<p>For half a century, black hole fireworks have lived mostly in theory. The standard picture holds that if black holes ever “explode,” it’s vanishingly rare - maybe once every 100,000 years somewhere in the universe - and far beyond our reach to witness.</p>



<p>A new analysis flips that expectation on its head. Physicists at the <a href="https://www.umass.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Massachusetts Amherst</a> argue there’s better than a nine-in-ten chance that an observable black hole outburst will occur in the next ten years. </p>



<p>The team noted that our existing array of space- and ground-based telescopes is already capable of seeing it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-holes-that-can-explode">Black holes that can explode</h2>



<p>The scenario hinges on a particular class of black hole first proposed by Stephen Hawking in 1970: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primordial-black-holes-may-be-shifting-earths-orbit/">primordial black holes</a> (PBHs).</p>



<p>Unlike their heavyweight cousins born from the deaths of massive stars, PBHs could have formed in the first fractions of a second after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/if-the-big-bang-theory-is-correct-what-exactly-happened/">Big Bang</a>. During that time, extreme density ripples compressed pockets of the early universe.</p>



<p>Crucially, a PBH can be far lighter than a stellar black hole. And the lighter a black hole is, the hotter it becomes, slowly bleeding energy as particles via Hawking radiation. </p>



<p>As it shrinks, it heats up even more in a runaway process that ends in a final, brilliant outburst. This outburst is a flash of particles and high-energy light that, in principle, we can detect.</p>



<p>That last part has been the sticking point. If PBHs exist, why haven’t we seen one go off? The prevailing wisdom has been that the odds are simply too small on human timescales.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-twist-with-big-consequences">Small twist with big consequences</h2>



<p>The UMass Amherst team revisited one of the field’s quiet assumptions: that primordial black holes carry no electric charge. </p>



<p>In their work, they explore a “dark QED” toy model - an analog of electromagnetism that includes a very heavy, hypothetical cousin of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shape-of-electrons-revealed-first-time-through-big-advance-in-quantum-physics/">electron</a>, sometimes called a dark electron.</p>



<p>If PBHs formed with even a tiny amount of this dark electric charge, the researchers show, the charge could temporarily stabilize the black hole’s evaporation. That pause delays the finale, so more PBHs would be reaching their terminal phase now. </p>



<p>With all current experimental constraints folded in, their calculations shift the expected cadence of observable PBH explosions from “about once every hundred millennia” to “roughly once per decade.”</p>



<p>“We’re not claiming it’s guaranteed, but the probability may be as high as 90% that one occurs within the next ten years," said Baker.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-catching-an-exploding-black-hole">Catching an exploding black hole</h2>



<p>If a PBH is in its endgame, it should spew a burst of Hawking radiation: a short-lived cascade of particles and photons across a broad energy range. That signature is exactly the kind of high-energy transient today’s observatories are built to chase.</p>



<p>Space telescopes sensitive to gamma rays and X-rays, wide-field optical surveyors scanning the sky nightly, and radio arrays listening for fleeting bursts could all contribute to catching - and confirming - the event. </p>



<p>Because only lightweight primordial black holes can explode today, detecting Hawking radiation would be tantamount to detecting a PBH.</p>



<p>The team’s message is simple: prepare the observing playbook now. Coordinated triggers, rapid follow-up, and cross-checks across wavelengths could turn a single flash into a definitive detection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detection-would-rewrite-the-textbooks">Detection would rewrite the textbooks</h2>



<p>Seeing a PBH explode would do more than check a box next to Hawking’s most famous prediction. It would provide the first direct evidence that black holes radiate and evaporate, lifting a key idea out of the realm of theory and into observation.</p>



<p>It would also prove PBHs exist at all - and that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-baby-pictures-of-the-very-early-universe-cosmic-microwave-background/">infant universe</a> could seed gravitational monsters without stars. Perhaps most tantalizing, the debris of that final flash would act like a cosmic census. </p>



<p>In principle, the particle spray encodes every constituent of nature that couples to gravity and can be thermally produced. These include familiar residents like electrons and quarks, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/higgs-boson-god-particle-still-remains-quantum-mystery-after-12-years/">Higgs boson</a>, any dark matter particles if they exist, and potentially species we’ve never seen.</p>



<p>A single well-observed event could offer a once-only inventory of the universe’s building blocks, informing everything from particle physics to cosmology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bold-claims-big-stakes">Bold claims, big stakes</h2>



<p>Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence. The group’s “dark QED” setup is intentionally simple, and the true microphysics of any dark sector - if it exists - could differ.</p>



<p>Still, the work highlights how modest changes to long-held assumptions can dramatically alter expectations for what we might observe. </p>



<p>It also underscores an opportunity: even if the odds are lower than the headline number, the payoff of a detection is so immense that it makes sense to plan for it.</p>



<p>We already know how to look. We already have the tools. If nature obliges, the next decade could deliver a brief, brilliant flash that confirms Hawking radiation, reveals <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/directly-detecting-dark-matter-primordial-black-holes-simple-as-monitoring-mars-orbit/">primordial black holes</a>, and hands physicists a ledger of the universe’s particles - all in one cosmic firework.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/nwgd-g3zl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Physical Review Letters</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Astronomers think a black hole may explode soon, and they're not going to miss it

For half a century, black hole fireworks have lived mostly in theory. The standard picture holds that if black holes ever “explode,” it’s vanishingly rare - maybe once every 100,000 years somewhere in the universe - and far beyond our reach to witness. A new analysis flips that expectation on its head. Physicists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst argue there’s better than a nine-in-ten chance that an observable black hole outburst will occur in the next ten years. The team noted that our existing array of...

<p>Sharks have roamed the oceans for millions of years. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth make them top predators that are capable of influencing entire marine ecosystems. </p>



<p>However, understanding what they eat and where they feed remains difficult. This is especially true for rare or protected species where direct sampling poses legal and ethical challenges.</p>



<p>Traditionally, scientists study shark diets by examining their teeth. But collecting samples from live sharks can be risky, costly, and often impossible, especially when dealing with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-great-hammerhead-sharks-rarely-leave-home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threatened species</a>. </p>



<p>Yet, every opportunity to gather data matters. That’s where the past meets the present - inside the drawers and display cases of museums.</p>



<p>A new study led by researchers from Flinders University has found that preserved shark jaws - often considered to be static relics - can be a powerful scientific resource. </p>



<p>Using teeth from sharks in historical collections, researchers can now study shark diets without touching a living specimen.</p>



<p>This breakthrough offers new hope for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-third-of-shark-species-face-extinction-despite-fishing-bans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine science</a> and conservation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-jaws-reveal-feeding-secrets">Shark jaws reveal feeding secrets</h2>



<p>Shark teeth hold chemical signatures that reveal details of their past meals and feeding grounds. These signatures come from ratios of stable isotopes - naturally occurring variations of chemical elements. By examining these isotopes, scientists can piece together an animal’s ecological history.</p>



<p>Until now, scientists avoided using preserved jaws due to concerns that cleaning chemicals might have distorted the isotopes.</p>



<p>Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-sharks-face-growing-threats-despite-conservation-efforts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shark</a> jaws in museums and private collections have been treated with substances like ethanol, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide. These treatments whiten the teeth but were thought to possibly alter their chemical composition.</p>



<p>However, the new research shows otherwise. The team discovered that these chemicals do not affect the key isotopes used in diet studies. This means that thousands of jaws from past decades are now usable in ways previously thought impossible.</p>



<p>"Most shark jaws in museums and private collections are chemically treated, so understanding if, or how these treatments affect tooth isotopes is crucial," said Flinders research associate Dr. Lauren Meyer.</p>



<p>"Finding that preservation chemicals had no impact on isotope values opens the door for the use of jaws from historic collections across Australia and globally."</p>



<p>This discovery means scientists can study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-may-benefit-from-rising-temperatures-but-not-from-rising-co2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shark</a> diets without needing fresh tissue samples. It also significantly broadens the scope of possible studies, including comparative diet research across different eras and regions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-clarity-through-isotope-testing">Chemical clarity through isotope testing</h2>



<p>The study involved stable isotope analysis, which looks at carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotopes. These elements help identify where and what an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/megalodon-was-sleeker-and-longer-than-previously-imagined/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal</a> has been eating.</p>



<p>"The chemicals in teeth provide a story of what the shark has eaten and from where, whether that be sea lions in South Australia, or tuna in New South Wales," explained lead author Laura Holmes, from the Southern Shark Ecology Group in the College of Science and Engineering at <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a>.</p>



<p>The researchers partnered with the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at the <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tasmania</a>. </p>



<p>The team tested teeth from three very different elasmobranchs: cownose rays, gummy sharks, and broadnose sevengill sharks.</p>



<p>Despite their structural differences, all samples held up under isotope testing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-species-now-within-scientific-reach">Rare species now within scientific reach</h2>



<p>Access to historical jaws brings particular value when studying rare or threatened shark species. These species often cannot be sampled directly, but many have had jaws collected as trophies. </p>



<p>With these now validated as reliable data sources, older specimens can help researchers understand long-term dietary trends.</p>



<p>"This is especially useful for rare or threatened species, for which standard tissue samples may not be readily available, but for which trophy jaws have been collected, such as white sharks, tiger sharks, and makos," said Dr. Meyer.</p>



<p>Older collections, such as those from the 1970s and 1980s, now offer a scientific window into the past. This information is crucial as many shark species face increasing pressure from human activities, climate change, and habitat degradation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applications-across-marine-life">Applications across marine life</h2>



<p>While this study focused on sharks and rays, the implications go beyond these groups.</p>



<p>Other marine predators, such as killer whales, sperm whales, and fur seals, also have teeth stored in museum collections. These could be tested using the same methods, opening new research pathways.</p>



<p>"This study opens the door to use a tremendous resource of samples to untangle the current and historic diet and foraging habitats of complex predators - making the most exciting finding from this study the capacity for new research that is now possible," said Dr. Meyer.</p>



<p>These findings not only expand the toolkit for marine scientists but also enhance our understanding of ocean ecosystems over time. Every preserved tooth could tell a story. </p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113625001205?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Environmental Research</a></em>.</p>



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Chemical clues from old shark jaws reveal diets and habitats

Sharks have roamed the oceans for millions of years. Their...

