<p>A new study reports microbial DNA preserved inside woolly and steppe mammoth remains that are older than one million years. The team shows that some bacteria were living with these animals while they were alive, not just invading after death.</p>



<p>Researchers analyzed DNA from 483 specimens and sequenced 440 of them for the first time. From a steppe mammoth that lived about 1.1 million years ago, they even pieced together parts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-buried-for-millions-of-years-may-guide-search-for-alien-life/">bacterial</a> genomes that once infected or inhabited the animal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-microbes-in-mammoths">Ancient microbes in mammoths</h2>



<p>The work was led by Benjamin Guinet, a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm (<a href="https://palaeogenetics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CPG</a>). The Centre is a collaboration between Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History (<a href="https://www.nrm.se/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRM</a>).</p>



<p>"Our results push the study of microbial DNA back beyond a million years, opening up new possibilities to explore how host-associated microbes evolved in parallel with their hosts," said Guinet. </p>



<p>The project involved an international team of experts working across multiple collections and labs.</p>



<p>The researchers used strict lab protocols, computational filters, and DNA damage checks to separate life stage <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-found-alive-sealed-inside-rock-after-2-billion-years/">microbes</a> from postmortem contaminants. That approach helped them focus on organisms that were likely part of the mammoth’s own internal community.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-mammoth-dna">Inside mammoth DNA</h2>



<p>The scientists kept finding the same six types of bacteria in mammoth remains from different times and places, including close relatives of <em>Actinobacillus</em>, <em>Pasteurella</em>, <em>Streptococcus</em>, and <em>Erysipelothrix</em>. </p>



<p>This pattern suggests that these microbes had a long history with mammoths, sticking with them through environmental changes and population shifts.</p>



<p>The scientists distinguished host-associated microbes, meaning those living in or on a host while it was alive, from environmental bacteria that entered after burial. </p>



<p>They used metagenomics, a method that reads all DNA in a sample at once, then identified ancient damage patterns to authenticate the oldest material.</p>



<p>From the 1.1 million year steppe mammoth, the team reconstructed partial genomes of <em>Erysipelothrix</em> that likely came from an infection during life. This is the oldest authenticated host-associated microbial DNA ever reported, and it extends the range for studying ancient host <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-aquificales-discovered-in-hot-springs-breathe-oxygen-and-sulfur-at-same-time/">microbe</a> interactions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-ancient-microbes-matter">Why ancient microbes matter</h2>



<p>This result builds on earlier work that recovered genome scale data from mammoth teeth more than one million years old, demonstrating that DNA can survive when conditions are right. </p>



<p>The previous <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03224-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> established methods and expectations for data quality at this extreme age.</p>



<p>Ancient DNA is fragile and breaks into tiny pieces, and chemical changes accumulate over time. By tracking these signatures, scientists can tell ancient sequences from modern contamination and avoid false signals.</p>



<p>"As microbes evolve fast, obtaining reliable DNA data across more than a million years was like following a trail that kept rewriting itself," said study senior author Tom van der Valk.</p>



<p>"Our findings show that ancient remains can preserve biological insights far beyond the host genome, offering us perspectives on how microbes influenced adaptation, disease, and extinction in Pleistocene ecosystems."</p>



<p>The Pleistocene was a period from about 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago that included repeated ice ages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-linked-to-mammoth-health">Microbes linked to mammoth health</h2>



<p>One bacterium in the dataset is closely related to a <em>Pasteurella</em> species implicated in lethal outbreaks among African elephants. That connection is supported by a 2023 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37880229/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> that identified a Pasteurella relative as the likely cause of fatal septicemia in elephants in Zimbabwe.</p>



<p>The new study reports several putative <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2646308/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">virulence factors</a>, which are gene features tied to disease-causing ability, in some clades. The authors are careful about cause and effect because ancient DNA is incomplete and infections leave mixed traces.</p>



<p><em>Erysipelothrix</em> is also known to sicken Arctic wildlife today, including muskoxen during unusual mortality events. That pattern has been documented in a Canadian Veterinary <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4431149/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal</a> that found <em>Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae</em> associated with widespread deaths in the Canadian Arctic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammoth-survival-and-microbes">Mammoth survival and microbes</h2>



<p>Microbes that stayed with mammoths for hundreds of thousands of years hint at stable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breathing-without-oxygen-how-ancient-microbes-powered-early-life/">relationships</a> shaped by diet, climate, and social behavior. The persistence of these lineages across far flung regions points to deep coevolution.</p>



<p>The last woolly mammoths survived on Wrangel Island until about 4,000 years ago, long after mainland populations vanished. Genetic work on that relict group links their late survival to small population size and accumulating harmful mutations.</p>



<p>"This work opens a new chapter in understanding the biology of extinct species. Not only can we study the genomes of mammoths themselves, but we can now begin to explore the microbial communities that lived inside them," said Love Dalén, professor of evolutionary genomics at the CPG. </p>



<p>Ultimately, the data help connect health, ecology, and extinction risks in a single picture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-this-research-can-go-next">Where this research can go next</h2>



<p>Reconstructing ancient microbiomes can help set baselines for living elephant microbiomes. That matters because health, diet, and stress are all reflected in the microbiome, the community of microbes that live in and on an organism.</p>



<p>Ancient pathogen signals can also clarify whether outbreaks played a role in population declines. Learning which bacteria carried disease associated genes in the past could inform surveillance and treatment strategies for modern elephants.</p>



<p>Finally, the same tools can be applied to other Ice Age species to test whether long-lived microbial partners were the rule rather than the exception. Careful sampling, clean labs, and independent checks will keep new claims on firm ground.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)00917-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Cell</em></a>.</p>



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Million year-old mammoth microbes reveal new clues about disease

A new study reports microbial DNA preserved inside woolly and steppe mammoth remains that are older than one million years. The team shows that some bacteria were living with these animals while they were alive, not just invading after death. Researchers analyzed DNA from 483 specimens and sequenced 440 of them for the first time. From a steppe mammoth that lived about 1.1 million years ago, they even pieced together parts of bacterial genomes that once infected or inhabited the animal. Ancient microbes in mammoths The work...

<p>April marks a seasonal shift, not only on Earth but also in our skies. As flowers bloom and rains arrive, the night sky reveals its own spectacle.</p>



<p>Planets reposition themselves, a meteor shower sparks across the heavens, and a distant cluster of ancient stars invites a closer look. </p>



<p>Whether you're stepping outside for the first time with binoculars or you’ve mapped constellations for years, this month has something <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/march-2025-stargazing-a-red-moon-and-a-vanishing-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remarkable</a> in store.</p>



<p>As the days grow longer and evenings get warmer, it becomes easier to spend time outdoors. This month, the sky gives back in kind - with planetary pairings, radiant meteors, and a view into the distant halo of our galaxy.</p>



<p>April reminds us that you don’t need advanced equipment or deep knowledge to enjoy the night sky. All you need is curiosity and a clear view.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jupiter-and-mars-brighten-the-april-sky">Jupiter and Mars brighten the April sky</h2>



<p>Early April evenings start strong with Jupiter and the crescent Moon shining close together. This pairing will occur twice - on April 1st and again on the 30th. </p>



<p>Look west about half an hour after sunset. The two will remain visible for around three hours as the twilight fades into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/january-2025-stargazing-a-parade-of-bright-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">night</a>.</p>



<p>Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, reflects light steadily. Its brightness makes it easy to spot, even from cities. </p>



<p>The Moon adds a soft glow, creating a calming, luminous scene. This pairing is short-lived but very memorable.</p>



<p>As April progresses, Mars becomes a dominant feature high in the southern sky. Early in the month, it sits almost exactly between two well-known stars - Procyon and Pollux. </p>



<p>Mars does not stay still. Its steady movement through the sky makes it an interesting object to track, night by night.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moon-moves-close-to-mars-mid-april">Moon moves close to Mars mid-April</h2>



<p>On April 4th and 5th, the Moon approaches Mars closely. </p>



<p>They appear side by side, offering a striking contrast. Mars has a reddish hue while the Moon reflects a soft, white light. This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/four-planets-will-align-this-week-during-a-rare-nighttime-spectacle-heres-how-to-see-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pairing</a> may look especially beautiful through binoculars, where both can fit into the same field of view.</p>



<p>These events help build familiarity with the night sky. Noticing where planets sit compared to stars teaches how they move differently. </p>



<p>Unlike stars, which hold their place, planets shift gradually over weeks. Mars, with its distinct color, becomes easy to follow, once you spot it.</p>



<p>As the evenings grow warmer, step outside, look up, and trace Mars as it arcs across the sky. You’re watching a planet millions of kilometers away, but sharing the same sunlight that warms your own backyard.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-venus-shifts-into-the-morning-sky">Venus shifts into the morning sky </h2>



<p>In a change from previous months, Venus now rises before the Sun. It has officially moved from the evening sky to the morning. </p>



<p>At the start of April, it reflects sunlight low on the eastern horizon, just before dawn. As the month advances, it rises earlier and climbs higher each morning.</p>



<p>On April 24th and 25th, Venus will appear with Saturn and a thin crescent Moon. This early-morning gathering will take place low in the east. A clear view of the horizon will be key to catching it.</p>



<p>Mercury might join this scene too. It’s bright but difficult to spot, sitting very low near the horizon. </p>



<p>Observers in areas without buildings or trees blocking the view have a good chance of finding it. These moments reward those willing to rise early, before the day begins.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-april-s-sky-brings-lyrid-meteor-shower">April's sky brings Lyrid meteor shower</h2>



<p>Mid to late April offers another treat - the Lyrid meteor shower. This annual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-3d-map-of-the-universe-lets-us-travel-back-11-billion-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">event</a> occurs as Earth crosses a trail of dust left by Comet Thatcher. The meteors arrive from a point in the sky called the radiant, located near the constellation Lyra.</p>



<p>The peak occurs overnight on April 21st into the early morning of the 22nd. Under very dark skies, you could see up to 15 meteors per hour. </p>



<p>They begin appearing after 10:30 p.m. and continue through dawn. The best viewing time is around 5 a.m. when the radiant climbs higher.</p>



<p>A waning crescent Moon will rise at about 3:30 a.m., but since it’s only 27 percent full, it won’t outshine the meteors much. Lie back somewhere safe, face the east, and look straight up. </p>



<p>Meteors may streak in from any direction. Some Lyrids are known to leave bright trails that linger for a few seconds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meteors-and-what-they-tell-us">Meteors and what they tell us</h2>



<p>Lyrid meteors aren’t just a visual spectacle. They also offer insights into the nature of comets. </p>



<p>When tiny dust particles from space enter our atmosphere, they burn up, creating the bright flashes we see as meteors. NASA uses ground-based cameras, high-altitude aircraft, and even satellites to study them.</p>



<p>Understanding meteors helps NASA predict when showers will be active. It also supports spacecraft safety. Small particles in space can damage instruments, so knowing when Earth will pass through a dense trail is critical. </p>



<p>Beyond safety, meteor studies shed light on the composition of long-gone comets and the broader history of our solar system.</p>



<p>Each meteor we see is a brief spark from a story that is billions of years old. They may vanish in an instant, but they carry the past into our present.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-journey-to-the-distant-cluster-m3">Journey to the distant cluster M3</h2>



<p>April also gives us a chance to see a deep-sky treasure - Messier 3, or M3. This globular cluster contains around 500,000 stars packed tightly together. It sits about 34,000 light-years away, far out in the Milky Way’s halo.</p>



<p>Charles Messier, an 18th-century French astronomer, first recorded M3 in 1764. Mistaking it for a comet at first, he later added it to his list of objects that were not comets. That list became the Messier catalog, a guide now used by amateur and professional astronomers alike.</p>



<p>Through binoculars, M3 appears as a soft, round glow. A small telescope reveals a more detailed patch with a grainy texture. </p>



