Tiny bits of plastic no wider than a human hair have turned up in some unexpected places, including the human bloodstream. 



Now, data presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting shows that these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-spread-deep-into-the-ocean-far-below-the-surface/">fragments</a> have breached the fluids that surround eggs and travel with sperm.



The research team led by Dr. Emilio Gómez‑Sánchez of Next Fertility Murcia in Spain scanned <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/follicular-fluid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">follicular fluid</a> from 29 women and seminal fluid from 22 men.



The experts found microplastics in 69 percent of the women and 55 percent of the men they studied. According to Dr. Gómez‑Sánchez, the team was surprised to find that the particles were so widespread.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastics-in-human-reproductive-fluids">Plastics in human reproductive fluids</h2>



The study detected polymers such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/polytetrafluoroethylene" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polytetrafluoroethylene</a> and <a href="https://adrecoplastics.co.uk/polypropylene-uses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polypropylene</a>, materials better known for slick frying pans and food packaging. Seeing them next to human eggs turns a theoretical hazard into a measurable one.



Back in 2021, Italian obstetricians spotted twelve plastic fragments in every placenta they examined, confirming that particles smaller than five millimeters can cross the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33395930/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maternal‑fetal boundary</a>.



Similarly sized particles have been uncovered deep in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35364151/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lung tissue</a> removed during surgery, proving that inhalation is a realistic delivery route for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-way-to-remove-microplastics-from-tap-water-home-faucet/">plastic</a> dust.



Researchers in the Netherlands have even measured plastic mass circulating in human blood samples, an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35367073/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">observation</a> that explains how fragments migrate to distant tissues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-plastics-enter-the-human-body">How plastics enter the human body</h2>



Most people take in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-in-human-brains-may-affect-mental-health/">plastic</a> flecks by eating, drinking, or breathing, because everyday products shed invisible dust whenever they are heated, abraded, or exposed to sunlight. 



Once swallowed or inhaled, particles small enough can slip through the gut wall or the thin air‑blood membrane in the lungs.



Animal studies suggest that fragments under one micrometer can enter cells directly, whereas larger shards get trapped in tissue and spark local irritation. Either way, they bypass the body’s usual waste filters.



Laboratory work on mice shows that digestive uptake rises when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/airborne-microplastics-where-they-come-from-and-where-they-go/">microplastics</a> hitchhike on fats, a detail that matters for fertility research because reproductive hormones ride on similar lipid highways. 



The overlap raises worry that plastics may act as endocrine mimics or carriers for other chemicals.



Dr. Gómez‑Sánchez’s team avoided laboratory contamination by collecting every human sample in glass vials and verifying the absence of background plastic. This means the polymers they found were genuine residents, not stray lab dust.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-harms-fertility">Plastic harms fertility</h2>



Mice exposed to polystyrene fragments shed sperm with damaged DNA and sluggish movement, effects traced to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31896473/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxidative stress</a> that overwhelms antioxidant defenses.



Separate <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36948006/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> on rodent Leydig cells shows shriveled mitochondria after nanoplastic exposure, which throttles testosterone production and shrinks litter sizes.



Reviews published in 2024 concluded that microplastics can disrupt the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38750730/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hypothalamic‑pituitary‑gonadal axis</a>, leading to hormonal imbalances and faulty egg maturation.



Because human oocytes develop over months, chronic exposure could matter more than a short spike. That makes the repeated detection of PTFE in both eggs and sperm especially noteworthy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-levels-in-eggs-and-sperm">Plastic levels in eggs and sperm</h2>



In the current data set, PTFE appeared in 31 percent of sampled egg fluid and 41 percent of semen. PP ranked second among women and <a href="https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/chemicals/polystyrene/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polystyrene</a> second among men, with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/polyethylene-terephthalate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polyethylene terephthalate</a> also present but in smaller numbers.



Annual plastic output has climbed from under two million tons in 1950 to about 460 million in 2019, a 230‑fold jump documented by the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36969097/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minderoo‑Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health</a>.



Each uptick in production increases litter, weathering, and fragment release, tightening the feedback loop between plastics and people. Reproductive cells, delicate by design, stand on the front line.



Gómez‑Sánchez reported that most reproductive samples contained only one or two plastic particles, amounts considered low compared with overall debris in the fluids. Yet fertility specialists note that even trace metals can derail embryo development, so particle counts alone may not predict risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-fertility-research-must-include-plastics">Human fertility research must include plastics</h2>



“They should be considered an additional argument in favor of avoiding the generalized use of plastics in our daily lives,” said Professor Carlos Calhaz‑Jorge of the University of Lisbon. He also noted that further research is needed to prove causation.



The research team will now study hundreds of patients and link particle loads to embryo quality during <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22457-ivf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in vitro fertilization cycles</a>. Those correlations could supply the first direct human evidence beyond laboratory rodents.



They plan lifestyle questionnaires to test whether habits such as heavy bottled‑water use or microwaving food in plastic correlate with higher particle counts. The approach could convert abstract exposure theory into personal advice.



“Microplastics are just one variable in a complex equation,” said Dr. Gómez‑Sánchez. He urges moderation of plastic use rather than alarm. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-habits-to-lower-exposure">Simple habits to lower exposure</h2>



Switching from plastic bottles to glass or stainless steel lowers ingestion because heat and time no longer leach particles from container walls. Replacing scratched nonstick pans can cut PTFE flakes in the diet.



Researchers advise skipping plastic cutting boards and using ceramic or bamboo instead, because knife action liberates shavings that cling to food. Letting take‑out cool before transferring it from polystyrene boxes also helps.



Air purifiers with HEPA filters capture airborne fibers shed by synthetic textiles, a step especially useful for nurseries. Regular vacuuming with a sealed system keeps particles from resuspending.



These tweaks are not foolproof, yet they come with side benefits like removing chemical additives that ride on plastic dust. They buy time while science sorts out the clinical stakes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-efforts-to-cut-human-plastics-pollution">Efforts to cut human plastics pollution</h2>



Public‑health researchers argue that personal choices alone cannot outrun a supply chain making more than a billion pounds of new plastic every day. 



Negotiators at the United Nations are hammering out a global treaty that could cap production and streamline recycling.



<a href="https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/biology/people/faculty-directory/Phil-Landrigan.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Philip Landrigan</a> of Boston College calls the treaty a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to protect human health, because curbing output remains the only sure way to slow microplastic fallout. He points to the emerging fertility data as evidence that time is short.



Whether lawmakers act or not, the science of sub‑visible plastic is moving fast thanks to sharper imaging tools and nanomechanical sensors. Studies that once took months now finish in days, filling the literature with fresh clues.



Every new dataset sharpens the same picture: plastics weather into dust, the dust goes everywhere, and living tissue keeps no closed doors. Eggs and sperm, it turns out, are no exception.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humrep#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Reproduction</a>.



-----



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Tiny plastic particles found in human egg and sperm fluids

Tiny bits of plastic no wider than a human hair have turned up in some unexpected places, including the human bloodstream. Now, data presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting shows that these fragments have breached the fluids that surround eggs and travel with sperm. The research team led by Dr. Emilio Gómez‑Sánchez of Next Fertility Murcia in Spain scanned follicular fluid from 29 women and seminal fluid from 22 men. The experts found microplastics in 69 percent of the women and 55...

In this age of virtual communication, emojis have become a universal language. Created as simple characters depicting emotions, objects, animals, and more, they've evolved as a language that pairs with text to convey complex meanings. 



Although we use emojis almost every day, have you ever wondered what these colorful symbols might reveal about us and our attachment styles?



This intriguing question was explored by Dr. Simon Dubé, a research fellow in The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. According to his study, there's more to emojis than meets the eye.



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



Attachment styles describe how individuals form <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-tech-will-track-emotions-through-changes-in-our-skin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotional bonds</a> and behave in relationships. They are influenced by early experiences with caregivers. Psychologists categorize attachment styles into four main types:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Secure attachment: People with this style feel comfortable with intimacy and trust. They balance independence and closeness, making them supportive and confident in relationships. </li>



<li>Anxious attachment: These individuals often fear abandonment and seek constant reassurance. They may appear overly dependent or worried about their partner's commitment. </li>



<li>Avoidant attachment: People with this style value independence and often avoid emotional closeness. They may struggle to open up or rely on others. </li>



<li>Disorganized attachment: This style combines elements of both anxious and avoidant tendencies, often resulting from traumatic or inconsistent caregiving. These individuals may exhibit unpredictable behaviors in relationships.</li>
</ol>



Understanding attachment styles helps explain relationship dynamics and guides personal growth or therapy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emoji-use-and-attachment-style">Emoji use and attachment style</h2>



To comprehend our emoji use behavior, Dr. Dubé and his colleagues examined associations between emoji use frequency, attachment style, and emotional intelligence in a sample of 320 adults. 