<p>The feeling of fullness after a nice meal usually prevents us from eating more. This is a familiar experience for humans, but we are not alone. We share this with starfish and many other organisms as well.</p>



<p>New research indicates that the same message instructing us to eat no more has existed for more than 500 million years. The same molecule affecting our feeding behavior in this way also acts on starfish and other sea animals.</p>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a> have followed the evolutionary trail of a neurohormone named bombesin, which regulates appetite in humans. </p>



<p>Collaborating with colleagues at the Institut Pasteur in Paris and the University of Warwick, the researchers discovered that this satiety-inducing peptide is much older than was thought, and is found in animals that lived before the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/over-half-of-the-worlds-vertebrates-reside-in-the-tropics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vertebrates</a> set foot on Earth.</p>



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



<p>Bombesin is a small peptide that helps regulate appetite by sending a message when it's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neurons-discovered-that-tell-us-when-to-stop-eating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">time to stop eating</a>. While it’s been studied in humans and other mammals, its origins were less understood - until now. </p>



<p>Researchers discovered that a bombesin-like molecule is present in echinoderms like starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.</p>



<p>If you’re wondering about the unusual name, bombesin isn’t explosive. It’s named after the fire-bellied toad, <em>Bombina bombina</em>, where it was first identified in 1971. </p>



<p>Scientists noticed that injecting this compound into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evolutionary-mystery-why-are-mammals-the-only-vertebrates-to-have-only-one-lower-jawbone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a> caused them to eat less and take longer between meals. This led to the idea that bombesin-like neurohormones are part of the body’s natural appetite control system.</p>



<p>Today, compounds that mimic bombesin are being explored as potential treatments for obesity, alongside well-known medications like Ozempic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-needle-in-a-haystack">A needle in a haystack</h2>



<p>The research team began by searching for bombesin-like genes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-noise-can-be-fatal-to-marine-invertebrates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine invertebrates</a>. </p>



<p>“It was a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Professor Maurice Elphick. “But eventually we discovered genes encoding a bombesin-like neurohormone in the genomes of starfish and their relatives.”</p>



<p>Once the gene was identified in the common starfish (<em>Asterias rubens</em>), scientists named the molecule ArBN. </p>



<p>Collaborators at the University of Warwick used mass spectrometry to determine the exact structure of ArBN, which allowed the molecule to be synthesized for lab testing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-starfish-eat-or-not-eat">Watching starfish eat - or not eat</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/starfish-break-off-their-arms-to-evade-danger-and-regenerate-them-later/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starfish</a> feed in a bizarre and fascinating way: they push their stomachs out through their mouths to digest prey like mussels. The team wanted to know how ArBN affected this feeding behavior.</p>



<p>“When I tested ArBN, I saw that it caused contraction of the starfish stomach. This suggested that ArBN might be involved in stimulating stomach retraction when starfish stop feeding. And this is exactly what I found," explained Dr. Weiling Huang, who conducted the behavioral tests. </p>



<p>"When I injected ArBN into starfish with their stomachs everted, it triggered the stomach to retract back into the mouth. What’s more, ArBN also delayed the initiation of feeding, as starfish injected with ArBN took longer to enclose a mussel compared to those injected with water.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-molecule-older-than-starfish">A molecule older than starfish</h2>



<p>Understanding that bombesin-like molecules have been regulating feeding behavior since before the rise of vertebrates adds an important piece to the puzzle of how appetite evolved. </p>



<p>“We can infer that this function extends back half-a-billion years to the common ancestor of starfish, humans, and other vertebrates,” said Professor Elphick.</p>



<p>But the implications go beyond biology textbooks. Some species of starfish are moving into new habitats due to climate change. In particular, these species are seeking cooler waters where shellfish farms are located, and may threaten aquaculture operations.</p>



<p>“One of the consequences of climate change is that some starfish species are invading cooler waters where shellfish are cultivated for human consumption,” said Professor Elphick.</p>



<p>“Discovering molecules that inhibit feeding in starfish could be useful in managing these invasions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-an-ancient-molecule">More than just an ancient molecule</h2>



<p>This study connects two very different worlds: the sophisticated brain-gut interactions in humans and the slow, alien feeding behavior of starfish. Yet both rely on the same ancient molecule to know when it's time to stop eating.</p>



<p>As scientific discoveries reveal the biological links between species, the deep interconnectedness of all life becomes ever more apparent.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2420966122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a></em>.</p>



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Ancient molecule tells starfish and humans when to stop eating

The feeling of fullness after a nice meal usually prevents...

<p>Humans are good at using the things that the natural world has to offer. Trees are used for their timber and fruits, bees and other insects pollinate our crops, and mountains bring us peace. But what happens when nature is pushed too far? </p>



<p>As the planet heats up and extreme weather becomes more frequent, we may soon find ourselves counting the real cost - not just in lost trees or damaged trails, but in disappearing livelihoods and shaken communities.</p>



<p>Imagine Colorado’s wildflower meadows scorched by wildfire, or a strawberry field yielding less because heat drives away pollinators. These aren’t just <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental losses</a>; they impact economies, families, and entire ways of life. </p>



<p>As extreme weather becomes more frequent, scientists are asking a new kind of question: How do we measure what we’re about to lose? A recent study led by <a href="https://www.colorado.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CU Boulder</a> researchers brings new tools to that conversation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-extreme-weather-harms-nature">How extreme weather harms nature</h2>



<p>In a paper published in <em>Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</em>, ecologist Laura Dee and her team introduced a computer model that looks at extreme weather with a fresh perspective.</p>



<p>The model connects environmental damage with economic and social consequences. It’s designed to predict what could happen if violent storms, fires, or floods hit ecosystems that people depend on.</p>



<p>The study’s example is striking: a forest in Minnesota could lose up to 50% of its timber income if a severe windstorm strikes.</p>



<p>“With climate change, there’s an urgent need to incorporate the impacts [that] extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-must-reconnect-with-nature-now-to-save-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">events</a> like mega-fires and hurricanes have on the benefits nature provides,” said Laura Dee, the paper’s first author and associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.</p>



<p>“This research is an important step toward anticipating impacts to ecosystem services so that we can adapt management strategies accordingly.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-ecosystem-services">Understanding ecosystem services</h2>



<p>The model focuses on what scientists call “ecosystem services,” which are the direct and indirect benefits that people derive from natural processes.</p>



<p>These include water purification by tree roots, crop pollination by insects, and carbon storage in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-grip-on-co2-is-slipping-what-it-means-for-us-all/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a>. They also include less obvious values, like the joy of hiking or the cultural significance of a mountain lake.</p>



<p>Traditionally, climate models have treated environmental changes as gradual - things that happen slowly over time. But extreme weather doesn’t follow a smooth path. Wildfires, hurricanes, and floods hit fast and hard, causing damage that lingers long after the skies clear.</p>



<p>Dee’s model fills this gap by focusing on sudden disturbances and how they ripple through both ecosystems and economies. It doesn’t just track what gets damaged - it also accounts for how people value what is lost.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-forest-put-to-the-test">A forest put to the test</h2>



<p>To demonstrate how the model works, the researchers applied it to a mixed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-must-live-in-harmony-with-nature-to-create-a-sustainable-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest</a> in northern Minnesota. They studied how various tree species - each with different levels of wind resistance and market value - respond to intense windstorms.</p>



<p>For instance, white cedar trees are sturdy against strong winds but bring in less profit. Balsam firs are weaker but sell at a higher price.</p>



<p>The simulation showed a striking result: depending on storm strength, timber value could drop by between 23% and 50%. And timber isn’t the only thing at risk. Hiking, birdwatching, and camping opportunities also take a hit after such damage, further reducing the forest’s value to surrounding communities.</p>



<p>Dee said that researchers and land management officials could use the model to evaluate the impacts of any disturbances, from drought to invasive species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-extreme-weather-to-protect-nature">Reducing extreme weather to protect nature</h2>



<p>Dee’s work doesn’t stop with predicting wind damage. Her research group at CU Boulder also looks at fire management. Specifically, they study how prescribed burns - intentional fires set under controlled conditions - can reduce wildfire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tackling-the-dual-crises-of-climate-and-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">risks</a>.</p>



<p>The new model supports these efforts by identifying areas where controlled burns could offer the greatest benefits. This includes not only reducing the risk of massive wildfires but also protecting other ecosystem services like clean water and carbon removal.</p>



<p>“Nature’s contributions to people have not typically been valued and are usually left out of key decision-making processes when developing land management policies and strategies,” Dee said.</p>



<p>By offering a clearer picture of what’s at stake, this model helps planners make smarter choices about which lands to protect and how.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-wake-up-call-for-economic-systems">A wake-up call for economic systems</h2>



<p>This isn’t just about trees and trails. It’s about how we prepare for a future where nature’s disruptions affect jobs, housing, and national economies. </p>



<p>On March 5, the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization reported that over 150 record-breaking weather events occurred across the globe last year. The pattern is not only repeating - it’s accelerating.</p>



<p>Dee believes our economic models must change to reflect this new reality. Traditional indicators like Gross Domestic Product don’t account for the value of clean air, stable forests, or functioning watersheds. But as these systems grow more vulnerable, leaving them out of the equation could become a costly mistake.</p>



<p>“If we fail to consider the growing risks from extreme weather events, we could lose more than we realize,” she said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-value-of-nature">The value of nature </h2>



<p>What if planning for the future required not just spreadsheets and projections, but listening more closely to forests, rivers, and skies? Dee’s model is a reminder that nature’s value goes far beyond dollars. </p>



<p>When we account for it properly, we make better decisions - not just for the environment, but for ourselves.</p>



<p>Extreme weather doesn’t wait. It strikes hard and fast. And with tools like this new simulation, we can at least be ready to measure the fallout and prepare. Because in the age of climate uncertainty, knowing what we stand to lose is the first step in making sure we don’t lose it.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02626-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.</em></p>



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Extreme weather is pushing nature toward a breaking point

Humans are good at using the things that the natural...

