuit of possible alien technologies.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-hundreds-of-microscopic-spheres">Hundreds of microscopic spheres&nbsp;</h2>



Not long after the Space Command’s announcement, Loeb and his team were conducting an extensive search off the Manus Island coast, using a magnet-laden sled from their ship to probe the ocean floor.



The team’s patience and diligence were rewarded as they managed to collect over 700 microscopic spheres, detectable only under a microscope. “This is a historic discovery, marking the first time that humans hold materials from a large interstellar object,” Hoskinson said.



<h2 id="h-the-oumuamua-comet">The Oumuamua comet</h2>



Interestingly, this isn’t the first time when Loeb has speculated about potential extraterrestrial artifacts. In 2017, the Oumuamua comet, with its odd form and trajectory, puzzled a large number of scientists.&nbsp;



Loeb proposed a captivating theory that this elongated object, reminiscent of a cigar, might be utilizing solar energy as a “light sail” akin to how sails utilize wind on Earth. He even postulated that this comet could be an extraterrestrial vessel. A later study, however, credited its unusual orbit to a common phenomenon observed in icy comets.



Nevertheless, Loeb’s curiosity remained unwavering. While reviewing data from the <a href="https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/">Center for Near Earth Object Studies</a> at NASA, he, alongside Siraj, unearthed information about IM1, initially detected in 2014. Given its remarkable velocity – twice faster than nearly all the stars in the vicinity of the sun - the researchers deduced its interstellar origin in an article published in the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ac8eac/pdf">Astrophysical Journal</a>.



<h2 id="h-unique-elemental-composition">Unique elemental composition</h2>



Moreover, recent evaluations have disclosed that some of these retrieved spheres boast a unique elemental composition, unparalleled in our solar system. Dubbed as the “BeLaU” composition due to its Beryllium, Lanthanum, and Uranium content, this alloy is distinct from any known to Earth or its neighboring planets.



Further analysis is underway across renowned institutions, including <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>, <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>, the <a href="https://www.bruker.com/">Bruker Corporation</a>, and the <a href="https://www.unitech.ac.pg/">University of Technology</a> in Papua New Guinea.



Loeb and his colleagues plan to soon publish a <a href="https://lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/~loeb/Interstellar_Expedition.pdf">scientific paper</a> detailing their findings, while Rob McCallum from EYOS commented on the expedition’s success, hinting at potential future endeavors.&nbsp;



“The findings demonstrate the success of the first exploratory expedition and pave the way for a second expedition to seek more data,” McCallum said. “We love to enable our clients’ projects anywhere on Earth, but this one is out of this world.”



Image Credit: Avi Loeb



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Harvard scientist finds alien artifacts at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean

Ever since a peculiar meteor was observed plummeting towards Earth,...

Astronomers have cracked a perplexing cosmic mystery with the aid of an impressive observational campaign involving 12 ground and space-based telescopes, including three facilities of the <a href="https://www.eso.org/">European Southern Observatory</a> (ESO).&nbsp;



The experts have unraveled the bizarre behavior of a pulsar, a rapidly rotating dead star, which has been switching between two brightness modes almost incessantly - a phenomenon that has, until now, been an enigma.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-extraordinary-cosmic-events">Extraordinary cosmic events&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that the sudden ejections of matter from the pulsar over extremely short durations are the cause of these peculiar switches.



Study lead author Maria Cristina Baglio is a researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi, affiliated with the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).



“We have witnessed extraordinary cosmic events where enormous amounts of matter, similar to cosmic cannonballs, are launched into space within a very brief time span of tens of seconds from a small, dense celestial object rotating at incredibly high speeds,” explained Baglio.



<h2 id="h-peculiar-type-of-pulsar">Peculiar type of pulsar</h2>



Pulsars are fast-spinning, magnetic, dead stars that project a beam of electromagnetic radiation into space.&nbsp;



As they rotate, this beam sweeps across the universe - much like a lighthouse beam scanning its surroundings - and is detected by astronomers as it intersects Earth's line of sight. This results in the star appearing to pulse in brightness when observed from our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-planet-discovered-with-an-ocean-not-far-from-earth/">planet</a>.



PSR J1023+0038, or J1023 for short, is a peculiar type of pulsar exhibiting strange behavior. Situated approximately 4500 light-years away in the Sextans constellation, it orbits another star closely.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-puzzling-behavior">Puzzling behavior&nbsp;</h2>



Over the past decade, the pulsar has been actively extracting matter from its companion, causing it to accumulate in a disc around the pulsar before gradually falling towards it.



Once this accumulation process commenced, the sweeping beam virtually disappeared, and the pulsar began continuously switching between two modes. In the "high" mode, the pulsar emits bright X-rays, ultraviolet, and visible light, while in the "low" mode, it is dimmer at these frequencies and produces more radio waves.&nbsp;



The pulsar can remain in each mode for several seconds or minutes before transitioning to the other mode in just a few seconds - a phenomenon that has confounded astronomers until now.



"Our unprecedented observing campaign to understand this pulsar’s behavior involved a dozen cutting-edge ground-based and space-borne telescopes," said co-lead author Francesco Coti Zelati, a researcher at the Institute of Space Sciences in Barcelona.



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The project included the ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and New Technology Telescope (NTT), which detected visible and near-infrared light, as well as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).&nbsp;



During two nights in June 2021, the telescopes observed the system transitioning over 280 times between its high and low modes.



<h2 id="h-what-the-study-revealed">What the study revealed&nbsp;</h2>



“We have discovered that the mode switching stems from an intricate interplay between the pulsar wind, a flow of high-energy particles blowing away from the pulsar, and matter flowing towards the pulsar,” explained Coti Zelati, who is also affiliated with INAF.



In the low mode, matter flowing towards the pulsar is ejected in a narrow jet perpendicular to the disc. Gradually, this matter accumulates closer to the pulsar, where it is bombarded by the wind emanating from the pulsating star, causing the matter to heat up.



The system then transitions to a high mode, glowing intensely in the X-ray, ultraviolet, and visible light. Eventually, blobs of this heated matter are expelled by the pulsar via the jet. With less hot matter in the disc, the system's brightness diminishes, reverting back to the low mode.



<h2 id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed</h2>



While this discovery has demystified the strange behavior of J1023, there is still much to be learned from studying this unique system, and ESO’s telescopes will continue to aid astronomers in observing this unusual pulsar.



Specifically, the ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently being constructed in Chile, will provide an unparalleled view of J1023’s switching mechanisms.



“The ELT will allow us to gain key insights into how the abundance, distribution, dynamics, and energetics of the inflowing matter around the pulsar are affected by the mode switching behavior,” said Sergio Campana, research director at the INAF Brera Observatory.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202346418">Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</a>.



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Cosmic mystery solved: The puzzling behavior of a pulsar

Astronomers have cracked a perplexing cosmic mystery with the aid...

Happy,Jumping,Old,Man,Against,Beach,Background.,Shot,On,The

Researchers have found that for women over the age of 60, maintaining a stable weight could significantly increase their chances of living up to 90, 95, or even 100 years old. The study indicates that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/berberine-plant-derived-supplement-is-the-hot-new-weight-loss-trend/">weight loss</a> in later life could perhaps even work against the goal of exceptional longevity.