<p>Larger scopes begin to show individual stars near the edges. What you’re seeing are some of the oldest stars in our galaxy, many of them over 10 billion years old.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-m3-with-the-big-dipper">Finding M3 with the Big Dipper</h2>



<p>To find M3, look toward the east. Use the Big Dipper’s handle to trace a curve toward Arcturus, one of the brightest stars in the sky. Then look slightly higher and to the left to locate Cor Caroli, another bright star.</p>



<p>M3 lies about one-third of the way between Arcturus and Cor Caroli. Sweep that area slowly with binoculars or a finder scope. </p>



<p>Once you find it, you’ll spot a soft, spherical glow - the ancient star city. This object is visible even from the edge of town if the skies are dark.</p>



<p>Globular clusters like M3 differ from open clusters such as the Pleiades. They orbit far above and below the Milky Way’s plane. Our galaxy has about 150 of them, each a relic from a time when the universe was young.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moon-phases-shape-what-we-see-in-the-april-sky">Moon phases shape what we see in the April sky</h2>



<p>As you follow planets and meteors, don’t forget the Moon. Its phases offer a rhythm to the month. Watch as it grows from a sliver to full, then wanes again into another crescent. </p>



<p>Each phase brings different lighting conditions, ideal for exploring various parts of the sky.</p>



<p>A bright Moon can wash out faint stars and meteors, but it also brings its own beauty. Its changing shape creates new shadows and features on its surface. Through binoculars or a small telescope, craters and ridges come to life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-april-s-sky-invites-everyone-to-explore">April's sky invites everyone to explore</h2>



<p>April’s sky shows the balance between motion and stillness. Planets wander while stars remain fixed. Meteors flash and vanish, while clusters like M3 endure for billions of years. Each night brings a new chapter to read above.</p>



<p>Keep track of celestial events and space missions at <a href="https://science.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA's website</a>. Whether you're gazing up at dawn or after dinner, this month invites you to slow down and look beyond.</p>



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What's up in the night sky during the month of April 2025?

April marks a seasonal shift, not only on Earth but...

<p>Modern birds have air-filled cavities in their bones to reduce weight for flight. Interestingly, this feature has also been discovered in dinosaur fossils. </p>



<p>A new study of alvarezsauridae fossils has identified these same bone features in creatures that roamed the Earth nearly 70 million years ago.</p>



<p>Experts studying these slender dinosaurs uncovered evidence of hollow channels that link to their respiratory systems. </p>



<p>The results suggest that <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.0160" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pneumaticity</a> might have been more common in theropod dinosaurs than previously thought.</p>



<p>This work was led by <a href="https://www.patagonia.com.ar/General+Roca/450_Museo+Patag%C3%B3nico+de+Ciencias+Naturales.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Patagonian Museum of Natural Sciences</a> in Roca, and was founded as a project by the Patagonian Foundation of Natural Sciences. Researchers collaborated across Argentina and China to piece together details of these unusual bones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaur-bones-were-hollow">Dinosaur bones were hollow</h2>



<p>Bird skeletons stand out for their lightweight build. Many have air sacs that extend into bones, helping to manage body temperature, improve respiratory functions, and reduce overall mass.</p>



<p>Scans of these new fossils indicate that such air sacs already existed in some dinosaur <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-predatory-dinosaur-species-identified-in-lost-photos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lineages</a>. </p>



<p>Paleontologists suggest this adaptation might have provided other benefits, particularly in oxygen circulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hollow-bones-helped-dinosaur-breathing">Hollow bones helped dinosaur breathing</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.284.5423.2137" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Researchers</a> have long known that certain dinosaur groups had air pockets in their skeletons. Yet the extent of these cavities in <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/saurischia/theropoda.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropod dinosaurs</a> has been debated.</p>



<p>CT scans of the dinosaur fossil vertebrae uncovered interconnected voids that likely connected to respiratory structures. </p>



<p>This structural pattern resembles what is seen in living birds, though the ancient dinosaur bones differ in shape and size.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-tail-anatomy">Surprising tail anatomy</h2>



<p>One unexpected twist came from the tail region. Internal air spaces showed up as far back as the middle segments, hinting at a more widespread distribution of air pockets than is found in some other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strange-case-of-the-two-clawed-dinosaur-duonychus-tsogtbaatari/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>.</p>



<p>Specialists in dinosaur fossils and biology have typically focused on the neck and torso regions for signs of air sacs. </p>



<p>However, seeing as the air sacs extend far into the tail, this raises fresh questions about how these creatures breathed and moved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-random-variability-in-bone-cavities">Random variability in bone cavities</h2>



<p>Another puzzle emerged when the team compared separate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-americas-oldest-dinosaur-is-completely-rewriting-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">specimens</a> of different sizes. They found uneven patterns of diverticula within the same type of vertebrae, suggesting no clear progression of these air pockets.</p>



<p>“This study is an important first step that paves the way for future studies to uncover the extent of pneumatic invasion among alvarezsauridaes, and its macroevolutionary implications,” explained J. G. Meso from The Patagonian Museum of Natural Science.</p>



<p>The authors described this uneven distribution of hollow spaces in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-did-dinosaurs-come-from-missing-fossils-hold-the-secret/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaur</a> bones as a seemingly random process that might relate to blood vessel pathways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-directions-in-dinosaur-research">New directions in dinosaur research</h2>



<p>Scholars comparing these findings to those of other species note that air cavities might show up in surprising places once larger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-eggs-found-in-utah-belong-to-multiple-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> datasets are examined.</p>



<p>Some suspect this adaptation appeared in different dinosaur families at various points, rather than following a steady evolutionary path.</p>



<p>With more advanced imaging, experts hope to learn if certain groups gained or lost these hollow spaces over time. This approach could reveal unexpected links between distant branches of the dinosaur family tree.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaur-bones-changed-with-evolution">Dinosaur bones changed with evolution</h2>



<p>Lightweight skeletal features might have enhanced efficiency, but no one knows if they aided speed, temperature control, or other factors. </p>



<p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00534.x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studies</a> of bird flight have shown that reduced bone mass can help modern species, though alvarezsauridaes did not soar.</p>



<p>Further research might clarify whether these air-filled bones played a role in daily activity or growth. Specialists also want to explore how these structures evolved among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossils-discovered-in-australia-rewrite-dinosaur-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predators</a>, scavengers, and other lifestyles within <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/saurischia/coelurosauria.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coelurosaurians</a>.</p>



<p>Scientists remain cautious about comparing ancient air sacs to those of living birds. Different theropod families likely followed various paths to lighten their bones and enhance respiratory function.</p>



<p>Some paleontologists propose that future CT analyses of more fossils could confirm if these features evolved multiple times. Each new discovery brings fresh insights into how dinosaurs thrived in unique environments.</p>



<p>Future research may reveal complex bone cavities in species other than dinosaurs. Ongoing studies will broaden our view of how dinosaurs thrived.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0320121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PLOS One</em></a>.</p>



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First evidence of 'hollow bones' found in dinosaurs, just like modern birds

Modern birds have air-filled cavities in their bones to reduce...

<p>In astronomy, a faint hum often carries hidden information about our universe. Some stars pulse with subtle fluctuations, and those signals can tell us a lot about how the Milky Way was formed. A new study links these gentle waves, or starquakes, to the complex processes taking place inside stars.</p>



<p>This connection offers a richer picture of stellar aging and how matter that is recycled by stars shapes our galaxy’s overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whats-up-in-the-night-sky-during-the-month-of-april-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">design</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starquakes-reveal-stellar-interiors">Starquakes reveal stellar interiors</h2>



<p>Study lead author <a href="https://reporter.anu.edu.au/people/claudia-reyes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Claudia Reyes</a> from <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Australian National University</a> and <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNSW</a> Sydney refers to these pulses as musical notes that reflect a star’s true character. </p>



<p>Researchers measure tiny changes in brightness and convert them into frequencies for closer inspection.</p>



<p>“Starquakes occur in certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/proxima-centauri-the-closest-star-to-earth-is-extremely-violent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>, leading to a continuous cycle of brightening and dimming. By carefully observing these tiny fluctuations in brightness, we can listen to a star’s musical rhythm,” explained Dr. Reyes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-red-giant-stars-the-basics">Understanding red giant stars - the basics</h2>



<p>Red giant stars are what happen when a star like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/team-creates-video-showing-the-sun-in-gamma-rays-over-a-14-year-period/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our Sun</a> runs low on fuel. After spending millions or even billions of years burning hydrogen in its core, the star starts to run out. </p>



<p>When that happens, gravity begins to crush the core, and the outer layers puff outward. </p>



<p>The star swells up - sometimes hundreds of times larger than its original size - and cools down on the surface, which gives it that reddish glow. It looks calm and glowing, but inside, it’s going through serious changes.</p>



<p>These stars don’t just sit around getting bigger, though. Inside, the core begins fusing helium instead of hydrogen, and the star can go through a few wild phases before it reaches the end of the line. </p>



<p>Some red giants eventually shed their outer layers, forming beautiful clouds of gas called planetary nebulae. What’s left behind is a tiny, dense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-dwarf-stars-may-be-billions-of-years-older-than-estimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white dwarf</a> - the star’s former core, still glowing with leftover heat.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starquakes-help-measure-age-and-fusion">Starquakes help measure age and fusion</h2>



<p>Experts rely on <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-astro-082812-140938" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asteroseismology</a> to interpret these oscillations, which reflect the density and temperature layers in a star. </p>



<p>This method can expose details about stellar mass, age, and even the fusion processes occurring deep within.</p>



<p><a href="http://www2.lowell.edu/users/jch/workshop/drs/drs-p1.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar-type stars</a> vibrate in distinct ways depending on their core conditions and chemical makeup. </p>



<p>By mapping these vibrations, astronomers can place each star on a timeline that reveals its past and hints at potential changes in the future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-open-cluster-m67">Role of open cluster M67</h2>



<p>A team focused on <a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2020/01/aa36691-19/aa36691-19.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">open cluster M67</a>, a stellar gathering believed to have formed from the same giant molecular cloud. </p>



<p>This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cluster</a> is notable because its stars share similar ages and elements, making comparisons more reliable.</p>



<p>Investigators looked at subgiant and red giant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-star-clusters-captured-in-the-extreme-outskirts-of-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a> in M67 to capture their shifts in brightness frequencies. </p>



<p>They spotted a short window when the usual progression of frequencies halted before continuing on a new track.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-clues-about-how-stars-change">New clues about how stars change</h2>



<p>This pause, sometimes referred to as a plateau, highlights a significant adjustment in the star’s internal layers. </p>



<p>It suggests that certain fusion zones or structural layers might expand or contract in ways that change the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/runaway-star-may-be-dragging-a-planet-along-with-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a>’s musical signature.</p>



<p>That insight opens a new door to measuring star ages more precisely. A small shift in frequency can indicate a major transition inside a star, and that transition marks an important milestone in its life cycle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starquake-timing-and-galaxy-growth">Starquake timing and galaxy growth</h2>



<p>Stars funnel heavy elements into interstellar space once they move beyond certain phases of nuclear burning. </p>



<p>These elements enrich the raw material that shapes future stars, planets, and even life-supporting systems.</p>



<p>Precise timelines for when stars start and stop various fusion processes help astronomers see the bigger picture of galactic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-in-the-shadows-giant-black-hole-emerges-from-cosmic-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">formation</a>. </p>



<p>They can map the chemical trails that lead from one generation of stars to the next, revealing how the Milky Way acquired its current structure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-the-sun-s-future">A window into the Sun’s future</h2>



<p>Stars in M67 are sometimes compared to our Sun, but they are in later stages of development. </p>



<p>By watching their changes, scientists can predict how the Sun’s energy-producing layers might behave many millions of years from now.</p>



<p>Observing the starquake signals from these older siblings can warn us about potential instabilities or shifts in solar output. </p>



<p>It also reassures us that certain phases will unfold gradually, offering enough lead time to understand any impact on our planetary neighborhood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starquakes-and-stellar-science">Starquakes and stellar science</h2>



<p>The plateau discovery demonstrates how subtle features in starquake data can refine age calculations. </p>



<p>This improvement benefits large-scale surveys that aim to chart our galaxy’s past by examining countless stars at various evolutionary stages.</p>



<p>Scientists are now combining data from observatories worldwide to see if similar patterns arise in other clusters. </p>



<p>Each cluster provides a small piece of a larger puzzle, and collectively they help us trace the path of star formation and chemical enrichment across cosmic distances.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08760-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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Universal clues found in the musical melodies of 'starquakes'

In astronomy, a faint hum often carries hidden information about...