<p>In a major scientific milestone, a team of researchers has captured the first continuous, real-time footage of cellulose being synthesized and self-assembled into the intricate scaffolding that gives plant cells their structure.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Using advanced microscopy techniques and a custom-built imaging system, the team recorded 24 hours of this cellular construction process in living plant cells, revealing surprising new details about how plant cell walls are built.</p>



<p>The study, led by <a href="https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rutgers University–New Brunswick</a>, provides an unprecedented look into the behavior of cellulose - the most abundant biopolymer on Earth.</p>



<p>The research also offers insights that could lead to stronger, more resilient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nanoparticles-unlock-a-new-way-to-genetically-modify-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crops</a>, cheaper biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and other sustainable products.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-closer-look-at-plant-cells">Closer look at plant cells</h2>



<p>Cellulose is a key component of plant cell walls and plays a vital role in maintaining plant structure. It’s also a valuable resource used in countless everyday products, from paper and clothing to food thickeners and filtration materials.</p>



<p>Sang-Hyuk Lee is an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers and a co-author of the study.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This work is the first direct visualization of how cellulose synthesizes and self-assembles into a dense fibril network on a plant cell surface, since Robert Hook’s first microscopic observation of cell walls in 1667,” said Lee.</p>



<p>“This study also provides entirely new insights into how simple, basic physical mechanisms such as diffusion and self-organization may lead to the formation of complex cellulose networks in cells.”</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/1064673" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">videos</a> produced by Lee’s team show protoplasts - plant cells with their outer walls removed - from <em>Arabidopsis</em>, a relative of cabbage, as they spontaneously begin forming cellulose filaments.</p>



<p>These filaments grow outward from the cell surface in seemingly chaotic patterns, gradually coalescing into the highly organized structure of a new cell wall.</p>



<p>“I was very surprised by the emergence of ordered structures out of the chaotic dance of molecules when I first saw these video images,” Lee said. “I thought plant cellulose would be made in a lot more of an organized fashion, as depicted in classical biology textbooks.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-team-effort-across-disciplines">A team effort across disciplines</h2>



<p>The breakthrough is the result of more than six years of collaboration between three Rutgers laboratories representing physics, engineering, and plant biology. Each group played a vital role in bringing the project to life.</p>



<p>When standard laboratory microscopes proved too limited to observe the fine detail of cellulose formation, Lee developed a specialized system based on total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. </p>



<p>This method allowed the researchers to image the cell’s underside with high resolution over long periods without damaging the samples.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, Shishir Chundawat, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers, led the development of a fluorescent probe system that tagged cellulose molecules so they could be visualized under the microscope. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-watch-plants-build-cell-walls">How to watch plants build cell walls</h2>



<p>His team used a modified bacterial enzyme that binds specifically to cellulose to create the tagging system.</p>



<p>“I have always been fascinated by plants and how they capture sunlight via leaves into reduced carbon forms like cellulose that form cell walls,” said Chundawat, who is also focused on biofuel and bioproduct development. </p>



<p>“I was inspired by collecting leaves as a middle school student. That early curiosity led me to delve deeper into biomass and its potential to create valuable, sustainable products.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/plant-cellulose_microfibril-network_illustration_credit-Ehsan-Faridi_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/plant-cellulose_microfibril-network_illustration_credit-Ehsan-Faridi_1s.webp" alt="Artistic rendering of cellulose regenerating on a plant protoplast cell surface with zoomed out view. Cellulose is synthesized by plasma membrane-bound enzyme complexes (green) and assembles into a microfibril network (brown), forming the main scaffold for the cell wall. Credit: Ehsan Faridi/ Inmywork Studio/ Chundawat, Lee and Lam Labs" class="wp-image-1963291"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Artistic rendering of cellulose regenerating on a plant protoplast cell surface with zoomed out view. Cellulose is synthesized by plasma membrane-bound enzyme complexes (green) and assembles into a microfibril network (brown), forming the main scaffold for the cell wall. Credit: Ehsan Faridi/ Inmywork Studio/ Chundawat, Lee and Lam Labs</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Eric Lam, a professor in the Department of Plant Biology, and his team developed the protocol to isolate protoplasts - cells stripped of their original walls. </p>



<p>This provided a clean slate on which new cellulose fibers could be tracked as they formed in real time.</p>



<p>“This provided little to no background cellulose to confound our visualization and tracking of newly synthesized cellulose under optimized conditions,” Lam explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-agriculture-and-biofuels">Implications for agriculture and biofuels</h2>



<p>The new findings are expected to inform future genetic and biotechnological efforts to enhance cellulose production in crops - improving traits like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a> resistance, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turning-plants-into-carbon-capture-machines-with-cyanobacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon capture</a>, and the efficiency of biomass conversion to fuel.</p>



<p>“This discovery opens the door for researchers to begin dissecting the genes that could play various roles for cellulose biosynthesis in the plant,” Lam said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The knowledge gained from these future studies will provide new clues for approaches to design better plants for carbon capture, improve tolerance to all kinds of environmental stresses, from drought to disease, and optimize second-generation cellulosic biofuels production.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-chapter-in-plant-biology">A new chapter in plant biology</h2>



<p>The Rutgers team’s work challenges the traditional textbook narrative of orderly cellulose assembly, showing that what appears initially as disordered movement eventually organizes into the essential structure of the cell wall. </p>



<p>This finding adds complexity to our understanding of plant biology and could inspire future scientists to take a closer look - literally and figuratively - at the hidden processes that sustain life on Earth.</p>



<p>Animations aimed at young students often simplify how plant cell walls are made, but the Rutgers team’s research reveals that the real process is far more intricate - and far more beautiful.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ads6312" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science Advances</em></a>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Ehsan Faridi/ Inmywork Studio/ Chundawat, Lee and Lam Labs</p>



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How plants build their cell walls is seen by scientists for the first time ever

In a major scientific milestone, a team of researchers has...

<p>Pregnancy often brings with it a mix of anticipation, anxiety, and countless decisions - especially about food. For decades, health experts have promoted beans as a budget-friendly powerhouse food rich in protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. </p>



<p>Now, new research offers an interesting twist: eating chili with beans during pregnancy may reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes.</p>



<p>This spicy finding comes from a recent study by researchers at the University at Buffalo. Published in the journal <em>Nutrients</em>, the study highlights chili as a possible dietary ally for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-links-teen-pregnancy-to-smaller-newborns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pregnant individuals</a> - especially those at higher risk for blood sugar complications.</p>



<p>But how did the researchers make this connection? And why chili, specifically? The answers may surprise you.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-challenge-of-gestational-diabetes">Rising challenge of gestational diabetes</h2>



<p>Gestational diabetes is a condition diagnosed during pregnancy that affects how the body processes sugar.</p>



<p>If unmanaged, it can lead to complications for both the baby and the mother. While the condition typically resolves after childbirth, it leaves behind a lingering risk - mothers are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.</p>



<p>Factors like pre-pregnancy obesity, maternal age, excessive pregnancy weight gain, low physical activity, poor diet, and even COVID-19 have all been linked to this condition. </p>



<p>​According to recent data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7201a4.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, gestational diabetes in the U.S. increased from 6.0% in 2016 to 8.3% in 2021.​</p>



<p>In response to this rise, researchers are exploring ways to reduce risk - ideally through practical, nutritional choices. That’s where beans come into the picture.</p>



<p>Known for their ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and support digestive health, beans have already earned their place on many healthy-eating lists. But what happens when beans are cooked into a spicy, flavorful bowl of chili?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chili-consumption-during-pregnancy">Chili consumption during pregnancy </h2>



<p>The team at the University at Buffalo wanted to explore this very question. </p>



<p>Using data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a U.S. national cohort effort by the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC, researchers analyzed eating habits of 1,397 pregnant women. </p>



<p>Their goal was to see if different forms of bean consumption - chili, dried beans, and bean soup - had any effect on the risk of gestational diabetes during pregnancy.</p>



<p>“Our research aimed to study the roles of bean consumption in gestational diabetes, including chili, dried beans and bean soup,” said Dr.&nbsp;Xiaozhong Wen, first author and associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Behavioral Medicine in the&nbsp;<a href="https://medicine.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences</a>.​</p>



<p>“Interestingly, only chili consumption was statistically significantly associated with the risk of gestational diabetes.”</p>



<p>According to the study, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-pregnancy-changes-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">women</a> who ate chili once per month had a 3.5% risk of developing gestational diabetes. Those who never ate chili had a 7.4% risk. That’s a significant difference for just one serving a month. </p>



<p>But it also raises a new question: what makes chili so special?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chili-may-help-control-blood-sugar">Chili may help control blood sugar</h2>



<p>Beans alone carry many benefits, including being high in fiber and low on the glycemic index. But chili often includes more than just beans. It typically contains dark beans, chili powder, and sometimes additional spices - all of which might contribute to its unique effects on blood sugar.</p>



<p>The researchers point to two specific components: capsaicin, the compound responsible for chili’s heat, and phenolic compounds found in dark beans. These substances have shown promise in both human and animal studies.</p>