However, the experts emphasized that women should still follow medical advice when weight loss is recommended to enhance their health or quality of life.



<h2 id="h-exceptional-longevity">Exceptional longevity&nbsp;</h2>



Exceptional longevity refers to the phenomenon of living significantly longer than the average lifespan of a given population. This is often observed in certain individuals who live to be 100 years old or more, known as centenarians.&nbsp;



Genetic factors, lifestyle choices such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking, as well as a positive mental attitude, are all thought to contribute to achieving exceptional longevity.



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The research was focused on data from more than 54,000 women over the age of 60 who participated in the Women's Health Initiative, a prospective study investigating causes of chronic diseases among postmenopausal women.



The researchers compared women who kept their weight broadly stable over three years to those who lost at least 5 percent.



During the follow-up period, over 30,000 women, or 56% of the participants, survived to the age of 90 or beyond.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-conclusion-about-exceptional-longevity">Conclusion about exceptional longevity</h2>



The comprehensive study revealed that older women with a more stable weight were 1.2 to 2 times more likely to achieve exceptional longevity compared to those who lost 5 percent or more of their weight.&nbsp;



The researchers found that women who lost weight were 38 percent less likely to reach the age of 100, 33 percent less likely to make it to the age of 90, and 35 percent less likely to reach the age of 95.



When the experts looked at separate groups, the results were similar among women who were overweight, obese, or had a normal weight.



<h2 id="h-weight-loss">Weight loss</h2>



The study also revealed that women who unintentionally lost weight were 51 percent less likely to survive until the age of 90.&nbsp;



Among this group of women, who lost weight without trying, about a third said it was due to illness, 23 percent blamed stress, and almost 29 percent had a poor appetite.



<h2 id="h-weight-gain">Weight gain</h2>



Furthermore, the results showed that gaining 5 percent or more weight, as compared to maintaining a stable weight, was also not linked with exceptional longevity.



<h2 id="h-exceptional-longevity-and-stable-weight">Exceptional longevity and stable weight</h2>



Study first author Aladdin Shadyab is an associate professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California, San Diego</a>.



"It is very common for older women in the United States to experience overweight or obesity with a body mass index range of 25 to 35. Our findings support stable weight as a goal for longevity in older women."&nbsp;



"If aging women find themselves losing weight when they are not trying to lose weight, this could be a warning sign of ill health and a predictor of decreased longevity," Shadyab said in a university news release.



Shadyab also pointed out that unintentional weight loss in aging women could be a red flag for ill health and a predictor of decreased longevity.



However, unintentional weight loss is a common occurrence in older adults and is not always related to an underlying medical cause.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-study-implications">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The study authors noted that their findings challenge the general recommendations for weight loss in older women, as it may not necessarily contribute to their longevity.&nbsp;



The study is the first of its kind to examine how weight changes among older women may affect the potential for exceptional longevity.



The research contradicts the general recommendation that older women should lose weight for better health. It sheds light on the complex relationship between weight and longevity in older women, highlighting the importance of maintaining a stable weight as a key goal.



This research, published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology">Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences</a>, received partial funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 



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Maintaining stable weight dramatically increases odds of living 100+ years

Researchers have found that for women over the age of...

Silhouette,Of,A,Big,Mighty,Oak,Against,Blue,Moon"elements,Of

On the night of August 30, 2023, the biggest and brightest full moon of the year - the "blue supermoon" - will make its glorious appearance in the night sky. The term "blue supermoon" is not just a poetic label; it captures a rare convergence of three distinct lunar phenomena.&nbsp;



As explained by Gordon Johnston from NASA's <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/">Solar System Exploration</a>, the upcoming full moon is a merger of a supermoon and a blue moon that is in alignment with the Hindu festival Rakhi Purnima.



<h2 id="h-saturn-will-dance-with-the-supermoon">Saturn will dance with the supermoon</h2>



On August 30th, as the Earth-based longitude shows the moon in perfect opposition to the Sun, it will light up the night at 9:36 PM EDT.&nbsp;



The ringed planet Saturn, a few days from its brightest stance for the year, will gracefully accompany our rare blue supermoon.&nbsp;



Observers can look for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/megastorms-on-saturn-are-larger-than-the-earth-and-last-for-hundreds-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn</a> five degrees to the upper right of the Moon as evening twilight ceases at 8:42 PM. The duo will then appear to dance, with Saturn swinging clockwise around the Moon throughout the evening, according to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>.



<h2 id="h-what-makes-this-blue-moon-super">What makes this blue moon super?</h2>



But why is this moon termed "super"? The supermoon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/august-will-host-two-supermoons-including-a-rare-blue-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phenomenon</a> refers to the moon's closeness to Earth during its full phase, making it appear more substantial and brighter.&nbsp;



Various publications have different criteria for designating a moon as "super," but both of August 2023's full moons meet these requirements.



<h2 id="h-second-full-moon-of-the-month">Second full moon of the month</h2>



Diving into the "blue" of the blue supermoon, it's not about the color. Instead, it references this being the second full moon of August.&nbsp;



This terminology can be traced back to a 1946 Sky &amp; Telescope magazine definition. Intriguingly, the more aged definition from the 1500s designated the third full moon of a four-moon season as the Blue Moon.&nbsp;



By that criteria, the blue status would belong to the full moon of August 2024. For those curious about witnessing a truly blue-tinted moon, history did record such a spectacle, which can be discovered in-depth on <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/watchtheskies/07jul_bluemoon.html">NASA's site</a>.



<h2 id="h-rakhi-purnima">Rakhi Purnima</h2>



Synced with this lunar event is Rakhi Purnima or Raksha Bandhan, a Hindu festival celebrating the unbreakable bond between siblings. The ritual involves sisters tying a rakhi (a cotton bracelet) around their brothers' wrists and receiving gifts in return. This act symbolizes the enduring bond and mutual protection between them.



For those who follow traditional solar and lunar calendars, this full moon signifies various important timings. In the Chinese calendar, it marks the middle of the seventh month, while in the Islamic calendar, it's Safar.&nbsp;



Jewish observers will note this full moon during Elul, a significant time of introspection and preparation for the forthcoming High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.



While celestial attire is recommended for full moon viewing, it's also a great time to cherish family ties, release resentments, and wish for a prosperous year ahead.



<h2 id="h-upcoming-lunar-events">Upcoming lunar events</h2>



Looking forward as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-will-soon-vanish-during-the-summer/">summer</a> transitions into fall, the periods of daylight will decrease rapidly, reaching a turning point at the autumn equinox.&nbsp;



No significant meteor showers are anticipated in this lunar cycle, but there will be other starry sights. The evening sky of August 30 will showcase Vega, a luminary of the Summer Triangle and one of the brightest in our sky, shining from a distance of 25 light-years away.



August's second full moon stands out among 2023's lunar events. It's not only the third supermoon of the year but also the closest. At a mere 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) from Earth, it trumps even the August 1 full moon by a slim margin of 115 miles.



On September 29, be on the lookout for the Harvest Moon, which will be the final supermoon of 2023.



