<p>For a long time, the Stone Age has been painted in narrow strokes. Men hunted with stone tools, women cooked. and children watched. This idea shaped research, museum displays, even the way skeletons were identified. But the ground in Latvia is telling a very different story.</p>



<p>At Zvejnieki, one of Europe’s largest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/">Stone Age</a> cemeteries, archaeologists have found that tools buried with the dead were not just men’s possessions. Women had them too, so did children. </p>



<p>The way these objects were placed in graves shows they carried meaning far beyond daily work.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-graves-and-stone-tools">Ancient graves and stone tools</h2>



<p>Zvejnieki sits near Lake Burtnieks. The site has more than 330 graves, spanning over 5,000 years. Excavations began in the 1960s and continued for decades. </p>



<p>Thousands of ornaments made from animal teeth and amber came out of the ground. Red ochre stained the soil around many skeletons. These details have been studied again and again.</p>



<p>But stone tools? They were mostly ignored. Archaeologists thought of them as practical. Not decorative or symbolic. Just leftovers of everyday survival. That view collapsed once Dr. Aimée Little and her team returned with new tools of their own.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-closer-at-stone">Looking closer at stone</h2>



<p>The Stone Dead Project used microscopes to search for tiny traces on the artifacts. The team studied how each tool was made, used, and finally placed in graves. </p>



<p>The results surprised everyone. Some scrapers showed wear from working animal hides. Others looked fresh, almost untouched, as if they had been created only for burial. And many were broken on purpose before being laid to rest.</p>



<p>These details reveal that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-traveled-long-distances-to-find-colorful-stones-for-tools/">stone</a> tools were not only about survival. They were part of rituals. Part of how people said goodbye. Part of how they thought about life and death.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tools-in-all-graves">Tools in all graves</h2>



<p>The discoveries challenged long-standing ideas about gender. Women were just as likely, sometimes even more likely, to be buried with stone artifacts. Children and older adults received them too. </p>



<p>That makes the picture clear: these objects were not reserved for hunters. They belonged to everyone.</p>



<p>“Our findings overturn the old stereotype of ‘Man the Hunter’ which has been a dominant theme in Stone Age studies, and has even influenced, on occasion, how some infants have even been sexed, on the basis that they were given lithic tools,” noted Dr. Little.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-traditions-over-time">Changing traditions over time</h2>



<p>Burial practices at Zvejnieki shifted. In earlier centuries, tools were rare in graves. Later, by the 4th millennium BC, deposits grew larger. Some people were buried with dozens of flint artefacts. Many had never been used. Their role was clearly symbolic.</p>



<p>This change matched wider cultural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tools-flint-created-400000-years-show-technological-advancement-of-early-humans/">shifts</a> across the Baltic. Communities began to use more red ochre. They buried people collectively. Clay death masks appeared. The inclusion of flint tools fit into this wider move toward more elaborate rituals.</p>



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



<p>Micro-wear analysis showed patterns that mattered. Scrapers often carried traces of hide working, suggesting that preparing skins was a valued activity even in death. </p>



<p>Bone and butchery marks appeared on some pieces. Mineral traces, connected to ochre, turned up only in female burials. That detail hints at gender-specific ritual roles.</p>



<p>Bifacial points - long seen as hunting weapons - often showed no use at all. They were made, broken, and buried. Their meaning was symbolic, not practical. Destroying them may have been part of letting go, part of a shared tradition that stretched beyond one community.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-special-graves-with-stone-tools">Special graves with stone tools</h2>



<p>Some graves stood out. An older child was buried with more than 40 tools, many unused, alongside ornaments of amber and animal teeth.</p>



<p>Another grave, belonging to a young woman, contained primary deposits with her body and additional offerings at her feet. These were not random choices. They were deliberate acts, full of meaning for the people who stood around the grave.</p>



<p>These burials show that women and children were not peripheral. They stood at the center of ritual traditions. Their graves carried messages for the living.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breaking-old-assumptions">Breaking old assumptions</h2>