Emotional intelligence, the ability to process and manage one’s emotions and those of others, plays a crucial role here. On the other hand, as discussed, attachment styles dictate how individuals relate to others in close relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-attachment-styles-and-emojis">Different attachment styles and emojis</h2>



The study revealed fascinating patterns. For example, people with higher emotional intelligence are better at understanding and managing their own emotions, as well as recognizing and responding to the emotions of others.



As a result, they tend to use emojis more frequently because emojis help them express their emotions clearly in digital conversations. 



Those with secure attachment also use emojis more often because they feel emotionally secure and connected to others. 



Emojis are a way for them to communicate affection and warmth in relationships, including with friends and romantic partners.



On the other hand, people with an avoidant attachment style tend to avoid emotional closeness and may find it difficult to express their emotions openly. 



They often distance themselves from others, especially in close relationships.



As a result, they use fewer emojis, particularly with friends and romantic partners, because they may prefer to keep their emotions more guarded or may not feel as comfortable using symbols that express affection or vulnerability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gender-and-emoji-usage">Gender and emoji usage</h2>



Dr. Dubé's study also brings a gendered perspective to the table, showing that women use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/doctors-are-using-emoji-to-diagnose-patients-in-clinics-and-hospitals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emojis</a> with friends and family more than men.



However, if women have higher levels of attachment avoidance, they tend to send and receive emojis less frequently with friends and romantic partners. 



Similarly, men with higher levels of attachment avoidance send fewer emojis to their partners.



These patterns open an exciting dialogue on how emojis mirror our emotional landscapes and relationship styles, transcending their original purpose as simple graphical symbols.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-of-the-study">Limitations of the study</h2>



Despite its findings, this research from the <a href="https://kinseyinstitute.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kinsey Institute</a> has its limitations. 



The majority of the participants were white, educated, married, English-speaking heterosexual individuals residing in the U.S. Hence, the insights do not reflect the entire spectrum of cultural and demographic diversity in emoji usage.



Nevertheless, as the experts noted, this research opens new avenues at the intersection of psychology, computer-mediated communication, and the study of attachment and emotional intelligence. 



By exploring further, we can better understand human behavior in the digital age.



"The way we interact during virtual communications may reveal something more about ourselves. It is not just a smiley face or heart emoji: it's a way to convey meaning and communicate more effectively, and how you use it tells us something about you," said the researchers.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/current-emoji-library-doesnt-accurately-represent-the-tree-of-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emojis</a>, therefore, are not just digital footnotes to our messages. They can reflect our emotional intelligence, attachment styles, and even our gendered behaviors. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emojis-beyond-attachment-style">Emojis beyond attachment style</h2>



Emojis are increasingly used in professional communication to add clarity and tone to messages. 



Studies suggest that over 80% of smartphone users share emojis regularly, with younger generations leading the trend. 



Interestingly, emojis can help reduce miscommunication in text-based interactions by providing emotional context.



Certain emojis, like the heart or smiley face, are universally popular, while others are interpreted differently across cultures. 



Research also shows that people tend to use more emojis when discussing positive topics, whereas fewer emojis are used in formal or serious discussions.



The evolution of emoji designs, including inclusive and diverse options, has also increased their appeal globally. 



These small symbols now form an essential part of digital communication, blending emotions with efficiency in modern language.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0308880" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS ONE</a>.



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How you send and use emojis explains your attachment style

In this age of virtual communication, emojis have become a...

Beyond,The,Deserts:,Saudi,Arabia's,Remarkable,Landscapes

Amid a vast landscape of sun-scorched sand and earth, where deserts reign supreme and water remains scarce, lies a kingdom taking bold strides towards a greener future. 



This is Saudi Arabia, a nation synonymous with boundless deserts and rich oil reserves, that is now investing heavily in green technology to breathe life into its arid lands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restoring-degraded-desert-land">Restoring degraded desert land</h2>



The capital city, Riyadh, recently hosted the <a href="https://www.unccd.int/cop16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations COP16 conference</a> that focused on drought and desertification.



Because this scenario is all too familiar in the Kingdom, its officials have committed to restoring an impressive 40 million hectares of degraded desert land.



This audacious goal demonstrates Saudi Arabia's movement towards environmental sustainability, but it remains intertwined with its history as a defender and producer of oil. 



The country's green initiatives are discordantly set against its continued investment in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-studded-lineup-to-join-march-to-end-fossil-fuels-this-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a>, which raises the question of whether these green efforts hold sufficient climate solution merit.



According to a 2023 report issued by PwC, Saudi Arabia contributes a staggering 75% of the Middle East's investment in global climate technology startups. 



However, this green investment leans heavily towards energy, with a plan to inject $363 million into climate-friendly energy solutions.



This figure dwarfs the relatively meager amount put into food, agriculture, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unsustainable-land-use-food-supply/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">land-use</a> innovations - areas that are critical for addressing the Kingdom’s water scarcity and ensuring sustainable development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harnessing-microorganisms-a-solution-in-the-sand">Harnessing microorganisms: A solution in the sand</h2>



In a sprawling complex, nestled in the desert north of Jeddah, a promising new project is underway.



The focus is on utilizing microorganisms to lessen the energy expense of treating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-wastewater-is-a-hidden-solution-to-the-climate-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wastewater</a>.



At the helm of this innovative endeavor is Peiying Hong, an environmental science and engineering scholar from the <a href="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King Abdullah University of Science and Technology</a>.



Hong explains that the process capitalizes on microorganisms to convert carbon into methane gas, which powers the facility while purifying wastewater.



The end result is nutrient-rich water that can nurture life in a desert, supporting the production of livestock feed and combating desertification.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-desert-sand-into-soil">Turning desert sand into soil</h2>



Access to a sustainable water source could be a game-changer for Saudi Arabia, a nation that grapples with severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-has-caused-crisis-levels-of-food-and-water-scarcity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water scarcity</a>.



As part of its Middle East Green Initiative, the Kingdom plans to plant a staggering 10 billion trees and rehabilitate over 74 million hectares of land. For this ambitious plan to succeed, effective water and soil management are key.



At the same university, Himanshu Mishra, who is an environmental science and engineering expert, offers another innovative solution. His team believes they have created a product capable of transforming Saudi's desert sand into cultivable land.



Their secret weapon? Carbon-enriched compost derived from an abundant local resource – chicken manure.



This advanced compost, which retains vital nutrients and water while enhancing microbial biodiversity, is already turning arid soils into verdant landscapes.



Moreover, Saudi Arabia could potentially export this carbonated topsoil along with the supporting technology, which would broaden the scope of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-initiative-forest-restoration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">green initiatives</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-funding-green-tech-the-challenge-ahead">Funding green tech: The challenge ahead</h2>



Though rife with potential, scaling such endeavors requires substantial financial backing and political support. 



"We really need venture funding and investment to demonstrate their effectiveness on a large scale," noted Hong.



Indeed, securing funding for green tech startups isn't a walk in the park. It's "extremely hard," said John Robinson, an investor and partner at Mazarine Ventures. Despite the challenges, some promising startups manage to attract private investors.



As the world's leading exporter of crude oil, Saudi Arabia's fervent defense of this resource casts a shadow over its green ambitions.



In the face of it all, the Kingdom continues to invest in technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen production as part of its touted "circular carbon economy."



 Critics argue this is merely greenwashing, aimed at perpetuating fossil fuel investments.



The Saudi Green Initiative isn't without its detractors. In May 2024, the European Center for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR) claimed that this initiative masked Saudi's ongoing fossil fuel reliance and disregard for environmental justice. 



In response, Riyadh defends its actions as being integral to its energy security.



As Saudi Arabia ventures into its green future, balancing oil production with environmental conservation will be its greatest challenge. 



Yet, the Kingdom's bold strides show a promising commitment towards a greener world.



Details of the study are <a href="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/news/reusing-saudi-arabia-s-precious-water-resources">presented in a report</a> by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.



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Saudi Arabia is turning arid desert sand into lush blooming soil

Amid a vast landscape of sun-scorched sand and earth, where...

Northern,Lights,Aurora.,Aurora,Borealis.,A,Wonderful,Night,With,Northern

In the last few years, observers have noticed unusual streaks of mauve and white lights called Steve, along with a glowing green feature known as the picket fence, appearing near the usual displays of auroras.



The more familiar auroras, with their greens, reds, and purples, have long been attributed to energized particles from the solar wind interacting with Earth’s upper atmosphere. But these new features raise fresh questions.



The mystery of the beautiful lights called "Steve" and the picket fence first came to light in 2018, when scientists realized that their properties differ sharply from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-southern-united-states-this-week-huge-solar-storm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">normal auroras</a>. 