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-harvest-moon">More about the Harvest Moon</h2>



August's Harvest Moon holds special significance in various cultures due to its association with the harvest season. Here are some pieces of folklore and traditions surrounding the Harvest Moon:



<h3 id="h-bright-nights">Bright nights</h3>



The Harvest Moon rises at roughly the same time for several nights in a row, which means that there is no prolonged darkness between sunset and moonrise.&nbsp;



This phenomenon provided farmers with extended periods of light, allowing them to work late into the evening to harvest their crops.



<h3 id="h-symbol-of-abundance">Symbol of abundance</h3>



In many cultures, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/harvest-moon-marks-the-arrival-of-autumn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvest</a> Moon is seen as a symbol of abundance, prosperity, and completion. It's a time to celebrate the bounty of the earth and to give thanks for the food that will sustain people through the winter.



<h3 id="h-festivals">Festivals</h3>



Many cultures hold festivals or celebrations during the time of the Harvest Moon. For instance, in East Asia, the Mid-Autumn Festival (or Moon Festival) is celebrated with mooncakes, lanterns, and family gatherings.



<h3 id="h-romance">Romance</h3>



The bright and large appearance of the Harvest Moon has also given it romantic connotations. In literature and popular culture, it's often depicted as a perfect backdrop for lovers, symbolizing warmth and hope.



<h3 id="h-the-unexplained">The unexplained</h3>



Full moons have often been linked in folklore to strange or unexplained behavior, both in humans and animals. Some believe that full moons can lead to more erratic behavior, though scientific evidence is limited.



<h2>More about blue moons</h2>



A "blue moon" is a term that has historical, cultural, and astronomical significance. Let me break down the various aspects of the concept:



<h3>Definition</h3>



The older definition of a blue moon is the third of four full moons in a single season. Typically, there are only three full moons in each season, but occasionally there's a fourth. When this happens, the third is termed a "blue moon."



Most people today understand the term "blue moon" to mean the second of two full moons in a calendar month with two full moons. As mentioned above, this understanding gained popularity due to an error in an article in "Sky &amp; Telescope" magazine in 1946. This definition became widespread especially after it was used in the popular radio program "StarDate" in the 1980s and then again in 1999 on the Trivial Pursuit game.



<h3>Frequency</h3>



Blue moons (by the modern definition) occur approximately once every 2.7 years. This is because the lunar month (the time it takes for the moon to cycle through all of its phases) is about 29.5 days, while most calendar months are longer.



<h3>Color</h3>



The term "blue moon" has nothing to do with the moon's actual color. However, on very rare occasions, the moon can appear blue in color, usually due to atmospheric conditions. 



For instance, if there have been volcanic eruptions or forest fires that release particles into the atmosphere, these particles can scatter red light and make the moon appear blue.



<h3>Origin</h3>



The term has been in use for hundreds of years and evolved over time. The phrase "once in a blue moon" to indicate a rare event dates back at least 400 years.



"Blue Moon" is a classic song written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. Numerous artists have covered it, making it a staple in American music.



<h3>Astronomical details</h3>



The moon's cycle from new moon to new moon, called a synodic month, is about 29.5 days. Our calendar months (except February) are longer than this, which is why it's possible to fit two full moons in one month.



<h3>Other moons</h3>



The term "blue moon" is just one of many that describe various full moon phenomena. Others include:



Harvest Moon: The full moon closest to the autumn equinox.



Supermoon: When the full moon occurs at the same time the moon is nearest Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it appear larger.



Blood Moon: Refers to the red appearance the moon takes on during a total lunar eclipse.



Remember, irrespective of the definition or the rarity, a blue moon is still just a full moon in astronomical terms, and it doesn't have any particular physical significance. It's the cultural and historical aspects that make it special.



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Tonight's rare "Blue Supermoon" will be the biggest and brightest of the year

On the night of August 30, 2023, the biggest and...

Scientists have discovered an extinct animal, which they have named Kylinxia, that has revealed important insights into how animals were evolving over 500 million years ago.



A multidisciplinary team of experts from the University of Leicester, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, the Institute of Palaeontology at Yunnan University, Chengjiang Fossil Museum, and the Natural History Museum in London, have redefined our understanding of a pivotal moment in the evolutionary timeline of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-urbanization-shape-arthropod-communities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>. 



The narrative they've unveiled reshapes the story of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kylinxia-zhangi_fossil_Yunnan-University_1big-scaled.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">class of creatures</a> that eventually gave rise to the myriad forms of arthropods we see today, from lobsters and crabs to spiders and insects.



The protagonist of this evolutionary tale is Kylinxia, an ancient animal whose fossil has been encased in rocks nearly 520 million years old. What's particularly exciting about Kylinxia is not just its antiquity, but the startling features it possessed.



Imaged with a CT scanner, revealing the soft anatomy buried deep within the rock, it bore an uncanny resemblance in size to a large shrimp. But the similarities largely end there; this creature had three eyes mounted on its head and boasted a pair of formidable limbs, presumably serving as weapons to snatch unsuspecting prey.



<h2 id="h-how-scientists-discovered-kylinxia">How scientists discovered Kylinxia</h2>



Published this week in the esteemed journal, <a href="http://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>, this discovery is a testament to the rich tapestry of life in a bygone era. Around half a billion years ago, our planet's oceans teemed with a burgeoning community of marine creatures.



The Chengjiang region in southern China stands as a veritable treasure trove for these fossilized relics. It hosts over 250 species of immaculately preserved organisms from the Cambrian Chengjiang biota. This find from Yunnan Province enriches the ever-evolving understanding of arthropod evolution.



While arthropods - creatures with segmented bodies and jointed limbs - are not strangers to the fossil record, much of our knowledge stems from specimens like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-trilobites-adapted-to-survive-300-million-years-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trilobites</a> which primarily preserved their hard exoskeletons. The revelation of Kylinxia, however, goes far beyond skeletal remains. 



This <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kylinxia-zhangi_fossil_Yunnan-University_2big-scaled.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearly complete specimen</a> enabled scientists to discern the animal's head. It revealed a six-segment configuration: a frontal segment adorned with eyes, a second segment armed with large, grasping limbs, followed by four segments each flaunting a pair of jointed appendages.



<h2>Scientists are left awestruck by discovery</h2>



The primary author, Robert O’Flynn, is a PhD student from the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leicester'</a>s School of Geography, Geology and the Environment. He couldn't contain his awe, saying, “The preservation of the fossil animal is amazing. After CT-scanning we can digitally turn it around and literally stare into the face of something that was alive over 500 million years ago. As we spun the animal around, we could see that its head possesses six segments, just as in many living arthropods.”



Reflecting on the significance of Kylinxia, Professor Mark Williams, Robert’s primary supervisor, shared, “Kylinxia, and the Chengjiang biota whence it came, are instrumental to building our understanding of early euarthropod evolution. I like to think that similar discoveries will continue to be made by Robert.”



While examining the micro-CT data, Professor Yu Liu from the Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology revealed, “Robert and I were hoping to refine and correct previous interpretations of head structures in this genus, Kylinxia. Amazingly, we found that its head is composed of six segments, similar to insects.”