Hummingbird,With,Flower.,Rufous-gaped,Hillstar,,,Urochroa,Bougueri,,On,Ping

<p>The shift into warmer days often brings a renewed interest in the outdoors. Gardens begin to hum with activity as new blooms appear, and the buzz of local pollinators adds a lively backdrop. The excitement of seeing a hummingbird hovering in your yard can brighten any afternoon.</p>



<p>It’s fitting to recognize that these remarkable birds have captured the attention of Dr. Emily Watkins from the <a href="https://www.audubon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Audubon Society</a>, whose work highlights simple yard enhancements that can welcome them year after year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quick-and-colorful">Quick and colorful</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hummingbirds-have-an-amazing-sense-of-touch-for-precise-navigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hummingbirds</a> weigh less than a nickel, yet they are capable of staying airborne in one spot and sometimes even flying backward. </p>



<p>Their bright feathers reflect brilliant reds, greens, or purples, depending on the angle of the sunlight. This blend of color and agility has made them a favorite subject of conversation among neighbors who compare sightings around the yard.</p>



<p>When they rest, they often vanish into nearby branches or shrubs. These short breaks let them conserve energy before the next <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-hummingbirds-deal-with-their-need-for-flight-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">burst of motion</a>. </p>



<p>A quick appearance at a flower or a feeder can shift moods, spark a moment of joy, and motivate people to experiment with plants that might catch a hummingbird’s eye.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tough-and-tiny-travelers">Tough and tiny travelers</h2>



<p>Every garden has its own rhythm, but hummingbirds bring an energy that delights the senses. </p>



<p>Some people notice that these feathered visitors arrive just when the temperature nudges them to plant new flowers or hang fresh feeders. </p>



<p>This timing often reinforces the feeling that a new season is officially underway.</p>



<p>These birds use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hummingbirds-adjust-their-wings-to-fly-through-very-tiny-spaces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">incredible amounts of energy</a> with every wingbeat. Some species manage flights of thousands of miles each year, and certain ones even cross the Gulf of Mexico without a break.</p>



<p>Their wings can beat up to 80 times per second, and they may visit hundreds of flowers in a single day. With such intense demands, they require a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hummingbirds-have-an-incredible-strategy-to-survive-food-shortages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">steady supply of nectar</a> and insects. </p>



<p>Filling your yard with the right kinds of flowers, such as azaleas, will guarantee that they have a steady supply of both.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-azaleas-yards-and-hummingbirds">Azaleas, yards, and hummingbirds</h2>



<p>Azaleas come in many sizes, with some reaching 15 feet tall and others staying closer to the 3 to 6 foot range. </p>



<p>Their funnel-shaped blooms are well-suited to a hummingbird’s long bill, making them a practical addition for those hoping to attract these birds. </p>



<p>Beyond nectar, azaleas can draw insects such as aphids and mites, which make up about 80% of a hummingbird’s diet. </p>



<p>Observers sometimes choose to pair azaleas with other nectar-rich plants, such as bee balm or salvia, to keep a yard filled with buzzing and fluttering activity throughout the growing season.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-science-says">What the science says</h2>



<p>Scientists took a close look at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-hummingbird-day-celebrating-natures-aerial-acrobats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hummingbird sightings</a> across the mainland United States. </p>



<p>They wanted to see if feeders, nectar-laden flowers, native species, or reduced pavement would affect the chances of hosting these tiny visitors. </p>



<p>Findings showed that homes with a variety of blooms and regular feeders were more likely to spot hummingbirds, especially if those plantings included native flowers. </p>



<p>Having less asphalt and concrete around also helped.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204619311284" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This research</a> spanned both urban and rural regions. Results lined up with established advice from conservation groups that highlight the value of planting native species and preserving pockets of natural habitat. </p>



<p>By following these suggestions, many homeowners find that their outdoor spaces become more inviting to local wildlife.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neighborhood-hummingbird-havens">Neighborhood hummingbird havens</h2>



<p>Many communities run programs that set aside open spaces for pollinator-friendly growth. Organizers point to hummingbirds as a symbol of how nature can thrive in a suburban or city environment. </p>



<p>When property owners plant shrubs that offer both nectar and insect life, those choices can provide a more welcoming stopover for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hummingbird-chick-mimics-a-toxic-caterpillar-to-evade-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">traveling birds</a>.</p>



<p>In some areas, city councils partner with environmental groups to develop pollinator corridors. These aim to link multiple gardens into a network of habitats. </p>



<p>Once enough backyards and public spaces join the effort, hummingbirds can move through neighborhoods more easily. Residents, in turn, share a united project that connects them in a positive way.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creating-a-hummingbird-yard">Creating a hummingbird yard</h2>



<p>To sum it all up, nationwide observations from the National Audubon Society's study confirm that straightforward gardening steps can do a lot for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. </p>



<p>A clean feeder with fresh sugar water, replaced every few days, is a quick option for those just starting out. </p>



<p>Azaleas and other native shrubs provide the natural nectar and insects these birds depend on, giving them the variety they need. </p>



<p>Small efforts add up across the block, strengthening local greenery and helping these visitors refuel during migration or while raising young.</p>



<p>Some people see these actions as part of a broader push for healthier local ecosystems. Planting for pollinators may also balance out land lost to development. </p>



<p>Local wildlife officials often applaud neighborhood collaborations because they promote a sense of unity and keep colorful creatures thriving close to home.</p>



<p>Observing one dart through sunlit foliage can lift anyone’s spirits, and these moments often spark an even deeper appreciation of the living world around us.</p>



<p>It's that time of year, the hummingbirds are here.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204619311284" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Landscape and Urban Planning</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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How to turn your yard into a haven for hummingbirds

The shift into warmer days often brings a renewed interest...

A,Close-up,Photograph,Of,A,Juvenile,St,Andrew's,Cross,Spider

<p>Whether it’s the constant hum of traffic or the repetitive clamor of construction, the noises produced by modern society can obstruct the abilities of spiders and all other animals to send and receive signals that are crucial for their survival.</p>



<p>Studying how animals pick up information can be hard, but web-building spiders give scientists a special chance to look at how external tools (like spider webs) help filter out the noises they don't care about and receive the signals that are important for their survival.</p>



<p>Now, a team of biologists at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (<a href="https://www.unl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNL</a>) has published one of the first known studies demonstrating how one group of animals can react to human-made noise by adjusting its own method of sensing sounds. </p>



<p>In an article published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.02.041" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Current Biology</em></a>, researchers Brandi Pessman and Eileen Hebets show that funnel-weaving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-reveal-how-cave-creatures-lose-their-vision-over-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a> alter how their silk webs transmit vibrations in response to local noise. </p>



<p>This finding suggests that the spiders might deliberately change web structure to cope with the auditory chaos surrounding them, ensuring they receive vital cues from potential mates, prey, or predators.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spiders-noise-and-web-adjustments">Spiders, noise, and web adjustments</h2>



<p>Drawing on lab experiments, the study uncovered a particularly unexpected insight: the way a spider’s web conveys vibrations varies depending on whether its architect was collected from a rural or urban area. </p>



<p>This discrepancy hints at the idea that prior exposure to noise - possibly even inherited across generations - may influence a spider’s malleability when it comes to spinning webs.</p>



<p>“One of the most interesting things that we found is that urban and rural spiders are reacting differently when they're put into a noisy environment,” said Pessman, a postdoctoral researcher in biological sciences and the lead author of the paper. </p>



<p>“This means that spiders with different experiences with noise - whether they themselves experienced it or their mothers passed it down to them across generations - respond differently.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spider-webs-as-sensory-extensions">Spider webs as sensory extensions</h2>



<p>It has been well documented that animals such as birds and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-altering-the-calls-and-voices-of-frogs-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">frogs</a> can change their calls or the timing of their vocalizations in the face of increased human noise. </p>



<p>However, little was known about how animals manage to tweak the way they receive acoustic or vibratory signals.</p>



<p>The main challenge is the hidden nature of most animals’ sensory systems, which are located within their bodies. </p>



<p>But web-building spiders are unique, as their webs function effectively like external sensory extensions that capture vibrations from the environment.</p>



<p>This distinction makes funnel-weaving spiders, also known as <em>Agelenopsis pennsylvanica</em>, an ideal test group. They rely predominantly on vibratory signals for vital information. </p>



<p>Their webs connect to various surfaces - trees, rocks, or buildings - capable of transmitting the vibratory noise created by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-get-road-rage-when-exposed-to-traffic-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">traffic</a>, industrial activities, and more. </p>



<p>The research team hypothesized that funnel-weaving spiders might be able to reduce the volume of unwanted or irrelevant vibrations caused by human-related noise, which often shares the frequency range these spiders need for effective communication.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spiders-in-urban-areas">Spiders in urban areas</h2>



<p>Pessman started by collecting a total of 60 funnel-weaving spiders in and around Lincoln, Nebraska - some from city settings and others from out in the countryside. </p>



<p>In the lab, the spiders were then placed in controlled environments that were either quiet or noisy as they spun webs over four nights.</p>



<p>Upon completion, the researchers introduced test vibrations into those webs, measuring how energy moved across the silk in different conditions.</p>



<p>They observed that spiders from urban areas tended to build webs that lost more energy in short-distance vibrations across a broader set of frequencies when placed under noisy conditions. </p>



<p>Interpreted practically, these webs essentially “muffled” environmental noise. This may prevent sensory overload, giving the spiders a clearer signal from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-predator-prey-feast-ever-seen-in-the-ocean-enormous-quickly-altered-food-chain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prey</a> or other relevant vibrations in their immediate vicinity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spiders-that-are-exposed-to-less-noise">Spiders that are exposed to less noise</h2>



<p>Meanwhile, rural spiders assembled their webs in such a way that energy from biologically important long-distance vibrations was preserved. </p>



<p>This indicates they might be amplifying or enhancing certain frequency ranges to pick out meaningful vibrations above the background noise.</p>



<p>“Rural spiders are not used to as much noise in their environment,” Pessman said. “When they suddenly get a lot of noise, they might try to 'turn up' the volume in their webs or amplify what's coming in to better hear certain signals above the noise.”</p>



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



<p>Given the role of funnel webs as external sensory structures, these findings open a new window into how animals can adjust the way they receive signals, a research area that had remained largely unclear until now. </p>



<p>The ability to alter web structure in response to different noise environments could prove vital as human-made noise continues to escalate across the planet.</p>



<p>In the future, the team plans to investigate precisely how the spiders are changing their webs - whether they adjust the tension of certain silk lines, vary anchor points, or adopt an entirely new shape to filter or boost specific frequencies. </p>



<p>High-speed video of the web-building process, combined with digital tracking methods, will let them delve deeper into these construction nuances.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-noise-and-spider-webs">Human noise and spider webs</h2>



<p>“This study really highlights the role of receivers in overcoming environmental noise,” said Hebets, who is a professor of biological sciences at UNL. </p>



<p>“It opens up entirely new avenues of research. For example, are receivers placing themselves at certain locations in the environment where signals are going to receive less attenuation or overlap of noise?”</p>



<p>By revealing that some species can modify their “sensor” for hearing, the team hopes to inspire more research on how other animals cope with rising noise levels. </p>



<p>The funnels built by these little invertebrates may seem inconsequential to an urban passerby, but as the study shows, each strand of silk can be precisely tuned to help the spider thrive in a clamorous world.</p>



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Spiders build their webs differently when the noise in their neighborhood gets too loud

Whether it’s the constant hum of traffic or the repetitive...