After a time, many wondered if these lights might share the same origins as the classic auroras, or if they might arise from a different set of conditions. 



Claire Gasque, a graduate student in physics at the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Berkeley</a>, has stepped up to propose a new explanation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-the-steve-lights">A closer look at the Steve lights</h2>



The night sky often offers surprises, and sometimes these surprises challenge long-standing thinking and call for detailed study. 



Gasque, working at the Space Sciences Laboratory (<a href="https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SSL</a>) at Berkeley, suggests that a separate physical process could be responsible for these unusual lights. 



She argues that the time has come to question old assumptions and look for new answers.



“This would upend our modeling of what creates light and the energy in the aurora in some cases,” Gasque said. “It’s really cool, one of the biggest mysteries in space physics right now.”



Gasque believes that a <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> mission to send a rocket into an aurora would help confirm her ideas. 



With the sun’s activity ramping up in its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-lights-activity-will-intensify-over-the-next-18-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11-year cycle</a>, this might be a good moment to catch rare phenomena and learn something new in the process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-mechanism-is-making-the-sky-glow">New mechanism is making the sky glow</h2>



The idea of launching rockets to measure electric and magnetic fields inside these glowing events has gained momentum. 



Gasque thinks that electric fields parallel to <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/earths-magnetic-field-origin-structure-and-impact-on-humanity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s magnetic field</a> might be creating the picket fence colors. 



Traditional auroras come from charged particles streaming down from space and energizing oxygen and nitrogen molecules, producing familiar colors. 



But Steve’s purple or mauve tones do not match the pattern, and the picket fence appears in latitudes where auroras typically do not form. Gasque sees this as a sign that something else is going on.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electrons-in-the-atmosphere">Electrons in the atmosphere</h2>



Gasque’s research shows that a parallel electric field of about 100 millivolts per meter at an altitude of about 110 km could energize electrons enough to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/steve-phenomenon-not-aurora-has-dawn-side-twin-swarm-satellites-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">produce the observed colors</a>. 



She also points out that this region has special conditions, like reduced plasma density and more neutral atoms. This environment might allow the field to do its work without shorting out.



“If you look at the spectrum of the picket fence, it’s much more green than you would expect. And there’s none of the blue that’s coming from the ionization of nitrogen,” Gasque said. 



“What that’s telling us is that there’s only a specific energy range of electrons that can create those colors, and they can’t be coming from way out in space down into the atmosphere, because those particles have too much energy.” 



Instead, she said, “the light from the picket fence is being created by particles that have to be energized right there in space by a parallel electric field, which is a completely different mechanism than any of the aurora that we’ve studied or known before.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steve-lights-get-a-new-layer-of-complexity">Steve lights get a new layer of complexity</h2>



<a href="https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/full-directory/name/brian-harding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brian Harding</a>, an assistant research physicist at SSL and a co-author on Gasque’s work, appreciates the significance of these findings. 



“The really interesting thing about Claire’s paper is that we’ve known for a couple of years now that the Steve spectrum is telling us there’s some very strange physics going on," Harding enthused.



"We just didn’t know what it was. Claire’s paper showed that parallel electric fields are capable of explaining this strange spectrum.”



The team plans to set their sights first on something called the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-are-a-visual-warning-of-shocks-to-earths-magnetic-field/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhanced aurora</a>, which is basically this bright layer that’s embedded in the normal aurora. 



"The colors are similar to the picket fence in that there’s not as much blue in them, and there’s more green from oxygen and red from nitrogen," Gasque explained. 



"The hypothesis is that these are also created by parallel electric fields, but they are a lot more common than the picket fence."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nasa-we-need-your-help">NASA, we need your help</h2>



They have submitted a proposal to NASA for a sounding rocket campaign that, if selected, would launch from Alaska. 



The team aims to fly a rocket through that enhanced layer to actually measure those parallel electric fields for the first time, and also send one higher to distinguish the conditions from those that cause the auroras.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-the-steve-lights">What's next for the Steve lights?</h2>



Gasque credits cooperation with experts focused on different parts of the atmosphere for making progress. 



She hopes that a successful campaign will pave the way for a direct measurement of Steve and the picket fence themselves. 



The plan is to learn how these electric fields form and what they mean for the transfer of energy between Earth and space. Harding expects future work to break new ground in understanding these electric fields. 



“It’s fair to say that there’s going to be a lot of study in the future about how those electric fields got there, what waves they are or aren’t associated with, and what that means for the larger energy transfer between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geomagnetic-storms-are-influenced-by-earths-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s atmosphere</a> and space,” Harding concluded. 



“We really don’t know. Claire’s paper is the first step in the chain of that understanding.”



If NASA gives the green light, the team could start making these measurements very soon. As the solar cycle moves forward, new opportunities will arise to see these phenomena again. 



Gasque’s work suggests that Steve and the picket fence are something else entirely, reshaping how scientists look at lights in the night sky and the processes that power them.



The full study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023GL106073" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.



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Sky lights called "Steve" are challenging what we know about auroras

In the last few years, observers have noticed unusual streaks...

For decades, many people pictured ancient humans as relying mostly on stone. New wood findings from early human settlements at Kalambo Falls in Zambia suggest that view may need adjusting.



Researchers have uncovered wooden structures dating back about 476,000 years, and they don't seem like random sticks piled together. 



Instead, they appear to be carefully shaped and joined, possibly forming a platform or the base of a shelter. Such woodworking extends far beyond what was once expected of humans living so long ago.



Shortly after making this discovery, Professor Larry Barham from the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liverpool</a> and his team identified a wedge, a digging stick, a log cut with the help of tools, and a branch with a deliberate notch. 



These artifacts were preserved thanks to the waterlogged conditions at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalambo_Falls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kalambo Falls</a>. The makers lived well before Homo sapiens arose and may have been Homo heidelbergensis or a related species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-humans-and-the-wooden-age">Early humans and the "wooden age"</h2>



Most knowledge of early humans comes from stone artifacts because stone survives the ages. Wood usually decays, leaving no trace. 



Until now, evidence of early human wood use, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-humans-used-tools-to-make-timber-for-woodworking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">woodworking tools</a>, had been limited to fire, digging sticks, or spears. The Kalambo Falls finds add a new dimension. 



They show that some early hominins understood how to shape and join logs. This changes what we know about their abilities and creativity.



“This find has changed how I think about our early ancestors. Forget the label ‘Stone Age,’ look at what these people were doing: they made something new, and large, from wood," Professor Barham enthused.



"They used their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-ancestors-woodworking-sophisticated-techniques/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intelligence, imagination, and skills</a> to create something they’d never seen before, something that had never previously existed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-date-ancient-wood">How to date ancient wood</h2>



Wood from nearly half a million years ago is rare. The team needed methods beyond traditional approaches to confirm the age. 



“At this great age, putting a date on finds is very challenging and we used luminescence dating to do this. These new dating methods have far reaching implications -- allowing us to date much further back in time, to piece together sites that give us a glimpse into human evolution," explained Professor Geoff Duller from <a href="https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aberystwyth University</a>.



"The site at Kalambo Falls had been excavated back in the 1960s when similar pieces of wood were recovered, but they were unable to date them, so the true significance of the site was unclear until now.”



These dating techniques show that the wooden structures belong to a distant era. 



By accurately placing these artifacts in time, the team can see how early humans selected materials, planned projects, and adapted to their environment long before modern humans appeared.



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



Some earlier views imagined a steady line of progress from simple to complex. They suggested that early hominins were not as inventive. 



The Kalambo Falls discovery challenges that idea. Here are ancient people who didn’t just pick up whatever lay around. 



They shaped wood with purpose and turned it into something with structure. This implies planning and the ability to think ahead.



The focus is not just on the tools they used but on the final product. They took logs and worked them into forms that required <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">understanding material properties</a>. 



They recognized that certain pieces of wood, cut and fitted together, could create stable surfaces or supports. This level of planning and action was happening far earlier than many had believed possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stone-age-label-no-longer-applies">"Stone Age" label no longer applies</h2>



Calling that period the “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-hunter-gatherers-had-a-very-organized-domestic-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stone Age</a>” may have unintentionally downplayed other materials. The reason stone dominates our understanding of prehistory is that it lasts. 



Wood rots, leaving open questions about what was once common. Only under special conditions, like those at Kalambo Falls, can wood survive for so many thousands of centuries.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wooden-structure_ancient-humans-woodworking_wedge-shaped_credit_ULiverpool_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wooden-structure_ancient-humans-woodworking_wedge-shaped_credit_ULiverpool_1s.webp" alt="A wedge shaped piece of wood discovered at Kalambo Falls is found to be 476,000 years old. Credit: Professor Larry Barham, University of Liverpool" class="wp-image-1952754"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A wedge shaped piece of wood discovered at Kalambo Falls is found to be 476,000 years old. Credit: Professor Larry Barham, University of Liverpool</figcaption></figure>



This site makes it clear that the old labels may need revisiting. Early humans likely exploited a broad range of materials to get by. Perhaps many wooden inventions were lost through time because they decayed. 