<p>The implications are clear. Tools in Stone Age burials were not simply for men. They were symbols for everyone - men, women, children, and elders. They carried social meaning and were part of rituals that bound communities together in the face of loss.</p>



<p>“This research demonstrates that we cannot make these gendered assumptions and that lithic grave goods played an important role in the mourning rituals of children and women, as well as men,” noted Dr. Anđa Petrović, from the <a href="https://www.bg.ac.rs/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Belgrade</a>.</p>



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



<p>What might look like simple flint flakes turn out to be keys to identity, memory, and ritual. They tell us that Stone Age communities valued more than hunting. They cared about symbolism. They cared about honoring all their members.</p>



<p>“The study highlights how much more there is to learn about the lives - and deaths - of Europe’s earliest communities, and why even the seemingly simplest objects can unlock insights about our shared human past and how people responded to death,” said Dr. Little.</p>



<p>The study shows that re-examining overlooked artifacts can transform our understanding of the past. At Zvejnieki, stone tools are no longer just tools. They are stories carved in flint, carrying the voices of communities that lived, grieved, and remembered.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0330623" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Stone Age women and children were buried with tools too

For a long time, the Stone Age has been painted in narrow strokes. Men hunted with stone tools, women cooked. and children watched. This idea shaped research, museum displays, even the way skeletons were identified. But the ground in Latvia is telling a very different story. At Zvejnieki, one of Europe’s largest Stone Age cemeteries, archaeologists have found that tools buried with the dead were not just men’s possessions. Women had them too, so did children. The way these objects were placed in graves shows they carried...

<p>Invasive species pose a significant challenge to ecosystems and agriculture, often spreading unnoticed until they have caused considerable damage. Conservationists and growers now have an unusual new ally in the fight against the invasive spotted lanternfly - trained dogs.</p>



<p>A recent study published in the journal <em>Ecosphere</em> highlights how these detection dogs outperform humans in identifying lanternfly egg masses in challenging environments, offering a novel strategy to curb the pest’s spread.</p>



<p>"Preventing the introduction of invasive species is championed as the most cost-effective and efficient strategy for avoiding negative impacts on systems," noted the researchers.</p>



<p>"However, once a species has been introduced, the next best option is to detect the population and eliminate it before it becomes established and spreads more widely across the landscape."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spotted-lanternfly-infestations">Spotted lanternfly infestations </h2>



<p>First detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has now infested 19 states, including New York. This invasive insect feeds on woody plants like grapes, apples, hops, and various trees, causing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/growing-threat-of-invasive-species-requires-immediate-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">widespread destruction</a>.</p>



<p>“A spotted lanternfly infestation in a vineyard can cause 80% to 100% mortality of the vines in one growing season,” said study co-author Angela Fuller, a professor in Cornell’s Department of <a href="https://cals.cornell.edu/natural-resources-environment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural Resources and the Environment</a>.</p>



<p>Fuller also noted the financial burden of infestations. “Infestations also increase the amount of insecticide that growers need to use, which can increase costs by up to 170% in a growing season.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-training-dogs-for-invasive-species-detection">Training dogs for invasive species detection</h2>



<p>In collaboration with the <a href="https://www.nynjtc.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York-New Jersey Trail Conference</a> and <a href="https://wd4c.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Working Dogs for Conservation</a>, researchers trained a Labrador retriever and a Belgian malinois to sniff out the lanternfly’s egg masses.</p>



<p>These organizations have previously trained dogs to detect invasive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-have-become-one-of-the-worlds-most-invasive-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> and pathogens, making them well-equipped for this task.</p>



<p>The study compared the efficiency of human and canine detection in 20 vineyards across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. </p>



<p>The researchers mapped transects in vineyard rows and adjacent forests, where egg masses are likely to overwinter. Humans and dogs surveyed the areas on separate days to prevent cross-contamination of scents.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-outperform-humans-in-forests">Dogs outperform humans in forests</h2>



<p>While humans excelled in detecting invasive egg masses in vineyards, dogs proved superior in forested areas. In vineyards, humans detected 1.8 times more egg masses than dogs, finding 31 egg masses per hour compared to the dogs’ 24. </p>



