Quantum entanglement is a mind-boggling phenomenon in quantum mechanics that intrigues both scientists and the public alike.



Unlike the predictable nature of classical physics, quantum mechanics thrives on unpredictability, often challenging our everyday perceptions. This is particularly evident in the behavior of entangled particles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-quantum-entanglement">Understanding quantum entanglement</h2>



In quantum mechanics, particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously, a concept known as superposition. Entanglement elevates this idea: when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-laws-thermodynamics-follow-entropy-rule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particles become entangled</a>, their states are interlinked.



A change in one particle's state instantly influences the other, regardless of distance—imagine two distant light bulbs flickering in sync across the cosmos.



Entanglement suggests that information can be shared instantaneously between particles, defying the notion that nothing travels faster than light.



This "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-spooky-action-at-a-distance-persists-between-top-quarks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spooky action at a distance</a>," as Albert Einstein famously termed it, prompts profound questions about the nature of space and time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-of-measurement">Challenges of measurement</h2>



Measurement in quantum mechanics presents unique challenges. Observing one particle in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-dance-entangled-photons-wave-functions-captured-real-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an entangled pair</a> determines the states of both, leading to critical inquiries: What constitutes a 'measurement,' and how does it influence our understanding of reality?



The complex mathematics underpinning quantum mechanics -- incorporating concepts like Hilbert spaces, wave functions, and operators -- can be intimidating, rendering entanglement less accessible to many.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fascinating-puzzle">Fascinating puzzle</h2>



Simply put, quantum entanglement is just too complicated for most people to fully understand. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-tunneling-allow-particles-break-light-speed-barrier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">It defies classical intuitions</a>, involves sophisticated mathematics, and urges us to reevaluate our understanding of reality.



That is, until now. 



Enter Professor Carl Kocher, a pioneer of the study of quantum entanglement. He is currently a member of the <a href="https://quantumfoundry.ucsb.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum Foundry</a> at University of California Santa Barbara and Professor Emeritus at <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a>.



Professor Kocher is the author of a new article in Frontiers in Quantum Science and Technology, explaining his groundbreaking 1964-67 experiments in quantum entanglement and discussing the 'paradox' of quantum entanglement.



In the following guest editorial, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carl-Kocher" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Kocher</a> helps us stretch our minds to understand this apparently paradoxical phenomenon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-quantum-entanglement-0">Understanding quantum entanglement</h2>



My new article, ‘<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/quantum-science-and-technology/articles/10.3389/frqst.2024.1451239/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum Entanglement of Optical Photons: The First Experiment, 1964-67</a>’, is intended to convey the spirit of a small research project that reaches into uncharted territory. 



The article breaks with tradition, as it offers a first-person account of the strategy and challenges for the experiment, as well as an interpretation of the final result and its significance. 



In this guest editorial, I will introduce the subject and also attempt to illuminate the question ‘What is a paradox?’



Let’s begin with the gyroscope that I bought when I was eight, from a store that sold novelties and magic tricks. The spinning disk, supported at one end of its shaft, did not fall, but moved slowly around in a horizontal plane. 



This behavior seems mysterious or paradoxical in the context of common experience that excludes gyroscopes, but makes complete sense in the context of Newtonian mechanics, which resolves the paradox by predicting precisely how gyroscopes will behave.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-quantum-theory">Evolution of quantum theory</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-new-theory-finally-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum theory</a>, conceived in the mid-1920s, has been impressively successful in accounting for the properties and interactions of atoms and molecules. 



In 1935, Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen stirred controversy with a thought experiment in which two particles of common origin move apart, noting that quantum theory predicts correlations in subsequent measurements of their spins.



The correlation may seem quite puzzling, as a measurement on one of the particles appears to influence a subsequent measurement on the other, even if the particles do not interact.



In current terminology, these correlations are an example of entanglement, and the correlation phenomenon is known as the EPR paradox.



The puzzle has become a subject for much discussion and analysis, especially because there was (and is) no known mechanism for measurements to communicate with each other.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disentangling-quantum-entanglement">Disentangling quantum entanglement</h2>



In 1964 I was intrigued by this unfamiliar effect and began to think of a way to actually perform the EPR experiment -- or at least a version of it -- for observing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-discovery-is-a-revolutionary-step-forward/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">correlation and entanglement</a>. It would be a low-energy experiment that could be set up in a small laboratory.



For the experiment outlined here, the particles of interest are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-photons-used-to-measure-earth-rotation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visible-light photons</a>, which are noninteracting, emitted by excited calcium atoms in a two-stage spontaneous emission process. The polarization states of the photons, which are related to their spins, can be measured simply, with ordinary linear polarizers. 



Photomultiplier detectors count the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-dance-entangled-photons-wave-functions-captured-real-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">individual photons</a>, #1 (green) and #2 (violet), and timing circuits enable the identification of photon pairs from the same atom. A rotatable linear polarizer is mounted in front of each detector.



In simplest terms, the experiment involves counting the rate at which photon pairs are detected, as a function of the orientation of the polarizers. A photon pair detected from the same atom is recorded as a “coincidence count.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theory-and-experiment-agree">Theory and experiment agree</h2>



Quantum theory makes the following predictions:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-photons-create-vortex-when-they-collide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Each photon</a>, taken separately, has a 50% chance of being transmitted by its polarizer, regardless of its angle of orientation. </li>



<li>If the polarizer axes are parallel, both photons from the same atom can pass through their polarizers and be counted. Coincidence counts will be observed. </li>



<li>If the polarizer axes are perpendicular, it never happens that both photons pass through their polarizers. Therefore, no coincidence counts will be observed.</li>
</ol>



Predictions #1 and #2 are not surprising, as the green and violet beams of light are unpolarized.



Prediction #3, discussed further in my article, is a quantum entanglement effect with no analog in classical (non-quantum) physics. It is especially interesting because it can be tested experimentally. I designed the experiment specifically for this purpose.



The results of the experiment, after nearly three years of effort in the laboratory, clearly demonstrate that coincidence counts are recorded if the polarizer axes are parallel, and that no coincidences are recorded if the polarizers are perpendicular. The agreement between theory and experiment is unequivocal and striking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-is-there-a-paradox">So is there a paradox?</h2>



In our brief discussion of the gyroscope, no paradox was acknowledged because Newton’s theory (classical dynamics) fully explains how a gyroscope moves. 



Furthermore, both the theory and the observed gyroscopic behavior are compatible with our life experience and intuitive ability to grasp natural processes in the classical realm.



In the entanglement case, quantum theory accounts for the observed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-photons-fascinating-behavior-in-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">correlation of the photon polarizations</a>. But even when a theory predicts experimental results, a paradox may remain if the intuition cannot reach out to connect with it.



Take another look at predictions #1 and #3 above. If we draw on our experience of life in a non-quantum world, we may notice something very strange when the polarizers are “crossed” at 90 degrees. 



If each photon has a 50% chance of transmission through its polarizer, why don’t we get coincidences 25% of the time? Instead, we observe none at all. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stretching-the-mind-to-resolve-the-paradox">Stretching the mind to resolve the paradox</h2>



At first consideration, this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/impossibility-paradox-calculating-incalculable-quantum-realm-particles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">does seem to qualify as a paradox</a>. One possible explanation could involve a missing component of quantum theory - perhaps a causal mechanism that could allow one photon, or one measurement, to communicate with the other. 



However, despite extensive research, no evidence has been found for such a mechanism.



As we do not live in an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-quantum-revolution-will-impact-all-aspects-of-society/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">overtly quantum world</a>, classical phenomena may influence our thought processes - even when we venture into the quantum realm. It may therefore remain a challenge to assimilate entanglement into the intuition.



I believe that the paradox can be at least partially resolved when further thought and experience, such as the experiment considered here, ‘stretch the mind’ to more fully embrace entanglement and other quantum phenomena.



I have come to view these aspects of nature as ‘strangely wonderful’.



The full paper and study can we read at <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/quantum-science-and-technology/articles/10.3389/frqst.2024.1451239/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Quantum Science and Technology</a>.