<p>A single bad food experience can be enough to change eating habits for a lifetime. Now, researchers have identified the precise brain region responsible for this powerful type of memory.</p>



<p>This fascinating study offering insights into how the brain links cause and effect when there's a delay between them - like getting sick hours after a meal.</p>



<p>This discovery may not only explain why certain foods suddenly become unpalatable but could also inform research into other lasting memory associations, including those involved in trauma and PTSD.</p>



<p>The new findings come from neuroscientists at <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton University</a> who set out to explore the brain mechanisms behind “one-shot learning,” where a single event creates a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-our-brain-form-long-term-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-term memory</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“I haven't had food poisoning in a while, but now whenever I talk to people at meetings, I hear all about their food poisoning experiences,” said lead author Christopher Zimmerman, a postdoctoral fellow at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Inspired by such anecdotes, Zimmerman and his colleagues developed an experiment to understand how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-health-and-diet-nutrition-helps-lower-dementia-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain</a> forms food aversions even when illness sets in long after eating.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-food-poisoning-in-the-brain">Effects of food poisoning in the brain</h2>



<p>Working in the lab of professor Ilana Witten, Zimmerman began by introducing mice to a new flavor - grape Kool-Aid. “It's a better model for how we actually learn,” he explained.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Normally, scientists in the field will use sugar alone, but that's not a normal flavor that you would encounter in a meal. Kool-Aid, while it's still not typical, is a little bit closer since it has more dimensions to its flavor profile.”</p>



<p>Mice were trained to poke their noses into a port to receive a drop of the drink. Half an hour later, they were given an injection to induce temporary illness, mimicking food poisoning.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When offered a choice two days later between Kool-Aid and plain water, they strongly avoided the former - evidence that the unpleasant outcome had left a strong impression.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But what most intrigued the team was discovering which part of the brain was responsible for this aversive memory: the central amygdala.</p>



<p>“If you look across the entire brain, where novel versus familiar flavors are represented, the amygdala turns out to be a really interesting place because it's preferentially activated by novel flavors at every stage in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-learning-how-the-brain-stores-new-information/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learning</a>,” Zimmerman said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It’s active when the mouse is drinking, when the mouse is feeling sick later, and then when the mouse retrieves that negative memory days later.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memories-of-food-poisoning-in-the-brain">Memories of food poisoning in the brain</h2>



<p>The central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lizard-brain-shapes-social-abilities-in-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amygdala</a> is a small structure located deep within the brain, known for processing emotional learning, particularly fear. </p>



<p>The amygdala also receives a wide range of sensory information, including taste and smell, making it a logical - but previously unconfirmed - candidate for processing food-related memories.</p>



<p>Zimmerman recalled the thrill of the discovery: “I remember making the plot from the first animal and sharing it on Slack with Ilana. She was at my desk a minute later to talk about how exciting this is.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>That initial result was just the beginning. With more data, the researchers confirmed that the central amygdala plays a central role at every point in the learning process - when the flavor is first encountered, when sickness occurs, and when the memory is retrieved later.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-the-gut-to-the-brain">From the gut to the brain</h2>



<p>To understand how the feeling of illness connects to memory, the team followed clues from earlier studies. They identified specialized cells in the hindbrain that produce a protein called CGRP. </p>



<p>These cells send direct signals to the central amygdala, forming a neural bridge between the gut and the brain. </p>



<p>When the researchers stimulated these cells 30 minutes after the mice had tasted Kool-Aid - without inducing actual illness - the mice still developed the same aversion.</p>



<p>Even more striking was the finding that sickness appeared to reactivate the same neurons that had responded to the Kool-Aid in the first place.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It was as if the mice were thinking back and remembering the prior experience that caused them to later feel sick,” Witten said. “It was very cool to see this unfolding at the level of individual neurons.”</p>



<p>The researchers propose that novel flavors may “tag” neurons in the amygdala, priming them to remain sensitive to signals from the body for several hours after eating.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If the animal then experiences sickness during this window, the brain reactivates the tagged neurons and forges a lasting association between the flavor and the illness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-beyond-the-dinner-table">Implications beyond the dinner table</h2>



<p>Although the study focused on food aversion, the findings point to a broader framework for how the brain learns to link events separated by time - a process that's not well understood.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Often when we learn in the real world, there's a long delay between whatever choice we’ve made and the outcome. But that’s not typically studied in the lab, so we don't really understand the neural mechanisms that support this kind of long delay learning,” Zimmerman said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our hope is that these findings will provide a framework for thinking about how the brain might leverage memory recall to solve this learning problem in other situations.”</p>



<p>In addition to shedding light on everyday behaviors - like swearing off oysters after one bad experience - this research could have implications for how we understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-trauma-can-cause-muscle-decline-adult-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trauma</a>. </p>



<p>Much like food poisoning, traumatic events are often followed by symptoms only after a delay, and yet they still form vivid, persistent memories in the brain.</p>



<p>By identifying the precise brain pathways involved in one-shot memory formation, scientists are a step closer to understanding how such associations are wired - and possibly how they might be rewired in the future.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08828-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>,</p>



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Food poisoning triggers permanent changes in the brain

A single bad food experience can be enough to change...

<p>Astronomers searching for habitable planets have recently turned their attention to stars known as M dwarfs. Though they are also considered "red dwarf" stars like the Sun, these stars have lower luminosities than the Sun, which makes planets passing in front of them more noticeable to our telescopes.</p>



<p>Because M dwarfs emit less light, they create stronger signals when a planet transits. This setup has boosted efforts to find worlds similar in size to our own.</p>



<p>Scientists have concentrated on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rocky-planets-a-new-target-in-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rocky planets around M dwarfs</a> because any habitable zone hugs the star more tightly than Earth hugs the Sun. </p>



<p>Investigations with space missions such as TESS and K2 and ground-based ventures like HARPS and MEarth have fueled a wave of discoveries. </p>



<p>One well-known highlight is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trappist-1-has-seven-earth-like-planets-that-may-support-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TRAPPIST-1</a>, situated about 12 light-years away - around 72 trillion miles - from us. Its seven planets, roughly the size of Earth, receive sunlight comparable to what our planet gets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gliese-12-b-has-potential">Gliese 12 b has potential</h2>



<p>These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovery-nasa-identifies-over-5500-distant-worlds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">continued pursuits</a> have uncovered a new object called Gliese 12 b, an exoplanet orbiting a star that is less active than TRAPPIST-1. Researchers think this calmer nature might preserve an atmosphere on the planet’s surface.</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, Gliese 12 b is a “super Earth exoplanet” that is nearly the same size as Earth or slightly smaller.</p>



<p>Masayuki Kuzuhara, a project assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.nibb.ac.jp/en/sections/concurrent/abc1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astrobiology Center</a> in Tokyo, has drawn attention to the planet’s significance. </p>



<p>“We’ve found the nearest, transiting, temperate, Earth-size world located to date,” Kuzuhara enthused. </p>



<p>“Although we don’t yet know whether it possesses an atmosphere, we’ve been thinking of it as an exo-Venus, with similar size and energy received from its star as our planetary neighbor in the solar system.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-red-dwarf-star-gliese-12">Red dwarf star Gliese 12</h2>



<p>NASA points out that a so-called cool red dwarf star like Gliese 12 is helpful for planet hunting because its planets lie well within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-expands-the-habitable-zone-where-we-may-find-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitable zone</a>.</p>



<p>“A smaller star means greater dimming for each transit, and a lower mass means an orbiting planet can produce a greater wobble, known as ‘reflex motion,’ of the star,” the agency said. “These effects make smaller planets easier to detect.”</p>



<p>Gliese 12 itself measures about 27% of the Sun’s size and has surface temperatures at roughly 60% of the solar level. Astronomers also note that the planet completes one orbit in 12.8 days. </p>



<p>Under the assumption that Gliese 12 b has no atmosphere, they estimate its surface temperature to be around 107 degrees Fahrenheit.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitability-of-exoplanet-gliese-12-b">Habitability of exoplanet Gliese 12 b</h2>



<p>The gap between Gliese 12 and Gliese 12 b is only about 7% of Earth’s distance from the Sun. This arrangement exposes the planet to 1.6 times more energy than our home world receives.</p>



<p>According to NASA, the reduced brightness of red dwarf stars lets astronomers pinpoint conditions that might allow liquid water to exist. </p>



<p>This approach could reveal whether an atmosphere remains intact on a planet that sits so close to its star.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gliese-12b_habitable-exoplanet_earth-comparison_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gliese-12b_habitable-exoplanet_earth-comparison_NASA_1s.webp" alt="This artist’s concept compares Earth with different possible Gliese 12 b interpretations, from no atmosphere to a thick Venus-like one. Follow-up observations with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will help determine just how much atmosphere the planet retains as well as its composition. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)" class="wp-image-1964367"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This artist’s concept compares Earth with different possible Gliese 12 b interpretations, from no atmosphere to a thick Venus-like one. Follow-up observations with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will help determine just how much atmosphere the planet retains as well as its composition. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>“Gliese 12 b represents one of the best targets to study whether Earth-size planets orbiting cool stars can retain their atmospheres - an important step toward understanding habitability across our galaxy,” said Shishir Dholakia, a doctoral student at the <a href="https://www.unisq.edu.au/research/institutes-centres/iaess/centre-for-astrophysics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centre for Astrophysics</a> at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



<p>Researchers see Gliese 12 b as a strong candidate for shedding light on features that other rocky worlds may share.</p>



<p>“We know of only a handful of temperate planets similar to Earth that are both close enough to us and meet other criteria needed for this kind of study, called transmission spectroscopy, using current facilities,” said Michael McElwain, a research astrophysicist at NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> in Greenbelt, Maryland. </p>



<p>“To better understand the diversity of atmospheres and evolutionary outcomes for these planets, we need more examples like Gliese 12 b.”</p>



<p>Scientists plan to keep Gliese 12 b on their radar by gathering data that may indicate the presence or absence of any gases around it. They hope these observations will fill some missing pieces in models of how planetary systems grow.</p>



<p>Special instrumentation on ground-based observatories and data from orbiting platforms could confirm whether that thin blanket of molecules is escaping into space or staying put.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-red-dwarf-angle">The red dwarf angle</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/proxima-centauri-the-closest-star-to-earth-is-extremely-violent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Red dwarfs</a> draw sustained attention because of their potential for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-third-of-our-galaxys-planets-could-be-habitable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life-bearing environments</a>. As the smallest and coolest stars, they allow improved chances to detect transits and measure planetary signals with less interference.</p>



<p>These hunts have led to the identification of other neighboring systems, but Gliese 12 b offers a new laboratory to examine factors like temperature, size, and star-to-planet distance in real time.</p>



<p>Some red dwarf planets look scorched and barren, but others may have comfortable conditions. </p>



<p>Gliese 12 b’s size, short orbital period, and relatively low stellar activity have stirred anticipation among those who track these quiet, cool stars and their companions.</p>



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



<p>The Gliese 12 b announcement highlights the persistence required to identify smaller worlds circling dimmer stars, especially <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/four-small-planets-discovered-orbiting-the-nearest-single-star-to-earth-barnards-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">M dwarfs</a>.</p>



<p>Specialists note that pinpointing Earth-like planets can be challenging, but focused attention on red dwarfs has paid off by producing a fresh batch of observations. </p>



<p>Whether it reveals a robust protective layer of gases or a barren surface remains to be seen. </p>



<p>What’s certain is that Gliese 12 b has become one of the most interesting places to watch, offering a potential example of how rocky neighbors might cling to any hint of an atmosphere so close to a red dwarf.</p>



<p>The full study was published in <em><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad3642" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a></em>.</p>



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NASA finds nearby Earth-like exoplanet that could support intelligent life

Astronomers searching for habitable planets have recently turned their attention...