<p>Fuller attributed this to humans’ ability to systematically search vines and poles, whereas dogs relied on scent and conducted more random searches. In forests, however, dogs excelled, finding 3.4 times more egg masses than humans. </p>



<p>“The dogs find egg masses by smell,” Fuller explained. “In a very <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unseen-crisis-37000-alien-species-have-been-introduced-by-human-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex environment</a>, it’s easier for a dog to smell something than it is for a human to see something that is small and cryptic.” </p>



<p>Dogs located 7.6 egg masses per hour in forests compared to humans’ 6.7 per hour.</p>



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



<p>The study emphasizes the importance of early detection in managing the lanternfly’s spread. Dogs performed exceptionally well in areas with low egg mass densities, making them invaluable for rapid response efforts. </p>



<p>Fuller noted that while dogs take more time to search than humans, the added time is worth it. </p>



<p>“The extra time that dogs take to find them is not as important as it is to find them in the first place, because you need to detect the egg masses in order to eradicate them,” she said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-lanternfly-behavior">Insights into lanternfly behavior</h2>



<p>Using computer modeling, the researchers identified patterns in lanternfly egg mass distribution. They found higher occupancy rates in vineyards than forests, particularly on metal poles. </p>



<p>Vineyards near forests had higher lanternfly populations, likely because the insects don’t disperse far and often migrate from nearby trees.</p>



<p>“If you’re searching in a vineyard close to the forest, that’s more likely where they’re going to be,” Fuller said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-combating-invasive-species-with-dogs">Combating invasive species with dogs </h2>



<p>This innovative approach offers hope for combating invasive species like the spotted lanternfly. </p>



<p>By combining human surveys with trained detection dogs, growers and conservationists can strengthen their defense against this destructive pest.</p>



<p>The integration of canine detection into pest management strategies represents a significant step forward in protecting vital ecosystems and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/non-native-species-are-spreading-at-an-exponential-rate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agricultural resources</a>.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Ecosphere</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Trained dogs can sniff out invasive pests in forests

Invasive species pose a significant challenge to ecosystems and agriculture,...

<p>Ancient societies had all sorts of attitudes toward altered states of mind. Some favored fermented drinks, while others explored psychoactive plants with potent effects. </p>



<p>Either way, there is a growing body of evidence that many of our ancestors used mind-altering substances in ceremonial settings, personal rituals, and possibly even on the battlefield. </p>



<p>From what we know about ancient cultures in Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean, and beyond, it seems people were curious about the boundaries of consciousness from the very beginning.</p>



<p>In a new paper in <em>Praehistorische Zeitschrift</em>, researchers discuss the possibility that certain Germanic fighters experimented with psychoactive substances to gain an edge in warfare.</p>



<p>The study was led by archaeologist <a href="https://akokowski.academia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prof. Andrzej Kokowski</a> alongside biologists from <a href="https://study.gov.pl/university/maria-curie-sklodowska-university" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maria Curie-Skłodowska University</a> in Lublin, Poland, and it taps into a fascinating area of debate about what these ancient communities might have consumed before they clashed with soldiers of the mighty Roman Empire.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-humans-and-psychoactive-plants">Ancient humans and psychoactive plants</h2>



<p>Ancient civilizations in the Middle East left us clues that they understood the power of certain psychoactive plants or plant extracts. </p>



<p>Evidence from Mesopotamia <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/arcm.12806" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suggests</a> that the Sumerians recognized the potential of poppy cultivation over 5,000 years ago.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, the Egyptians produced beer as early as <a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/51721/chapter-abstract/419816733?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">8,000 years ago</a>, and some <a href="https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/43c3119d-743e-4c7b-a028-ca29b1ab3fc6/content" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> believe that they later discovered ways to harness the poppy’s narcotic components for medical and religious ceremonies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Across the Mediterranean, the Greeks refined methods of harvesting poppy sap to make opium, which became a prized substance in certain circles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-tools-in-germanic-contexts">Hidden tools in Germanic contexts</h2>