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Quantum entanglement: A simple way to fully grasp this 'impossible' concept

Quantum entanglement is a mind-boggling phenomenon in quantum mechanics that intrigues both scientists and the public alike. Unlike the predictable nature of classical physics, quantum mechanics thrives on unpredictability, often challenging our everyday perceptions. This is particularly evident in the behavior of entangled particles. Understanding quantum entanglement In quantum mechanics, particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously, a concept known as superposition. Entanglement elevates this idea: when particles become entangled, their states are interlinked. A change in one particle's state instantly influences the other, regardless of distance—imagine...

Screen time and content choices for young children have always sparked heated debates among parents and experts. Now, a recent study led by&nbsp;Linda Pagani, a professor at the Université de Montréal’s School of Psychoeducation, has revealed the long-term risks associated with early exposure to violent media. 



The research, conducted with nearly 2,000 children, found a strong link between violent content viewed in early childhood and antisocial behavior during adolescence. 



The study’s findings emphasize the need for increased awareness among parents and communities about the potential consequences of exposing young children to violent media.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-risks-of-violent-media">Long-term risks of violent media</h2>



While previous research has established a causal link between media violence and immediate aggressive behavior in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-classes-improve-childrens-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">young children</a>, few studies have examined its long-term impact. 



Pagani and her team set out to investigate whether early exposure to violent television content could predict antisocial behavior more than a decade later. The research was focused on middle-class children, a group that typically has the lowest risk of engaging in aggression or harmful behaviors.



“It was ideal to study this question with typically developing middle-class children because, as a population, they have the lowest chances of engaging in aggression and behavior harmful to others,” noted Pagani.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exposure-to-violent-media">Exposure to violent media</h2>



The study analyzed data from&nbsp;963 girls and 982 boys&nbsp;born between 1997 and 1998, all of whom were enrolled in the&nbsp;Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. 



Parents reported how frequently their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supportive-adults-help-protect-children-from-mental-health-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">children</a> were exposed to violent television content at ages&nbsp;3.5 and 4.5, while the children themselves provided self-reports of antisocial behavior at&nbsp;age 15. 



The study defined screen violence as media that includes physical aggression, verbal aggression, or relational aggression, all of which depict situations in which harm is intentionally caused to others.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reinforced-violence-in-media">Reinforced violence in media</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Children</a> are naturally drawn to fast-paced, stimulating content, particularly when it features engaging and appealing characters. The study noted that many of these characters, such as superheroes, often engage in violent behavior and are even rewarded for their actions. 



This reinforcement increases the likelihood that children will be repeatedly exposed to violent content, shaping their perceptions of aggression as acceptable or even beneficial. 



To ensure that their findings were as accurate as possible, the researchers accounted for various child and family factors that could have influenced the results. 



By controlling for these alternative explanations, the study aimed to establish a clear relationship between early media exposure and later behavioral outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boys-are-more-affected">Boys are more affected</h2>



One of the most significant findings of the study was that boys who watched violent television content in early childhood showed increased levels of antisocial behavior at age 15. 



The behaviors observed included&nbsp;physical aggression, such as hitting or beating another person to obtain something, and&nbsp;theft, whether for personal gain or without any clear reason. 



Other risk factors included&nbsp;threats, insults, involvement in gang fights, and even the use of weapons. These findings suggest that the influence of violent media during early childhood can persist well into adolescence, shaping behavioral patterns that may lead to serious consequences.



Interestingly, the study did not find the same effects for girls. This was not entirely surprising, as research has consistently shown that boys are more frequently exposed to violent content than girls. While girls may watch some violent media, they are generally less engaged with content that glorifies aggression.



The absence of long-term effects in girls reinforces the idea that the impact of media violence is not universal but rather influenced by factors such as exposure levels and gender differences in media consumption habits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-public-health-action">Need for public health action</h2>



Pagani emphasized the importance of raising awareness among parents and communities about the risks of early media violence exposure. 



”Our study provides compelling evidence that early childhood exposure to media violence can have serious, long-lasting consequences, particularly for boys. This underscores the urgent need for public health initiatives that target campaigns to inform parents and communities about the long-term risks and empower them to make informed choices about young children's screen content exposure,” Pagani stated.



The research team, which included experts from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umontreal.ca/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Université de Montréal</a>, the United States, and Italy, concluded that parents and communities play a crucial role in mitigating the potential risks associated with violent media. 



By carefully selecting age-appropriate content and limiting exposure to violence, caregivers can help protect children from developing aggressive tendencies that may persist into adolescence and beyond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-mental-health-in-teens">Protecting mental health in teens</h2>



This study adds to the growing body of evidence that early exposure to media violence has long-term consequences, particularly for boys. 



While parents may not always be able to control every aspect of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-spaces-near-homes-reduce-emotional-problems-in-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">child</a>’s media consumption, they have the power to make informed choices that promote healthier development. 



Encouraging children to engage with non-violent, educational, and prosocial content can help promote empathy, problem-solving skills, and positive social interactions.



As media consumption continues to rise among young children, understanding its potential impact on future behavior is more important than ever. By taking proactive measures, parents and communities can work together to create a safer and healthier media environment for future generations.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/1/129" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health</a>. 



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Early exposure to violent media increases aggression in teens

Screen time and content choices for young children have always...

In a world where food security remains a pressing challenge, scientists continue to seek innovative ways to enhance crop production. A recent study from the University of Tasmania has uncovered a crucial role for auxin, a tiny but powerful plant hormone, in determining how plants store energy. 



The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveal that auxin is not just a growth regulator - it plays a pivotal role in starch production.



This discovery has profound implications for global agriculture, offering new possibilities for increasing the starch content of staple crops such as rice, maize, and peas. If harnessed effectively, auxin could help improve food availability for billions of people worldwide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-auxin-not-just-a-growth-hormone">Auxin: Not just a growth hormone</h2>



For decades, auxin has been recognized as a master regulator of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-seeds-go-dormant-to-avoid-harsh-conditions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant development</a>. It influences various growth processes, from cell elongation to root formation. 



However, the new research from the <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tasmania</a> has shown that auxin also plays a critical role in energy storage, particularly in the form of starch accumulation within seeds.



"It turns out this tiny molecule holds the key to how plants store energy, particularly in the form of starch," said study co-author Professor John Ross.



This discovery challenges the long-held view that auxin is primarily involved in plant growth. Instead, the findings indicate that auxin acts as a central orchestrator of starch formation in crops. Without auxin, seeds cannot efficiently stockpile starch, a component that makes up 60-80% of rice grains.



Given that rice is a staple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-food-day-fighting-global-hunger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> for more than half of the world’s population, understanding how auxin regulates starch production could have major consequences for food security.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mechanisms-behind-starch-accumulation">Mechanisms behind starch accumulation</h2>



The study integrates a wide range of research, including the team’s own experiments, to establish how auxin drives starch accumulation in seeds. The researchers found that auxin operates through three interconnected mechanisms. 



First, it stimulates the activity of starch-producing genes, ensuring that plants can efficiently synthesize starch at the genetic level. 



Second, auxin plays a crucial role in energy generation within seeds, providing the necessary fuel for starch biosynthesis. 



Finally, the hormone ensures that sugar is transported efficiently into developing seeds, ensuring a steady supply of raw materials for starch formation.



These findings present a more comprehensive picture of how auxin functions beyond its well-documented role in plant growth. 



The research team developed a hypothetical model that integrates these three mechanisms, providing a framework for future studies into how auxin promotes starch accumulation across different plant systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transforming-food-security-with-auxin">Transforming food security with auxin</h2>



As the global population continues to rise, the demand for staple crops such as rice and maize is expected to increase significantly. 



The findings of this study open up exciting possibilities for enhancing crop yields naturally. By fine-tuning auxin pathways, scientists could potentially supercharge starch production in key crops, making them more productive and resilient to environmental stresses.



Professor Ross described the discovery as a major breakthrough with the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in agriculture today. "Understanding auxin's role could be a game-changer, especially for crops that billions rely on," he said.



Rather than introducing genetically modified traits or synthetic chemicals, researchers could leverage auxin, a hormone that plants already produce, to enhance carbohydrate accumulation in crops. 



This approach offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to increase food production without compromising plant health.



Dr. Erin McAdam, another co-author of the study, emphasized the enormous potential of this research in tackling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-diet-shifts-the-hidden-costs-of-what-we-eat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> security challenges.