Adding to this Dr Greg Edgecombe from the Natural History Museum remarked, “Most of our theories on how the head of arthropods evolved were based on these early-branching species having fewer segments than living species. The discovery of two previously undetected pairs of legs in Kylinxia suggests that living arthropods inherited a six-segmented head from an ancestor at least 518 million years ago.”



In decoding the mysteries of Kylinxia, science has once again shown that the past holds the key to understanding the intricate web of life that surrounds us today.



<h2>More about arthropods</h2>



Arthropods, a vast group of invertebrates, dominate the animal kingdom with over a million described species. They possess jointed limbs, a segmented body, and an exoskeleton made of chitin.



Insects, like bees and butterflies, represent the largest arthropod class. They generally have three body parts -- head, thorax, and abdomen -- and primarily inhabit terrestrial environments. Butterflies, with their vividly colored wings, undergo metamorphosis, transforming from larvae to adults.



Arachnids, another class, include spiders, scorpions, and mites. They have two main body parts and eight legs. Spiders, known predators, trap prey using intricate webs.



Crustaceans encompass crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Found mainly in aquatic habitats, they boast hard exoskeletons that they must shed to grow -- a process called molting.



Myriapods include centipedes and millipedes. They reside on land and possess numerous legs, with centipedes being carnivorous and millipedes mainly herbivorous.



Arthropods play vital ecological roles. Bees, for instance, pollinate plants, ensuring fruit and seed production. Meanwhile, spiders help control insect populations. In summary, arthropods, with their diversity and adaptability, remain a pivotal group in the animal kingdom, influencing ecosystems worldwide.



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Three-eyed extinct creature named Kylinxia reveals details of early animal evolution

Scientists have discovered an extinct animal, which they have named...

Prescriptions for fruits and vegetables can lead to better heart health and food security, according to a new study published by the American Heart Association in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.122.009520">Circulation</a>.



Patients receive electronic cards or vouchers to access free or discounted produce at retail grocery or farmers' markets.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-improved-health-and-well-being">Improved health and well-being&nbsp;</h2>



People with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease who participated in produce prescription programs increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables, resulting in improved body mass index (BMI), blood sugar, and blood pressure levels, as well as a decrease in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seed-systems-will-play-a-key-role-in-future-food-security/">food insecurity</a>.



Dr. Kurt Hager, lead author of the study and an instructor at UMass Chan Medical School, explained that produce prescription programs allow doctors to prescribe fruits and vegetables alongside medications.&nbsp;



"We know that food insecurity impacts health through several important pathways, including overall dietary quality, but also through stress and anxiety, mental health, and tradeoffs between paying for food and other basic needs such as housing costs, utilities, and medications,” said Dr. Hager.&nbsp;



“These results indicate produce prescriptions may lay an important foundation for improved health and well-being.”



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The study involved participants receiving a median of $63 per month to purchase produce at local stores and farmers markets and attending nutrition classes.&nbsp;



Data was collected via questionnaires about fruit and vegetable consumption, food insecurity, and health status, and routine testing of blood pressure, weight, height, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at the start and end of the program.&nbsp;



The study did not include a control group, comparing outcomes among participants before and after program participation instead.



<h2 id="h-key-findings">Key findings</h2>



According to the results, adults reported an increase in their intake of fruits and vegetables by nearly one cup per day (0.85 cups per day), while children's intake increased by about a quarter of a cup per day (0.26 cups per day).



Systolic blood pressure decreased by more than 8 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure decreased nearly 5 mm Hg among adults with high blood pressure at the start of the study.



Blood sugar, as measured by HbA1C levels, decreased by 0.29 to 0.58 percentage points among adults with diabetes. BMI improved significantly among adults with obesity, although children's BMI did not change.



The results also showed that adults were 62% more likely, and children more than twice as likely, to report better health status by program completion.



Participants were one-third less likely to report food insecurity after completing the programs compared to beforehand.



<h2 id="h-nutrition-insecurity">Nutrition insecurity&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Mitchell Elkind, chief clinical science officer of the American Heart Association and a tenured professor of neurology and epidemiology at Columbia University, noted that poor nutrition and nutrition insecurity are major drivers of chronic disease globally.&nbsp;



“This analysis of produce prescription programs illustrates the potential of subsidized produce prescriptions to increase consumption of nutritious fruits and vegetables, reduce food insecurity, and, hopefully, improve subjective and objective health measures," said Dr. Elkind.&nbsp;



He also highlighted the need for future research to include randomized controlled trials to offset any potential bias and more rigorously prove the benefits of produce prescription programs.



<h2 id="h-food-is-medicine-initiative">Food is Medicine Initiative</h2>



The <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/professional/food-is-medicine-initiative">Food is Medicine Initiative</a>, announced in September 2022 by the American Heart Association and The Rockefeller Foundation at a White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, aims to ensure patients receive medical prescriptions for healthy food to help prevent and manage chronic diseases.&nbsp;



A 2022 American Heart Association Policy Statement noted that poor nutrition plays a significant role in serious long-term illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.&nbsp;



In 2019 alone, poor nutrition contributed to nearly 8 million deaths. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of equitable and stable availability, access, and affordability to foods and beverages that promote well-being and prevent and treat disease.



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Prescriptions for fruits and vegetables linked to better heart health

Prescriptions for fruits and vegetables can lead to better heart...

Redwood,Path/,A,Forest,Path,In,The,Iconic,Redwoods,Of

In remote forest areas of California, air pollution is on the rise, and new research indicates that wildfire and soil emissions are the culprits behind the increasing levels of nitrogen dioxide. This revelation was recently published in a paper in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acec5f">Environmental Research Letters</a>.



Nitrogen dioxide, while short-lived in the atmosphere, is crucial in the formation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-particles-erode-the-ozone-layer/">ozone</a> and particulate matter pollutants, which are known to cause respiratory problems and asthma in humans, as well as damage plants and crop yields.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-elevated-nitrogen-dioxide-levels">Elevated nitrogen dioxide levels&nbsp;</h2>



By analyzing summertime surface and satellite concentrations of nitrogen dioxide from 2009 to 2020, the researchers found that levels decreased by 2-4.5 percent per year in urban areas across California.&nbsp;



However, in rural areas, the concentrations remained relatively constant, and in remote forests, there was a worrying increase of approximately 4.2 percent per year.



“Forested areas show a steady, rapid rate of increase in summer. The trend is alarming," study senior author Professor Ian Faloona of <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">UC Davis</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-studying-remote-forests">Studying remote forests</h2>



To conduct the study, scientists used surface nitrogen dioxide levels collected by the state and NASA's Aura satellite. They then categorized areas of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere by surface temperature and soil moisture levels. 



The team also utilized a California database of fire incidents to classify lands into one of five categories: urban, forests, croplands, scrublands, and barren (little vegetation).