<p>The new study highlights how small artifacts, possibly too tiny to hold food, may have delivered stimulating powders or tinctures to those who wielded swords and shields. </p>



<p>Although a direct chemical analysis of these artifacts would be the gold standard of proof, the researchers rely on indirect clues from burial and settlement sites. </p>



<p>The authors remark that certain items fit into the category of “dispensers,” indicating they might have delivered a measured dose of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-potency-linked-to-dramatic-rise-in-psychiatric-disorders/">potent substance</a> in the heat of conflict.</p>



<p>The team also introduce a thought-provoking line in their paper: “The ‘war on drugs’ seems to be the aberration.” </p>



<p>This statement by the study's authors implies that, in ancient times, the notion of banning <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-potency-linked-to-dramatic-rise-in-psychiatric-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">these substances</a> may not have been front and center. </p>



<p>Instead, societies either tolerated or ritualized them, weaving them into social gatherings, medical treatments, and possibly warfare traditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-misconceptions-and-roman-views">Cultural misconceptions and Roman views</h2>



<p>One of the more intriguing angles is how the Romans regarded their northern adversaries. Romans often portrayed the so-called “barbarians” as unsophisticated, suggesting that refined substances like opium were beyond their reach. </p>



<p>Yet material findings seem to contradict that assumption. Scholars argue that people living outside Roman borders had their own knowledge networks, which may have included information on creative uses of plants and fungi.</p>



<p>Other historical studies support the idea that ancient communities across Europe and Asia <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-real-impact-of-burning-magic-herbs-in-spiritual-rituals/">experimented with an array of herbs</a>. </p>



<p>A range of species, including henbane and belladonna, was accessible through trade routes and local foraging. The question is whether some of these plants could have boosted courage or dulled pain during battle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychoactive-plants-impact">Psychoactive plants impact</h2>



<p>If these warriors had any way to harness psychoactive substances, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-drug-use-found-during-bronze-age-ceremonies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychological effects</a> might have included the numbing of fear or the triggering heightened aggression. </p>



<p>In the face of enemy lines, an altered state could offer perceived protection or confidence.</p>



<p>Away from the battlefield, the same substances might have been used to ease injuries or find temporary relief from stress.</p>



<p>Researchers also point out that large-scale access to psychoactive plants or extracts would have demanded precise expertise. </p>



<p>Someone in the community would have needed to cultivate and distribute these items, and would have known about their potency. </p>



<p>This opens discussions about economic networks that financed these endeavors. It may also hint at the existence of supply chains stretching across large territories and bringing together resources from different regions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-reflections-on-the-ancient-past">Modern reflections on the ancient past</h2>



<p>Discussions about drug use in antiquity challenge our assumptions about humanity’s relationship with altered consciousness. Today’s laws and views on intoxicants are shaped by modern cultures and governments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>People often regard drug use as a specific modern problem or rebellious act. Yet, archaeological evidence suggests that it can be an age-old behavior shaped by survival, celebration, and even worship.</p>



<p>Some contemporary <a href="https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/ritual-religious-drug-use-in-ancient-greece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> hold that these early experiments helped shape social cohesion, ritualistic practices, and medical traditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The further we look into prehistory, the more we see how deeply entwined these substances might have been with community life. Whether they were used to ramp up bravery in <a href="https://www.caymanchem.com/news/drugs-used-in-conflict-and-wars" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">war</a> or heal the wounded in small villages, they likely played a distinct role in shaping cultural identities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-debates-and-continuing-questions">Debates and continuing questions</h2>



<p>Studies on ancient drug use can provoke lively debate among archaeologists and historians. </p>



<p>Some specialists believe that minimal chemical residue in the artifacts makes firm conclusions elusive. Others lean on contextual clues found near skeletal remains or in areas associated with combat. </p>



<p>No matter the stance, each new piece of research fuels broader conversations about how ancient societies navigated social norms, survival strategies, and the universal human drive for altered experiences.</p>



<p>Several puzzles still remain. Did these <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25386392/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Germanic fighters</a> incorporate psychoactive mixtures into spiritual traditions as well? Were there dedicated roles for people in the community - like herbalists or specialists - who oversaw dosing?&nbsp;</p>



<p>These topics carry important anthropological questions about the balance between practical needs and personal exploration. Answers may emerge as more evidence surfaces, but for now, there is enough intrigue to keep experts on their toes.</p>



<p>The information for this article is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/pz-2024-2017/html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Praehistorische Zeitschrift</a>.</em> </p>



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



<p>Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Ancient warriors may have used psychoactive plants for courage in battle

Ancient societies had all sorts of attitudes toward altered states...