"Our work shows how a hormone plants already make can be harnessed to naturally boost carbohydrates in seed crops. There is huge scope for fundamental and applied research in this area, work that is critical if we want to feed billions of people," she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-frontier-in-crop-science">A new frontier in crop science</h2>



While these findings offer exciting possibilities, scientists caution that further research is needed to fully understand auxin’s role in starch synthesis. 



The study lays a strong foundation for future exploration, but unlocking the full potential of auxin-based crop enhancement will require additional studies across different plant species and growing conditions.



The implications of this research extend beyond rice and maize. Other staple crops, including wheat, barley, and legumes, could also benefit from a better understanding of auxin’s impact on starch production. 



If researchers can develop targeted methods to enhance auxin’s activity in seeds, it may be possible to create crops that not only yield more but also provide greater nutritional value.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-path-toward-global-food-security">Path toward global food security</h2>



The discovery that auxin plays a key role in starch accumulation marks an important step forward in agricultural science. 



With global food security under increasing pressure due to climate change, population growth, and limited arable land, innovative solutions are needed to ensure a stable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-are-in-a-race-against-time-to-save-our-food-supply-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food supply</a>. 



Auxin-based approaches offer a promising, natural way to enhance crop productivity without relying on genetic modification or chemical interventions.



By continuing to investigate auxin’s functions, scientists may unlock new strategies to optimize plant growth and energy storage, paving the way for more resilient and abundant food crops. 



The road ahead is filled with possibilities, and while more research is needed, the potential benefits of harnessing auxin are too significant to ignore. If successful, this tiny molecule could play a massive role in shaping the future of food security worldwide.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55756-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.&nbsp;



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Tiny molecule could shape the future of food security

In a world where food security remains a pressing challenge,...

Timekeeping has always been fundamental to human civilization. From ancient sundials to mechanical clocks and modern atomic optical timekeepers, each innovation has brought greater precision.



Now, a revolutionary breakthrough in atomic clocks is set to redefine how we measure time. The next generation of optical clocks uses laser frequencies that "tick" 100,000 times faster than the microwave frequencies of current cesium clocks.



This dramatic increase in frequency allows for a level of precision never before achieved. Some optical clocks already outperform cesium clocks in accuracy by a factor of 100.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optical-clocks-future-of-time-measurement">Optical clocks: Future of time measurement</h2>



As these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physicists-make-bold-claims-that-time-is-an-illusion-question-its-existence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clocks</a> continue to improve, they will soon define the worldwide standard for the second in the International System of Units (<a href="https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/si-units" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SI</a>).



However, before that happens, they must prove their reliability through repeated testing and global comparisons. 



The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (<a href="https://www.ptb.de/cms/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PTB</a>), Germany’s national metrology institute, is at the forefront of this research.



PTB scientists have developed various optical clocks, including single-ion and optical lattice clocks, that push the boundaries of precision.



A recent breakthrough at PTB demonstrated record-breaking accuracy in a new type of ion crystal clock. 



This clock could measure time and frequency 1,000 times more accurately than today’s cesium clocks. The results were published in Physical Review Letters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-optical-clocks-work">How optical clocks work</h2>



Optical atomic clocks use laser light to excite atoms. If the laser is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrophysicist-says-hes-cracked-the-equation-for-time-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tuned to the right frequency</a>, the atoms transition between quantum states. 



To ensure accuracy, these atoms must be shielded from external influences, and any remaining disturbances must be precisely measured.



Ion clocks are particularly well-suited for this purpose. Their ions are held in place by electrical fields, and isolated in a vacuum to within a few nanometers. 



Thanks to this level of control, ion clocks have achieved systematic uncertainties only beyond the 18th decimal place.



“Such a clock, if it had been ticking since the Big Bang, would have lost one second at most,” researchers noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faster-approach-with-ion-crystal-clocks">Faster approach with ion crystal clocks</h2>



Until now, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-rotation-is-shifting-toward-a-25-hour-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clocks</a> operated with a single ion, requiring long measurement periods - up to two weeks - to achieve their precision. To fully exploit their potential, they would need measurement times exceeding three years.



The newly developed optical ion crystal clock reduces this time significantly by introducing parallelization. 



Instead of a single ion, multiple ions of different types are trapped together to form a structured crystal. This approach enhances measurement efficiency and combines the strengths of different ions.



“In addition, this concept allows the strengths of different types of ions to be combined,” explained PTB physicist Jonas Keller. 



“We use indium ions, as they have favorable properties, to achieve high accuracy. For efficient cooling, ytterbium ions are added to the crystal.”



One of the biggest challenges was designing an ion trap that could provide high-accuracy conditions for a larger crystal rather than a single ion. Another hurdle was developing methods to position cooling ions precisely within the crystal.



Research group leader Tanja Mehlstäubler and her team overcame these obstacles with innovative solutions, allowing the new clock to reach accuracy close to the 18th decimal place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optical-clocks-in-global-comparisons">Optical clocks in global comparisons</h2>



To ensure that the new&nbsp;ion crystal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-timekeeping-climate-change-has-slowed-earths-rotation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clock</a>&nbsp;works as accurately as claimed, researchers at&nbsp;PTB&nbsp;compared its performance with other highly precise clocks. 



These included two&nbsp;optical clocks - a&nbsp;single-ion ytterbium clock&nbsp;and a&nbsp;strontium lattice clock - as well as a&nbsp;caesium fountain clock, which is currently used to define the SI second.



One of the most important comparisons was between the&nbsp;indium ion clock&nbsp;(part of the new ion crystal clock system) and the&nbsp;ytterbium ion clock. 



The researchers measured the frequency ratio between these two clocks with&nbsp;extreme precision. The level of uncertainty in this measurement was even lower than the&nbsp;strict threshold required for international timekeeping standards.



This achievement is a major step toward officially redefining the second. It demonstrates that the&nbsp;ion crystal clock is reliable and accurate enough&nbsp;to contribute to the future of global time measurement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-ion-clocks">Future of ion clocks</h2>



This breakthrough paves the way for a new generation of highly stable and precise optical ion clocks. The same approach can be applied to other ions, opening possibilities for advanced clock designs. 



Future innovations may include using quantum many-body states or cascaded interrogation of multiple ensembles.



Part of this research was funded by the German Research Foundation (<a href="https://www.dfg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DFG</a>) through the <a href="https://www.quantumfrontiers.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum Frontiers</a> Cluster of Excellence and the DQ-mat Collaborative Research Center.



With these advances, the future of timekeeping is more precise than ever. Optical clocks are set to redefine the way we measure time, and to push the limits of accuracy to an entirely new level.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.023201" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review Letters</a>.



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Most accurate optical atomic clock ever made will redefine the meaning of a 'second'

Timekeeping has always been fundamental to human civilization. From ancient...

Medieval Britain was a time of knights, castles, and - as new research suggests - birds of prey feasting on human leftovers.



Far from the image of noble birds of prey hunting live targets, these ancient avian species had a taste for scraps - a far more direct connection to human settlements than previously believed.



This newfound perspective challenges the romanticized view of medieval wildlife, revealing a complex relationship between humans and nature. 



It also raises intriguing questions about how urban environments may have influenced bird behavior over centuries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strong-ties-to-human-communities">Strong ties to human communities</h2>



Historical evidence shows that birds of prey like red kites, buzzards, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migrating-eagles-have-been-rerouted-by-the-war-in-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eagles</a> found near urban centers such as Oxford, Winchester, and London were dining primarily on leftovers rather than hunting small animals. 



This surprising link between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-raptors-adapt-well-to-growing-cities-but-others-are-struggling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raptors</a> and humans has been meticulously discovered by researchers delving into the dietary details of these birds.



"Historical records show medieval red kites stole food from markets and snatched morsels from people's hands," said Juliette Waterman, a leading researcher at the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk/world/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_campaign=hl_ug25&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_content=brand&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAhbi8BhDIARIsAJLOluea_deOIA9JNb89BTqyzajxTjuxig0neT_9L5Z3mpN9FLp0Pq4q6c8aAn__EALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a>.



"Some kites showed evidence of eating entirely human-sourced food - a diet very different from modern birds, which mainly hunt rabbits and small mammals."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-hunting-to-scavenging">From hunting to scavenging</h2>



The absence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-domestic-rabbits-thrive-in-the-wild/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rabbits</a> in Britain during medieval times might have been the impetus for these birds to alter their diets. 