Now, with direct evidence, we see that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-did-early-humans-first-start-wearing-clothes-and-why-parasites-lice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early hominins</a> didn’t rely solely on stone. They used wood to make tools, platforms, and other things that shaped their world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-early-humans-worked-with-wood">How early humans worked with wood</h2>



Wood is not as durable as stone, but it has its advantages. It can be worked into different shapes and is easier to manipulate. For these ancient builders, wood would have been a familiar resource. 



They knew which pieces to cut, how to notch branches, and how to create useful items. This knowledge hints at a long tradition of using wood for more than just simple objects.



Their approach to wood may have influenced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-used-interesting-technique-hunt-big-animals-clovis-points/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how they hunted</a>, gathered food, or constructed living spaces. 



The find at Kalambo Falls highlights actions that usually remain invisible, locked away in times too old to remember.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wood-tools-and-early-human-history">Wood, tools, and early human history</h2>



To sum it all up, this new study shows us that human technology and culture did not simply move along one narrow track. People found ways to solve problems long before anyone thought possible. 



The Kalambo Falls wood structure nudges us to think about human capabilities in a more flexible way. 



Even when brains were smaller and modern humans had not yet appeared, early hominins were still clever enough to shape their environment to meet their needs.



This single discovery does not rewrite the entire story, but it adds details that help round it out. Early humans did more than chip stones -- they worked with what was around them, including wood, to create something purposeful and enduring.



In a world that often underestimates these distant ancestors, the Kalambo Falls find proves they deserve more credit than we once gave them.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02858-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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World's oldest wooden structure discovery rewrites human history

For decades, many people pictured ancient humans as relying mostly...

Have you ever wondered if crabs and lobsters felt pain or fear as they were being boiled alive before making it onto your dinner plate? 



Recent studies suggest that these creatures experience discomfort in ways we hadn't fully understood before.



Dr. Lynne Sneddon, a zoophysiologist at the <a href="https://www.gu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Gothenburg</a>, believes it's time we reconsider how we treat these animals. 



"We need to find less painful ways to kill shellfish if we are to continue eating them. Because now we have scientific evidence that they both experience and react to pain," she says.



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



Crustaceans have been <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bright-coloration-in-crayfish-does-not-serve-an-evolutionary-purpose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roaming the Earth</a> for an impressive span of over 500 million years. 



They first appeared during the Cambrian period, a time known for the "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grand-canyon-fossils-reveal-secrets-of-the-cambrian-explosion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambrian Explosion</a>" when many major animal groups emerged. 



Early crustaceans already showcased the key features we recognize today, such as their hard <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shellfish-consumed-by-humans-are-ironically-more-resistant-to-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoskeletons</a>, segmented bodies, and jointed limbs. 



This long evolutionary history has allowed them to diversify into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meet-melita-panda-the-black-and-white-crustacean-shrimp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thousands of species</a>, adapting to a wide range of environments from the deepest parts of the oceans to freshwater rivers and even some terrestrial areas.



Crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters, are more than just seafood delicacies. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-crabs-and-lobsters-have-emotions-and-feelings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">These fascinating creatures</a> boast a hard exoskeleton made of chitin, providing them with protection and support. 



With ten legs -- often featuring claws or pincers -- they navigate their environments with ease. 



Their bodies are segmented into the head, thorax, and abdomen, and they have specialized appendages for swimming, walking, or digging.



These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptable animals</a> can be found almost everywhere: from the deepest ocean trenches to freshwater rivers and even damp terrestrial spots. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crabs-pain-and-perception">Crabs, pain, and perception</h2>



Until now, the idea that crustaceans feel pain was mostly based on observational studies. 



Researchers noticed that when crabs and lobsters were exposed to potentially harmful stimuli -- like electric shocks or acids -- they would touch the affected area or try to avoid the danger in subsequent encounters. 



This behavior led many to believe they might be experiencing pain.



But the team at the University of Gothenburg took it a step further. PhD student Eleftherios Kasiouras led a study where they measured the activity in a shore crab's brain using EEG-style recordings. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crabs_feel-pain_electrodes_shore-crab_Eleftherios-Kasiouras_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crabs_feel-pain_electrodes_shore-crab_Eleftherios-Kasiouras_1s.webp" alt="Electrodes measuring brain activity were attached to a shore crab, which was then subjected to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Credit: Eleftherios Kasiouras" class="wp-image-1951623"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Electrodes measuring brain activity were attached to a shore crab, which was then subjected to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Credit: Eleftherios Kasiouras</figcaption></figure>



"We could see that the crab has some kind of pain receptors in its soft tissues, because we recorded an increase in brain activity when we applied a potentially painful chemical, a form of vinegar, to the crab's soft tissues. The same happened when we applied external pressure to several of the crab's body parts," he explains.



These findings suggest that shore crabs have a pain signaling system that sends messages to their brains when they experience harmful stimuli. 



Interestingly, the pain response was shorter and more intense with physical stress, while chemical stress produced a longer-lasting effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-crabs-feel-pain-what-about-lobsters">If crabs feel pain, what about lobsters?</h2>



Given that many crustaceans share similar structures and nervous systems, these results could extend beyond shore crabs. 



"It is a given that all animals need some kind of pain system to cope by avoiding danger. I don't think we need to test all species of crustaceans, as they have a similar structure and therefore similar nervous systems," Kasiouras explains.



"We can assume that shrimps, crayfish, and lobsters can also send external signals about painful stimuli to their brain which will process this information."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-crustaceans">Importance of crustaceans</h2>



Crustaceans play <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-did-billions-of-crabs-vanish-from-the-bering-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vital roles in their ecosystems</a>. Acting as both predators and prey, they help maintain the balance of marine and freshwater food webs.



For humans, they are a significant food source, contributing to economies worldwide. They're also valuable in scientific research, aiding studies on regeneration, development, and environmental health.



However, challenges like overfishing and habitat destruction <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crabs-are-losing-their-sense-of-smell-and-vanishing-due-to-ocean-acidification/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threaten their populations</a>. This raises concerns about sustainability and the need for better practices to ensure these creatures thrive for future generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconsidering-how-we-handle-seafood">Reconsidering how we handle seafood</h2>



Currently, shellfish like prawns, lobsters, crabs, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-crayfish-atlas-offers-new-tools-for-conservation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crayfish aren't covered</a> by animal welfare legislation in the European Union. 



This means practices that might cause them pain are still legally acceptable. But with new evidence pointing to their ability to feel pain, there's a growing call to change how we treat these animals.



Dr. Sneddon emphasizes the need for change: "We need more research to find less painful ways to kill shellfish." 



If we continue to consume these creatures, it's crucial to ensure we're not causing unnecessary suffering.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-is-awful-but-what-can-we-do">This is awful, but what can we do?</h2>



The first step is acknowledging that these animals might experience pain similarly to how we do. 



With that understanding, industries and regulators can work towards implementing more humane methods of handling and killing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strawberry-claws-the-hermit-crab-that-sings-underwater/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crustaceans</a>. 



This could involve developing new technologies or techniques that minimize pain or distress.



Consumers also play a role. By supporting businesses that prioritize humane practices and advocating for better regulations, we can encourage a shift towards more ethical treatment of these animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crabs-pain-and-human-compassion">Crabs, pain, and human compassion</h2>



As we learn more about the creatures we share our planet with, it's essential to adapt our behaviors accordingly. 



Knowing that crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans can feel pain changes the game on how we should treat them, especially when it comes to cooking and handling. 



It's not just about following laws or guidelines -- it's about being mindful and compassionate in our everyday choices, treating sentient creatures with respect. 



By supporting humane practices and staying informed, we can help ensure that all crustaceans are treated with the respect they've earned by inhabiting our planet for over 500 million years.



As we move forward, both industries and individuals have a part to play. After all, how we treat the smallest of creatures often reflects our values as a society.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/11/851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology</a>.



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----

Immediate ban on boiling crabs and lobsters called for after disturbing study

Have you ever wondered if crabs and lobsters felt pain...

When we think of testosterone-driven dominance, images of silverback gorillas pounding their chests or executives battling for boardroom supremacy may come to mind. 



Traditionally, the narrative of aggression and dominance has belonged to males. But in the dry savannahs of southern Africa, one species flips the script. Here, meerkats females are the competitive and dominant sex due to their testosterone.