<p>What if the frozen heart of Antarctica held secrets of a fiery past? A new study investigating ancient methane trapped in Antarctic ice has uncovering a shocking link between Ice Age wildfires and abrupt climate upheavals.</p>



<p>The findings highlight the interplay between wildfire surges, shifting rainfall patterns, and global temperature changes, and offers crucial insights into the dynamics of climate change.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-determining-ice-age-climate-trends">Determining Ice Age climate trends</h2>



<p>Ice cores from Antarctica act like time capsules. Tiny air bubbles that were formed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disastrous-climate-changes-of-the-last-ice-age-could-happen-again/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thousands of years ago</a> are locked inside the ancient ice.</p>



<p>These bubbles contain atmospheric gases from the past that offer scientists a window into Earth’s historical climate conditions. By analyzing the air bubbles in these cores, researchers can trace changes in the planet's climate over millennia.</p>



<p>The study focused on a specific ice core from the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide, which provides a detailed climate record spanning 67,000 years. This ice core is unique because it comes from a region with a high annual snowfall rate. </p>



<p>While this limits how far back in time the record can go, when compared to other cores, the frequent snowfall ensured that more ice accumulated each year. This denser accumulation allows for a more detailed, year-by-year record of past climates.</p>



<p>“Because this ice is in a place where the annual snowfall rate is high, the record doesn’t go back as far in time as other ice cores, but you get more ice for each year, and you can better see the detail in those years,” explained Edward Brook, a paleoclimatologist from <a href="https://oregonstate.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a>, and a co-author of the study. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-spikes-wildfires-and-ice-age-climate">Methane spikes, wildfires and Ice Age climate</h2>



<p>Previous studies have shown that methane, a potent greenhouse gas, spiked during abrupt climate changes, known as Dansgaard-Oeschger and Heinrich events, roughly 11,000 years ago. These events were marked by rapid temperature shifts and changes in tropical rainfall patterns.</p>



<p>“These spikes were notable because of how quickly the methane levels changed during these periods,” said lead author Ben Riddell-Young. He used a specialized system to extract air from the ice samples and analyze the isotopic composition of methane, which reveals its sources.</p>



<p>The findings suggest that wildfire emissions likely caused these methane surges. The study is the first to establish a direct link between abrupt climate events and wildfire activity during the Ice Age.</p>



<p>“This study showed that the planet experienced these short, sudden episodes of burning, and they happened at the same time as these other big climate shifts,” Brook explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cascading-effects-of-wildfire-activity">Cascading effects of wildfire activity</h2>



<p>According to the study, abrupt climate changes triggered cascading <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-the-ice-age-can-tell-us-about-future-el-nino-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">events</a> during the Ice Age, including increased wildfire activity. </p>



<p>“It probably went something like: Ocean currents slowed down or sped up rapidly, the northern hemisphere cooled or warmed rapidly, and then this caused abrupt shifts in tropical rainfall that led to increased drought and fire,” Riddell-Young explained.</p>



<p>These findings shed light on the potential impact of shifting climate patterns on global ecosystems, particularly during periods of rapid change.</p>



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



<p>The research carries important implications for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-data-analysis-reshapes-climate-future-lowers-warming-estimates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">today’s climate dynamics</a>. Modern climate change could similarly amplify wildfire activity as temperature rises and rainfall patterns shift.</p>



<p>“This research shows that we may not be properly considering how wildfire activity might change as the climate warms and rainfall patterns shift,” Riddell-Young said.</p>