The research team considered this possibility as it examined the bones of 11 red kites, 18 common buzzards, and three white-tailed eagles unearthed at archaeological sites around Britain.



The conclusion? These ancient birds were likely pushed towards <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/believe-it-or-not-scavengers-are-picky-eaters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scavenging</a> due to the lack of their usual prey. 



The research revealed that these medieval birds bore similar chemical signatures in their bones to the humans living nearby, implying regular visits to rubbish dumps and butchery waste sites.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timeless-adaptability-of-medieval-birds">Timeless adaptability of medieval birds</h2>



Interestingly, this propensity to feed on human waste wasn't confined to the rural outskirts. 



Red kites from populated towns like Oxford and Winchester showed the strongest signs of consuming human waste, eating more processed food than their rural relatives.



This versatile feeding behavior is still noticeable today in the urban red kites of Reading, who make the most out of food scraps and waste found in local gardens.



This newfound insight into the adaptability and dietary habits of these birds of prey provides a valuable perspective on managing the increasing raptor populations in modern urban areas. 



It also serves as a reminder that our actions and behaviors can greatly influence the wildlife living among us, and highlights the importance of fostering a positive public attitude towards these protected species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-insights-from-medieval-birds">Evolutionary insights from medieval birds</h2>



The findings on medieval birds’ scavenging habits provide valuable insights into their evolutionary flexibility.



The transition from pursuing live prey to relying on human leftovers demonstrates the resourcefulness of these birds, confirming their remarkable capacity to adapt to shifting environmental conditions.



This behavioral flexibility may have contributed to their survival and expansion across Europe during a time of significant human activity. 



Researchers believe that medieval birds, much like their modern counterparts, exhibited a keen awareness of human behavior, using their proximity to settlements to secure reliable food sources. 



Understanding these adaptations helps scientists draw parallels with present-day urban bird populations and their responses to human-driven environmental changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-modern-conservation">Lessons for modern conservation</h2>



The study of medieval birds also offers important lessons for contemporary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-can-we-save-the-regent-honeyeater-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation efforts</a>. 



As urban areas continue to expand, birds of prey increasingly rely on human-provided food sources, such as waste from households and restaurants. 



While this has allowed some species, like red kites, to thrive in urban settings, it also presents new challenges, including dependence on processed foods and potential health risks from human waste. 



Conservationists can use historical data to develop better strategies for managing bird populations in urban environments, ensuring a balance between human activities and wildlife needs. 



By promoting public awareness and responsible waste management, society can create a more sustainable coexistence with these remarkable scavengers.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0305440324002152" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Archaeological Science</a>.



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Birds of prey in medieval times survived on human scraps rather than hunting

Medieval Britain was a time of knights, castles, and -...

Human behavior may appear fluid and fast. Typing away at a keyboard or zipping through a conversation can sometimes feel like lightning in action. Yet researchers suggest that our actual rate at which our brains process information is surprisingly slow, around 10 bits every second (bits/s). 



This contrast between how much data we take in and how slowly we seem to convert it into decisions raises questions about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-is-constantly-making-predictions-about-the-world-and-your-place-in-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">workings of our brains</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-slow-pace-matters">Why this slow pace matters</h2>



We gather massive amounts of sensory input around the clock. Bright lights, crisp sounds, and subtle touches provide our brains with a continuous stream of data. 



Yet our responses look sluggish when compared to the gigabits of raw input reaching our eyes and other senses. 



Many studies suggest that, no matter whether we are playing competitive video games or trying to memorize entire decks of cards, we still clock in at roughly 10 bits/s.



These findings got special attention when <a href="https://jieyusz.github.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jieyu Zheng</a> and <a href="https://neuroscience.caltech.edu/people/markus-meister" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Markus Meister</a> from the California Institute of Technology presented new insights that add to the discussion. 



According to their work, the information throughput of a human being is about 10 bits/s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-layers-of-complexity-in-brain-processes">Layers of complexity in brain processes</h2>



Zheng and Meister point out that our retinal cells alone can transmit hundreds of millions of bits/s, yet the overall speed at which our brains process information in order to then act or think is often stuck at a fraction of that capacity.



“The stark contrast … touches on fundamental aspects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-enhances-brain-function-during-exercise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain function</a>,” they stated. They highlight scenarios like typing or speaking, where our performance hovers in the same narrow range, no matter what the activity is. 



Some say this might be a simple product of our evolutionary limits. Others note the complexity of neural pathways that might need to “sift” or condense high volumes of raw data into the choices we eventually make.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-our-best-efforts-at-top-speed">Our best efforts at top speed</h2>



Examples from sports and esports show us how we behave when the stakes are high. Expert <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wayne-Gray/publication/313666426_Tetris_as_Research_Paradigm_An_Approach_to_Studying_Complex_Cognitive_Skills.pdf">Tetris</a> players can drop and rotate blocks almost two hundred times per minute, but once we subtract predictable or repeated movements, the rate of meaningful actions aligns with that 10-bits/s mark.



The same story emerges in professional <a href="https://arxiv.org/html/2408.11764v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">StarCraft</a> matches, where a flurry of keystrokes often masks the fact that only a handful of them decide the game. Studies of blindfolded speedcubing also reveal average data processing levels in that 10 bits/s ballpark.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-processing-is-a-puzzle">Brain processing is a puzzle</h2>



Why would we need billions of neurons for such a modest output? One proposed idea is that our senses handle a ton of information in parallel, while our conscious decisions appear in a strict sequence. 



Even though the brain has huge parallel capacity, final actions (like speech or typing) occur one at a time. 



Researchers see hints of that in the early visual system. The retina does significant data reduction by filtering out certain signals. 



Later stages may pare this down further to the key bits that guide us. Some scientists refer to an “inner” brain that operates slowly but with flexibility, while an “outer” brain processes huge amounts of raw input in parallel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



This view might explain why reading, speaking, and typing share a similar bottleneck. Reading a sentence or listening to someone talk both come down to sorting through a few bits of core meaning at a time.&nbsp;



Even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/memory-isnt-only-stored-in-our-brains-other-cells-can-remember-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a> competitions, where contestants learn thousands of digits in just a few minutes, show that their actual rate of storing new material lines up with the same slow throughput. 



The difference is that these experts use clever techniques (like structured mental images) to work within these limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-brain-interfaces">Implications for brain interfaces</h2>



Some companies hope to create <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-brain-computer-interface-lets-users-game-with-their-minds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain-computer</a> devices that bypass typical input methods. A few projects explored implants that feed camera signals directly to the retina. 



Yet no approach so far beats a simple channel like speech or typing for clarity and efficiency.



If the brain’s “trickle” of information is the primary limit, those implant devices might end up matching only what we already achieve with our voice or hands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



Many open questions remain. Researchers suspect there could be hidden pockets of speed in tasks we have not fully studied, or perhaps unconscious processes that never bubble to the surface. 



Others wonder if humans, despite these limits, have simply built cultures and environments that run at a pace our brains can handle. 



The future may lie in pinpointing how certain species operate in their own niches or how humans might develop new ways to get the most from our 10 bits/s. 



For now, we seem to function just fine despite a remarkable gap between what we sense and what we choose or do.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(24)00808-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neuron</a>.



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Scientists discover the speed at which the brain processes information

Human behavior may appear fluid and fast. Typing away at...

Functional neurology is gaining attention as a new strategy to address lactose intolerance. Some people who struggle with bloating, diarrhea, and other discomfort tied to dairy consumption have begun to look beyond standard remedies.&nbsp;



Experts say this new line of treatment could be a game-changer, but many wonder if it’s too good to be true.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-functional-neurology-and-lactose-intolerance">Functional neurology and lactose intolerance </h2>



A study led by <a href="http://Specialist Consultation – Neuro ReEvolution https://www.neuroreevolution.com/services/specialist-consultation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NeuroReEvolution</a> has explored the use of functional neurology sessions for people with stubborn lactose intolerance. 