Most meerkat mobs, small social groups of these mongoose relatives, are led by a dominant female. She commands with an iron paw - growling, biting, and shoving to maintain order.



This leadership style ensures that subordinates not only obey but also help raise her pups. Now, a recent study reveals that the dominant female’s reign comes at a price, particularly for her offspring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testosterone-levels-in-meerkat-queens">Testosterone levels in meerkat queens</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decoding-secret-language-of-meerkats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meerkat</a> queens owe their dominance to elevated levels of testosterone. During pregnancy, their testosterone can double, surpassing that of their male counterparts. 



This hormonal surge strengthens the matriarch’s competitive edge, enabling her to maintain control. However, this advantage comes with a trade-off.



"While this chemical boost gives her a competitive edge and helps her keep the upper hand, it can also take a toll on the health of her offspring," noted <a href="https://duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a>’s Christine Drea, co-author of the new study.



The research sheds light on the impact of elevated testosterone levels on meerkat pups. Conducted at the Kuruman River Reserve in South Africa’s Kalahari Desert, the study examined 195 meerkats across juvenile and adult stages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-high-testosterone-impacts-meerkat-health">High testosterone impacts meerkat health</h2>



The researchers analyzed the droppings of meerkat pups for signs of parasitic infections, including tapeworm eggs. 



They discovered that pups born to dominant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-birds-commit-to-caring-for-young-males-abandon-family-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">females</a>, exposed to heightened testosterone levels in the womb, carried more gut parasites than those of subordinate females.



To confirm the role of maternal testosterone, the team administered a medication to some pregnant dominant females. 



This treatment reduced the effects of testosterone during their third trimester. The results were striking: pups from these treated mothers exhibited stronger immune responses and fewer parasites.



Blood tests revealed that these pups had enhanced natural defenses against bacterial infections. Additionally, their chances of surviving past their first year significantly improved. 



"The offspring from moms whose androgens were blocked actually survive significantly longer," Drea noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testosterone-and-immune-health">Testosterone and immune health</h2>



This study provides the first evidence in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/terror-bird-phorusrhacid-discovery-was-largest-meat-eating-bird-of-its-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a> that elevated prenatal testosterone can weaken immune function. 



The impact was most evident in juvenile meerkats, with the health disparities diminishing as the animals matured.



"There's a health trade-off with testosterone," Drea explained. "It’s actually having an effect on survivorship when the animals are the most vulnerable."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-faced-by-wild-animals">Challenges faced by wild animals</h2>



The findings are part of a broader effort to understand how animals cope with infections in the wild. 



Unlike the controlled environment of a laboratory, wild meerkats face a variety of challenges, including social status, hormones, and environmental stressors.



"By studying wild meerkats, we can explore how real-world conditions — factors like social status, hormones, and environmental stressors — interact to influence immune function," said study co-author Kendra Smyth-Kabay, a former graduate student.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meerkat-dominance-beyond-testosterone">Meerkat dominance beyond testosterone</h2>



Meerkat queens do not <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-could-dominate-earth-if-humans-vanish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rise to power</a> through sheer chance. These matriarchs typically inherit their position after the previous leader dies or is ousted.



Once in charge, they exert strict control over breeding within their groups. Subordinate females are often prevented from reproducing, either through physical aggression or by hormonal suppression caused by the dominant female’s presence.



This social structure ensures that the queen’s pups receive the majority of the group’s care and resources. Meerkat queens also have an uncanny ability to recognize and expel potential threats to their reign, including older offspring that may challenge their authority. 



Interestingly, their leadership style often involves collaboration as much as it does competition. They rely on the support of loyal subordinates to maintain their dominance and rear their young.



The lifespan of a meerkat queen can vary, but those who maintain their dominance often live longer than subordinates, benefiting from better access to food and protection from predators. 



However, the constant stress of defending their position can take a toll, making their reign both a privilege and a burden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-balance-of-power">A balance of power</h2>



The study highlights the trade-offs in meerkat society. Dominant females gain reproductive success and control, but their pups bear the burden of weakened immunity. These findings provide a glimpse into the complex interplay of hormones, social hierarchy, and health in the animal kingdom.



As researchers continue to examine these dynamics, the fierce matriarchy of meerkats offers valuable insights into the cost of dominance - particularly the role of testosterone in shaping their leadership and its impact on offspring health.



Despite their apparent power, even queens face the consequences of their reign.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.70600" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Meerkat queens have high testosterone, and their pups pay a price

When we think of testosterone-driven dominance, images of silverback gorillas...

The deep Arctic Ocean holds vast reserves of oil and natural gas, along with valuable rare earth elements and metals.



With climate change accelerating the melting of ice, these resources are becoming increasingly accessible. Mining in the Arctic will present significant economic opportunities but will also pose major ecological risks.



A recent study published in the journal Elementa highlights the urgent need to protect this sensitive ecosystem as human activity in the region intensifies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-deep-arctic-and-its-untapped-resources">The deep Arctic and its untapped resources </h2>



According to estimates, the deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-ice-free-day-in-the-arctic-may-arrive-in-2027/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> Ocean could contain up to 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of its natural gas reserves.



Additionally, the region offers a wealth of rare earth elements and metals essential for building modern technologies. 



The potential economic benefits of these resources have drawn increasing political and commercial attention, further fueled by the opening of new shipping routes and increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-permafrost-melt-devastating-role-accelerating-global-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> tourism.



"Climate change and the melting of sea ice are increasingly facilitating the exploration of the Arctic Ocean, but this also entails major ecological risks," warned Dr. Angelika Brandt from the <a href="https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-research-institute-natural-history-museum-frankfurt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Senckenberg Research Institute</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-and-little-known-habitats">Diverse and little-known habitats</h2>



The Arctic Ocean’s deep-sea habitats host a remarkable variety of life forms, many of which remain poorly studied. 



An international team of researchers analyzed 75,404 datasets covering 2,637 deep-sea species. The findings highlight the need for more intensive research and international collaboration to fill existing knowledge gaps.



"Although we have made considerable progress in understanding the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-alters-the-atmosphere-in-the-remote-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> ecosystem with the aid of new technologies and infrastructures, there are still major gaps in our knowledge of the deep-sea communities living on the sea floor - as clearly demonstrated by our new study," said Dr. Brandt.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-characteristics-of-the-arctic">Characteristics of the Arctic</h2>



The researchers examined data from freely accessible databases, non-digitized scientific literature, and information facilities, focusing on samples from areas north of 66 degrees latitude and deeper than 500 meters. Their analysis revealed the following findings.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biodiversity">Biodiversity</h3>



The phylum Arthropoda - that includes isopods and copepods - had the most individual records (21,405). Other prevalent groups included annelids, sponges, and mollusks, with the latter showing the greatest species richness.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-species-in-deep-arctic-ocean">Unique species in deep Arctic Ocean</h3>



The brittle star&nbsp;Ophiocten gracilis&nbsp;was found at depths exceeding 1,000 meters during a Polarstern expedition between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geomorphological-diversity">Geomorphological diversity</h3>



The Arctic features diverse geological structures such as submarine canyons, continental slopes, seamounts, and biologically generated formations like cold-water coral reefs.



"Not only did we comprehensively digitize important deep-sea data and publish it in freely accessible databases, but we also collected, checked, and comprehensively analyzed new deep-sea data. This enabled us to show that, contrary to popular belief, the Arctic Ocean actually has a very rich diversity of organisms," explained Dr. Hanieh Saeedi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaps-in-data-from-the-deep-arctic">Gaps in data from the deep Arctic</h2>



Despite these advances, significant gaps in knowledge persist, particularly regarding benthic biodiversity in the central Arctic’s deep basins. The study’s habitat maps link faunal groups to specific geomorphological areas, identifying regions with limited data.



"The intergenerational collaboration within the framework of the UN Ocean Decade and the international cooperation with deep-sea experts and the AWI were crucial for this study," stated Dr. Saskia Brix, highlighting the importance of collaboration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-the-arctic-ecosystem-from-mining">Protecting the Arctic ecosystem from mining</h2>



The Arctic deep sea is far from the lifeless environment early explorers imagined. However, intensified international cooperation and active monitoring of environmental parameters and faunal compositions are critical. 



"This is the only way for us to better understand the structure and function of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-industrialization-how-will-it-impact-delicate-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic ecosystem</a> and to ensure that measures are taken to preserve this unique ecosystem, which is of such importance to the northern hemisphere," said Dr. Brix.



"Especially in view of the increasing economic and political interests, the lack of data on benthic biodiversity - particularly in the deep basins of the central Arctic Ocean - poses a significant problem for robust management and conservation measures," noted Dr. Saeedi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-mining-and-conservation-measures">Arctic mining and conservation measures </h2>



The untapped resources of the Arctic Ocean offer undeniable economic opportunities, but the stakes for its fragile ecosystem are immense.