<p>“Both human and animal studies have shown that capsaicin and phenolic compounds have some potential benefits of improving glycemic control through slowing glucose absorption and increasing insulin secretion and/or insulin sensitivity,” said Wen.</p>



<p>While the exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, the combination of these elements may work together to help the body manage blood sugar more effectively. This makes chili not just a comfort food but potentially a functional food - at least for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnancy-stress-may-have-lasting-effects-on-fetal-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pregnant women</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-chili-during-pregnancy">Future research on chili during pregnancy </h2>



<p>It’s important to note that this study was observational. That means the researchers didn’t assign participants to eat chili; they simply studied existing eating patterns and health outcomes. As a result, they cannot prove cause and effect.</p>



<p>Wen acknowledges this and calls for caution when interpreting the findings. He emphasizes the need for further research.</p>



<p>Wen says the research findings need to be replicated in larger cohorts with more diverse populations, detailed measures of bean consumption and dietary intake information collected more frequently and a randomized controlled design.</p>



<p>He adds that given the non-causal nature of observational research, recall bias and selection bias, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.</p>



<p>That said, the results are compelling enough to encourage further investigation. A single monthly serving of chili cutting gestational diabetes risk nearly in half is an idea worth exploring, especially if it can be done safely and inexpensively.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chili-may-support-a-diabetes-safe-diet">Chili may support a diabetes-safe diet</h2>



<p>So what should expecting mothers do with this information? Should chili become a regular part of prenatal nutrition? Wen offers a balanced approach.</p>



<p>“Moderate chili consumption may be incorporated into a balanced diet approach to addressing gestational diabetes, along with other clinical recommendations, such as early screening, diagnosis, exercise and medications as needed,” says Wen.</p>



<p>This means chili should not replace medical care or professional dietary advice, but it may have a place at the table. Especially for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moms-health-shapes-how-well-an-embryo-develops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">women</a> at higher risk of gestational diabetes, it could be a simple, delicious way to support their health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-what-comes-next">Looking ahead: What comes next</h2>



<p>​The study was co-led by Todd C. Rideout, PhD, associate professor of exercise and nutrition sciences in the&nbsp;<a href="https://publichealth.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Public Health and Health Professions</a>&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University at Buffalo</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Other University at Buffalo contributors included Fatima Makama, Ryan Buzby, Jeremy Nguyen, Rose Durnell, Iyobosa Ekhator, and Daren Chan.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>&nbsp;funded the research.​</p>



<p>As scientists continue to explore the links between food and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-use-during-pregnancy-has-unexpected-consequences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maternal health</a>, this study opens new possibilities. A bowl of chili may hold more than warmth and flavor — it might also support better blood sugar control during one of life’s most critical periods.</p>



<p>For now, pregnant individuals should focus on balanced eating, regular checkups, and physical activity. But with research like this, even small choices — like what you put in your bowl — could make a meaningful difference.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/6/1025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a></em>.</p>



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Eating chili during pregnancy may actually be a good idea

Pregnancy often brings with it a mix of anticipation, anxiety,...

<p>In the invisible war between life forms, bacteria constantly fight off threats from viruses. These viruses, known as bacteriophages or simply “phages,” infect bacterial cells the same way human viruses attack our own bodies, leaving behind a memory of the invasion.</p>



<p>But unlike humans, bacteria don’t have white blood cells or antibodies. Instead, they use a genetic system called CRISPR to defend themselves. This ancient defense system is now drawing fresh attention from scientists.</p>



<p>Recent research from Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-strain-identified-that-can-eat-forever-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> don’t just defend passively. They actively gather pieces of viral code to remember their enemies. They pass these memories to their descendants. </p>



<p>Understanding this bacterial memory process may help us design new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections - a growing global concern.</p>



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



<p>Phages get their name from the Greek word meaning “bacteria-eaters.” </p>



<p>These viruses either destroy their bacterial hosts or hide quietly inside them. That quiet phase is called dormancy. While dormant, the virus does not kill the host. Instead, it lives silently within the bacterial DNA.</p>



<p>Researchers have long wondered how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-pseudomonas-build-tiny-nano-spearguns-to-fight-back-against-attack/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> survive the first wave of viral infection, especially from these temperate phages. The answer may lie in how bacteria collect and store genetic fragments from dormant viruses. </p>



<p>This behavior is not just survival; it's preparation for the future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biological-memory-of-viruses">Biological memory of viruses</h2>



<p>In the Johns Hopkins study, researchers focused on <em>Streptococcus pyogenes</em>, the bacteria responsible for strep throat. They found that these bacteria take advantage of temperate phages during their inactive phase. </p>



<p>The bacteria gather genetic information from the phage while it’s dormant. This material forms a biological “memory” of the invader.</p>



<p>As the bacteria multiply, they pass this memory on. That means future generations are born with a built-in recognition system. When the same phage attacks again, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-pseudomonas-build-tiny-nano-spearguns-to-fight-back-against-attack/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacterial descendants</a> already know how to defend themselves.</p>



<p>“We essentially wanted to answer the question: If bacterial cells don’t have any memory, or survival skills, to combat a new temperate phage that shows up, how do they buy themselves enough time to establish a new memory, before they succumb to that initial infection?” said Modell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-use-crispr-to-store-viral-memory">Bacteria use CRISPR to store viral memory</h2>



<p>Bacteria use the CRISPR-Cas system to deal with phages. This system stores DNA from previous infections. When a known phage tries to re-enter, CRISPR recognizes its genetic material and destroys it.</p>



<p>Johns Hopkins researchers infected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-and-imprint-new-era-dna-transformation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacterial cells</a> with both natural phages that go dormant and genetically modified phages that stay active. They wanted to see how the CRISPR system responded under both conditions.</p>



<p>“Our results indicate that the bacteria’s CRISPR system was more effective at using the naturally dormant phage to pull parts of the viral genetic code into their genome,” said Modell. “When we tested phages that could not go dormant, the CRISPR system did not work nearly as well.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dormant-viruses-boost-bacteria-memory">Dormant viruses boost bacteria memory</h2>



<p>When phages go dormant, bacteria have more time. They use this period to build memory and prepare defenses. Researchers then allowed the surviving bacteria to multiply. They sequenced the DNA of these new generations.</p>



<p>The results were striking. The bacteria had collected hundreds of thousands of genetic “memories.” Each entry in the CRISPR system reflected past encounters with the virus. This memory-building happened mostly during dormancy, when the virus posed no immediate threat.</p>



<p>“This is conceptually similar to a vaccine with an attenuated virus,” said Nicholas Keith, a graduate student and first author of the paper.</p>



<p>“We believe this is the reason why the CRISPR Cas9 system has a unique <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hungry-bacteria-will-devour-plastic-waste/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relationship</a> with this specific class of temperate phage.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-how-the-system-works">Understanding how the system works </h2>



<p>Vaccines train human immune systems by introducing harmless versions of dangerous viruses. The CRISPR system appears to do something similar. Dormant phages act like training tools, helping bacteria prepare without putting their survival at risk.</p>



<p>“We can use these types of experiments to find what elements of the phage, the bacterial host and its CRISPR system are important for all stages of bacterial immunity,” explained Keith.</p>



<p>Researchers are especially interested in why the system works better with dormant viruses than with active ones. This information could shape how scientists use phages to treat bacterial infections in humans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-treatments-and-fighting-resistance">Future treatments and fighting resistance</h2>



<p>Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem. Some bacterial infections no longer respond to any known drugs. Phage therapy - using viruses to attack <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-bacteria-share-genes-and-defy-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> - is one potential solution. But this approach only works if we understand how bacteria defend themselves.</p>



<p>“We know CRISPR systems are one of the first lines of defense against the transfer of hazardous genes from phages that turn bacterial cells toxic. Furthermore, our studies will inform the design of ‘phage therapies’ which could be used in clinical cases where a bacterial infection is resistant to all available antibiotics,” noted Modell.</p>



<p>Understanding CRISPR could help scientists fine-tune phage therapies. They could choose or design viruses that bacteria are less able to resist, leading to more effective treatments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-collaborative-effort">A collaborative effort</h2>



<p>​The research was supported by multiple institutions, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institutes of Health</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://ritaallen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rita Allen Foundation</a>, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a>.​</p>



<p>In addition to Nicholas Keith and Joshua Modell, the team included Rhett Snyder from Johns Hopkins and Chad Euler from <a href="https://hunter.cuny.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunter College</a>. Their combined efforts push us closer to smarter, safer ways of managing infections that resist current drugs.</p>



<p>In the end, studying bacteria doesn’t just teach us about microbes. It shows us new paths to protect ourselves, using lessons written in the smallest pieces of life.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(25)00029-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Host &amp; Microbe</a></em>.</p>



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Bacteria pass down their memories to fight viruses

In the invisible war between life forms, bacteria constantly fight...