“Despite the fact that the most common treatments include dietary changes and the use of supplements, many people continue to deal with uncomfortable symptoms,” said Vicente Javier Clemente Suárez, a professor of nutrition who participated in the study.&nbsp;



Functional neurology therapy aims to improve the body’s ability to process lactose through the use of specific treatments, such as targeted exercises, and reflex adjustments that tune communication between the brain and the gut.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-causes-lactose-intolerance">What causes lactose intolerance?</h2>



Lactose intolerance is <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance/definition-facts#:~:text=Experts%20estimate%20that%20about%2068,world's%20population%20has%20lactose%20malabsorption.&amp;text=Lactose%20malabsorption%20is%20more%20common,most%20people%20have%20lactose%20malabsorption." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">common</a> across the globe. It occurs when the intestine lacks enough lactase, an enzyme that helps break down milk sugar.&nbsp;



If lactase levels drop, that sugar travels farther along the digestive tract and can trigger painful symptoms. Some individuals only experience mild discomfort, while others confront harsher reactions such as vomiting or extreme diarrhea.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-nerves-to-digestion">Linking nerves to digestion</h2>



Functional neurology merges principles of neurology with a broad view of how nerves guide the body’s response to food. 



Experts typically concentrate on the gut alone when dealing with lactose intolerance. In this newer approach, a practitioner looks for nervous system glitches that can affect how the gut handles dairy.&nbsp;



A therapy session may include gentle tests, motion-based tasks, and other methods meant to help the body regain ease around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-types-of-plant-based-milk-are-linked-to-mental-disorders-like-depression/">milk products</a>. Many practitioners believe these techniques can restore normal feedback loops, though others want longer trials to confirm lasting benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-root-causes-of-lactose-intolerance">Addressing the root causes of lactose intolerance </h2>



“Although the therapy can improve quality of life by reducing symptoms, more research is still needed to fully understand its effectiveness,” explained Professor Suárez. 



While a few participants noticed fewer bathroom runs and less bloating, lab data still spotted lingering signs of lactose malabsorption. This means that the therapy may ease the severity of symptoms but might not address the root causes of lactose problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-milk-consumption-and-genetics">Milk consumption and genetics</h2>



Historical <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05010-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">records</a> indicate that communities in Europe began using milk many millennia ago. This continued even before most adults developed the genetic ability to break down milk sugar in large amounts.&nbsp;



Though modern times have seen lactase persistence become relatively common in some regions, many people still face issues with dairy. 



Unraveling these genetic quirks may help to explain why certain groups can drink milk without concern, while others battle sharp cramps after a single glass.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-the-way-the-brain-regulates-digestion">Improving the way the brain regulates digestion</h2>



Many lactose-intolerant individuals rely on lactose-free foods or enzyme supplements. But the idea of improving the way the brain regulates digestion has drawn interest from those who keep searching for a more comfortable life.&nbsp;



“There is still much to be investigated. It is important to understand how this therapy can be effectively integrated into the treatment of lactose intolerance,” said Professor Suárez. 



The researchers noted that larger studies with wider pools of participants are needed to determine how well functional neurology works over time. 



If more proof emerges, it could blend nicely with standard dietary approaches, especially for people who can’t seem to shake their discomfort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



Some researchers say the therapy might shine most in cases where lactose intolerance hits hard. Others, including those at NeuroReEvolution, suggest combining this approach with standard care so patients can keep enjoying dairy foods. 



Archaeological findings show humanity’s love for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/raw-milk-could-carry-deadly-flu-viruses-for-days/">milk</a> is hardly new. If additional exploration confirms that improving neural function helps reduce pain, there may be cause for optimism.&nbsp;



At the moment, experts view functional neurology as a possible source of relief when dietary changes alone may not be enough.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382878258_Application_of_Functional_Neurology_Therapy_in_a_Lactose-Intolerant_Patient">Life</a>.



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Is lactose intolerance reversible? New treatment may help

Functional neurology is gaining attention as a new strategy to...

Dark comets have become a buzzworthy subject among astronomers since researchers announced the discovery of seven additional examples of these mysterious objects.



In direct observations, they seem to behave like asteroids, but accelerate in ways that make them act like comets. The newfound group doubles the tally of known dark comets to fourteen, causing excitement and questions about what might lurk behind <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-comets-hidden-near-earth-ice-giants-can-be-both-friend-and-foe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">their secretive surfaces</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-comets-don-t-fit-the-mold">Dark comets don't fit the mold</h2>



Dark comets first drew attention when a near-Earth object defied the expectations set by ordinary asteroids. In most cases, tiny effects like sunlight heating an asteroid’s surface account for small changes in its path.



However, the unexpected shift these objects displayed hinted at a different story. Scientists kept an eye on them and, in 2017, a major clue appeared in the form of 1I/2017 U1 (<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/solar-systems-first-interstellar-visitor-dazzles-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Oumuamua</a>), which looked like an asteroid but moved as if gas was pushing on it.&nbsp;



That puzzling find nudged researchers to ask whether they had encountered a new type of comet altogether.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroids-that-behave-like-comets">Asteroids that behave like comets</h2>



Not long after those early revelations, astronomers noticed a small group of objects that resembled asteroids yet behaved like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/comets-may-have-delivered-water-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comets</a>. 



<a href="https://scienceandtechnology.jpl.nasa.gov/people/d_farnocchia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Davide Farnocchia</a> of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California described one of these oddities in vivid terms. 



“When you see that kind of perturbation on a celestial object, it usually means it’s a comet, with volatile material outgassing from its surface giving it a little thrust,” said Farnocchia.



He explained that researchers tried to identify a typical comet’s tails as part of the objects, but found no visible signs. Eventually, these mysterious objects began fitting the description of so-called “dark comets.”



Darryl Seligman, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics at <a href="https://pa.msu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan State University</a> in East Lansing, took a particular interest in their unusual orbits and appearances. 



His analysis of their reflectivity revealed that they come in two distinct groups. That simple observation had larger implications for categorizing these cryptic wanderers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-puzzle-of-two-types">The puzzle of two types</h2>



New data suggest that some dark comets hang out in the outer solar system and others live closer in. The ones spinning around the outer region display orbits that are long and eccentric, similar to known <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/9p-tempel-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jupiter-family comets</a>.



These comets measure hundreds of yards or more across and have striking similarities to typical ice-rich bodies. Meanwhile, others are located between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bepicolombo-spacecraft-captures-high-definition-images-of-mercury-during-close-flyby/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mercury</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-year-on-mars-avalanches-icy-explosions-and-the-arrival-of-spring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>, and follow almost circular paths.



They tend to be much smaller (tens of yards or even less in diameter) and keep a low profile in the inner solar system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-inside-these-dark-comets">What’s inside these dark comets?</h2>



Scientists wonder about the presence of ice within these odd objects. Observations hint that hidden ices might explain their comet-like movements, but telescopes have yet to detect the kind of outgassing commonly associated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-can-comets-tell-us-about-solar-activity-and-space-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">classic comets</a>. 



This gap in the data keeps the question open: could these objects still hold pockets of volatile material, or is something else responsible for the boost to their speed?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-questions-about-origins">Big questions about origins</h2>



Researchers also ponder how dark comets formed. One theory suggests that they may have come from the same raw materials as regular comets (ice and dust) except that they lost the usual bright halo that comets develop under solar heating.&nbsp;



Another possibility is that collisions or extreme conditions triggered transformations that hid their comet-like traits from casual observation.&nbsp;



The truth is still hidden, and ongoing <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/PSJ/acb697" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> aim to shine more light on these elusive wanderers of the solar system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-for-life-s-ingredients">Clues for life’s ingredients?</h2>



“Dark comets are a new potential source for having delivered the materials to Earth that were necessary for the development of life,” said Seligman. 



Though these objects appear bland at first glance, Seligman believes they could have contributed to Earth’s building blocks. 



He and his colleagues wonder whether these disguised <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/comets-may-have-delivered-water-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comets</a> might have ferried water or organic compounds during the solar system’s early days. 



This possibility, if confirmed, would reshape how we think about the origin of essential elements that allowed life to emerge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paths-forward">Paths forward</h2>



Scientists intend to keep a close watch on dark comets. Improved imaging methods, more powerful surveys, and interplanetary missions offer ways to analyze them more precisely.&nbsp;



Some teams propose sending spacecraft to rendezvous with one in order to scoop up material for direct observation. 