<p>Burning produces carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas, which further contributes to climate warming. “Understanding what this burning really means for the carbon cycle is one of the places the research is headed next,” noted Brook.</p>



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



<p>While this study opens new avenues for understanding the Ice Age and its climate history, more research is needed to assess the broader implications of ancient wildfire activity. These insights can inform strategies to mitigate and adapt to modern climate challenges.</p>



<p>The study was supported by the National Science Foundation (<a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSF</a>) and involved contributions from researchers at several institutions, including the <a href="https://www.unibe.ch/index_eng.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bern</a>, <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Antarctic Survey</a>, and the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Colorado, Boulder</a>.</p>



<p>By analyzing ancient methane, scientists continue to uncover critical connections between past and present climate systems, emphasizing the interconnectedness of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-viruses-hold-clues-to-earth-past-future-climate-and-microbial-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global ecosystems</a> and the urgency of addressing today’s climate challenges.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08363-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Wildfire activity surged during Ice Age climate shifts

What if the frozen heart of Antarctica held secrets of...

<p>Plants face the constant challenge of allocating energy between growth and defense. While growth ensures survival and reproduction, defense protects against harmful bacteria. </p>



<p>Until now, scientists struggled to explain how plants achieve this balance. Researchers at Princeton University recently uncovered new insights into this process, revealing the surprising role of soil bacteria in managing plants' immune responses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-soil-bacteria-help-plants">How soil bacteria help plants</h2>



<p>Published in&nbsp;the journal <em>Cell Reports</em>, the study explores how certain soil bacteria impact plant immunity. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-soil-bacteria-contribute-to-atmospheric-co2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> produce enzymes that reduce immune activity in plants, enabling their roots to grow longer.</p>



<p>This discovery sheds light on how plants interact with microbiomes without triggering constant immune responses.</p>



<p>“This is trying to get at a really big biological question where there are not good answers - about how microbiomes interface with host immune systems,” said Jonathan Conway, the study’s senior author and an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering.</p>



<p>“It’s a small step in the direction of trying to understand how microbes live on hosts - either plants or humans or other animals - all the time and don’t activate our immune responses constantly.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-health-and-growth">Balancing health and growth</h2>



<p>The team focused on Arabidopsis, a small mustard plant often used in research. They engineered Arabidopsis seedlings with heightened sensitivity to flagellin, a bacterial protein that typically activates immune responses. </p>



<p>On exposure to flagellin, these plants directed energy toward immunity, resulting in stunted root growth.</p>



<p>To identify bacteria that could suppress this immune response, the researchers introduced 165 bacterial species to the seedlings. </p>



<p>Remarkably, 41% of these isolates suppressed the stunted growth response, allowing roots to grow longer. Among these,&nbsp;<em>Dyella japonica</em>&nbsp;emerged as particularly effective.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enzyme-regulates-immune-system-response">Enzyme regulates immune system response </h2>



<p>The researchers discovered that&nbsp;<em>D. japonica</em>, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-plays-an-overlooked-role-in-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil bacterium</a>, produces an enzyme called subtilase. This enzyme breaks down flagellin, a protein that normally triggers a plant's immune response. </p>



<p>By degrading flagellin, subtilase prevents the plant's immune system from activating unnecessarily, enabling the roots to grow without being stunted.</p>



<p>To confirm subtilase's role, the team used genetic and biochemical techniques. These methods demonstrated that subtilase directly modulates the plant's immune response, proving its critical function.</p>



<p>Purifying the subtilase enzyme posed significant challenges, as obtaining a pure protein is essential for detailed analysis. A breakthrough came when Todd Naumann, a <a href="https://www.usda.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDA</a> chemist, suggested purifying the enzyme using yeast cells instead of bacteria. </p>



<p>This alternative approach worked effectively, allowing the researchers to proceed with advanced studies on the enzyme's properties and functions.</p>



<p>“Now we can do chemistry with it, and we can actually look at this in vitro,” said co-first author Samuel Eastman.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dual-role-of-soil-bacteria">Dual role of soil bacteria </h2>