<p>An asteroid named 2024 YR4 stirred up concerns when it was found heading near Earth in December 2024. Early projections pushed scientists to keep a close watch, especially after the International Asteroid Warning Network issued a notification on January 29, 2025.</p>



<p>Those first calculations suggested an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-asteroid-2024-yr4-has-a-chance-of-hitting-earth-in-2032/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impact probability</a> of 1.3% on December 22, 2032. Postdoctoral researcher Zuri Gray from the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Helsinki</a> was among the early observers who noticed that this object measured somewhere between 40 and 90 meters in diameter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-track-the-asteroid-s-path">Scientists track the asteroid’s path</h2>



<p>“We have been focusing on the asteroid’s precise position and motion, and to analyze its rotation, size and shape,” said Gray. A flurry of observations began in January 2025, and efforts continued through mid-February.</p>



<p>“Our recent observations continue to demonstrate the vital role that <a href="https://www.not.iac.es/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nordic Optical Telescope</a> (NOT) plays in planetary defense efforts on a global level,” added postdoctoral researcher Grigori Fedorets.</p>



<p>Astronomers used the 2.5-meter NOT on La Palma for a sharper view. This telescope has proven its worth in detecting objects traveling near <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-large-asteroids-will-pass-near-earth-this-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroid-may-target-the-moon">Asteroid may target the Moon</h2>



<p>Estimates briefly hit 3% probability of an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-would-happen-small-asteroid-hit-earth-nasa-ai-simulation-found-out/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth impact</a>, the highest ever recorded for an asteroid of this range. Observers encountered a snag with a bright full moon that briefly overwhelmed the asteroid’s glow.</p>



<p>Once new data became available, predictions shifted dramatically and the chance of an Earth impact decreased below 0.001%. The latest calculations, however, revealed a 4% possibility of the asteroid striking the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-learn-composition-of-moons-interior-core-its-not-green-cheese/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moon</a>, bringing new worries for future lunar missions.</p>



<p>“Should the asteroid impact the Moon, the Earth-Moon system could be clouded with particles detached from the Moon and the asteroid, which would potentially threaten the human space infrastructure and operations,” explained Professor Karri Muinonen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-determining-the-actual-size">Determining the actual size</h2>



<p>On March 26, the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> offered detailed infrared observations. This step gave researchers a more precise handle on the asteroid’s diameter, since infrared measurements directly mirror an object’s size.</p>



<p>“The initial diameter estimate of the asteroid was limited to visible light measurements, which depend on both the size and reflectivity of the surface. However, thermal emission at infrared wavelengths is a direct indicator of the size,” noted postdoctoral researcher Eric MacLennan.</p>



<p>“Our first attempt to observe the thermal emission on March 8 was not successful, so it was a relief when the images were transmitted back from the telescope,” said MacLennan. The team's efforts led to a size prediction of between about 46 and 74 meters (150 and 240 feet), with a 95% level of confidence.</p>



<p>This update helps scientists evaluate potential outcomes if 2024 YR4 meets the lunar surface.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-telescopes-refine-asteroid-risk">Telescopes refine asteroid risk </h2>



<p>The University of Helsinki’s fast response at the Nordic Optical Telescope in February stood out. The research offered critical measurements that narrowed the potential risks, compared to information obtained from other similar facilities.</p>



<p>“We were able to very quickly observe the asteroid and refine the estimates for it. The flexible, high-quality, medium-sized astronomical facilities like the NOT are crucial for rapid follow-up of these type of potentially hazardous asteroids,” said Professor Mikael Granvik.</p>



<p>Continuous tracking of the asteroid targeting the moon will last until about April or May 2025. After that, 2024 YR4 will slip beyond Earth-based sensors and remain undetected until its next close pass in 2028.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-broader-concerns">Preparing for broader concerns</h2>



<p>Finland has positioned its <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/do-us-topos-and-national-map-have-a-layer-shows-public-land-survey-system-plss" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Land Survey</a> as the authority for assessing near-Earth object risks. A future <a href="https://aerospace.org/ssi-space-situational-awareness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Space Situational Awareness Center</a> is also on the horizon to address threats from space debris, solar activity, and collisions.</p>



<p>“The comprehensive expertise of astronomers at the University of Helsinki in asteroid research is a critical part of the expertise needed at the governmental level to assess the possible impact risks caused by the near-Earth objects for Finland similar to other countries,” said academy research fellow Anne Virkki.</p>



<p>Any <a href="https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/stats/totals.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">object</a> measuring several dozen meters can cause serious regional damage if it collides with Earth’s surface. Though this asteroid’s impact chances have dropped for our planet, the Moon’s 4% possibility highlights a unique scenario.</p>



<p>Studies using the James Webb Space Telescope <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/adc6f0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confirm</a> that 2024 YR4’s diameter is near 60 ± 7 meters (197 ± 23 feet) . Objects of this size range can produce noticeable disruptions if they collide with a celestial body.</p>



<p>From a policy standpoint, the research demonstrates why repeated observations, collaborative monitoring, and robust modeling are vital.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroid-near-earth-tracked-into-2025">Asteroid near Earth tracked into 2025</h2>



<p>Scientists remain ready to gather more information during the asteroid's final observable window in spring 2025. If its path indicates the asteroid will target the moon, efforts to predict any consequences will intensify.</p>



<p>Past events suggest that being able to fine-tune <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-could-be-pushed-into-a-collision-course-with-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predictions</a> depends on timely data. If 2024 YR4 passes near enough in 2026 for the James Webb Space Telescope to lock on again, that could either calm or reignite concerns about any final trajectory shifts.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/adc6f0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>RNAAS Research Notes of The AAS</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Asteroid that once threatened Earth may target the Moon

An asteroid named 2024 YR4 stirred up concerns when it...

<p>Modern science has been sounding alarms about the sixth mass extinction, prompted by both climate shifts and human activities. Experts note that over 10% of China’s vascular plant species already face serious threats to their survival.</p>



<p>One research team decided to look deeper into the ancient past for guidance. They wondered if palynology - the study of fossil and modern spores and pollen - might offer essential insights that more traditional fossil records sometimes miss.</p>



<p>Professor Xiaomin Fang from the <a href="http://english.itpcas.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research</a>, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is one of the leading scientists behind this effort.</p>



<p>Professor Fang <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265925000228" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collaborated</a> with several experts to compare ancient pollen patterns with modern biodiversity trends, hoping to understand the best ways to protect plants in a changing climate.</p>



<p>“Plant spores and pollen offer a solution - they are abundant, well-preserved, and can fill gaps left by macrofossils,” explained Professor Fuli Wu, a Cenozoic pollen specialist.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-pollen-reveals-plant-history">Why pollen reveals plant history</h2>



<p>Scientists become frustrated when partial fossil finds fail to reveal the bigger picture of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-dont-all-plants-grow-everywhere-across-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant evolution</a>. In contrast, pollen grains tend to remain intact in soil layers.</p>



<p>Pollen grains hold indicators of ancient species distributions that might otherwise vanish without a trace. This broader coverage helps to fill in the puzzle of how plant distributions expanded, shrank, or relocated across different landscapes through time.</p>



<p>Pollen grains also reflect environmental conditions. Their presence highlights specific humidity levels, temperature tolerance, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-plants-cant-outrun-climate-change-on-their-own/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vegetation</a> changes. This offers a peek at the long-term responses of plants, and guides efforts to predict future transformations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-biodiversity-and-winter-temperatures">Plant biodiversity and winter temperatures </h2>



<p>The team tested five metrics designed to capture how many pollen types occur in a given region. They cross-checked these metrics with modern data on angiosperms (flowering plants) to see which values aligned best.</p>



<p>“Our results show that the Shannon-Wiener and the Berger-Parker <a href="https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Gettysburg_College/01%3A_Ecology_for_All/22%3A_Biodiversity/22.02%3A_Diversity_Indices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">indices</a> most closely matched modern diversity patterns, making them optimal tools for reconstructing past biodiversity," explained Dr. Yuxuan Jiang, the study’s lead author.</p>



<p>"Moreover, we found climate strongly influenced diversity, with coldest-month temperatures being the dominant factor, followed by annual precipitation."</p>



<p>The researchers discovered that these indices were more sensitive to changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-may-stop-absorbing-carbon-if-temperatures-continue-to-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant communities</a> than other measures. They compared present-day vegetation maps with pollen data to confirm their findings.</p>



<p>The matches were surprisingly close, hinting that fossil pollen could do more than fill historical gaps - it could predict what might occur when winters become harsher or rain patterns shift.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cold-winters-shape-plant-biodiversity">Cold winters shape plant biodiversity </h2>



<p>“Our work highlights the importance of winter temperatures in shaping plant biodiversity. This insight should guide conservation strategies, particularly under climate change,” noted Dr. Wu.</p>



<p>Freezing conditions appear to limit which plants can thrive, especially in places without reliable precipitation and heat. If winter extremes worsen, more plant groups may struggle to survive. </p>



<p>That possibility has practical meaning for farmers, conservationists, and policy teams who must decide how to guard against escalating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-understanding-of-light-detection-in-plants-may-revolutionize-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threats</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainfall-affects-community-strength">Rainfall affects community strength</h2>



<p>Annual rainfall is another major force. Drier regions tend to support fewer plant varieties, and subtle shifts can tip ecosystems from forest to grassland or even desert. Some parts of China already wrestle with intense dryness, and any dip in seasonal rains could speed up <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predicting-how-climate-change-will-alter-plant-growth-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> loss.</p>



<p>Heavier rainfall, on the other hand, often encourages plant growth and pollinators. That boost can ripple through entire ecosystems, helping soils stay healthy and forests stay lush.</p>



<p>Based on the pollen data, the threshold of 400 mm (16 inches) annual precipitation is a strong line separating more vibrant plant communities from less diverse ones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollen-predicts-future-changes">Pollen predicts future changes</h2>



<p>Pollen grains in sediment layers capture changes over thousands or even millions of years. By analyzing pollens from these layers, researchers can draw parallels between past global warming phases and what may soon unfold here on Earth.</p>



<p>This allows them to test theories about how quickly plants adapt or migrate when temperatures and rainfall patterns become unfavorable.</p>



<p>Many earlier studies relied on scattered leaf or stem fossils, but those did not always cover broad timeframes or extensive geographic zones. Pollen opens a window into overlooked periods and places, revealing critical turning points in the march of plant evolution.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-survival-in-a-changing-climate">Plant survival in a changing climate</h2>



<p>Using the <a href="https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Gettysburg_College/01%3A_Ecology_for_All/22%3A_Biodiversity/22.02%3A_Diversity_Indices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shannon-Wiener and Berger-Parker indices</a>, researchers can sift through ancient samples with more confidence. </p>



<p>Preservation efforts could then target hotspots where unique plant species once flourished but are now at risk. By mapping pollen patterns and comparing them to precipitation and cold snaps, decisions can be grounded in data that reflect real, long-term trends.</p>



<p>Such insight may also inform future reforestation or seed-bank programs. Officials could select species that handle temperature drops and uncertain rainfall in ways proven effective in similar ancient climates. This method, blending past patterns with modern conditions, may offer a survival roadmap.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265925000228?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Plant Diversity</em></a>.</p>



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Pollen records reveal winter’s role in plant biodiversity

Modern science has been sounding alarms about the sixth mass...