As global interest in the region grows, prioritizing ecological preservation through research, international collaboration, and robust conservation policies becomes ever more critical. 



Only by understanding the Arctic’s deep-sea biodiversity can humanity ensure that economic ambitions do not come at the expense of this vital and unique environment.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/12/1/00140/203384/The-emerging-picture-of-a-diverse-deep-Arctic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elementa</a>.



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Mining the Arctic seabed threatens fragile ecosystems

The deep Arctic Ocean holds vast reserves of oil and...

The connection between early life experiences and mental health has long been a focus of psychological research. Central to these early experiences is the bond between children and their parents, a core concept in attachment theory and various other psychological frameworks.&nbsp;



Research has consistently shown that the quality of these relationships significantly influences subjective well-being into adulthood. However, most studies to date have been limited to small, localized samples, often confined to a single country.



In a recent study published in <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00161-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Psychology</a>, Jonathan T. Rothwell and Telli Davoodi, two researchers at <a href="https://www.gallup.com/home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gallup</a>, investigated this relationship on a much larger and more diverse scale, analyzing data from 21 countries.&nbsp;



The findings suggest that the quality of parent-child relationships universally predicts adult <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-the-critical-role-of-nature-in-human-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">well-being</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-broader-perspective-on-parenting-and-well-being">A broader perspective on parenting and well-being</h2>



“I worked in psychiatric treatment facilities and clinics during college and saw many examples of the profound effect that family conflict has on the mental health of adolescents and adults,” Rothwell said.&nbsp;



This experience, combined with concerns over rising mental health issues among adolescents in the United States, inspired Rothwell to explore the role of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-often-feel-lonely-burnt-out-parenting-demands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parenting</a> practices over generations.



Rothwell and Davoodi initially conducted a U.S.-based study that linked parenting practices, parent-child relationship quality, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-classes-improve-childrens-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">youth mental health</a>.&nbsp;



Building on these findings, the experts expanded their research to include a global perspective, analyzing 200,000 interviews and surveys collected from adults in 21 countries.&nbsp;



The goal was to examine the connection between childhood parenting experiences and adult well-being while accounting for cultural, religious, and socioeconomic diversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quality-of-parent-child-relationships">Quality of parent-child relationships </h2>



Participants were asked about their childhood relationships with their parents, including whether they felt loved by their mother or father, the overall quality of these relationships, and whether they ever felt like outsiders in their families.&nbsp;



These responses were compiled into an index measuring the quality of parent-child relationships.



To assess adult well-being, the researchers used 19 questions focusing on participants’ levels of hope, gratitude, and satisfaction with health and virtue.&nbsp;



Examples of these statements included: “Despite challenges, I always remain hopeful about the future,” and “If I had to list everything that I am grateful for, it would be a long list.” 



Additionally, the study included seven mental health indicators, primarily focusing on clinical symptoms such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-and-anxiety-the-mental-health-impacts-of-wildfires/">anxiety</a> and sadness.



The researchers also collected data on socioeconomic factors, parental religiosity, and participants' current economic and family contexts to understand how these variables interacted with parenting experiences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parent-child-relationships-and-adult-flourishing">Parent-child relationships and adult flourishing</h2>



The study revealed a strong, universal link between positive parent-child relationships and adult well-being.&nbsp;



“We found a substantial effect of parent-child relationships on both flourishing and mental health,” Rothwell said.&nbsp;



This effect was larger than any other variable tested, including socioeconomic status, education level, income, gender, and financial security.



Remarkably, the positive association between parent-child relationships and adult flourishing was observed across all countries in the sample.&nbsp;



Only one country failed to meet conventional levels of statistical significance, which the researchers attributed to the younger population surveyed there. After adjusting for age distribution, even this outlier conformed to the overall trend.



The researchers also found that the influence of parent-child relationships on well-being was more pronounced in higher-income and secular countries.&nbsp;



In these regions, where basic needs like food and shelter are typically met, the quality of family relationships appears to play a larger role in determining individual happiness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-religion-nbsp">The role of religion&nbsp;</h2>



An intriguing finding was the role of parental religiosity. “Our main secondary finding is that more religious parents tend to have better relationships with their children in every country in our sample,” Rothwell noted.&nbsp;



This may explain why lower-income, more religious countries scored higher on flourishing indexes despite facing greater economic challenges.



This observation raises critical cultural questions. As societies develop and become more secular, there is a risk of losing traditional parenting wisdom that fosters strong family bonds.&nbsp;



Rothwell emphasized the importance of preserving these practices while navigating societal change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-future-research">Implications and future research</h2>



The findings underscore the profound and lasting impact of childhood experiences on adult well-being and mental health. They also highlight the need for global, culturally inclusive research to further understand this relationship.



“In early 2025, my colleagues and I at Gallup are fielding a new U.S. survey on parenting to further improve the measurement of parenting practices that lead to the highest quality relationships and best long-term mental health outcomes,” said Rothwell.&nbsp;



His future work aims to explore how parenting shapes character traits and virtues, as well as to disentangle the effects of genetics from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2024-resolutions-better-parenting-and-family-health-are-top-priorities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parenting practices</a>.



Ultimately, Rothwell plans to compile these insights into a book, shedding light on how parenting influences human flourishing and offering guidance for future generations.



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Parent-children relationships are key to lifelong well-being

The connection between early life experiences and mental health has...

Weather shapes our daily lives, influencing decisions about safety, travel, and work. As climate change drives more extreme events, accurate forecasts become indispensable. However, predicting weather patterns beyond the next few days remains challenging.



Probabilistic ensemble forecasts have emerged as an essential prediction tool, offering a range of possible scenarios to inform decisions. Now, a new AI model, GenCast, aims to redefine weather forecasting with unmatched precision and speed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-gencast-unique">What makes GenCast unique?</h2>



Developed by researchers and recently featured in the journal&nbsp;Nature, GenCast is a high-resolution AI ensemble model that is capable of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/winter-of-extremes-how-will-la-nina-affect-weather-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forecasting weather</a> for up to 15 days ahead.



Compared to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ (ECMWF) ENS system, GenCast consistently delivers more accurate predictions. 



The model is not only faster but also highly reliable in predicting both daily <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/winter-of-extremes-how-will-la-nina-affect-weather-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather patterns</a> and extreme events like cyclones and heat waves.



GenCast represents a significant leap from its predecessor - a deterministic model that offered a single best estimate. Instead, GenCast uses an ensemble of 50 or more predictions, each representing a potential weather trajectory.



This approach provides a nuanced view of possible outcomes that is crucial for effective decision-making.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leap-in-ai-technology">Leap in AI technology</h2>



GenCast utilizes diffusion models, a type of generative AI previously used in creating images, videos, and music. Adapted for Earth’s spherical geometry, the model accurately simulates complex <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-and-severe-solar-storms-will-continue-through-tomorrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather patterns</a>. 



Researchers trained GenCast using four decades of historical data from ECMWF’s ERA5 archive, which includes variables such as temperature, wind speed, and pressure at multiple altitudes.



The result is a model with an unparalleled understanding of global weather dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-performance-benchmarks-of-gencast">Performance benchmarks of GenCast</h2>



The researchers evaluated GenCast using data from 2019, testing it on 1,320 combinations of variables and lead times. 



GenCast outperformed the ENS in 97.2% of these cases and excelled in 99.8% of scenarios at lead times beyond 36 hours. These results demonstrate GenCast’s superior skill in predicting both standard weather conditions and extreme events.



For example, in forecasting extreme heat or high winds, GenCast consistently provided higher economic value. Its ensemble <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-surge-in-global-warming-may-have-an-unexpected-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forecasts</a> balance confidence and uncertainty, offering actionable insights for scenarios like cyclone paths. 



One striking example was Typhoon Hagibis. Seven days before landfall, GenCast forecasted a wide range of possible paths, which narrowed into a precise and accurate cluster as the storm approached Japan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-efficiency-and-scalability">Efficiency and scalability</h2>



GenCast’s efficiency is another standout feature. While traditional models require hours on supercomputers, GenCast generates a 15-day forecast in just eight minutes using a single Google Cloud TPU v5. 



This speed and scalability make it an ideal tool for real-time applications and broader accessibility.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applications-beyond-weather">Applications beyond weather</h2>



The potential applications of GenCast extend far beyond weather forecasting. Accurate predictions of extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-data-could-revolutionize-weather-forecasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather</a> risks can save lives, prevent damage, and reduce costs. 



For instance, improved forecasts of tropical cyclones enable better disaster preparedness, while enhanced wind power predictions can boost renewable energy reliability. 