<p>When stars are born, they often release powerful jets that carve dramatic trails through space. The&nbsp;James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration between&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.csagroup.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CSA</a>, recently captured a stunning example.</p>



<p>In this image, a young star’s jet - known as Herbig-Haro 49/50 - appears alongside a perfectly aligned distant spiral galaxy. Together, they create a visual that appears both staged and surreal.</p>



<p>The power of <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a> lies not only in what it sees but in how it sees. With advanced infrared vision, it unveils details that were once lost in cosmic fog. In this image, what looks like a tornado of glowing material winds through the <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">darkness</a>. </p>



<p>But this is not mere chaos - this is a structured flow of matter from a forming star. The scene is a fusion of science and art, and the alignment of two unrelated cosmic objects gives the image a unique depth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-baby-stars-launch-wild-jets">How baby stars launch wild jets</h2>



<p>Herbig-Haro objects form during the earliest stages of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/runaway-star-may-be-dragging-a-planet-along-with-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a> formation. Young stars, still gathering mass, often shoot out narrow jets of gas. These jets crash into the surrounding material, heating it up. As the heated gas cools, it emits light that astronomers can detect in visible and infrared wavelengths.</p>



<p>HH 49/50, located about 630 light-years from Earth in the Chamaeleon constellation, is a classic example. This region is among the closest active star-forming areas in our galaxy. </p>



<p>​The&nbsp;James Webb Space Telescope&nbsp;utilized both its&nbsp;Near-Infrared Camera (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/nircam/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIRCam</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mid-Infrared Instrument (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/mid-infrared-instrument-miri/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIRI</a>)to produce a layered, high-resolution image.&nbsp;This composite allows scientists to examine small-scale details with unprecedented clarity.</p>



<p>This level of detail is vital for studying the birthplaces of stars like our Sun. These jets don’t just travel quietly - they plow through surrounding clouds, forming shock waves and reshaping the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic</a> landscape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-tornado-in-space">A tornado in space</h2>



<p>When NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope first observed HH 49/50 in 2006, scientists were intrigued by its spiral, storm-like shape. </p>



<p>They nicknamed it the "Cosmic Tornado" because of its swirling, helical appearance. However, Spitzer couldn’t resolve the fine structures clearly. A fuzzy patch at the tip of the outflow remained a mystery.</p>



<p>Now, Webb’s resolution changes everything. It reveals that the fuzzy patch is not a continuation of the jet, but a distant spiral galaxy. Its structure is crisp and distinct. </p>



<p>This unexpected discovery highlights the telescope’s ability to separate overlapping layers of cosmic material and isolate individual objects, even in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-formation-reignited-in-the-galaxy-leo-p-after-billions-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex environments</a>.</p>



<p>The galaxy, seen face-on, lies far beyond HH 49/50. But the illusion of connection adds wonder. In the background, countless other galaxies fill the scene. Webb has, by chance, framed a dynamic, turbulent jet against a calm, elegant spiral structure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-nursery-for-young-stars">A nursery for young stars</h2>



<p>HH 49/50 resides within the Chamaeleon I Cloud complex. This region serves as a stellar nursery, busy with the birth of low-mass stars. It closely resembles the type of place where our own Sun likely formed. </p>



<p>The outflow from HH 49/50 is moving at blazing speeds - between 100 and 300 kilometers per second. Yet it’s only part of a larger network of outflows sculpting the cloud.</p>



<p>By examining the light from the object, scientists trace glowing hydrogen and carbon monoxide molecules, along with energized dust grains. These materials appear as brilliant orange and red streaks in the image. Their location and movement reveal how the outflow is reshaping its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-planet-system-hd110067-discovered-that-moves-in-perfect-mathematical-harmony/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a>.</p>



<p>The Webb data also shows arcs that resemble the wake left by a speeding boat. These arc-shaped features help astronomers trace the flow’s direction and better understand its dynamics. Each curve and twist in the material tells a story of energy, motion, and cosmic change.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chasing-the-source-of-the-jet">Chasing the source of the jet</h2>



<p>To understand what powers such a dramatic outflow, astronomers look toward its possible source. Evidence points to a young protostar named Cederblad 110 IRS4, or CED 110 IRS4. </p>



<p>This object lies about 1.5 light-years away from HH 49/50, just off the edge of Webb’s main image. It’s considered a Class I protostar, meaning it’s still actively gathering mass and developing.</p>



<p>Class I protostars typically have surrounding disks of gas and dust. These disks slowly feed the growing star, and jets often emerge as a by-product of this process. </p>



<p>Webb’s instruments helped scientists examine CED 110 IRS4 in detail, revealing the icy material in its surroundings. This kind of analysis helps build a more complete picture of the early stages of stellar evolution.</p>



<p>While most arcs point back to this protostar, not all align perfectly. That discrepancy invites new questions and adds complexity to the scene.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-the-star-jet-so-messy">Why is the star jet so messy?</h2>



<p>Some features within HH 49/50 seem out of place. A distinct outcrop in the upper right corner of the image may hint at another outflow. </p>



<p>One possibility is that it belongs to a separate jet overlapping the main one. Another idea is that it results from the main jet’s shifting direction - a process called precession.</p>



<p>Jet precession can happen when the protostar wobbles or experiences changes in its environment. Over time, this causes the outflow to twist and shift, creating multiple arcs that point in slightly different directions. Alternatively, the feature might be caused by the jet breaking apart as it interacts with nearby clouds.</p>



<p>Such findings reveal the limits of current models and show that nature doesn’t always follow simple rules. Every new observation from Webb introduces new variables to consider.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-spiral-galaxy-in-perfect-position">A spiral galaxy in perfect position</h2>



<p>The spiral galaxy near the tip of HH 49/50 seems almost too perfectly placed. It’s a coincidence of cosmic alignment. </p>



<p>The galaxy is not physically related to the outflow, but the visual juxtaposition creates a powerful image. Its face-on orientation displays a glowing central bulge, which appears blue. This region contains older stars.</p>



<p>The spiral arms stretch outward, peppered with reddish clumps of warm dust and active star formation. These features are not unique to this galaxy. Similar bubbles and dust pockets have been observed in other nearby galaxies using Webb, especially through the <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/phangs/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PHANGS program</a>.</p>



<p>This comparison allows astronomers to draw parallels between our galactic neighborhood and more distant systems. And while the galaxy itself sits far beyond HH 49/50, its presence enriches the image with depth and contrast.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distant-galaxy-meets-a-star-jet">Distant galaxy meets a star jet</h2>



<p>Webb’s image of HH 49/50 and the distant spiral galaxy captures a rare alignment. </p>



<p>Over thousands of years, the outflow will expand and eventually obscure the galaxy behind it. This brief window gives astronomers a unique perspective - one that won’t last forever.</p>



<p>The beauty of the cosmos lies in both motion and stillness. Webb, with its unmatched vision, freezes this cosmic dance in perfect clarity. The resulting image is not just science - it’s a moment of wonder. A look into a turbulent birthplace of stars framed against the silent rotation of a distant galaxy.</p>



<p>Image Credit: James Webb Space Telescope.</p>



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



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Cosmic Tornado: A young star’s jet collides with space dust

When stars are born, they often release powerful jets that...

<p>Cities glow all night - streets, buildings, ads, and skylines never sleep. We call it progress. But what if this constant brightness is disconnecting us from our bodies, minds, and the Earth? What if the answer lies in the quiet power of darkness?</p>



<p>Professor Nick Dunn of <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lancaster University</a> proposes a different path - one that invites darkness back into our lives. His idea may sound strange in a world obsessed with visibility and brightness. But at its heart lies a radical rethinking of what it means to live well, together, on a shared Earth.</p>



<p>This is not a plea for darkness out of nostalgia. It is a vision grounded in science, architecture, health, ecology, and culture. It suggests that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-is-transforming-nightlife-on-coral-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">turning down the lights</a> might brighten our future in unexpected ways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-should-talk-about-darkness">Why we should talk about darkness</h2>



<p>We often hear about the need to green our cities - more parks, trees, and nature-friendly spaces. These efforts aim to improve air quality, support wildlife, and create healthier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-light-pollution-influences-interest-in-astronomy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environments</a> for people. Professor Dunn introduces a complementary concept: darkening cities.</p>



<p>“Ditching urban lighting as we know it and designing buildings to be nocturnal will be beneficial for ourselves and the planet," said Professor Dunn.</p>



<p>Urban lighting, he argues, has grown unchecked. It spills into places where it’s not needed, affecting both humans and nonhumans. The glow from city lights disrupts sleep, confuses migratory birds, and alters entire ecosystems.</p>



<p>Imagine a different kind of urban night. One where we still feel safe, but no longer rely on overpowering light. A place where we adjust to the rhythms of the Earth and create shared spaces that acknowledge the beauty of nightfall.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reclaiming-our-rhythms-through-darkness">Reclaiming our rhythms through darkness</h2>



<p>Humans evolved with the rising and setting of the sun. Our internal clocks - known as circadian rhythm - depend on regular cycles of light and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-moths-develop-smaller-wings-survive-light-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark</a>. When those cycles break down, so do our bodies. Poor sleep, anxiety, and other health issues follow.</p>



<p>Professor Dunn believes we can design cities that align with these rhythms. “Imagine a whole new world of effective shared living, where we listen to our natural rhythms instead of fighting against them.”</p>



<p>At the core of his work is the idea that light, while essential, has become excessive. It dominates modern life. Darkness, meanwhile, appears unwanted. Yet it holds vital benefits. It allows the mind to rest, the body to heal, and ecosystems to function.</p>



<p>Professor Dunn’s research highlights how reclaiming the night could renew the human-nature connection. It could also lower energy use and cut pollution, both urgent concerns in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-increases-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-increases-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/"> crisis</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-old-ideas">Challenging old ideas</h2>



<p>Why are we so afraid of the dark? Why do we treat it as something to avoid, erase, or overcome? These are questions Professor Dunn tackles in his recent book, <em>Dark Futures: When the Lights Go Down</em>.</p>



<p>“So, what might happen when the lights go down?” he asks. “And how bright should our future be?”</p>



<p>He critiques the way most future-thinking plays out. “When we consider what futures are possible, they tend to direct us to visions of either a shiny, frictionless world which is light and bright or, at the other end of the spectrum, they are fearsome, shadowy dystopias.”</p>



<p>Both extremes fail us. The future doesn’t have to be one or the other. By thinking only in terms of brightness, we miss a deeper, more nuanced possibility. </p>



<p>A dark future isn’t a gloomy one. It’s one where we live more consciously, more gently, and more honestly within our environmental limits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-darkness-as-connection-not-absence">Darkness as connection, not absence</h2>



<p>For centuries, light has symbolized goodness, knowledge, and progress. Darkness has been cast as the enemy. But Professor Dunn wants us to break that binary.</p>