<p>The universe is full of powerful forces, but few are as mysterious as the high-speed jets that blast out from supermassive black holes. </p>



<p>These plasma jets, emerging from the centers of certain galaxies known as active galactic nuclei (AGN), shoot across space at nearly the speed of light. </p>



<p>Scientists have long sought to understand how they form, why they accelerate, and what role magnetic fields play in shaping them.</p>



<p>A new study led by experts from the <a href="https://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/2169/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy</a> (MPIfR) in Germany and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) in Spain is shedding light on these questions.</p>



<p>Using detailed radio observations of 16 different AGN, the research team looked deeper than ever before - right up to the region near the black hole where these powerful jets originate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-network-of-radio-telescopes">Global network of radio telescopes</h2>



<p>The team relied on data collected during the 2017 campaign of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a global network of radio telescopes that together form a virtual Earth-sized observatory. </p>



<p>Known for capturing the first-ever image of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supermassive-black-hole-m87-captured-in-an-unexpected-spin-shift/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole in the galaxy M87</a>, the EHT offers unmatched resolution. It’s capable of resolving structures just outside the black hole's event horizon.</p>



<p>In this study, researchers compared the EHT’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/highest-resolution-eht-black-hole-images-ever-taken-usher-in-new-era/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ultra-high-resolution observations</a> with previous images taken by the Very Long Baseline Array and the Global Millimeter VLBI Array. These older observations captured the jets at much larger scales.</p>



<p>By combining data across different frequencies and resolutions, the scientists pieced together a more complete picture of how these jets evolve from their starting point near the black hole to the vast stretches of interstellar space.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zooming-in-on-black-hole-jets">Zooming in on black hole jets</h2>



<p>“Our findings challenge long-standing assumptions about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-jet-crashes-into-an-unidentified-object/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how jets behave</a>,” said Jan Röder, who led the research team.</p>



<p>“By analyzing a sample of sixteen active galactic nuclei, we were able to reduce the influence of individual peculiarities and obtain a broader picture of jet behavior.”</p>



<p>Traditionally, jets were thought to follow a simple pattern. The most common model describes them as cone-shaped, with plasma moving at a constant speed while the magnetic field and plasma density decrease with distance. </p>



<p>Astronomers would expect to predict the appearance and behavior of jets based on this model, but the new findings indicate otherwise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-picture-of-jet-behavior">Broader picture of jet behavior </h2>



<p>Röder noted that the basic model cannot be a perfect description for all jets - most likely, only for a small fraction. "The dynamics and sub-structure of jets are intricate, and observational results can suffer greatly from astrophysical degeneracies."</p>



<p>"For example, we know that many jets appear to accelerate. Either the plasma itself accelerates, or it can be an effect of geometry: if the jet bends, it may point at us more directly, giving the impression of faster movement,” said Röder.</p>



<p>Project co-leader Maciek Wielgus from IAA-CSIC explained that by using a sample of sixteen active galactic nuclei, the team was able to get a broader picture of the behavior of jets, compared to just looking at individual sources. "This way, the results are less prone to influence from their respective unique properties."</p>



<p>The experts also noticed something interesting about jet brightness. As the plasma moved farther from the black hole, its brightness typically increased. This suggests that the jet may be accelerating, or that some other energy-related process is taking place as it travels outward.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-changes-in-black-hole-jets">Tracking changes in black hole jets</h2>



<p>One key to understanding these jets lies in the “middle ground” - the space between what the EHT sees and what older arrays reveal. </p>



<p>“The Global Millimeter VLBI Array operating at 3.5 mm wavelength provides the key information between the highest resolutions achieved by the EHT and the more general picture of jets provided by the Very Long Baseline Array," noted Eduardo Ros, the European Scheduler of the GMVA.</p>



<p>"This was evident in the case of M87, as presented by RuSen Lu and collaborators in April 2023."</p>



<p>These overlapping observations allow scientists to track how black hole jets change across distance and time. They also help identify where existing models fall short - especially when it comes to how jets accelerate or interact with their surroundings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-acceleration-mechanism">Understanding the acceleration mechanism </h2>



<p>Even with this new data, some mysteries remain. The idea that brightness increases with distance contradicts older theories and opens the door for new ones. While this could be due to changes in jet structure, more research is needed.</p>



<p>“More studies are needed to fully understand the acceleration mechanism, the flow of energy, the role of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plasma-can-bend-magnetic-fields-into-unique-shapes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic fields</a> in jets of active galactic nuclei, and their geometries," said Röder. </p>



<p>He noted that the expanding EHT array will play an important role in the future discoveries on these fascinating objects. Collaboration will continue to play a crucial role as well.</p>



<p>“These results are based on the ongoing work of the EHT and are confirmed by the Global Millimeter VLBI Array studies. They demonstrate the importance of global partnerships, cutting-edge technologies and persistent research for scientific progress,” said J. Anton Zensus, director at MPIfR and founding chair of the EHT collaboration.</p>



<p>“With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-telescopes-can-directly-detect-signs-of-alien-life-in-exoplanet-atmospheres/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new telescopes</a> and the next generation of networks, we will continue to deepen our understanding of these fascinating cosmic phenomena.”</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/03/aa52600-24/aa52600-24.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</a></em>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Speed or illusion? The mystery of accelerating black hole jets

The universe is full of powerful forces, but few are...

<p>Storm forecasting has traditionally relied on studying atmospheric conditions. However, new research shows that ground surface conditions, especially soil moisture, can also be crucial for predicting severe storms.</p>



<p>This research, led by meteorologist Dr. Emma Barton of the&nbsp;UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UKCEH</a>), reveals that differences in soil moisture over large areas can significantly influence storm patterns. </p>



<p>The findings have the potential to improve early warning systems, particularly in tropical regions affected by climate change.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-soil-moisture-on-storms">Impact of soil moisture on storms</h2>



<p>The researchers found that soil moisture contrasts across hundreds of kilometers increase rainfall and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-storms-create-temporary-lakes-in-the-sahara-desert/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storm</a> size. This increase ranges from 10 to 30% based on the region and storm size.</p>



<p>These findings provide crucial insight into mesoscale convective systems, which cause flash floods and mudslides in regions with large populations, including Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia.</p>



<p>“Mesoscale convective systems are some of the most intense thunderstorms on the planet, and are increasing in <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/monster-storm-spawns-severe-weather-across-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">severity</a> due to climate change," noted Dr. Barton.</p>



<p>"Rising temperatures could increase the contrast between wet and dry areas of soils, further intensifying thunderstorms in already severely impacted regions."</p>



<p>Understanding how soil moisture interacts with storm activity is essential for improving both short-term storm forecasting and long-term projections. This knowledge will enable better warnings for communities, allowing them to prepare for approaching storms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-storm-examples">Real-world storm examples</h2>



<p>The study’s findings are particularly relevant in regions where severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shorter-storms-bigger-impact-rising-flood-risks-in-a-warmer-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storms</a> have become more common due to climate change. </p>



<p>Last year, Africa experienced its worst storm season in years. From June to September, West and Central Africa faced devastating flooding, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, the displacement of more than 500,000 people, and the destruction of 300,000 homes.</p>



<p>In Argentina, a severe storm in March 2025 claimed 13 lives and displaced over 1,000 people. It also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Similarly, in Bengal, India, a thunderstorm in March 2024 left hundreds injured and caused widespread damage to homes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-soil-moisture-before-storms">Observing soil moisture before storms</h2>



<p>This new study utilized two decades of satellite data, combined with soil moisture and storm <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rain-and-snow-are-difficult-to-forecast-at-near-freezing-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">activity</a> records, to understand storm patterns across several regions. </p>



<p>The analysis showed that soil conditions influencing rainfall can be observed two to five days before storms. This would allow for advance warnings of flash flooding and give communities time to prepare.</p>



<p>Early warnings could help people move to safer areas or take preventive actions, such as clearing drains. These preparations are crucial for minimizing the damage caused by severe weather events.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-focus-in-meteorology">Shifting focus in meteorology</h2>



<p>"Meteorologists tend to focus on atmospheric conditions to predict weather patterns. But, as a growing amount of evidence shows, we should also consider what is happening on the land surface to improve forecasting,” noted Dr. Cornelia Klein, study co-author and meteorologist at UKCEH.</p>



<p>The researchers found that soil moisture differences can create contrasts in air temperatures, which in turn can cause stronger shifts in wind speed and direction at higher altitudes. This turbulence helps storms grow and produce more rainfall over larger areas. </p>



<p>The study also observed similar soil moisture patterns in other regions such as China, Australia, and the US Great Plains.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tools-to-improve-storm-forecasting">Tools to improve storm forecasting</h2>



<p>In the next phase of the research, scientists will focus on understanding how soil moisture affects storms differently in various regions. This means they will study how soil moisture contrasts in different places and how it influences the behavior of storms in those specific areas.</p>



<p>The researchers will also use advanced climate models to predict how global warming might make storms stronger and more intense in the future. These models will help scientists better understand how changing temperatures affect storm patterns and rainfall.</p>



<p>UKCEH is working on creating new computer tools to improve short-term storm predictions. These tools will be able to forecast storms up to six hours ahead of time. This is crucial for giving communities more time to prepare for severe weather.</p>



<p>These new tools will help meteorological agencies provide more accurate and timely storm warnings, especially in regions like Africa. In these areas, satellite data is already used to monitor weather conditions, including soil moisture and atmospheric changes. By incorporating these new tools, meteorologists will be able to give more reliable warnings.</p>



<p>As a result, communities in tropical and other vulnerable regions will be better prepared to handle the growing risk of severe storms. This research and the technology being developed will help save lives, reduce damage, and improve overall storm preparedness.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01666-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.</em></p>



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How soil moisture can predict severe storms

Storm forecasting has traditionally relied on studying atmospheric conditions. However,...

<p>From playground coughs to forest blights, the young suffer more from disease than adults. This pattern stretches across ecosystems and species. Children in schools catch colds more frequently. Seedlings wilt under fungal attacks while <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-future-climate-conditions-will-transform-plant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mature</a> plants stand strong. </p>



<p>Scientists have long wondered why evolution hasn’t corrected this vulnerability. Shouldn’t early life be better protected, given how deadly infection can be at that stage?</p>



<p>A new study from University of Maryland (<a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UMD</a>) biologists brings some clarity to this age-old puzzle. Their work doesn’t focus on toddlers or baby animals, but on plants. Specifically, they looked at <em>Silene latifolia</em>, or white campion, a common wildflower in Europe and parts of North America. </p>



<p>This plant is often infected by a fungal disease called anther-smut. It doesn’t kill the host but stops it from reproducing by destroying its pollen-producing parts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-costly-defense-in-youth">A costly defense in youth</h2>



<p>The researchers found that young plants face a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-dont-all-plants-grow-everywhere-across-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">serious trade-off</a>. Those that resist disease early on do so at a steep cost. Their growth slows down, and their reproductive success later in life drops significantly.</p>



<p>“It’s a mystery why young organisms don’t evolve stronger disease resistance because getting sick early in life can be deadly,” said study co-author Emily Bruns, an assistant professor of biology at UMD. </p>



<p>“Our findings suggest that a hidden trade-off is involved, stopping them from being able to completely fight off a disease."</p>



<p>To uncover these patterns, the team grew 45 genetically different lines of the white campion under controlled lab conditions. They tracked how each one responded to the anther-smut fungus as seedlings and later in life. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-immunity-drains-energy">Early immunity drains energy</h2>



<p>The results showed that baby plants with stronger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-plants-cant-outrun-climate-change-on-their-own/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resistance</a> produced far fewer flowers and seeds as adults - even when grown in fields without any disease.</p>



<p>This surprised the researchers. Why should <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plants-build-their-cell-walls-is-seen-by-scientists-for-the-first-time-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defense</a> in early life cost so much? The answer lies in how plants allocate energy. </p>