GenCast’s precision in forecasting renewable energy outputs gives it immense societal value.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaboration-and-open-access">Collaboration and open access</h2>



Google emphasizes collaboration and transparency by making GenCast’s code and weights openly available. This initiative aims to accelerate research and innovation in weather forecasting and climate science. 



The model’s real-time and historical forecasts will soon be accessible to researchers, meteorologists, and industries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integration-with-google-s-ecosystem">Integration with Google’s ecosystem</h2>



The AI model complements Google’s suite of AI-based weather models, including NeuralGCM, SEEDS, and flood prediction systems. 



These models already enhance user experiences on platforms like Google Search and Maps. By combining AI and traditional meteorology, Google aims to refine forecasts and address challenges posed by climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-prospects-of-gencast">Future prospects of GenCast</h2>



Looking ahead, GenCast’s impact could extend to sectors like food security and disaster response. Partnerships with renewable energy companies and organizations focused on humanitarian efforts offer opportunities for significant societal benefits. 



As GenCast continues to evolve, it exemplifies how AI can bridge the gap between data and actionable insights, thereby addressing critical challenges in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noaa-severe-solar-storm-expected-to-reach-earth-tomorrow-october-10-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather</a> prediction and beyond.



GenCast stands at the forefront of a new era in weather forecasting that merges advanced AI with traditional methods to serve society better in a changing climate.



The paper is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08252-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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GenCast: New AI model is redefining weather forecasting

Weather shapes our daily lives, influencing decisions about safety, travel,...

Vinegar has been part of human life for a very long time. It appears in kitchens, pops up in home remedies, and gets passed around as a so-called cure-all.



Vinegar’s reputation stretches far and wide. People say it can soothe a scratchy throat or help clean a cut. Others claim it helps the belly handle food a little better.



Folk tales and family traditions often link vinegar, especially apple cider varieties, to dozens of health benefits. 



Some call it a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxytocin-cuddle-hormone-fosters-love-boosts-memory-and-may-cure-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wonder drug</a>, while others remain skeptical. And now, there is scientific proof that vinegar can even play a role in curing depression.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vinegar-and-depression">Vinegar and depression</h2>



According to research led by <a href="https://www.asu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arizona State University</a> dietician Haley Barrong and colleagues, a daily portion of vinegar might have more to offer than expected. 



Recent work suggests that it may play a role in easing depression symptoms, an idea that takes vinegar from the kitchen cabinet into conversations about everyday wellbeing.



Vinegar’s main ingredient is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientifically-proven-tips-for-better-kombucha-brewing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acetic acid</a>. It is what gives this sour liquid its sharp taste. Centuries ago, people thought that vinegar’s bite held the key to better health. 



Nowadays, modern research looks deeper. One recent study took a closer look at vinegar’s effects on mood. 



The team took steps to connect vinegar intake not just to self-reported feelings, but also to shifts in metabolic activity. Metabolism turns food into energy and other vital <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visual-diets-of-infants-provide-the-building-blocks-of-human-vision/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building blocks in the body</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlled-experiment-on-mood">Controlled experiment on mood</h2>



The research involved 28 overweight but otherwise healthy adults. They were divided into two groups. 



One group took two tablespoons of red wine vinegar twice each day, while the other took a daily pill that contained a very small amount of vinegar.



During the four-week period, participants answered questions about their mental health, using surveys that health professionals know well. 



They completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (<a href="https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/assessment/tools/depression-scale" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CES-D</a>) questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire (<a href="https://med.stanford.edu/fastlab/research/imapp/msrs/_jcr_content/main/accordion/accordion_content3/download_256324296/file.res/PHQ9%20id%20date%2008.03.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PHQ-9</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-vitamin-b3-levels">Boosting vitamin B3 levels</h2>



A noticeable increase in the levels of nicotinamide, a form of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molecule-in-coffee-trigonelline-keeps-muscles-young/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vitamin B3</a>, appeared in the group consuming vinegar daily. 



This group showed an 86 percent boost in that nutrient, which researchers previously linked to anti-inflammatory effects. 



The published paper states, “This data provides additional support that daily vinegar ingestion over four weeks can improve self-reported depression symptomology in generally healthy adults and that alterations in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-b-paradox-supplement-linked-to-heart-disease-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[vitamin B3] metabolism</a> may factor into this improvement.”



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



For many, depression affects mood, energy, concentration, appetite, and sleep. It often makes life feel heavy. 



Some people might feel hopeless, while others lose interest in things they once enjoyed. Some struggle to get out of bed, while others find themselves awake all night. 



Depression varies, and it does not follow a single pattern. It is not a sign of weakness. It may develop from a mix of factors, such as shifts in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-or-exercise-a-chemical-in-the-brain-helps-us-decide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain chemistry</a>, family history, health conditions, or life events. It lingers, often making everyday tasks feel harder than they should.



Some individuals might not show obvious signs. They could manage a smile for friends or get their work done without hinting at the weight they carry inside. 



Identifying depression early matters because there are many ways to find support. Information about new approaches to treat depression, such as a daily dose of vinegar, draws attention because depression is not a one-size-fits-all fix.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vinegar-s-impact-on-depression-symptoms">Vinegar's impact on depression symptoms</h2>



The results from the recent study were interesting. There was no significant difference between the groups on the CES-D. 



However, on the PHQ-9, the group consuming a higher level of vinegar saw an average drop of 42 percent in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-adult-depression-linked-to-worse-memory-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depressive symptoms</a>, while the control group that took the vinegar pill saw an 18 percent drop. 



The findings were based on self-reported symptoms over the month-long trial.



Depression involves many moving parts. Even a small shift in mood might open a door for improving quality of life. 



Smaller pilot studies like this one can sometimes spark interest in following up with larger groups of people, different durations, or other forms of vinegar. 



The size of this study was small, and participants only had mild symptoms, but the differences the team found have attracted attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-research-on-vinegar-and-depression">More research on vinegar and depression</h2>



The authors acknowledge that bigger, longer-term research would be ideal to get a better grasp on exactly how vinegar is able to ease depression symptoms in many people. 



They note that their secondary analysis, which adjusted for initial survey differences, was not significant. Still, they believe the link between daily vinegar intake and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/confirmed-magic-mushrooms-can-effectively-treat-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported mood changes</a> deserves more focus. 



“Depressive disorders are the most prevalent mental health conditions in the world," the authors explained. 



“The commonly prescribed antidepressant medications can have serious side effects, and their efficacy varies widely. Thus, simple, effective adjunct therapies are needed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



Studies often look beyond a single variable. Factors like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-color-of-light-impacts-our-internal-clocks-and-circadian-rhythms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep patterns</a>, body temperature, and overall lifestyle might matter. 



This work hints at a different angle. It might prompt questions about whether vinegar or its components could work alongside other treatments. 



The researchers say, “Future research examining the effects of vinegar administration in clinically depressed or at-risk populations, and those on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-antidepressants-could-help-treat-brain-tumors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antidepressant medications</a>, is warranted.”



They add, “A focus on mechanisms and large patient samples will strengthen the science and provide the evidence to more firmly demonstrate vinegar’s role in health promotion.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vinegar-depression-and-human-health">Vinegar, depression, and human health</h2>



It remains to be seen if vinegar will ever become a regular part of a care plan for depression or depressive symptoms. 



Although initial results are encouraging, the current information does not prove it is better than other approaches. 



Still, the exploration of vinegar as an everyday element that might influence mood feels notable. 



Individuals who deal with depression often seek a variety of options. Having extra tools makes sense, given that what works for one person may not help another. 



Human health involves many complex processes, and adding many small steps into a routine can often prove beneficial. This research gives another hint that everyday items might be worth a second look.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/14/2305" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a>.



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Vinegar adds another surprising health benefit to its long list of perks

Vinegar has been part of human life for a very...

Since 1970, over half of all sharks and rays have vanished from our oceans, according to a new study. This alarming decline in sharks and rays stems primarily from overfishing, which has pushed these ancient and ecologically critical species to the brink. 



However, researchers offer hope with clear strategies to halt further losses and support recovery efforts.



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



The research highlights that overfishing has caused a 50% decline in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deepwater-desperation-the-race-to-save-sharks-and-rays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chondrichthyan fishes</a> - a group comprising sharks, rays, and chimeras. This diverse group of over 1,199 different species faces increasing threats despite advances in our understanding of these creatures.



"In addition to intentional targeting and bycatch, the threat to sharks is compounded by habitat degradation, climate change, and pollution," noted Professor Colin Simpfendorfer from <a href="https://www.jcu.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Cook University</a> in Australia.