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



While controls on internal combustion engines and other fossil fuel emitters have successfully reduced nitrogen dioxide levels in urban areas, continuous satellite data revealed that this positive effect is not replicated in rural and remote forest areas.&nbsp;



In these regions, wildfires and emissions from soils, especially agricultural soils with fertilizer use, are correlated with an increase in nitrogen dioxide levels.&nbsp;



“Soils, and wildfires in particular, are really going to become steerers of the ship of our air pollution. We have to put a lot of effort into curtailing the effects of wildfires and understanding better our emissions from agricultural soils," said Professor Faloona.



<h2 id="h-what-the-future-holds-for-remote-forests">What the future holds for remote forests</h2>



The study suggests that areas with high fertilizer use can be sources of nitrogen dioxide emissions as microbes compete with crops for nitrogen. This process generates gaseous nitrogen compounds. 



“Our results point to opportunities for different sets of policies and technologies to assist in reducing nitrogen dioxide concentrations in rural and economically disadvantaged areas of California, but will require a concerted effort to better understand the exact environmental dependence of soil and wildfire emissions," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



This research highlights the importance of addressing non-traditional sources of pollution, such as wildfires and agricultural soils, as regulators seek to further decrease pollutants.&nbsp;



As fossil fuel emissions continue to decrease due to current emission management actions, it is imperative to address and understand other historically overshadowed sources to ensure comprehensive air quality policy in the future.



The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's <a href="https://www.nifa.usda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institute of Food and Agriculture</a>.



<h2>More about soil emissions</h2>



When discussions about climate change arise, topics such as deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, and industrial emissions often dominate the conversation. However, a critical yet lesser-discussed component of the carbon cycle lies right beneath our feet: soil emissions.



<h3>What are soil emissions?</h3>



Soil emissions refer to the release of gases from the soil into the atmosphere. These gases primarily include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). All of these are greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to the greenhouse effect and subsequent global warming.



<h3>The science behind soil emissions</h3>



Soils are teeming with life. They are home to a plethora of microorganisms, plants, and animals. When these organisms respire, decompose, or excrete waste, they release carbon in the form of CO2. This natural process is vital for nutrient cycling and soil health.



However, in anaerobic or oxygen-deprived environments like wetlands or waterlogged agricultural fields, methane, a GHG much more potent than CO2, is produced. Another significant gas, nitrous oxide, is emitted from soils due to microbial processes that transform nitrogen available in the soil.



<h3>Human activities amplifying emissions</h3>



Human interventions have exacerbated the rate of these soil emissions. Here are some examples.



Agricultural Practices: The excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers in agriculture can increase nitrous oxide emissions. Similarly, flooded fields, as seen in rice paddies, can become hotspots for methane emissions.



Deforestation: Trees and plants capture and store carbon. When they are removed, not only is this carbon storage capacity lost, but the disturbed soil also emits the stored carbon back into the atmosphere.



Drainage of Wetlands: Wetlands naturally emit methane. However, when they are drained for agriculture or development, the exposed organic matter rapidly decomposes, releasing large amounts of CO2.



<h3>The climate implications</h3>



While soil emissions are natural, the amplified release due to human activities is a concern. Collectively, soils release more CO2 than all human activities combined, making them a significant carbon sink. Any alteration to this balance could have cascading effects on global climate patterns.



Methane, despite being emitted in smaller quantities than CO2, is over 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide, on the other hand, is 300 times more potent as a GHG than CO2 and also plays a role in the depletion of the ozone layer.



<h3>Towards sustainable soil management</h3>



Addressing the challenge of increased soil emissions requires a multi-faceted approach.



Regenerative Agriculture: This includes practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, which improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.



Afforestation: Planting trees and restoring natural habitats can capture atmospheric CO2 and enhance soil carbon storage.



Wetland Preservation: Protecting wetlands can prevent the large-scale release of GHGs while preserving biodiversity.



In summary, while soil emissions are a natural part of the Earth's carbon cycle, human interventions have disturbed this delicate balance. As efforts to combat climate change intensify, understanding and mitigating enhanced soil emissions will be crucial.



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Fires and soil emissions are elevating air pollution in remote forests

In remote forest areas of California, air pollution is on...

Recent data from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC) reveals a surprising statistic: nearly 99% of reported "Covid deaths" each week are not primarily caused by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-unleashing-ancient-zombie-viruses/">virus</a>.&nbsp;



This finding, based on the CDC's Covid dashboard, indicates that only 1.7% of the 324 Covid deaths registered in the week ending August 19 had the coronavirus as the primary cause of death.



<h2 id="h-secondary-causes">Secondary causes&nbsp;</h2>



This means that only a handful of American lives are being lost directly to the virus each week, a stark contrast to the pandemic's peak in 2021 when the virus accounted for one in three "Covid deaths."



The primary or underlying cause of death is the disease, situation, or event that initiated the chain of events directly resulting in death.&nbsp;



Complications arising from the primary cause are usually considered secondary causes when doctors register a death certificate.&nbsp;



For instance, Covid could be listed as a secondary cause of death when the virus puts too much stress on a person with a pre-existing heart condition. In this case, the primary cause of death would be heart disease, with Covid listed as a contributing cause.



<h2 id="h-drastic-decline-in-covid-deaths">Drastic decline in Covid deaths</h2>



Despite a slight increase from the previous week and a five-week upward trend, the percentage of Covid deaths for the week ending August 19 represents a drastic decline from the peak of the pandemic when 30% of deaths listed Covid as the primary cause.&nbsp;



Although the CDC has not reported the primary cause of death in cases where Covid was a secondary factor, separate data from the agency shows that, thus far in August, the largest cause of death in the US has been cancer, followed by heart diseases.



<h2 id="h-death-rates-per-state">Death rates per state</h2>



Furthermore, the data reveals that some states, including Washington, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, and New York, have higher rates of deaths due to Covid, with Maryland and Florida having the highest at 3.4%.&nbsp;



Other states, like Washington, Tennessee, North Carolina, and New York, hover around 2%, while more than two dozen states experienced just one to nine deaths due to Covid in the week ending on August 19. The death rate is slightly higher among women than men, and highest in people 75 years and older.



<h2 id="h-new-variants-on-the-rise">New variants on the rise</h2>



This new Covid data comes as a relief at a time when panic is rising across the US due to the circulation of highly transmissible new Covid variants, leading to more infections and hospitalizations and causing the reimplementation of some Covid mandates.&nbsp;



Recently detected variants EG.5, or Eris, and BA.8.26, or Pirola, have been found in several countries and the US. These variants, highly mutated, are thought to be better at avoiding vaccine and natural immunity, causing more infections.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-infections-have-reportedly-doubled">Infections have reportedly doubled&nbsp;</h2>



Infections have reportedly doubled across the US amid the emergence of these variants, and hospital admissions among people with the virus have risen for the fifth week in a row.&nbsp;



However, they still remain at near-historic lows, and crucially, Covid deaths are not rising quickly.



<h2 id="h-mask-mandates">Mask mandates&nbsp;</h2>



This uptick in Covid cases led Hollywood movie studio Lionsgate to reinforce mask mandates at its Santa Monica, California offices last week. However, just several days later, the studio reversed its decision.&nbsp;



Similarly, Rutgers University in New Jersey and Morris Brown College in Georgia announced that face masks would be required for staff and students. Kaiser Permanente hospital in Santa Rosa, California, and Upstate Community Hospital in Syracuse, New York, also reinstated mask mandates for doctors, nurses, patients, and visitors.