<p>The findings suggest that many soil bacteria may use similar enzymes to influence plant growth and immunity. This raises intriguing questions about the potential benefits for both plants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-bacteria-makes-flowers-more-attractive-to-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a>. </p>



<p>One theory is that the enzymes prevent pathogens from invading plant roots by disabling their flagella. Alternatively, the enzymes might help pathogens evade detection, potentially increasing the risk of disease.</p>



<p>“So, in that way it could be suppressing pathogens as well as the plant immune system,” Eastman noted. However, he warned of the risks in agricultural applications. </p>



<p>“We don’t want to compromise the immune system, but we also want plants to save that immune response for when it matters.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-crop-growth-and-plant-health">Improving crop growth and plant health</h2>



<p>The team’s work opens doors to harnessing beneficial bacteria for agriculture while minimizing risks. With further research, these findings could lead to innovative ways to improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-soil-boosts-crop-growth-by-over-50/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crop growth</a> without compromising plant health.</p>



<p>For now, scientists are one step closer to understanding the delicate balance of growth and defense in plants.</p>



<p>The study was a team effort involving nine <a href="https://www.princeton.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton</a> researchers, including six undergraduates. Senior thesis projects played a vital role, such as that of Britley Jones from the Class of 2023.</p>



<p>Kaeli Ficco, another key contributor and a Princeton graduate, engineered mutant bacterial strains to confirm the genetic basis of immune suppression. </p>



<p>“I really liked how discovery-based the project was,” Ficco said, reflecting on her contributions.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(24)01414-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Reports</a>.</em></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Soil bacteria help plants balance growth and immunity

Plants face the constant challenge of allocating energy between growth...

<p>Ebola, a severe hemorrhagic disease caused by a virus endemic in parts of East-Central and West Africa, is generally known to spread through contact with bodily fluids from individuals who have the infection.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ebola-virus-on-the-skin-surface">Ebola virus on the skin surface</h2>



<p>More recent outbreaks, such as the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, have shown that infectious Ebola virus (EBOV) is also found on the surface of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-tech-will-track-emotions-through-changes-in-our-skin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skin</a> of those who have succumbed to infection or at late times during infection.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although this suggests that the virus can be transmitted from skin contact with someone in the later stages of the disease, researchers have not yet fully understood how the virus exits the body and appears on the skin’s surface.</p>



<p>In a recent study, scientists at <a href="https://uihealthcare.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Iowa Health Care</a>, working with colleagues at <a href="https://www.txbiomed.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas Biomedical Research Institute</a> and <a href="https://www.bu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston University</a>, have uncovered a cellular route that EBOV uses to traverse the inner and outer layers of skin and emerge onto the surface.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers identified new cell types within the skin that are targeted by EBOV during infection and confirms that human skin tissues actively sustain EBOV infection.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-route-of-ebola-infection">Possible route of Ebola infection</h2>



<p>The results, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adr6140" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science Advances</em></a>, suggest that the skin’s surface may be one possible route of person-to-person transmission.</p>



<p>“The skin is the largest organ in the human body yet is woefully understudied compared to most other organs. Interactions of EBOV with skin cells have not previously been extensively examined,” said study senior author Wendy Maury, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our work provides evidence for one mechanistic avenue that EBOV uses to exit from the human body. A comprehensive understanding of which cells are targeted during virus infection is critical for rational development of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/willow-bark-may-contain-life-saving-antiviral-medications/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antiviral</a> approaches.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-skin-model-for-tracking-ebola">Human skin model for tracking Ebola</h2>



<p>The research team, guided by Maury and Kelly Messingham, a research professor of dermatology at the University of Iowa, designed a new method for discovering which skin cells are infected by Ebola virus.&nbsp;</p>



<p>They constructed a human skin explant system using full-thickness biopsies from healthy individuals, preserving both the deeper (dermal) and surface (epidermal) layers of skin.</p>