"The result is over one-third of chondrichthyans now face the threat of extinction."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sharks-and-rays-guardians-of-aquatic-ecosystems">Sharks and rays: Guardians of aquatic ecosystems</h2>



The disappearance of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-discovery-large-sharks-are-hunting-each-other/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharks</a> and rays threatens the balance of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. 



Lead author Professor Nicholas Dulvy from <a href="https://www.sfu.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Simon Fraser University</a> in Canada notes that population declines began in rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters before spreading to open oceans and deep seas. These marine creatures play vital roles in their environments. 



"Sharks and rays are important predators, and their decline disrupts food webs throughout the ocean," said Dr. Nathan Pacoureau from the European Institute for Marine Studies at <a href="https://brest-universite.fr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brest University</a>, France.



"Larger wide-ranging species connect ecosystems. For example, reef sharks transfer nutrients from deeper waters to coral reefs, helping to sustain those ecosystems. Rays are important foraging animals that mix and oxygenate sediments, influencing marine productivity and carbon storage," explained Pacoureau.



Without these keystone species, aquatic ecosystems could face severe disruption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impacts-of-overfishing-on-sharks">Impacts of overfishing on sharks</h2>



Overfishing - the practice of catching fish faster than they can reproduce - remains the leading driver of shark and ray declines.



The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<a href="https://www.fao.org/home/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNFAO</a>) reports that one-third of the world’s fisheries are operating beyond sustainable limits, and the number of overfished stocks has tripled in the last 50 years.



Bycatch, the unintended capture of non-target species, exacerbates the crisis. Sharks and rays frequently end up as unintended victims in nets meant for other fish, which compounds their population losses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovery-from-overfishing">Recovery from overfishing</h2>



Despite these challenges, the solutions for addressing the decline are straightforward. 



"Nations can reduce the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reef-sharks-are-abandoning-their-homes-due-to-ocean-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction risk</a> by lowering fishing pressure to sustainable levels, strengthening fisheries governance, and eliminating harmful subsidies," said Professor Simpfendorfer.



Some regions have already made progress. Countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and parts of Europe and South Africa have implemented science-based limits on fishing catches. 



These measures include efforts to reduce bycatch and protect critical habitats, thus offering a glimmer of hope for chondrichthyan recovery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-sharks-and-rays-from-overfishing">Protecting sharks and rays from overfishing</h2>



The study highlights the urgency of collective action to safeguard these ancient species. Science-driven policies and international cooperation are vital to ensuring sharks and rays do not slip further toward extinction. 



By addressing overfishing and habitat degradation for sharks, humanity can help restore balance to marine ecosystems and protect these vital guardians of the ocean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-sharks-and-rays">More about sharks and rays</h2>



Sharks and rays belong to the group of cartilaginous fishes, known scientifically as Chondrichthyes. 



Unlike bony fishes, their skeletons consist entirely of cartilage, making them lighter and more flexible. This evolutionary adaptation has helped them dominate aquatic ecosystems for over 400 million years.



Sharks, ranging from the tiny dwarf lantern shark to the massive whale shark, exhibit incredible diversity. Rays, their flat-bodied relatives, thrive in environments from shallow waters to the deep ocean floors.



Their unique physiology, including electrosensory systems, allows them to detect prey hidden under sand or at great distances from them.



Reproductive strategies among these species are equally fascinating. Some, like the great white shark, give birth to live young, while others, such as skates, lay egg cases commonly called "mermaids' purses." These long gestation periods and low offspring numbers make them highly vulnerable to overfishing and habitat changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-significance-in-coastal-communities">Cultural significance in coastal communities </h2>



Beyond their ecological importance, sharks and rays hold significant cultural importance in many coastal communities around the world, often symbolizing power, protection, and the balance of nature.



Sharks and rays are also a major component of traditional diets in these communities, highlighting the need to balance conservation with livelihoods that are dependent on sustainable fishing.



The research was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn1477">Science</a>.



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Overfishing has caused a 50% decline in sharks and rays

Since 1970, over half of all sharks and rays have...

Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have added a new layer of understanding to the enigma of why the universe is expanding more quickly now than it did billions of years ago.&nbsp;



Known as the Hubble tension, this discrepancy in measurements of the universe's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universes-expansion-rate-hubble-tension-puzzles-astronomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expansion rate</a> has baffled scientists for over a decade.&nbsp;



The latest data confirms the accuracy of the Hubble Space Telescope's measurements, ruling out significant errors in its observations and suggesting that the answer lies in unexplored aspects of the universe’s physics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observations-and-predictions-of-the-expansion-rate">Observations and predictions of the expansion rate </h2>



The research was led by Nobel laureate Adam Riess of <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a>. “The discrepancy between the observed expansion rate of the universe and the predictions of the standard model suggests that our understanding of the universe may be incomplete,” Riess said.&nbsp;



“With two NASA flagship telescopes now confirming each other’s findings, we must take this [Hubble tension] problem very seriously - it’s a challenge but also an incredible opportunity to learn more about our universe.”



Riess and his team used data from the James Webb telescope to cross-verify Hubble’s measure of the Hubble constant, a value describing the universe’s rate of expansion.&nbsp;



The team focused on distances to galaxies hosting supernovae that had previously been measured by Hubble, using three independent methods to confirm the precision of Hubble’s results.&nbsp;



The findings showed that Webb’s measurements aligned closely with those of Hubble, ruling out any observational inaccuracies large enough to account for the tension.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-persistent-hubble-tension">The persistent Hubble tension</h2>



The Hubble constant measured through telescope observations consistently yields a value of 70 to 76 kilometers per second per megaparsec, with a mean of 73 km/s/Mpc.&nbsp;



In contrast, the standard cosmological model predicts a lower value of about 67-68 km/s/Mpc. This 5-6 km/s/Mpc difference has puzzled cosmologists, as it is too significant to attribute to simple measurement errors.



“The Webb data is like looking at the universe in high definition for the first time and really improves the signal-to-noise of the measurements,’’ said study co-author Siyang Li, a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University.&nbsp;



The new observations covered roughly a third of Hubble’s full galaxy sample, providing results with an impressive precision difference of under 2% - far smaller than the Hubble tension discrepancy, which stands at around 8-9%.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-expansion-of-the-universe-nbsp">Measuring the expansion of the universe&nbsp;</h2>



The study employed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expansion-rate-of-the-universe-confirmed-by-jwst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>’s advanced technology to measure distances using Cepheid variables, a gold-standard method for gauging cosmic distances. The experts also incorporated measurements of carbon-rich stars and the brightest red giants. 



Combined observations of these galaxies and their supernovae produced a Hubble constant of 72.6 km/s/Mpc, closely matching Hubble’s previous finding of 72.8 km/s/Mpc for the same galaxies.



These findings further confirm that the Hubble tension is unlikely to stem from flaws in measurement techniques. Instead, the discrepancy hints at new, unknown factors influencing the universe’s behavior.&nbsp;



As the researchers noted, this might indicate gaps in the current understanding of fundamental physics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-explanations-for-the-hubble-tension">Possible explanations for the Hubble tension</h2>



Marc Kamionkowski, a cosmologist at Johns Hopkins who was not involved in the study, speculated on what might account for the Hubble tension.&nbsp;



“One possible explanation for the Hubble tension would be if there was something missing in our understanding of the early universe, such as a new component of matter - early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-energy-is-ripping-the-universe-apart-but-we-arent-sure-how/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark energy</a> - that gave the universe an unexpected kick after the Big Bang,” said Kamionkowski.&nbsp;



He also suggested other possibilities, including “funny dark matter properties, exotic particles, changing electron mass, or primordial magnetic fields that may do the trick.”



Although the standard model of cosmology has successfully explained many aspects of the universe, including the cosmic microwave background and the evolution of galaxies, it does not fully account for the nature of dark matter and dark energy. These mysterious components make up approximately 96% of the universe and drive its accelerated expansion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-structure-and-history-of-the-universe">The structure and history of the universe </h2>



The Hubble constant may not have practical implications for everyday life on Earth, but it plays a vital role in mapping the structure and history of the universe. It helps cosmologists trace the universe’s state 13-14 billion years after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/if-the-big-bang-theory-is-correct-what-exactly-happened/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bang</a> and refine models of its large-scale behavior.



Resolving the Hubble tension could unlock new insights into other inconsistencies in the standard cosmological model that have come to light in recent years.&nbsp;



Riess and his team emphasized the importance of this challenge, noting that continued investigation could yield groundbreaking discoveries about the cosmos.



“The Webb data is providing unprecedented clarity, and as we delve deeper, we have the opportunity to reveal fundamental truths about the universe. The Hubble tension isn’t just a problem to solve - it’s a doorway to deeper understanding,” Riess concluded.



The study is published in <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.11770">The Astrophysical Journal</a>,



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Unknown factors are accelerating the expansion of the universe

Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have added...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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