<p>“Common perception holds light and dark in opposition,” writes Professor Dunn. “Light is celebrated and synonymous with goodness, clarity, and wisdom. Darkness, meanwhile, appears unwanted, deep in its association with all that is dangerous, demonic, and oppressive.”</p>



<p>In reality, darkness is not just an absence. It is a presence in itself - one that allows other things to emerge, like stars, slence, sleep, mystery, depth, and reconnection.</p>



<p>“Embracing darkness is about so much more than tackling light pollution,” says Professor Dunn. “In fact, it runs through everything and is the key to reconnecting with the world around us.”</p>



<p>This view does not reject light but seeks balance. It asks us to recognize what happens when one side dominates too much - when light drowns out everything else.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-the-night-losing-ourselves">Losing the night, losing ourselves</h2>



<p>The spread of artificial light now reaches places once untouched by human presence. Professor Dunn points out that fast-moving satellites can now brighten even remote corners of the Earth.</p>



<p>Professor Dunn says we are losing the night due to excessive artificial lighting. For centuries this was a terrestrial problem, but now fast-moving satellites can illuminate parts of the planet that were previously remote enough not to be affected.</p>



<p>That loss is more than aesthetic. It breaks ancient ties to the cosmos. “As a result, our ancestral links with dark skies, relationships which lasted for millennia are all but extinguished with artificial stars due to replace those in the galaxy.”</p>



<p>He argues that we are not just lighting up our cities - we are dimming our place in the universe. We are replacing wonder with convenience, rhythm with interruption, and mystery with glare.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-different-future-worth-building">A different future worth building</h2>



<p>What might a darker city look like? Not one filled with shadows and fear, but one designed for rest, awareness, and care. Buildings that support the night instead of fighting it. Streets that dim without becoming unsafe. Parks where nocturnal animals thrive. Neighborhoods where stars return.</p>



<p>“Darkness is progressive,” notes Professor Dunn. “It signifies the very act of being alive as a species that depends on circadian rhythms for survival. Our ability to flourish depends entirely on rethinking our values and restoring our interrelationships with the planet and its other inhabitants.”</p>



<p>This isn’t science fiction. It’s a call for a real shift in how we shape our spaces and systems. A darker future, in his view, might be gentler, kinder, and healthier for all species.</p>



<p><em>Dark Futures</em> blends personal story with architectural insight. It explores how embracing darkness shaped Professor Dunn’s own thinking. And it shows how we might use design to imagine new, hopeful possibilities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-book-and-a-movement">A book and a movement</h2>



<p><em><a href="https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/our-books/dark-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dark Futures: When the Lights Go Down</a></em> is published on March 25, with an official launch event in Manchester on April 10. The book is more than a critique - it’s an invitation. It asks us to pause, look up, and notice what we’re missing in the glare.</p>



<p>“In an unprecedented era of climate emergency, we need to fundamentally rethink what we do, how we do it, and why,” writes Professor Dunn.</p>



<p>That rethinking starts with something as simple as the dark. Letting it return, letting it teach us, and letting it be part of how we imagine what comes next.</p>



<p>We have tried lighting the world. Now, perhaps, it is time to see what happens when the lights go down.</p>



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



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Darkness in cities could heal people and nature

Cities glow all night - streets, buildings, ads, and skylines...

<p>The blue lotus, a captivating water lily entwined with Egyptian mythology, has long dazzled archaeologists and historians. Its petals were famously found adorning King Tutankhamun’s mummy, and its image flourishes in ancient scrolls and temple art.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For decades, scholars have speculated that the flower held powerful psychedelic properties - used in wine-soaked rituals steeped in ecstasy and divine visions.</p>



<p>Today, a plant bearing the same name is sold widely online, promising everything from tranquility to heightened awareness. But according to <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Berkeley</a> anthropology student Liam McEvoy, those modern offerings have little in common with the true blue <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-does-a-lotus-flower-grow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lotus</a> of antiquity.</p>



<p>McEvoy has spent years tracing the story of <em>Nymphaea caerulea</em>, the authentic Egyptian blue lotus. With a minor in Egyptology and support from the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, he’s dug into ancient texts, collaborated with chemists, and even turned to Reddit to track down specimens.&nbsp;</p>



<p>McEvoy’s findings reveal that the plant revered in ancient Egypt is not the same as the water lilies currently sold in online marketplaces - and that both the species and its supposed effects have been widely misunderstood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-story-of-the-egyptian-blue-lotus-nbsp">The story of the Egyptian blue lotus&nbsp;</h2>



<p>McEvoy’s journey began unexpectedly during high school when he stumbled upon an old BBC documentary called Sacred Weeds. In it, researchers gave participants wine infused with lotus petals and watched to see if they entered a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-are-the-most-popular-psychedelic-drug/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychedelic</a> state. The footage, complete with dated special effects and questionable methodology, left a lasting impression.</p>



<p>He was hooked. “I wanted to let the plant tell its story and contribute to a discussion where there's all this pseudoscience floating around - pseudoscience that makes some people a lot of money.”</p>



<p>Once at Berkeley, McEvoy dove deeper. Through coursework and work at the <a href="https://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology</a>, he learned to read hieroglyphs and came to recognize the true Egyptian blue lotus by its distinctive spotted sepals and consistent petal count.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It appeared again and again in scrolls and religious festivals, most notably in the Hathoric Festival of Drunkenness - an event where celebrants drank themselves into a stupor and awoke, if only briefly, to see the face of the goddess Hathor.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-sold-as-blue-lotus">Flowers sold as blue lotus</h2>



<p>The more McEvoy studied, the more he questioned whether the flowers sold online as “blue lotus” were the real thing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Many of these products, often marketed as calming or aphrodisiacal, are used in teas, vapes, or essential oils. They claim effects ranging from spiritual insight to improved sleep. But were they really <em>Nymphaea caerulea</em>?</p>



<p>To find out, McEvoy needed a legitimate sample. With wild populations now rare - dam construction and habitat loss have pushed the species to the edge of endangerment - he turned to the internet.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On Reddit, he connected with a user in Arizona who claimed to grow authentic blue lotus. The stranger agreed to send a live plant, which botanists at UC Berkeley confirmed as genuine.</p>



<p>That plant now resides in the <a href="https://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Botanical Garden</a>’s Virginia Haldan Tropical House, making it the only known living Egyptian blue lotus in a U.S. university collection.</p>



<p>McEvoy also ordered petals from Etsy to compare. Partnering with Berkeley chemistry professor Evan Williams and scientist Anthony Iavarone, he used mass spectrometry to analyze both samples.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The results were clear: the authentic flower contained significantly higher levels of the alkaloid nuciferine, thought to be responsible for its psychoactive effects. The Etsy sample, by contrast, likely came from a common non-psychoactive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japanese-lily-species-discovered-after-over-a-century/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lily</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-take-on-ancient-rituals">A new take on ancient rituals</h2>



<p>In ancient Egypt, it’s often assumed that people steeped the blue lotus directly in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-production-in-a-warming-world-the-winners-and-losers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wine</a> to unlock its effects. But McEvoy’s chemical analysis suggests that’s unlikely.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While pure nuciferine dissolves in alcohol, the waxy petals of the flower do not release it so easily. Instead, a fatty substance - similar to olive oil - may have been used to extract the compound before mixing it into wine.</p>



<p>“We're beginning to think the ancient Egyptians didn't just put it into wine,” McEvoy said. “We hypothesize they actually created an infused oil, which was later added to wine.”</p>



<p>This revised understanding reframes centuries of assumptions about ancient Egyptian ceremonial practices and raises new questions about how they engaged with plant-based compounds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-for-molecular-remnants">Searching for molecular remnants </h2>



<p>McEvoy’s next steps include a chemical analysis of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian goblet housed in the Hearst Museum. He hopes to detect trace amounts of fats that would support his theory about infused oils - and perhaps even find molecular remnants of the lotus itself.</p>



<p>Together with Williams and Ph.D. candidate Veena Avadhani, he also plans to use liquid chromatography to break down the flower’s chemical makeup even further.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This advanced method will allow them to isolate individual compounds and gain a clearer understanding of what makes the true blue lotus unique.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-magic-and-modern-science-nbsp">Ancient magic and modern science&nbsp;</h2>



<p>As McEvoy prepares to graduate and pursue a career in intellectual property law, he sees his work as a model for how science and the humanities can illuminate each other.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“There should be someone at the table who has studied people - not just economics, money or political science,” he said. “Someone who sees people as human beings and sees communities as interconnected webs of meaning.”</p>



<p>For now, he’s focused on finishing his research. But in doing so, he’s already redefined the story of a flower once believed to be mythic. His project not only separates fact from fiction in today’s lotus-laced health products - it reopens a window into the lived experience of an ancient civilization.</p>



<p>“This is a rare example of how ancient magic and modern science can come together to deepen our understanding of the nature that has always surrounded us,” he concluded.</p>



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



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Blue lotus: Unraveling an Egyptian psychedelic mystery

The blue lotus, a captivating water lily entwined with Egyptian...