In Kentucky, the Lee County School District canceled classes less than two weeks after opening because nearly one-fifth of its students were out sick with a "tripledemic" illness, including Covid, strep throat, and the flu.



<h2 id="h-covid-vaccines">Covid vaccines</h2>



As the situation evolves, President Biden indicated that his administration would "likely" recommend Americans receive another Covid booster vaccine in the coming weeks.&nbsp;



Biden signed a proposal on Friday asking Congress for more funding to update Covid vaccines to better protect against the new variants.&nbsp;



However, there seems to be little interest among Americans to receive boosters, with only 18% of eligible Americans having received any version of a booster.



While the rise of new variants and the reimplementation of some Covid mandates have caused a surge in panic, the CDC data shows a drastic decline in the percentage of deaths primarily caused by Covid since the peak of the pandemic.&nbsp;



As the situation continues to unfold, it is crucial to stay informed, follow the guidelines provided by health officials, and consider the broader context when interpreting new data.



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Only a small fraction of "Covid deaths" directly attributed to the actual virus

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Green,Leaves,In,Front,Of,Blue,Sky.,Background

Magnesium, a critical mineral element, plays a pivotal role in both human and plant physiology. For humans, magnesium deficiency can manifest as muscle cramps, given its role in the activity of over 300 enzymes vital for functions ranging from protein synthesis to blood sugar regulation. However, the element's intricate journey within plants, especially concerning its uptake and transport, remains veiled in mystery.



In a significant discovery, an international research team led by Professor Cornelia Spetea from the <a href="https://www.gu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Gothenburg</a> sheds light on the significance of magnesium transport in plants, especially its impact on photosynthesis and chloroplast health. 



This research, documented in the esteemed journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1221436/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Plant Science</a>, is poised to reshape our understanding of plant metabolism and crop yield enhancement.



<h2 id="h-plants-magnesium-and-photosynthesis">Plants, magnesium and photosynthesis</h2>



Delving into the core of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>, we find magnesium playing a lead role. This mineral is not only integrated into the very green pigment, chlorophyll, but also actively participates in the structuring of photosynthetic membranes. 



It's remarkable to note that a substantial 15-35% of a plant's total magnesium is reserved within its chloroplasts. This signifies the ion's paramount importance in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-photosynthesis-machines-invented-to-create-oxygen-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>.



The riddle, though, has been: how does magnesium travel within a plant? It's an enigma that has larger implications. Comprehending the movement of essential nutrients from soil to their active sites in plants, like the chloroplast, is key to optimizing plant health and growth.



<h2>How the study was conducted</h2>



The research team's exploration centered on the mechanism of how magnesium finds its way into the plant's chloroplast. They investigated three proteins – MGR8, MGR9, and MGT10 – previously identified in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. 



All these proteins, positioned at the chloroplast envelope, facilitate the transport of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/slimming-down-on-a-western-diet-incredible-new-drug-could-make-it-happen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnesium</a> across the membrane. Each has its distinct role in optimizing photosynthetic processes. Additionally, a newfound protein from the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, named MRS4, exhibited parallel functions to MGT10 in Arabidopsis.



The researchers identified the MGT10 protein as a magnesium ion channel. In contrast, MGR8 and MGR9 seem to be magnesium transporters, intriguingly requiring sodium ions for their operations. This is noteworthy as sodium, though not essentially required by plants, influences processes such as photosynthesis, especially in plants navigating saline soils.



<h2>What the research team learned</h2>



Elaborating on the findings, Professor Spetea mentioned, 'We observed an evident decrease in the photosynthetic performance of the mutant plants lacking one or two of these magnesium transport proteins, which underlines the importance of this element in plant metabolism.'



Further nuances came to light when observing mutant plants devoid of the MGT10 protein. Such plants were found to be non-viable. In the studied knock-down mutants, where this protein's expression was limited, researchers observed yellow leaf veins instead of the typical green, a clear indication of inhibited chlorophyll formation.



Delving deeper into this phenomena was Katalin Solymosi from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, who conducted the microscopic analyses. She described, 'A particular thylakoid organization was observed in the cells near the leaf veins. Within the same cell, chloroplasts with normal thylakoids co-existed with those having large-grana thylakoids and small membrane vesicles.' This observation warrants further exploration to discern the reason behind the presence of two differently organized plastid types within a single cell.



Interestingly, the yellow leaf vein discoloration is a symptom also observed in plants with certain viral infections or deficiencies of nutrients like iron. Thus, the recent findings underscore the hypothesis that symptoms akin to these might arise due to insufficient intracellular magnesium transport. The presence and optimal function of these proteins appear indispensable for both plant metabolism and by extension, global agriculture.



As the scientific community delves deeper into these revelations, the findings not only underscore the intricacies of plant physiology but also open avenues for optimizing agricultural practices worldwide.



<h2>More about magnesium</h2>



Magnesium, symbolized as "Mg" and bearing the atomic number 12, is a remarkable element with a vast array of roles in nature, industry, and human health.



<h3>Origins and properties</h3>



Situated in the alkaline earth metal category, magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in Earth's crust. Unlike many elements, it doesn't occur freely in nature, given its reactive demeanor. Instead, it's typically bound within mineral compounds, such as magnesite and dolomite.



Key properties of magnesium include its lightness, strength, and resistance to high temperatures. Interestingly, when ignited, it illuminates with a captivating bright white flame, a quality that has not gone unnoticed in various industries.



<h3>Biological relevance</h3>



At the core of photosynthesis in green plants is chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for their verdant hue. At the heart of chlorophyll? Magnesium. It plays a pivotal role in converting sunlight into energy.



But plants aren't the sole beneficiaries of magnesium's generosity. In humans, it's a co-factor in over 300 enzymatic reactions, influencing processes from energy production to DNA synthesis. The diet often satisfies our magnesium requirements, with nuts, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and legumes being particularly rich sources.



A deficiency in this essential mineral manifests in a suite of symptoms, from muscle cramps and fatigue to more severe neurological symptoms. Conversely, its excessive intake, often due to over-supplementation, can tip the scales towards toxicity.



<h3>Industrial exploits</h3>



Magnesium's unique set of properties has made it invaluable in various industries. The aerospace sector, for instance, capitalizes on its lightness and strength. Then there's its vivid luminescence when burned, which finds applications in fireworks and flares.



Furthermore, magnesium alloys, which capitalize on the metal's lightweight attribute, have found their way into everyday products from car seats to electronics. Also, given its high-temperature resistance, it's a sought-after material in producing refractories for furnaces.



<h3>Extraction and future prospects</h3>



The world's oceans are a treasure trove of magnesium, with seawater offering a vast supply. Brines are another source. The element is often extracted via the electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride.



Considering the surge in industries leaning towards lightweight materials for sustainability and efficiency, magnesium's star is set to rise even higher in the industrial panorama.



In summary, from the verdant forests facilitating our planet's lungs to the very enzymes that dictate our physiological well-being, magnesium's silent, ubiquitous presence is undeniably foundational. It's a testament to nature's intricate design, where even elemental pieces play monumental roles.