<p>Young plants, like young animals, operate with limited internal resources. What they spend on defense cannot go toward growing roots, leaves, or reproductive tissues later.</p>



<p>“We found that young plants paid a higher ‘cost’ for fighting the disease compared with adult plants,” Bruns said. </p>



<p>“Trying to fight off the fungus was more difficult and resource-consuming for these baby plants. They only have so much energy to spend. If baby plants spend it on disease defense, they can’t put it toward future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predicting-how-climate-change-will-alter-plant-growth-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">growth</a>.”</p>



<p>This concept is important. Adult plants with high resistance show no such penalty. They’ve already developed their roots and leaves and can afford to spend more on immune defenses. </p>



<p>Seedlings, on the other hand, gamble with every drop of stored energy. Using it on immunity might leave them alive, but too weak to reproduce.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-is-halted-in-young-plants">Evolution is halted in young plants</h2>



<p>To test whether this cost could explain why strong juvenile resistance doesn’t evolve, the researchers created a mathematical model. It revealed that the energy price of resistance is high enough to halt the evolution of stronger defenses in young plants. </p>



<p>If this cost didn’t exist, plants with better early resistance would outcompete others and wipe out the disease. But because resistance drains future reproductive potential, evolution holds back.</p>



<p>“Some young plants ‘pay the cost’ and survive into adulthood, but they make fewer flowers, meaning they’re less able to reproduce,” Bruns explained. “But most remain susceptible as babies, allowing the disease a toehold.”</p>



<p>Even more surprisingly, the negative effects didn’t appear immediately. Young plants that resisted the disease looked healthy during the first growing season. But when they reached their reproductive peak in the second year, the impact showed. These plants bloomed far less than expected.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gender-shapes-the-impact">Gender shapes the impact</h2>



<p>The researchers also found a striking difference between male and female plants. Males suffered much higher penalties when they invested in resistance. </p>



<p>Bruns thinks this might be because male white campion plants produce more flowers than females. Their reproductive success depends on spreading as much pollen as possible, so losing energy to defense hits them harder.</p>



<p>“Male plants produce many more flowers than females to spread their pollen as widely as possible - making the cost of diverting resources to disease resistance especially steep for males,” she said.</p>



<p>This insight points to how evolution can apply pressure differently across sexes. In plants as in animals, reproductive strategy affects how disease shapes the body. The same infection might challenge one sex more than the other, depending on where they spend their biological resources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-young-plants-weakness-matters">Why young plants’ weakness matters </h2>



<p>While this research focuses on a wildflower, its implications stretch far. Many species - from humans to fish - show a similar pattern: greater vulnerability in youth. Bruns believes this study offers a new lens for thinking about why that happens.</p>



<p>Because juveniles carry the disease burden for many populations, understanding why they remain vulnerable could help us design better approaches in agriculture, conservation, and health.</p>



<p>“Nature is full of infectious diseases. Understanding the different checks and balances between hosts and pathogens helps us understand how evolution has shaped these relationships over millions of years,” Bruns said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-experiments-and-applications">Future experiments and applications</h2>



<p>The team doesn’t plan to stop with this study. They now want to know if timing matters. What happens if the disease hits just a little later - after seedlings grow their first true leaves and rely less on stored energy? Could resistance become less costly then?</p>



<p>They also plan to explore another angle: the protective effect of adult plants. If resistant adult plants surround seedlings, would that lower the local disease pressure? Could the adults, in effect, guard the next generation by absorbing the fungal threat?</p>



<p>These questions could open new research paths - not just for ecologists, but also for people trying to reduce disease in crops or manage infections in wildlife. </p>



<p>Evolution has no perfect solutions. But studies like this reveal the complex calculations that every organism, even a wildflower seedling, must make.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2419192122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</em></a></p>



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Young plants pay a big price for fighting off disease

From playground coughs to forest blights, the young suffer more...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-monitoring-networks">Scientific monitoring networks</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



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Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



<p id="block-9bd989d6-2fd3-4580-957f-6cacce134f08">-----</p>



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<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-people-s-reactions-influence-children-s-eating-habits">Other people's reactions influence children's eating habits</h2>



<p>Many children are finicky eaters, but research explains how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-learned-why-so-many-kids-dislike-vegetables/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watching others eat and social modeling</a> influence the eating habits of children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Study Methodology Demonstrates Social Learning Impact</h2>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston University School of Psychology</a> have published findings in Frontiers in Psychology that illuminate the neurobiological foundations of food preference development through observational learning. The investigation employed controlled video stimuli featuring adults consuming raw broccoli while displaying systematically varied facial expressions to measure participant responses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Asymmetrical Response Patterns Identified</h2>



<p>The research, conducted with 204 female participants, revealed a pronounced asymmetry in social modeling effects. Negative facial expressions during vegetable consumption significantly diminished observer food preference ratings, while positive expressions failed to produce corresponding increases in vegetable appeal. This finding challenges conventional assumptions about the bidirectional nature of social influence in dietary behavior formation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evolutionary Psychology Framework Applied</h2>



<p>Dr. Katie Edwards and her research team propose that these results reflect adaptive mechanisms developed through evolutionary processes. The heightened sensitivity to disgust expressions likely functions as a protective system, enabling individuals to identify potentially harmful foods through social cues without direct risk exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clinical and Educational Implications</h2>



<p>These findings carry substantial implications for pediatric nutrition interventions and family meal dynamics. The research suggests that parental expressions of distaste during vegetable consumption may inadvertently reinforce children's existing food aversions through unconscious social transmission pathways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Research Directions</h2>



<p>The study establishes a foundation for expanded investigation into real-time social modeling effects and cross-demographic applicability. Researchers emphasize the necessity for longitudinal studies examining actual consumption behaviors rather than preference ratings alone, particularly within family contexts where social learning occurs most frequently.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc Some children read facial expressions when making food choices....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-causing-protein-bound-and-blocked">Cancer-causing protein bound and blocked</h2>



<p>In a discovery that can one day revolutionize cancer treatment, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a> have successfully developed a means of controlling MYC, a notoriously slippery protein that causes approximately <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chaotic-protein-that-fuels-75-of-cancers-can-be-controlled/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">75% of all cancers in humans</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-myc-different">What makes MYC different</h2>



<p>MYC presents a unique challenge when studying cancer. Normally, this protein plays a vital role in healthy cells. It carefully controls transcription - the process that converts genetic information from DNA and RNA into proteins.</p>



<p>However, cancer changes everything. In cancer cells, MYC becomes a destructive force. It operates in overdrive mode with no regulation whatsoever.</p>



<p>Professor Min Xue, who led the research team, explains it simply: "MYC is less like food for cancer cells and more like a steroid. It drives cancer's aggressive growth." This superactive behavior makes MYC involved in three out of every four cancer cases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-myc-is-hard-to-target">Why MYC is hard to target</h2>



<p>Despite its clear role in cancer, targeting MYC has been one of medicine's biggest challenges. The main problem lies in MYC's unusual structure - or rather, its complete lack of structure.</p>



<p>Professor Xue describes the protein as "basically a glob of randomness." This means conventional drug discovery methods don't work. These traditional approaches rely on sharply defined protein structures. MYC simply doesn't have one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Approach to Fighting MYC</h2>



<p>The UCR research team developed a clever solution. They designed a special peptide molecule that could selectively bind to MYC. More importantly, this peptide could block MYC's destructive activity.</p>



<p>The key was fine-tuning two specific features: the peptide's stiffness and its shape. Through careful adjustments, researchers achieved something remarkable. They reached "sub-micro-molar affinity" - meaning their peptide binds as strongly as antibodies do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-results">Breakthrough results</h2>



<p>This accomplishment represents a major leap beyond previous attempts. The researchers enhanced their peptide's binding strength by two orders of magnitude. This dramatic improvement brings the work significantly closer to practical drug development goals.</p>



<p>The research opens new possibilities for treating the vast majority of cancers where MYC plays a destructive role.</p>



<p>The researchers are presently optimizing peptide-delivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver the peptide effectively into cancer cells. The<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> National Institutes of Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Defense</a> funded the study, which appeared in the Journal of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>.<br>This research offers renewed hope against cancer, and it can potentially open a door to more effective cancer therapies for most cancer patients worldwide.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The protein that fuels 3 out of 4 cancers has been controlled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



<p>On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.</p>



<p>This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.</p>



<p>Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.</p>



<p>The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators.  Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas.  These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.</p>



<p>Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



<p>Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.</p>



<p>Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



<p>385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.</p>



<p>The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.</p>



<p>Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



<p>The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."</p>



<p>This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a></em> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.</p>



<p>Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet <em>Archaeopteris</em>: the first modern tree</h2>



<p>The star of this ancient forest is <em>Archaeopteris</em> – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur <em>Archaeopteryx</em>. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.</p>



<p>William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.</p>



<p>Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



<p>These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.</p>



<p>This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



<p>The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified <em>Eospermatopteris</em>, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.</p>



<p>All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



<p>Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.</p>



<p>Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."</p>



<p>The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



<p>In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.</p>



<p>Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



<p>Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.</p>



<p>Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.</p>



<p>These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.</p>



<p>The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-map-exact-ages-when-your-body-rapidly-ages">Scientists Map Exact Ages When Your Body Rapidly Ages</h2>



<p>Scientists have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-two-very-precise-ages/#google_vignette">discovered that aging</a> isn't the gradual, steady process many assume it to be. Instead, researchers from Stanford Medicine have found that our bodies undergo dramatic molecular changes at two specific ages: 44 and 60. This research, published in Nature Aging, reveals that aging happens in sudden bursts rather than smooth transitions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-waves-of-rapid-aging">Two waves of rapid aging</h2>



<p>The Stanford study tracked over 135,000 different molecules and microbes in 108 participants aged 25 to 75 over several years. Results showed that 81% of all molecules studied exhibited non-linear changes, meaning they shifted dramatically at certain ages rather than changing gradually over time.</p>



<p>Michael Snyder, chair of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine and the study's senior author, noted significant findings. "We're not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes. It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that's true no matter what class of molecules you look at."</p>



<p>The first wave of changes occurs around age 44, affecting molecules related to alcohol metabolism, caffeine processing, lipid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>, and skin and muscle function. The second wave hits around age 60, involving changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, and again cardiovascular and muscle health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-during-these-aging-bursts">What happens during these aging bursts</h2>



<p>During the mid-40s transformation, researchers observed significant changes in how the body processes alcohol and fats. This period often coincides with increased stress levels in many people's lives, potentially contributing to lifestyle factors that accelerate these molecular shifts.</p>



<p>"It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, rather than being driven by biological factors," Snyder explained. For instance, alcohol metabolism dysfunction might result from increased consumption during the typically stressful mid-40s period.</p>



<p>The changes at age 60 are perhaps less surprising, as this is when many age-related diseases begin to manifest more prominently. The molecular shifts affect immune function and kidney health, both critical for maintaining overall wellness as we enter our senior years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-latest-research-confirms-aging-patterns">Latest research confirms aging patterns</h2>



<p>Recent 2025 studies have validated these findings. Research examining tissue samples from 76 people found similar aging patterns, noting an "inflection point" between ages 45 and 55.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered that blood vessels, particularly the aorta, age fastest among all body tissues. This vascular aging may drive aging in other body parts, highlighting cardiovascular health's central role in the aging process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cellular-changes-and-microbiome-shifts">Cellular changes and microbiome shifts</h2>



<p>The Stanford research revealed that these aging bursts affect our microbiome – the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and on our bodies. These microbial communities undergo substantial shifts during both aging periods, potentially affecting everything from digestion to immune function.</p>



<p>Additionally, researchers found that protein production and gene expression begin to fall out of sync as we age. This breakdown in cellular communication becomes especially pronounced during the two aging waves, contributing to the accumulation of damaged proteins associated with diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-brain-disorder-important-data-was-fabricated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-implications-and-longevity-considerations">Health implications and longevity considerations</h2>