<p>A recent discovery by an international team of astronomers has revealed an enormous, spiral galaxy unlike any other yet observed in the Universe.</p>



<p>Led by researchers from <a href="https://christuniversity.in" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christ University</a> in Bangalore, this team found something strange and unsettling. </p>



<p>A massive, well-structured galaxy nearly a billion light-years away seems to defy everything we thought we knew about galactic behavior.</p>



<p>At its core lies a supermassive black hole. What’s shocking is that this black hole is producing enormous jets of energy, six million light-years long. These kinds of jets usually only come from elliptical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strange-signals-from-the-center-of-our-galaxy-hint-at-a-new-kind-of-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a>. </p>



<p>But this galaxy, a spiral like our Milky Way, is somehow managing to survive - and even remain stable - under extreme cosmic stress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spiral-galaxy-that-shouldn-t-exist">Spiral galaxy that shouldn't exist</h2>



<p>The galaxy, known as 2MASX J23453268−0449256, is not just a bit bigger than the Milky Way - it is three times the size. </p>



<p>Its structure remains beautifully intact, with sweeping spiral arms and a glowing central bar. Yet, it's producing some of the largest radio jets ever seen in a spiral galaxy.</p>



<p>Powerful radio jets usually rip apart the delicate structure of spirals. They disrupt star formation, break the balance of matter, and change how galaxies grow. </p>



<p>But this one breaks that rule. It continues to exist as a peaceful spiral, even while ejecting energy into space on a stunning scale.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/galaxy-spiral-J23453268−0449256_massive_credit-GMRT_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/galaxy-spiral-J23453268−0449256_massive_credit-GMRT_1s.webp" alt="The giant radio jets stretching six million light-years across and an enormous supermassive black hole at the heart of spiral galaxy J23453268−0449256, as imaged by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al/Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope" class="wp-image-1963256"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The giant radio jets stretching six million light-years across and an enormous supermassive black hole at the heart of spiral galaxy J23453268−0449256, as imaged by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al/Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>"This discovery is more than just an oddity - it forces us to rethink how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/euclid-captures-26-million-galaxies-in-vivid-deep-field-photos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> evolve, and how supermassive black holes grow in them and shape their environments," said lead author Professor Joydeep Bagchi of Christ University, Bangalore.</p>



<p>"If a spiral galaxy can not only survive but thrive under such extreme conditions, what does this mean for the future of galaxies like our own Milky Way? </p>



<p>"Could our galaxy one day experience similar high-energy phenomena that will have serious consequences for the survival of precious life in it?" </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quiet-galaxy-with-inner-chaos">Quiet galaxy with inner chaos</h2>



<p>The team used several powerful tools to study this unusual galaxy. These included the&nbsp;<a href="https://hubblesite.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gmrt.ncra.tifr.res.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope</a>, and the&nbsp;Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (<a href="https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ALMA</a>).&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts analyzed the galaxy in many wavelengths, building a detailed picture of its internal dynamics.​</p>



<p>At the center of J23453268−0449256 lies a supermassive black hole that’s billions of times more massive than the Sun. </p>



<p>The jets coming from this black hole stretch out across six million light-years of space. That’s about sixty times the diameter of the Milky Way.</p>



<p>Incredibly, even with such intense activity, the galaxy’s structure remains untouched. The spiral arms remain well-shaped. </p>



<p>A bright bar stretches through the center. A peaceful ring of stars surrounds it. This calm appearance hides the violent energy pulsing from its core.</p>



<p>Adding to the mystery is a huge halo of hot gas that surrounds the <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">galaxy</a>. This gas glows in X-ray light, indicating extremely high temperatures. </p>



<p>Over time, this halo would normally cool and allow stars to form. But the black hole jets keep it too hot for that, acting like a cosmic furnace that stops star birth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-our-own-galaxy-behave-like-this">Could our own galaxy behave like this?</h2>



<p>Could the Milky Way one day look like this galaxy? Right now, the black hole at our center - called Sagittarius A* - is quiet. It has a mass of four million Suns and shows no signs of powerful activity. But that could change.</p>



<p>If a gas cloud, star, or even a small galaxy falls into Sagittarius A*, it could trigger a violent reaction. This is known as a tidal disruption event (TDE). </p>



<p>TDEs have been seen in other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxy-found-in-the-early-universe-that-shouldnt-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a>, but not yet in our own. If such an event were to occur, Sagittarius A* might awaken and produce high-energy jets. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/galaxy-J23453268-0449256_Milky-Way_comparison_Hubble_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/galaxy-J23453268-0449256_Milky-Way_comparison_Hubble_1s.webp" alt="Colour image of J23453268-0449256, which is 300,000 light-years across, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. It is shown alongside a depiction of our own Milky Way galaxy, which is three times smaller. Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al/Hubble Space Telescope" class="wp-image-1963254"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Color image of J23453268-0449256, which is 300,000 light-years across, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. It is shown alongside a depiction of our own Milky Way galaxy, which is three times smaller. Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al/Hubble Space Telescope</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The danger lies in their direction and strength. If a TDE were aimed near Earth, it could damage our atmosphere, harm DNA, and raise mutation rates. In the worst-case scenario, it could erode the ozone layer and trigger mass extinction.</p>



<p>Even if no extinction follows, these jets could still affect the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-known-galaxy-contains-surprising-oxygen-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a>. They might halt star formation in some areas or reshape the interstellar medium. That’s what seems to have happened in the case of J23453268−0449256.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-this-spiral-galaxy-so-stable">Why is this spiral galaxy so stable?</h2>



<p>Another piece of the puzzle is dark matter. The research team found that J23453268−0449256 has ten times more dark matter than the Milky Way. This likely helps keep the galaxy’s disc stable, even with massive forces trying to tear it apart.</p>



<p>Dark matter is invisible but exerts gravitational pull. It holds galaxies together. In this case, it may be the key that allows the galaxy to survive such violent internal processes without falling apart.</p>



<p>By studying the balance between dark matter, the supermassive black hole, and the galaxy’s structure, the researchers have opened up a new window into how galaxies might behave in extreme situations. </p>



<p>Their findings could shift our entire understanding of cosmic evolution.</p>



<p>"Understanding these rare galaxies could provide vital clues about the unseen forces governing the universe – including the nature of dark matter, the long-term fate of galaxies, and the origin of life," noted study co-author Shankar Ray, a Ph.D. student at Christ University.</p>



<p>"Ultimately, this study brings us one step closer to unraveling the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spherex-will-scan-the-galaxy-to-look-for-lifes-ingredients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mysteries of the cosmos</a>, reminding us that the universe still holds surprises beyond our imagination."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-questions-remain">Many questions remain</h2>



<p>The mystery is far from solved. Scientists don’t yet know how often such spiral galaxies form. They also don’t know what triggers their black holes to produce jets of this magnitude. </p>



<p>Every answer leads to more questions.</p>



<p>Could the Milky Way already be preparing for such a phase? Is Sagittarius A* a ticking bomb, just waiting for the right spark? </p>



<p>These questions don’t have clear answers yet, but discoveries like this one give us important clues.</p>



<p>For now, the Milky Way is calm, as life on Earth continues. But the universe, always changing and never fully known, reminds us that peace in the cosmos is never permanent. Somewhere, just a billion light-years away, a spiral galaxy lives on the edge - and still spins.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/538/3/1628/8084797" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</a>. </em></p>



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



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Spiral galaxy discovered that defies everything we thought we knew about galaxies

A recent discovery by an international team of astronomers has...

<p>Ocean currents swirl, surge, and shift across vast blue territories. Once clean and free, they now carry drifting human waste - on its way to find a settling place.</p>



<p>One of these destinations is the <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Pacific Garbage Patch</a>, an enormous stretch of floating plastic located between Hawaii and California. Larger than the state of Texas, it has become a symbol of the ocean’s pollution <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weakening-ocean-currents-could-cost-trillions-of-dollars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crisis</a>.</p>



<p>But it’s not alone. Similar garbage patches exist all over the globe. Invisible highways of water link distant shores, pulling in bottles, nets, and microplastics. Cleaning the circulating water has proven difficult and expensive.</p>



<p>Fuel costs, environmental risks, and the sheer scale of the problem leave many efforts stuck in trial stages. But now, a group of scientists might have found a smarter way - by looking down from space.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-currents-that-clean-for-us">Ocean currents that clean for us</h2>



<p>A recent study in <em>Ocean Science</em> offers a new idea: stop chasing the trash, and let the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/critical-ocean-current-may-be-more-stable-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> bring it to you. </p>



<p>Using satellite data and knowledge from years of tracking ocean currents, scientists have identified areas where debris naturally gathers. These hotspots form through specific current patterns and making use of these could help clean the seas more efficiently.</p>



<p>"With this information, we can let the currents do the work. Instead of boats slowly trawling and burning fuel, they can hold their position and keep the nets steady at a location where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-circumpolar-current-speed-increasing-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">currents</a> funnel and aggregate drifting objects, which will theoretically save cleanup crews time, money and fuel," explained <a href="https://www.psi.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Planetary Science Institute</a> research scientist Rodrigo Duran.</p>



<p>Instead of deploying sweeping boats over long distances, crews could position nets at fixed points. The currents, not engines, would collect the waste. This method could reduce fuel usage, lower emissions, and cut down on operational costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ocean-clean-up">The Ocean Clean Up</h2>



<p>The lead author of the study is Luca Kunz, a graduate student from the University of Hamburg.</p>



<p>The project received support from <a href="https://theoceancleanup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ocean Cleanup</a>, a nonprofit in the Netherlands that is developing plastic removal technologies. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-duran" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rodrigo Duran</a>, the U.S.-based co-author, explains how ancient physics ideas now help decode ocean behavior.</p>



<p>"Sir Isaac Newton was the first to solve trajectory problems while trying to understand celestial bodies orbiting within a gravity field. But, he was thinking in terms of how Earth orbits the sun," Duran said.</p>



<p>"Over the following centuries, new tools and ideas were used to solve these kinds of extremely complicated problems. However, it wasn't until the last couple of decades that these tools were adapted to surface <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-broke-records-for-450-straight-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> currents and wind, which bring an additional level of complexity. It's not like the equations of gravity, which remain predictable for a very long time. The ocean is always changing."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traps-and-why-they-matter">TRAPs and why they matter</h2>



<p>To study these unpredictable currents, the researchers analyzed more than 20 years of satellite observations. They also used data from “drifters” - floating devices that move with currents and log their paths.</p>



<p>From this data set, the team identified 3.5 million Transient Attracting Profiles, known as TRAPs.</p>