Others plan to study the objects’ reflective properties from ground-based observatories, in search of subtle clues that might indicate the presence of ices. 



Each new discovery has the potential to refine, or rewrite, what astronomers know about how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-bennu-holds-secrets-of-the-solar-systems-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar system</a> has evolved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-dark-comets">What's next for dark comets?</h2>



There is no shortage of mysteries surrounding these objects. Still, the announcement of seven more examples and the identification of two distinct categories represent steps toward a deeper understanding of the boundary between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-molecules-discovered-on-an-asteroid-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asteroids</a> and comets. 



As astronomers refine their techniques and explore innovative ways to detect concealed ices, the next discovery might reveal even more unexpected members of this quiet but intriguing family.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2406424121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)</a>.



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Seven new dark comets discovered in our solar system

Dark comets have become a buzzworthy subject among astronomers since...

For stargazers everywhere, January offers a chance to look up at the night sky and marvel at four <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/january-2025-stargazing-a-parade-of-bright-planets/">bright planets</a> clustered above the horizon. Some are perched in the twilight, others shine overhead, and one rules the east in glowing fashion. In addition, eager observers will find a few more delights in store during these crisp, winter nights.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-four-planet-view">The four-planet view</h2>



Beginning in early January, Venus and Saturn appear in the southwest for the first couple of hours after sunset, while Jupiter stands proudly higher in the sky. 



Mars rises in the east, providing a sight that stretches across a wide arc. Telescopes can reveal Uranus and Neptune, but they are too faint for most people to see without help. This sight can fill even the most casual viewer with a sense of awe.



With all this activity overhead, many wonder which viewing opportunity might be the most impressive. According to <a href="https://sma.gsfc.nasa.gov/sac/2023/dr-kelly-korreck" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Kelly Korreck</a>, a solar scientist at NASA Headquarters, each cosmic visitor has its own charm, but timing and location will be key for spotting them all. 



Venus moves through the sky at a fast pace, Saturn drifts patiently, Jupiter beams in the evening, and Mars holds its own brilliance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mars-at-opposition-and-moon-connection">Mars at opposition and moon connection</h2>



Mars is currently at opposition, which means it sits directly across from the Sun, from Earth’s point of view. Around this time, Mars glows more brightly and appears slightly larger, making it a favorite for those who enjoy peering at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-missions-prepare-intense-solar-storms-coming-red-planet/">Red Planet</a> through binoculars or small telescopes.&nbsp;



On January 13th, the Moon crossed in front of Mars for observers in the continental United States and parts of eastern Canada. Viewers from different locations were able to see this spectacle at different times of the night. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-venus-and-saturn-s-close-approach">Venus and Saturn’s close approach</h2>



Those seeking a sight just after sunset can look for Venus and Saturn huddled close together on January 17th and 18th. 



They appear separated by a couple of finger-widths at arm’s length, which is striking when viewed against the backdrop of the fading sun. 



Astronomers note that these two planets are actually hundreds of millions of miles apart. Although they form a tight pairing when viewed from Earth, each planet glides along its own orbital path without ever meeting the other one in space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quadrantid-meteor-shower">Quadrantid meteor shower</h2>



For anyone drawn to shooting stars, the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/quadrantids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quadrantid</a> meteor shower peaked on January 3. Observers with dark, moonless skies often notice between 20 and 30 meteors per hour at the shower’s peak.&nbsp;



The meteors radiate from a point in the northern skies, but once the wee hours come around, any part of the sky can light up with sudden streaks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-worlds-appear-to-line-up">When worlds appear to line up</h2>



Some call these kinds of multi-planet appearances a “planet parade.” While not a technical astronomy phrase, it describes a period when several bright planets can be seen at once.&nbsp;



“While it’s true that they [planets] will appear more or less along a line across the sky, that’s what planets always do. That line is called the ecliptic, and it represents the plane of the solar system in which the planets orbit around the Sun,” said <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/whats-up-january-2025-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>. 



The planets may look close from our vantage point, but the distances between them are truly vast.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rumors-of-seven-planet-alignments">Rumors of seven-planet alignments</h2>



Word has spread about all seven classical planets lining up in late January or early February, 2025. Some sources note that Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars will appear together on the same side of the sky.&nbsp;



Scientists warn that these alignments can be tricky to see in real life. Mercury and Neptune stay low on the horizon or hidden in twilight. 



And though they could be on the same side of the Sun, they do not form a single-file queue. They sit scattered along the ecliptic. Astronomers remind us that these “perfect lines” only exist in diagrams.



For those wishing to scan the sky, get out to an area with minimal light pollution and open horizons. The southwestern sky should reveal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/january-2025-stargazing-a-parade-of-bright-planets/">Venus and Saturn</a> not too long after dark. Jupiter is often the easiest to spot near the zenith.&nbsp;



Look east to find Mars, which glows with a distinct hue and brightens as night progresses. A small telescope may help in catching Neptune or Uranus, although these two planets are faint.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bringing-it-all-together">Bringing it all together</h2>



Some years offer a handful of unusual sights spread out across the night skies. This January, stargazers have a chance to spot four bright planets in a single view, a close pass between Venus and Saturn, and even a lunar curtain crossing Mars.&nbsp;



While the Quadrantid shower has already peaked, those who caught it enjoyed a show without the glare of a bright Moon. 



The month continues with Mars holding its prime viewing spot, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-about-jupiters-clouds-not-ammonia-ice-leaves-astronomers-astonished/">Jupiter</a> gleaming high, and the dynamic duo of Venus and Saturn continuing their short-lived dance in the dusk sky.



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Four planets will align tonight during a rare celestial spectacle, here's how to see them

For stargazers everywhere, January offers a chance to look up...

Oregon’s Cascade Range is not just a scenic landscape of volcanic peaks - it also hides a massive underground aquifer filled with water.&nbsp;



Scientists from the <a href="https://www.uoregon.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oregon</a> and their collaborators have mapped this extensive water storage beneath the central Oregon Cascades and found it to be at least 81 cubic kilometers in size.&nbsp;



This discovery is significant because it reveals a water resource nearly three times the capacity of Lake Mead and more than half the volume of Lake Tahoe, reshaping our understanding of regional water supplies and volcanic processes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-water-tower-beneath-the-cascades">“Big water tower” beneath the Cascades </h2>



The newly mapped aquifer lies beneath volcanic rocks at the crest of the central Cascades, acting like a giant, continental-sized lake stored in the mountains.



“It is a continental-size lake stored in the rocks at the top of the mountains, like a big water tower,” said Leif Karlstrom, an Earth scientist at the University of Oregon and lead author of the study.



Karlstrom and his team suggest that similar large volcanic aquifers likely exist elsewhere in the Cascade Range, potentially making it one of the largest aquifer systems of its kind in the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-the-cascade-landscape">Evolution of the Cascade landscape</h2>



The discovery emerged from research originally aimed at understanding the evolution of the Cascades landscape and the movement of water through it. During this investigation, the team uncovered critical information about the sheer volume of water stored underground and how it relates to volcanic activity in the region.



“We initially set out to better understand how the Cascade landscape has evolved over time, and how water moves through it,” explained co-author Gordon Grant, a geologist with the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Forest Service</a>.&nbsp;



“But in doing so, we discovered important things that people care about: the incredible volume of water in active storage in the Cascades and also how the movement of water and the hazards posed by volcanoes are linked together.”



This research enhances our understanding of the region’s geology and water resources, particularly as climate change drives increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">droughts</a> and reduces snowpack - a primary source of recharge for the aquifer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-water-underground-nbsp">Mapping the water underground&nbsp;</h2>



To gauge the size of the aquifer, researchers tapped into historical geothermal drilling data from the 1980s and 1990s. Those earlier projects, aimed at finding geothermal energy sources, had drilled deep into the earth and recorded temperatures at various depths.&nbsp;



By analyzing these temperature records, Karlstrom’s team could infer how water moves through the volcanic rocks.



Normally, rock temperatures increase with depth, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pumping-too-much-groundwater-affects-earths-spin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">groundwater</a> flowing downward keeps deeper rocks cooler. By identifying where temperatures start to rise again in these drill holes, the team estimated how far groundwater penetrates, and thus, mapped out the aquifer’s volume.