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Magnesium is an essential mineral for plant growth and health

Magnesium, a critical mineral element, plays a pivotal role in...

<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a> has unveiled the initial data maps from its groundbreaking instrument, the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), which was sent to space earlier this year and is now actively transmitting crucial information regarding air quality over North America.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-biden-s-climate-agenda">Biden's climate agenda&nbsp;</h2>



This development is highly significant, as it aligns with the belief of President Biden and Vice President Harris that everyone is entitled to breathe clean air.&nbsp;



The data derived from the TEMPO mission will be instrumental in assisting decision makers throughout the nation in realizing this objective and in furthering the Biden Administration’s ambitious climate agenda, which is regarded as the most comprehensive in history.



Positioned in orbit approximately 22,000 miles above the equator, TEMPO is a pioneering space-based device engineered to assess air quality above North America at a resolution of just a few square miles.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-long-term-benefits">Long-term benefits</h2>



NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his optimism about the long-term impact of the data collected by TEMPO: “Neighborhoods and communities across the country will benefit from TEMPO’s game-changing data for decades to come."



"This summer, millions of Americans felt firsthand the effect of smoke from forest fires on our health. NASA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to making it easier for everyday Americans and decisionmakers to access and use TEMPO data to monitor and improve the quality of the air we breathe, benefitting life here on Earth.”



<h2 id="h-improving-pollution-research">Improving pollution research&nbsp;</h2>



TEMPO's observations are expected to significantly enhance research on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-costs-electric-vehicle-tires-emit-20-more-pollution/">pollution</a> resulting from rush-hour traffic, the dispersal of smoke and ash from forest fires and volcanoes, and the ramifications of fertilizer use on agricultural land.&nbsp;



The data collected by TEMPO will enable scientists to assess the health consequences of pollutants more accurately and will facilitate the development of air pollution maps at a neighborhood level, thereby improving comprehension of disparities in air quality within a community.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-predicting-air-quality">Predicting air quality&nbsp;</h2>



The data will also be distributed to partner organizations responsible for monitoring and predicting air quality, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).



TEMPO was dispatched into space in April aboard a Maxar Intelsat 40e satellite via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It performs hourly daytime scans of the lower atmosphere across North America, spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts and from approximately Mexico City to central Canada.&nbsp;



The principal instrument is a sophisticated spectrometer capable of identifying pollution typically obscured within reflected sunlight.



This scientific mission represents a collaborative effort between NASA and the <a href="https://pweb.cfa.harvard.edu/about/about-smithsonian-astrophysical-observatory">Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory</a> (SAO) located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-first-images-released">First images released</h2>



The first set of pollution maps released by NASA reveals concentrations of nitrogen dioxide gas emanating from pollution in the vicinity of cities and major transportation routes in North America.&nbsp;



TEMPO analyzes sunlight that is reflected and scattered off the Earth's surface, clouds, and atmosphere. Atmospheric gases absorb the sunlight. This reveals the concentrations of several gases in the air, including nitrogen dioxide.



The visualizations depict six scans conducted between 11:12 a.m. and 5:27 p.m. EDT on August 2, with detailed views highlighting the southwestern U.S. from Los Angeles to Las Vegas; from central and eastern Texas to New Orleans; and the Interstate 95 corridor between New York and Washington.&nbsp;



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This data was collected during TEMPO's "first light" phase from July 31 to August 2, when mission controllers activated the spectrometer to observe the Sun and Earth and initiate a series of tests and solar calibrations.



<h2 id="h-more-about-tempo">More about TEMPO</h2>



“TEMPO is beginning to measure hourly daytime air pollution over greater North America. It measures ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, aerosols, water vapor, and several trace gases. There are already almost 50 science studies being planned that are based around this new way to collect data," said Kelly Chance, SAO senior physicist and TEMPO principal investigator.



Constructed by Ball Aerospace, the TEMPO instrument was integrated with the Maxar-built Intelsat 40e. Since its launch, teams from NASA, Ball Aerospace, and SAO have been meticulously examining and calibrating the satellite's systems and components.&nbsp;



The instrument is scheduled to commence full operations in October, conducting hourly daytime scans and becoming the first instrument to monitor pollution over North America in this manner.



<h2 id="h-revolutionary-performance">Revolutionary performance&nbsp;</h2>



Kevin Daugherty, TEMPO project manager at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, expressed his enthusiasm about the initial data received from the TEMPO instrument and its performance in space.



“We are excited to see the initial data from the TEMPO instrument and that the performance is as good as we could have imagined now that it is operating in space," said Daugherty. "We look forward to completing commissioning of the instrument and then starting science research.”



TEMPO is a component of NASA's Earth Venture Instrument program, which encompasses small, targeted scientific investigations designed to supplement NASA's larger research missions.&nbsp;



Additionally, TEMPO is part of a virtual constellation of air pollution monitors for the Northern Hemisphere, which also includes South Korea’s Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer and the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-4 satellite.



Video Credit: Kel Elkins, Trent Schindler, and Cindy Starr/NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio



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NASA's TEMPO mission will revolutionize air quality monitoring

NASA has unveiled the initial data maps from its groundbreaking...

Researchers have discovered that laughter may indeed be the best medicine for your heart, literally. The study reveals that laughter has a positive impact on heart health by inducing the expansion of heart tissue and enhancing oxygen circulation throughout the body.&nbsp;



These findings suggest that laughter therapy could be a promising intervention for addressing symptoms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-diet-may-save-your-life-six-key-foods-lower-the-risk-of-heart-disease/">heart disease</a>, particularly in individuals with coronary artery disease.



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



Coronary artery disease is a condition that results from the accumulation of plaque within the arteries that supply blood to the heart.&nbsp;



The study involved twenty-six participants, all diagnosed with coronary artery disease and with an average age of 64.&nbsp;



Over a period of three months, the participants were divided into two groups to investigate the relationship between laughter and heart health.&nbsp;



One group watched hour-long comedy programs twice a week, while the other group watched serious documentaries on topics such as politics and the Amazon rainforest.



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered">What the researchers discovered&nbsp;</h2>



Remarkably, at the end of the 12-week experiment, the group that watched comedy shows exhibited significant improvements in heart health.&nbsp;



The functional capacity of their cardiovascular system was increased by 10 percent. This conclusion was reached following a test that measured the heart's ability to pump oxygen throughout the body.&nbsp;



Moreover, this group displayed improved arterial expansion. Blood tests measuring inflammatory biomarkers showed a significant reduction in plaque-related inflammation, indicating a decreased risk of heart attack or stroke.



<h2 id="h-laughter-therapy">Laughter therapy&nbsp;</h2>



“When patients with coronary artery disease arrive at the hospital, they have a lot of inflammatory biomarkers. Inflammation is a huge part of the process of atherosclerosis, when plaque builds up in the arteries," explained study lead author Professor Marco Saffi of Brazil's Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre.



“This study found that laughter therapy is a good intervention that could help reduce that inflammation and decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke."



“Laughter therapy could be implemented in institutions and health systems like the NHS for patients at risk of heart problems."