<p>Understanding these aging patterns has important implications for healthcare strategies. Research suggests that people should pay particular attention to their health during their 40s and 60s, when these dramatic molecular changes occur.</p>



<p>Snyder emphasized the importance of proactive health measures. "I'm a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we're still healthy," he noted. This might include increasing exercise to protect heart health and maintain muscle mass, or reducing alcohol consumption in the 40s as the body's ability to metabolize it declines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-approaches-to-anti-aging-treatment">New approaches to anti-aging treatment</h2>



<p>Aging research has seen notable advances in 2025. Harvard Medical School scientists developed chemical cocktails that reverse cellular aging without genetic modification. These six combinations restored aged cells to youthfulness in under a week, offering safer alternatives to gene therapy.</p>



<p>Researchers identified new biomarkers like "InflammAge," a saliva-based test measuring chronic inflammation associated with aging. This non-invasive approach could change how we monitor aging and intervention.</p>



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



<p>Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cellular reprogramming, and senolytic therapies, are opening new possibilities for extending healthspan. Companies develop treatments targeting aging's fundamental mechanisms rather than just managing age-related diseases.</p>



<p>The Stanford findings provide a roadmap for implementing preventive measures. Rather than waiting for symptoms, people can prepare for and potentially mitigate these predictable aging waves.</p>



<p>As aging understanding evolves, one thing becomes clear: aging isn't inevitable decline, but specific biological events we may learn to prevent or reverse. The key is recognizing when these transitions occur and taking proactive health steps during vulnerable periods.</p>



<p>The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/nataging" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Aging</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists discover we age in bursts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-discover-the-brain-s-tickling-command-center">Scientists discover the brain's 'tickling command center'</h2>



<p>Researchers have finally solved one of humanity's most enduring mysteries: why we can't <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-centuries-of-debate-we-still-dont-know-how-tickling-works/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickle</a> ourselves and what makes some people incredibly ticklish while others barely react? Recent scientific discoveries are revolutionizing our understanding of this peculiar human behavior.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-discovery-in-the-brain">Breakthrough discovery in the brain</h2>



<p>In 2023, Dr. Michael Brecht's team at <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humboldt University</a>-<a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berlin</a> made a major discovery published in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)01991-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal <em>Neuron</em></a>. They identified the brain's actual "tickling command center" – specific neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray that control both tickling responses and play behavior.</p>



<p>When researchers used cutting-edge optogenetic technology to shut down these neurons in laboratory rats, something remarkable happened. The animals completely lost their ability to be tickled or engage in playful behavior.</p>



<p>"We found that global blockade of the rat periaqueductal gray with either muscimol or lidocaine interfered with ticklishness and play," the research team reported in their study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-types-of-tickling-revealed">Two types of tickling revealed</h2>



<p>What we call "tickling" is two completely different phenomena, according to the latest research. Light tickling – that feathery sensation that makes you want to scratch – is essentially your body's sophisticated bug detection system. This alerts you to potential insects or parasites on your skin.</p>



<p>Deep tickling – the kind that makes you laugh uncontrollably – involves complex brain circuits and is fundamentally social. You literally cannot tickle yourself with this type of stimulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-self-tickling-is-impossible">Why self-tickling is impossible</h2>



<p>Your cerebellum acts like a prediction machine, recent findings show. When you move your own hand to touch yourself, your brain generates precise predictions about what you will feel and then cancels out the tickling sensation through neural inhibition.</p>



<p>When someone else tickles you, your brain can't predict their movements, so the full tickling response activates. It's like your brain's way of distinguishing between self and others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual-differences-explained">Individual differences explained</h2>



<p>Individual differences in ticklishness depend on genetics, psychology, and even trust. Dr. Xinzhong Dong at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> notes that people with denser nerve endings tend to be more sensitive.</p>



<p>Psychological factors matter just as much. You respond more strongly when tickled by people you trust, and anxiety completely shuts down tickling responses. This explains why the same physical stimulus can produce completely different reactions depending on who's doing the tickling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-your-ticklishness">Controlling your ticklishness</h2>



<p>Science offers answers for controlling your ticklishness. You can reduce tickling sensitivity through systematic desensitization – gradual exposure in controlled settings.</p>



<p>Dr. Konstantina Kilteni's 2025 research, published in <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt0350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>, reveals another technique: place your hand on the tickler's hand. This allows your brain to partially predict the sensations, reducing the tickling response by up to 90 percent.</p>



<p>"Your brain is essentially learning to override its own reflexes," Kilteni explained in her review of tickling research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-purpose-discovered">Evolutionary purpose discovered</h2>



<p>From an evolutionary perspective, tickling serves vital functions according to <a href="https://www.umd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> researcher Dr. Robert Provine's extensive studies. It trains our defense reflexes for vulnerable body areas and facilitates social bonding between family members.</p>



<p>Tickling-induced laughter is actually one of the first forms of communication between infants and caregivers. "Tickle involves a neurological self/nonself discrimination, providing the most primitive social scenario," Provine noted in his research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-applications-emerge">Clinical applications emerge</h2>



<p>Research shows people with autism spectrum disorder perceive touches as more ticklish than people without the condition. Investigating this difference could provide insight into brain differences and help advance autism research.</p>



<p>People with schizophrenia tend to experience self-touches similarly to external tickles, allowing them to essentially tickle themselves. This suggests altered sensory prediction mechanisms in the condition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-research-reveals-universal-nature">Animal research reveals universal nature</h2>



<p>Scientists have discovered that many species beyond humans are ticklish. Rats emit ultrasonic "laughs" when tickled, while chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans all respond to tickling stimulation.</p>



<p>This widespread occurrence across species suggests that tickling serves fundamental biological and social functions that evolved long before humans developed complex language and culture.</p>



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



<p>Dr. Kilteni argues that tickling research deserves more scientific attention. "It is a complex interplay of motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects," she stated in her recent review.</p>



<p>New haptic technologies and advanced research methodologies now permit scientists to investigate tickle sensation with unprecedented precision. Standardized experimental methods using mechanical tickling devices ensure consistent results across studies.</p>



<p>Recent findings published in <em>Science Advances</em> show that tickling research is opening new doors in neuroscience, potentially leading to a better understanding of social behavior, sensory processing, and neurological conditions.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4 The hidden science behind tickling. Scientists discover the brain's...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals secret mission to create working time travel device.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-an-equation-truly-bend-time-a-physicist-s-decades-long-quest-to-rewrite-reality">Could an equation truly bend time? A physicist's decades-long quest to rewrite reality</h2>



<p>Imagine the impossible: stepping back through time in a time machine, not in fantasy, but through a scientific endeavor driven by profound personal loss. For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrophysicist-says-hes-cracked-the-equation-for-time-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Ronald Mallett</a>, a distinguished astrophysicist and professor emeritus at the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut</a>, this deeply human longing has fueled a lifelong mission. He claims to have discovered the equation that could unlock temporal displacement, pushing boundaries once deemed purely science fiction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-profound-grief-that-forged-a-vision">A profound grief that forged a vision</h2>



<p>Mallett's extraordinary pursuit began with devastating tragedy in 1955. At merely 10 years old, he endured his father Boyd's sudden death—a television repairman whose passion for science had ignited a similar spark in his young son. Boyd Mallett, only 33, succumbed to a heart attack, leaving behind a grief-stricken child searching for solace.</p>



<p>That solace came through H.G. Wells' <em>The Time Machine</em>. Within its pages, Mallett found a captivating concept: "Time is only a kind of Space." These words transformed from a literary phrase into a guiding principle, becoming the driving force behind his unwavering commitment to unraveling time's fundamental mysteries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-humble-beginnings-to-academic-heights">From humble beginnings to academic heights</h2>



<p>Mallett's journey was far from straightforward. After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era, he utilized the GI Bill for higher education, earning his Ph.D. in physics from Pennsylvania State University in 1973 at the age of 28.</p>



<p>In 1975, he made history as the first African American professor in the University of Connecticut's physics department, achieving full professorship in 1987 before retiring in 2024 as professor emeritus.</p>



<p>Throughout these successful academic years, Mallett harbored his radical ambition as a closely guarded secret. "I kept my time travel goal a secret," he confessed. "I worried people would think I was nuts." His public research centered on black holes, serving as a "cover story" while he quietly developed his revolutionary time travel theory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-breakthrough-moment">The breakthrough moment</h2>



<p>His pivotal insight arrived while hospitalized for a heart condition—a profound irony given his father's heart attack started this journey. The breakthrough was elegantly simple yet revolutionary: "If gravity can bend time, and light can create gravity, then light can bend time."</p>



<p>"It turns out that black holes can create a gravitational field that could lead to the creation of time loops that could allow us to go back in time," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-blueprint-for-a-temporal-vortex">The blueprint for a temporal vortex</h2>



<p>Mallett's vision for a functioning time machine replicates spacetime-warping phenomena around black holes. He offers a compelling analogy: "Picture a cup of coffee. Stir it with a spoon, and the coffee swirls. A spinning black hole does the same to spacetime."</p>



<p>In Einstein's general relativity, the universe is a dynamic fabric woven from space and time. Massive objects like black holes warp this fabric—an effect we perceive as gravity. Mallett theorizes that an intense, continuous, circulating beam of light from a ring of powerful lasers could replicate this gravitational torsion, effectively twisting time into a loop.</p>



<p>This "time loop" would theoretically allow information—or perhaps matter—to travel backward in time. He detailed this mathematical concept in his 2006 autobiography, <em>Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-published-research-and-recognition">Published research and recognition</h2>



<p>His work, published in respected journals including <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/physics-letters-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics Letters A</a></em> and <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations of Physics</a></em>, suggests circulating laser light could generate gravitational fields potent enough to create closed timelike curves, enabling time travel for data.</p>



<p>Mallett's research has gained worldwide media attention, featured on <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio's <em>This American Life</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.history.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">History Channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC's <em>Today Show</em></a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galactic-hurdles-and-persistent-skepticism">The galactic hurdles and persistent skepticism</h2>



<p>While Mallett's equations captivate imagination, the path to reality faces immense obstacles. The energy requirement is staggering—Mallett acknowledges needing "galactic amounts of energy," far beyond current technological capabilities.</p>



<p>There's also a poignant limitation: even if realized, his machine could only send information back to when it was first activated, meaning it couldn't transport him to 1955 to prevent his father's death.</p>



<p>The scientific community remains skeptical. Physicists Ken Olum and Allen Everett argue that Mallett's proposed laser ring would need to be larger than the observable universe to achieve the necessary spacetime distortion. They invoke Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture, suggesting physics may prevent macroscopic time travel.</p>



<p>Astrophysicist Paul Sutter has voiced doubts about Mallett's underlying mathematics, while science writer Brian Clegg finds the concept intriguing enough to warrant experimental investigation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-that-transcends-time">A legacy that transcends time</h2>



<p>Now approaching 80, Dr. Mallett remains steadfast. "I believe my work will show time travel is possible," he asserts. "Future generations will build on it in ways we can't yet imagine."</p>



<p>His equations, though yet to physically bend time, have bent our collective imagination. Ongoing public interest, evidenced by his continued media appearances and Spike Lee's film adaptation of his memoir, underscores his ideas' profound impact.</p>



<p>More than a scientific pursuit, Mallett's story testifies to human resilience, intellectual courage, and hope's enduring power. Whether his theoretical time machine ever materializes, his legacy is immeasurable—inspiring countless individuals to challenge conventional limits and perceive time not as an unyielding barrier, but as a boundless frontier awaiting exploration.</p>



<p></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

<p>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. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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).</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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;</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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?</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ACS Reactions</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

How does salt makes things taste better?

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>'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)."</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Santiago, Chile in South America

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