Unlike past methods that only measured water coming out of springs or streams, this approach looked deep underground to reveal a far larger water reserve than previously thought.&nbsp;



Due to gaps in the data - since the original drill holes weren’t intended for mapping groundwater - the 81 cubic kilometer estimate is likely a lower bound, and the actual volume could be even greater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-hazards-and-future-risks">Volcanic hazards and future risks</h2>



The presence of such a large volume of water at high elevations affects not only water supply but also volcanic activity. When magma interacts with groundwater, it can lead to more explosive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-and-trees-predict-volcano-eruptions-when-viewed-from-space-satellites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanic eruptions</a>, which change landscapes and impact air quality.&nbsp;



Understanding the size and flow of this aquifer helps scientists assess potential volcanic hazards in the Cascades.



However, the aquifer’s future is uncertain. It relies on snowpack for recharge, and climate change threatens to reduce the snow that feeds it. Warmer temperatures mean less snow and more rain, which can affect how much water is absorbed and stored underground.



“It is a big, active groundwater reservoir up there right now, but its longevity and resilience to change is set by the availability of recharging waters,” Karlstrom warned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-a-precious-resource">Managing a precious resource</h2>



While discovering this vast aquifer is encouraging, it also raises important questions about sustainability. As climate change alters precipitation patterns and reduces <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-driven-climate-change-is-to-blame-for-sharp-snowpack-declines-since-1980/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">snowpack</a>, the amount of water recharging the aquifer could decline.&nbsp;



Scientists like Gordon Grant and Leif Karlstrom are now focused on understanding these dynamics to manage the resource effectively.



“This region has been handed a geological gift, but we really are only beginning to understand it,” Grant said. “If we don’t have any snow, or if we have a run of bad winters where we don’t get any rain, what’s that going to mean? Those are the key questions we’re now having to focus on.”



The discovery underscores the vital role of scientific research in uncovering hidden resources and informs strategies for water management amid a changing climate.&nbsp;



As experts continue to study this “big water tower” beneath the Cascades, they aim to ensure that it remains a reliable resource for the region while also monitoring the interactions between groundwater and volcanic activity.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2415155122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Hidden water reservoir discovered beneath the Cascade mountains

Oregon’s Cascade Range is not just a scenic landscape of...

Ants, with their structured and highly efficient social behavior, have long been a subject of fascination for researchers. These tiny creatures exhibit complex movement patterns that allow them to navigate their environments seamlessly, even when moving in large numbers. 



The ability of ants to avoid traffic congestion and move in an orderly fashion could hold the key to solving one of the biggest challenges in modern cities - urban transportation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-help-solve-traffic-problem">Ants help solve traffic problem</h2>



In an era where traffic congestion, pollution, and inefficiencies plague urban mobility, scientists are looking toward nature for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magnetic-microbots-can-replicate-the-extraordinary-abilities-of-ants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inspiration</a>. 



Two professors from the <a href="https://www.unitn.it/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Trento</a>, Marco Guerrieri and Nicola Pugno, have turned their attention to ants, studying their movement strategies to understand how they maintain smooth traffic flow. 



The research explores how these insects avoid stop-and-go traffic despite their large numbers and limited space.



"Ants are among the few species that can handle bidirectional traffic flows, much like our roads, yet they move seamlessly without congestion," Guerrieri explained.&nbsp;



This observation raises a crucial question: can we apply the same principles to human transportation?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-ants-traffic-system">Studying the ants’ traffic system</h2>



To answer this question, the researchers analyzed the movement of ants along a 30-centimeter trail - equivalent to 100 times the body length of each ant.



By using video footage and deep learning algorithms, they were able to track each ant's individual movements, and map their trajectories, speeds, flows, and densities. The findings revealed a highly organized system in which <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/desert-ants-have-a-unique-way-of-using-earths-magnetic-field-for-navigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ants</a> follow specific rules that optimize traffic efficiency.



One of the most remarkable observations was that ants follow pheromone trails marked by leader ants. They move in tightly packed platoons, maintaining small gaps and avoiding overtaking behaviors. 



"Ants follow pheromone trails marked by a leader ant, and move in platoons with small gaps and no overtaking," noted Guerrieri.



This simple yet effective strategy allows ants to maintain a steady flow without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-work-in-groups-more-successfully-than-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unnecessary disruptions</a>. Unlike humans, who frequently change lanes, overtake other vehicles, and react unpredictably, ants exhibit a cooperative form of movement that minimizes delays and prevents bottlenecks. 



If such a system could be applied to urban traffic, it could drastically improve the efficiency of transportation networks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ant-inspired-traffic-systems">Ant-inspired traffic systems</h2>



The increasing use of connected and automated Vehicles (CAVs) presents an opportunity to rethink how we manage road networks. Guerrieri suggests that, in the future, traffic systems could be inspired by ant behavior.



"In the future, traffic systems for autonomous vehicles (CAVs) could be inspired by ant behavior. Just like insects communicate through pheromones, Connected and automated vehicles (CAV) on smart roads could use advanced communication technologies to communicate with each other and with the road infrastructure management," he explained.



By integrating advanced communication systems, CAVs could exchange real-time data with one another and with smart road infrastructure. This would allow them to form coordinated platoons - much like ants do - traveling at high speeds with minimal gaps between vehicles.



These platoons could move efficiently across parallel lanes, significantly reducing traffic congestion and increasing road capacity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steady-traffic-flow-and-improved-safety">Steady traffic flow and improved safety </h2>



This approach has several potential benefits. Enhanced traffic efficiency would lead to smoother movement, which would reduce delays and travel time. 



Road safety would improve, as autonomous vehicles moving in organized platoons would lower the chances of collisions caused by sudden lane changes and erratic driving behaviors.



A steady, uninterrupted traffic flow would also lead to lower fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to a more sustainable urban environment.



The concept of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-use-chemical-trails-to-guide-their-friends-to-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ant-inspired</a> mobility aligns with broader trends in smart cities and intelligent transportation systems. As urban areas continue to expand, adopting nature-inspired strategies could be key to solving long-standing traffic challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-future-of-seamless-mobility">A future of seamless mobility</h2>



Nature has always been a source of inspiration for human innovation. From bird flight influencing aerodynamics to termite mounds inspiring sustainable architecture, biomimicry has led to significant advances across various fields.



Now, ants - some of the smallest yet most organized creatures on Earth - could hold the key to revolutionizing how we design urban traffic systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-from-ants">Learning from ants</h2>



The findings from the University of Trento suggest that, by mimicking the way ants move and communicate, we can create a new paradigm for urban transportation.



If implemented successfully, smart roads and CAVs could work together to form a highly efficient, congestion-free network that mirrors the natural movement of ants.



While fully autonomous traffic systems are still in development, the lessons learned from ants could serve as a guiding principle for future transportation policies and infrastructure planning. 



By studying how nature has already perfected traffic management, we can take a step closer to building smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities.



In the not-so-distant future, the same principles that govern the movement of ants may help humans navigate roads more efficiently, turning chaotic traffic jams into seamless flows of motion. Nature has provided the blueprint - now it’s up to us to apply it.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198225000107?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives</a>.



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Ant-inspired traffic solutions could improve urban mobility

Ants, with their structured and highly efficient social behavior, have...

Solar storms have attracted curiosity for centuries. People often admire the bright colors they cause in the sky, but they rarely suspect that these same solar events can bring widespread outages that force industries to a grinding halt.



Many experts say the risk may be rising because our world depends more and more on advanced technology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-solar-storms-start">How solar storms start</h2>



<a href="https://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SunspotCycle.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar flares</a>, which are bursts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noaa-severe-solar-storm-expected-to-reach-earth-tomorrow-october-10-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high-energy particles</a> from the Sun, cause these disruptions. When those particles reach Earth, they interact with the atmosphere in ways that sometimes produce remarkable light shows.&nbsp;



They can also feed into our power grids and satellites - which may lead to major problems. The current solar cycle is expected to reach its most intense phase through <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/nasa-noaa-sun-reaches-maximum-phase-in-11-year-solar-cycle/">2025</a>, making scientists vigilant of the storms that may unfold.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-dangers-of-solar-storms">Potential dangers of solar storms</h2>



Experts from many corners of the globe have sounded alarm bells about these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-solar-storm-warning-issued-as-two-cmes-will-hit-earth-tomorrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">events</a>. 