"It does not have to be TV programs – people with heart disease could be invited to comedy evenings, or encouraged to enjoy fun evenings with friends and family. People should try to do things that make them laugh at least twice a week.”



<h2 id="h-study-implications">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



Professor Saffi suggested that laughter therapy might provide an opportunity to reduce dependence on medication. However, he emphasized that additional research is needed to validate and expand upon these findings.



This study highlights the importance of exploring alternative therapies and lifestyle changes that can contribute to improved heart health and overall well-being.&nbsp;



It serves as a reminder of the profound impact that positive emotions and laughter can have on our physical health, and encourages us to incorporate more joy and laughter into our lives.



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-benefits-of-laughter">More about the benefits of laughter&nbsp;</h2>



Laughter therapy, also known as humor therapy, is a form of therapy that uses the natural physiological process of laughter to help relieve physical or emotional stresses or discomfort.&nbsp;



It's based on the belief that laughter is a powerful and positive form of communication that has physiological benefits.



<h3 id="h-physiological-benefits">Physiological benefits</h3>



<h4 id="h-reduces-stress">Reduces stress</h4>



When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, which are natural stress relievers. It also reduces the level of stress hormones, which can help reduce anxiety and stress.



<h4 id="h-improves-cardiovascular-health">Improves cardiovascular health</h4>



&nbsp;Laughter increases blood flow and improves the function of blood vessels, which can help prevent cardiovascular problems.



<h4 id="h-boosts-immune-system">Boosts immune system</h4>



Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases the production of antibodies and activates immune cells, which helps boost your immune system.



<h4 id="h-relieves-pain">Relieves pain</h4>



Laughing releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers.



<h4 id="h-burns-calories">Burns calories</h4>



One study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn approximately 40 calories, which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.



<h4 id="h-improves-respiratory-function">Improves respiratory function</h4>



Laughter helps to clear out your lungs and increase the amount of oxygen in the blood, which can improve your respiratory function.



<h3 id="h-emotional-benefits-of-laughter">Emotional benefits of laughter</h3>



Laughter can help to improve your mood and make you feel happier. Sharing laughter with others can strengthen relationships and improve teamwork.



Furthermore, laughter boosts cognitive function and creativity. It also helps to create a positive mental state to enhance coping skills in difficult situations.



Laughter therapy is used in many hospitals and rehabilitation centers as it has been found to speed up recovery and improve mental health. It is also commonly used in senior centers as it has been shown to improve cognitive function and mental well-being.



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Laughter may be the best medicine for your heart

Researchers have discovered that laughter may indeed be the best...

The shocking weather extremes witnessed around the world in 2023 - including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-activities-are-fueling-more-extreme-heatwaves/">heatwaves</a>, wildfires, and floods - are expected to become the norm if dramatic action is not taken to mitigate the climate crisis.



A new study from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">The Ohio State University</a> has exposed a negative aspect of climate change that has been largely overlooked: an increase in child marriages.



The experts reviewed 20 studies that investigated a potential link between extreme weather and forced child marriages in low- and middle-income countries, primarily in Asia and Africa.



<h2 id="h-compelling-evidence">Compelling evidence&nbsp;</h2>



Overall, the studies provide compelling evidence of the problem, said Fiona Doherty, lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate in social work at Ohio State.



Doherty explained that the effect of extreme weather on child marriages is indirect. “What these disasters do is exacerbate existing problems of gender inequality and poverty that lead families to child marriage as a coping mechanism."



<h2 id="h-child-marriages-will-increase-with-climate-extremes">Child marriages will increase with climate extremes</h2>



The experts report that globally, one in five girls is married before the age of 18, and in lower- and middle-income countries that number jumps to 40 percent.&nbsp;



These numbers will likely grow as climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events around the world, said study co-author Professor Smitha Rao.



“The complexities surrounding child marriage and extreme weather will worsen amid climate change,” said Rao.



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The research was focused on 20 studies published between 1990 and 2022. The studies investigated how extreme weather was related to marriages involving children, mostly girls, in low- and middle-income countries.



Some of the natural disasters examined were droughts, floods, cyclones and extreme heat shocks. According to Doherty, the analysis revealed the impacts of disasters on child marriage in a variety of contexts.



For example, the results of a study focused on Bangladesh showed that in years with prolonged heat waves lasting more than 30 days, the likelihood of 11- to 14-year-old girls getting married increased by 50 percent.



<h2 id="h-economic-vulnerability">Economic vulnerability&nbsp;</h2>



“Child marriage is often seen as a coping strategy to reduce economic vulnerability and food insecurity that a family is facing because of a disaster,” Doherty said.



For example, tne study found that girls in Bangladesh were forced to marry after Cyclone Aila to reduce the economic strain on households.



The researchers noted that early marriage is also used as a means to provide additional workers for families.&nbsp;



In Kenya, young brides were sought to help with increased labor demands when a drought threatened water sources and livestock. The girls were needed to walk long distances to find food and water.



<h2 id="h-regional-customs">Regional customs</h2>



The study revealed that customs of bride price and dowry payment were some of the key contributors to the link between child marriage and extreme weather. 



In some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, the groom’s family pays the bride’s family a "bride price." In these areas, girls were more likely to be forced to marry during droughts and periods of heavy rainfall, according to the analysis.&nbsp;



By contrast, in regions like India where the bride’s family pays a "dowry" to the groom’s family, girls were less likely to get married during a drought year.



<h2 id="h-ripple-effects">Ripple effects</h2>



Beyond economics, studies showed a variety of ripple effects from weather disasters that led to more child marriages, explained Rao.



When communities were displaced by floods and other weather disasters, families often ended up in dangerous camps where young girls were targeted for sexual violence.



“Families sometimes made the choice to get their young daughters married off in these situations to protect them from harassment and sexual violence,” said Rao.



<h2 id="h-education">Education&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers found that education was a key factor that helped protect girls from being forced into marriage.&nbsp;



The analysis showed that girls who were educated were less likely to be married off early. In addition, parents who were more educated were less likely to marry off their daughters. 



While education is one way to help protect against child marriage, Doherty and Rao said more needs to be done, including laws against child marriage.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Furthermore, the experts noted that financial support for families facing economic difficulties could help prevent them from marrying off daughters.



“But we found the main driver of child marriage is gender inequality,” said Doherty. “We need to find ways to empower women and girls with education and financial control that will allow them to make their own decisions.”



<h2 id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers noted that all of the studies they analyzed were focused on low- and middle-income countries – only because they could not find any studies focused on high-income countries.



However, the experts said that weather disasters could also be increasing child marriage in high-income countries, including the United States. 



“We need more research to understand the differences and additional factors that may be affecting the link between extreme weather events and child marriage in other parts of the world, including high-income countries,” said Rao. 



Angelise Radney, a doctoral student in social work at Ohio State, was also a co-author on the study. The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00208728231186006">International Social Work</a>.



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Extreme weather increases the likelihood of forced child marriages

The shocking weather extremes witnessed around the world in 2023...

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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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" 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 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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" 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 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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" 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.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

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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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



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How the immune system responds to injury

[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Stowers...

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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

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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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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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...