<p>TRAPs are not fixed garbage patches. They are temporary zones where currents merge and pull in floating objects. These zones are created when two or more eddies - circular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atlantic-ocean-currents-slowing-as-water-temperature-rises/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">current</a> systems - interact in specific ways.</p>



<p>Each eddy can stretch between 60 and 180 miles (96 and 290 kilometers) wide. When combined, they form a larger area, up to 60 miles (96 kilometers) across, that holds drifting material for several days.</p>



<p>These regions don’t last forever. On average, TRAPs stay active for about six days before dissolving or shifting. Still, that window offers a valuable opportunity for targeted cleanup.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geometry-of-stability">Geometry of stability</h2>



<p>Among the many TRAPs identified, some stand out for their efficiency. The research team found that the most stable and common configuration involves four eddies positioned in a special arrangement. </p>



<p>If imagined on a grid, counterclockwise eddies sit in the top right and bottom left. Clockwise eddies spin in the top left and bottom right.</p>



<p>"This is almost 60% of cases," Duran said. "These are common because they are the most stable."</p>



<p>This balance helps the TRAP hold its shape and function more reliably. It offers a predictable way to plan cleanup strategies. Rather than reacting to ocean chaos, scientists can work with nature’s patterns and set traps in advance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-garbage-broader-possibilities">Beyond garbage: Broader possibilities</h2>



<p>While the focus of the study was on cleaning ocean waste, the applications don’t stop there. Knowing where the ocean pulls material can help in emergencies or scientific predictions. The same method could guide rescue missions, track oil spills, or monitor airborne hazards.</p>



<p>"An obvious example would be search and rescue of missing people," Duran said, "or maybe a cargo ship loses their cargo. This can even be used for atmospheric data. When volcanoes erupt or wildfires break out, airports need to know whether to redirect flights. It's a very exciting time."</p>



<p>These insights give agencies tools to act quickly and precisely. By reading the invisible pull of the ocean, we gain not just cleanup opportunities, but also protection and preparedness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-working-with-nature-to-clean-oceans-nbsp">Working with nature to clean oceans&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The collaboration behind this research unites institutions from Germany, the U.S., and the Netherlands. With the <a href="https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hamburg</a> leading the data science, and The Ocean Clean Up pushing forward practical solutions, the project blends theory and action.</p>



<p>Rather than relying solely on expensive equipment, this approach embraces simplicity and efficiency. Nature's own movements offer guidance. If we can learn to predict and use them, we may finally be able to manage what we’ve dumped into the sea.</p>



<p>The path ahead remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the ocean is not a passive victim. It moves, it organizes, and now - with the right science - it might help us repair what we’ve broken.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://os.copernicus.org/articles/20/1611/2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean Science</a></em>.</p>



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Ocean currents may soon clean up waste, thanks to space tech

Ocean currents swirl, surge, and shift across vast blue territories....

<p>For years, scientists have puzzled over one big question: where do meteorites come from? </p>



<p>These rocky visitors crash into Earth from space, but tracing their paths back to specific locations in the asteroid belt has been a challenge. </p>



<p>Thanks to years of work tracking fireballs streaking across the sky, scientists are beginning to piece together the answer.</p>



<p>The new research comes from astronomers at <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Curtin University</a> and the SETI Institute, in collaboration with NASA Ames Research Center.</p>



<p>The findings connect the orbits of 75 meteorites to their likely points of origin in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.</p>



<p>This long-term effort brings us closer to mapping the geology of our solar system’s asteroid neighborhood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-catching-fireballs-on-camera">Catching fireballs on camera</h2>



<p>About ten years ago, the team began setting up a network of all-sky cameras across California and Nevada. </p>



<p>These cameras were designed to catch the flash of light created when a meteorite hits Earth’s atmosphere. </p>



<p>“Others built similar networks spread around the globe, which together form the Global Fireball Observatory,” said astronomer Hadrien Devillepoix of Curtin University. "Over the years, we have tracked the path of 17 recovered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weather-radar-systems-can-detect-meteorite-falls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meteorite falls</a>.”</p>



<p>In addition to professional networks, many fireballs were also captured by doorbell cameras, dashcams, and videos from citizen scientists. </p>



<p>With enough data from these sources, the researchers could begin plotting the meteorites’ paths through space.</p>



<p>“Altogether, this quest has yielded 75 laboratory-classified meteorites with an impact orbit tracked by video and photographic cameras,” said study lead author Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center.</p>



<p>“That proves to be enough to start seeing some patterns in the direction from which the meteorites approach Earth.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-meteorites-to-their-source">Tracing meteorites to their source</h2>



<p>Most meteorites that land on Earth come from the asteroid belt, home to over a million objects larger than one kilometer. </p>



<p>Many of these meteorites were originally part of larger parent bodies that broke apart in violent collisions. The resulting debris fields, or clusters, continue to spread out over time.</p>



<p>“We now see that 12 of the iron-rich ordinary chondrite meteorites (H chondrites) originated from a debris field called “Koronis,” which is located low in the pristine main belt,” said Jenniskens. “These meteorites arrived from low-inclined orbits with orbital periods consistent with this debris field.”</p>



<p>The researchers used a technique called cosmic-ray exposure dating to determine how long ago a meteorite was exposed to space. This method helps identify when the rock was dislodged from its parent body.</p>



<p>When matched with the dynamical age of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-chaos-how-an-asteroid-strike-would-change-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asteroid</a> clusters, a clearer picture emerges.</p>



<p>“By measuring the cosmic ray exposure age of meteorites, we can determine that three of these twelve meteorites originated from the Karin cluster in Koronis, which has a dynamical age of 5.8 million years, and two came from the Koronis2 cluster, with a dynamical age of 10–15 million years,” said Jenniskens. </p>



<p>“One other meteorite may well measure the age of the Koronis3 cluster: about 83 million years.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-families-more-clues">More families, more clues</h2>



<p>Not all H chondrites came from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-meteorites-can-be-traced-to-three-asteroid-families/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Koronis</a>. Some meteorites with steep orbits seem to be linked to the Nele asteroid family, located in the central belt.</p>



<p>Others, with an exposure age of about 35 million years, appear to come from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-molecules-discovered-on-an-asteroid-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Massalia</a> family in the inner belt.</p>



<p>“In our opinion, these H chondrites originated from the Massalia asteroid family low in the inner main belt because that family has a cluster of about that same dynamical age,” said Jenniskens. “The asteroid that created that cluster, asteroid (20) Massalia, is an H chondrite type parent body.”</p>



<p>The researchers also traced lower iron meteorites - L chondrites and LL chondrites - to their own source regions.</p>



<p>LL chondrites are strongly linked to the Flora family, while L chondrites likely originated from the Hertha family.</p>



<p>“We propose that the L chondrites originated from the Hertha asteroid family, located just above the Massalia family,” said Jenniskens. </p>



<p>“Asteroid Hertha doesn’t look anything like its debris. Hertha is covered by dark rocks that were shock-blackened, indicative of an unusually violent collision."</p>



<p>"The L chondrites experienced a very violent origin 468 million years ago when these meteorites showered Earth in such numbers that they can be found in the geologic record.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-planetary-defense">What this means for planetary defense</h2>



<p>Understanding where meteorites come from is more than just a scientific curiosity. It’s also crucial for identifying and preparing for potentially hazardous asteroids that could threaten Earth.</p>



<p>“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/27500-hidden-near-earth-asteroids-discovered-using-google-cloud/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Near Earth Asteroids</a> do not arrive on the same orbits as meteorites, because it takes longer for these to evolve to Earth,” said Jenniskens. “But they do come from some of the same asteroid families.”</p>



<p>This connection means that by learning which asteroid families are sending meteorites our way, scientists can better assess which larger bodies might pose a risk in the future.</p>



<p>Jenniskens and Devillepoix also examined other meteorite types and their possible source regions. While not every link is confirmed, the expanding map of meteorite origins is already providing key insights.</p>



<p>“We are proud about how far we have come, but there is a long way to go,” said Jenniskens. "Like the first cartographers who traced the outline of Australia, our map reveals a continent of discoveries still ahead when more meteorite falls are recorded.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-in-meteorite-tracking">Next steps in meteorite tracking</h2>



<p>In the future, scientists hope to observe more asteroids in space just before they reach Earth. That was the case in 2008, when a small asteroid named 2008 TC3 was tracked in space and then recovered after it landed.</p>



<p>Thanks to upcoming observatories and new detection technologies, researchers expect to repeat this process more often - and continue filling in the blanks on their asteroid belt map.</p>



<p>As more meteorites are tracked from sky to ground, each one becomes another puzzle piece in understanding our solar system’s past, and preparing for its future.</p>



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What meteorites tell us about their birthplace in space

For years, scientists have puzzled over one big question: where...

<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=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air"><strong>Invisible threat in urban air</strong></h2>



<p>City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-connections-emerge"><strong>Disturbing connections emerge</strong></h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-matters"><strong>Timing matters</strong></h2>



<p>The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-vulnerability-patterns"><strong>Genetic vulnerability patterns</strong></h2>



<p>Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications"><strong>Public health implications</strong></h2>



<p>These findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a></em>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.</p>



<p>As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.</p>



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Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<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=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



<p>Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



<p>The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



<p>At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.</p>



<p>"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.</p>



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



<p>The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.</p>



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Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<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=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



<p>Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.</p>



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



<p>Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.</p>



<p>Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-combination-of-climate-factors">The combination of climate factors</h2>



<p>The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.</p>



<p>Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-implications">Modern climate implications</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a></em>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.</p>



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<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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<p>—–</p>

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 id="block-1f9a227a-ec37-4140-81b8-ffa4a7cc6689">-----</p>



<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>



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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>



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<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>



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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>



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Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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</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>



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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<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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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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

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

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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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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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

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

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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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