Dr. Kęstutis Ikamas from Vilnius University points to serious vulnerabilities in places with large power <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12507/severe-space-weather-events-understanding-societal-and-economic-impacts-a">networks</a>, such as the United States and Canada. He has studied the unpredictable nature of solar storms and sees a need for widespread protective measures.



“A strong geomagnetic storm could incapacitate vital systems such as electricity, water supply, and telecommunications, leading to extended blackouts, communication breakdowns, and logistical paralysis,” explained Dr. Ikamas, who also warned that months-long disruptions might follow in the worst scenario.&nbsp;



One event in 1859, known as the <a href="https://scijinks.gov/what-was-the-carrington-event/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carrington Event</a>, caused telegraph networks to fail across continents. That was at a time when technology was nowhere near as complex as it is today.&nbsp;



More recently, a 2022 solar disturbance caused 40 newly launched Starlink satellites to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, taking a serious toll on the mission.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-countries-face-higher-risks">Large countries face higher risks</h2>



Extended electricity lines cover thousands of miles across certain regions. That makes them sensitive to currents induced by solar storms. 



According to Dr. Ikamas, a blast of charged particles can spark voltage swings that damage transformers. When that happens on a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-and-severe-solar-storms-will-continue-through-tomorrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wide scale</a>, entire power grids are at risk of being knocked out for an unknown length of time.



Systems that protect satellites and power grids do exist, but they may not hold up against a massive solar storm. Organizations often weigh the cost of upgrading equipment against the chance of a storm happening soon.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, NOAA uses a G1 through G5 <a href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scale</a> to categorize the intensity of geomagnetic storms. The effects become more severe at each level, with the most intense storms putting everything from radio signals to entire networks in jeopardy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-concern-for-space-travelers-and-wildlife">Concern for space travelers and wildlife</h2>



Humans on Earth are not the only ones in harm’s way. Astronauts orbiting outside our planet’s magnetic shield can be exposed to harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-storm-triggered-stunning-auroras-worldwide-october-11-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">radiation</a>. That may force agencies to adjust schedules for spacewalks and other tasks.&nbsp;



Additionally, animals that rely on magnetic fields for navigation might lose their usual sense of direction during these solar storms. Some bird species and marine life have been <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2306317120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noted</a> to show unusual migration paths when solar activity spikes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-cooperation-is-key">Global cooperation is key</h2>



Dr. Ikamas believes individual action, while useful, is not enough to fight these large-scale threats. This is especially true in an era when countries are more interlinked by communication systems than ever before.&nbsp;



He suggests that technology producers, utility companies, and governments need to come together with detailed protocols that can be put into place if a sudden storm warning appears.



Some experts compare the investments required for stronger safeguards to insurance premiums. The immediate expense may seem big, but the price tag could soar into the trillions if a crisis actually hits.&nbsp;



With digital networks stretching across continents, an outage in one region can have almost immediate effects in other regions. Dr. Ikamas warns that limited spending on grid upgrades today might open the door to large-scale chaos down the road.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-major-solar-storms-are-rare">Major solar storms are rare</h2>



Even though major solar storms are rare, the chance of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noaa-warning-strong-solar-storm-headed-to-earth-auroras-expected-sept-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">powerful one</a> happening in the next few years has sparked conversations among scientists, policymakers, and power companies.&nbsp;



“If a strong storm is reported, individuals should disconnect their devices from power sources to prevent damage,” said Dr. Ikamas. He noted that bigger protection calls for considerable investments on a global scale.



Information for this article came from a <a href="https://www.riverreporter.com/stories/the-beauty-and-danger-of-solar-storms,179702">press release</a> in the River Reporter.



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Next big solar storm could plunge the world into darkness

Solar storms have attracted curiosity for centuries. People often admire...

Personal computers often struggle to handle the monumental tasks typically assigned to supercomputers. Complex simulations for crash testing or medical imaging usually demand massive processing power, which forces many researchers to rely on high-performance computing clusters. 



Yet a fresh, AI-driven approach to partial differential equations is shaking up that assumption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-problem-with-complex-simulations">Problem with complex simulations</h2>



Partial differential equations pop up everywhere in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nme.4588" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">engineering</a> and science, from modeling how a car’s body folds in a crash to predicting how a building’s foundation settles over time.&nbsp;



They’re the mathematical instructions that describe how variables such as stress or heat move through materials. 



Solving them can feel like slogging through a maze, especially when new shapes and dimensions come into play.



Each shape often requires a new simulation, which makes the entire process slow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speeding-up-equations-with-ai-and-dimon">Speeding up equations with AI and DIMON</h2>



The technology behind speeding up these massive equations was co-led by <a href="https://www.bme.jhu.edu/people/faculty/natalia-trayanova/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natalia Trayanova</a> of Johns Hopkins University (<a href="https://www.jhu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JHU</a>) after years of facing time-consuming computational processes in her research. 



The new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-can-instantly-execute-a-task-that-would-normally-take-47-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a> framework, called <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43588-024-00732-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DIMON</a> (Diffeomorphic Mapping Operator Learning), isn’t restricted by any single shape or scenario.&nbsp;



Instead, it learns how solutions behave across different geometries, allowing it to quickly predict answers to problems that once demanded days of continuous number crunching.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-dimon-and-equation-behavior">AI, DIMON, and equation behavior</h2>



DIMON sets itself apart by using AI to analyze how shape influences an equation’s behavior, then mapping that knowledge to new shapes without re-solving everything from scratch. 



It retains a kind of memory of fundamental physics.&nbsp;



“This solution will have a massive impact across engineering fields, as it’s generic, scalable, and works on problems in any domain to solve partial differential equations on multiple geometries,” said Natalia Trayanova.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-heart-health-checks">Boosting heart health checks</h2>



Scientists tested this method on over 1,000 virtual heart models, each with unique shapes that represent real patients’ hearts. 



These “digital twins” help predict whether someone is at risk of a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. 



“With this new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-quantum-computers-just-got-easier-with-new-technique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a> approach, the speed at which we can have a solution is unbelievable. The time to calculate the prediction of a heart digital twin is going to decrease from many hours to 30 seconds, and it will be done on a desktop computer rather than on a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-computers-may-be-powered-by-brain-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supercomputer</a>,” said Trayanova. 



The aim is to figure out in advance who might need lifesaving treatment.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-speed-matters">Why speed matters</h2>



Heart health research is only one example. Faster computations make it easier to plan patient treatments without a waiting period that drags on for days. 



Engineers can also explore a wider range of designs (like testing a variety of bridge shapes or drone structures) in a fraction of the time. 



In these fields, one delay can have a domino effect, leading to slower decision-making, increased costs, and missed opportunities to refine solutions.



Accelerating these processes allows researchers and engineers to iterate more quickly, unlocking innovations that might otherwise remain out of reach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dimon-s-shape-shifting-ai-advantage">DIMON’s shape-shifting AI advantage</h2>



By eliminating the repetitive process of starting from zero each time the shape changes, DIMON has the flexibility to handle tasks across different industries.&nbsp;



“For each problem, DIMON first solves the partial differential equations on a single shape and then maps the solution to multiple new shapes. This shape-shifting ability highlights its tremendous versatility,” said postdoctoral fellow and platform developer <a href="https://minglangyin.github.io/">Minglang Yin</a>.&nbsp;



Design optimization could become more affordable and <a href="https://github.com/MinglangYin/DIMON">accessible</a>, especially for smaller companies that lack supercomputing budgets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-ai-and-differential-equations">Future of AI and differential equations</h2>



Difficult computations can stall breakthroughs in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/google-record-shattering-quantum-ai-chip-accesses-parallel-universes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">engineering</a> and medicine, but the arrival of a more adaptive AI might loosen that bottleneck. 



Personal computers could soon tackle problems that only the largest clusters managed before.&nbsp;



Projects that once sat on the back burner (because solving them took too long) might now move forward at full speed. That could mean safer cars, stronger bridges, and more proactive healthcare. The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43588-024-00732-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Computational Science</a>.



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New AI framework turns any laptop into a supercomputer

Personal computers often struggle to handle the monumental tasks typically...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

[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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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