<p>Next, the team placed these explants dermal side down in culture media, adding virus particles to simulate how EBOV would move from the bloodstream outward toward the skin’s exterior.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This setup let the researchers use specialized tracing and labeling techniques to observe how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-covid-19-virus-travels-deep-inside-our-lungs/">virus</a> progressed from one layer of skin to the next, tracking which cells became infected as time passed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skin-cells-prone-to-ebola-infection">Skin cells prone to Ebola infection</h2>



<p>Prior clinical and animal studies indicated that skin cells could become infected with EBOV, yet they did not identify the particular cells involved.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In this work, the authors showed that EBOV infects several cell types in the skin explant, including macrophages, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some of these cells are also infected by EBOV in other tissues, but keratinocytes - particular to skin - had not been previously recognized as an EBOV replication site.</p>



<p>Notably, the virus appeared to replicate more actively in the epidermal layer than in the dermal layer when compared on a per-gram basis. Within three days, infectious virus was detected at the epidermal surface, underscoring the virus’s ability to rapidly move through skin to the surface.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tool-for-exploring-new-therapies">Tool for exploring new therapies </h2>



<p>In addition to mapping how the virus travels through the skin, the scientists demonstrated that human skin explants offer a realistic, three-dimensional model for examining potential antiviral treatments against EBOV. This model could be an economical and valuable tool for exploring new therapies.</p>



<p>“This study explores the role of the skin as a potential route of Ebola virus infection and identifies, for the first time, several cell types in the skin that are permissive to infection,” Messingham said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“In total, these findings elucidate a mechanism by which EBOV traffics to the skin’s surface and may explain person-to-person transmission via skin contact.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insights-into-ebola-infection-nbsp">New insights into Ebola infection&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Beyond its discoveries about the skin, the research also zoomed in on interactions between the Ebola virus and two particular skin cell types, fibroblasts and keratinocytes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found specific receptors on these cells that facilitate the virus’s entry, adding further clarity on how EBOV infects skin on a molecular level.</p>



<p>By clarifying one route the virus may take to exit the body, these findings expand our knowledge of Ebola’s spread and highlight why skin-to-skin contact in advanced cases of infection can pose such a risk.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ongoing-public-health-concern">Ongoing public health concern</h2>



<p>Understanding these pathways, and identifying the cell types that the virus relies on, can influence future efforts to develop effective treatments and prevention measures.</p>



<p>This work also sets the stage for further investigations into how EBOV might exploit other organs or tissues and suggests potential ways to block the virus’s path at the skin level.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With Ebola remaining an ongoing global health concern, insights like these can help scientists target the virus more effectively and better protect those at risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-infection-equips-the-body-to-fight-off-the-flu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infection</a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Skin may play a hidden role in Ebola infection

Ebola, a severe hemorrhagic disease caused by a virus endemic...

<p>He was out prospecting for gold in 2015, when something far heavier than any ordinary rock caught his eye. David Hole believed he had stumbled upon a valuable nugget in Maryborough, just a few hours from Melbourne.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-curious-find">A curious find</h2>



<p>At first glance, the odd <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-finds-best-evidence-yet-life-on-mars-cheyava-falls-rock/">reddish rock</a> looked like it might hold a fortune. Hole tried every method he could think of to see if there was gold buried inside.</p>



<p>Melbourne Museum geologist Dermot <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vLYRmCsAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henry</a> first examined the object when Hole brought it in, still believing it contained hidden treasure. </p>



<p>Henry recognized qualities that made the rock stand out from typical specimens that people lug into the museum.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unbreakable-mystery">Unbreakable mystery</h2>



<p>The stone withstood onslaughts with a rock saw, power drills, and even repeated hammer blows. Hole’s attempts to crack it exposed an important detail: the thing was tough in a way that ordinary, gold-containing stones are not.</p>



<p>After a diamond saw finally cut off a thin slice, the internal structure <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/prospector-s-mystery-rock-was-no-nugget-but-something-much-rarer-20190716-p527pi.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">showed</a> an abundance of iron and nickel.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It was an <a href="https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbullclass.php?sea=h5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">H5 ordinary chondrite meteorite</a> weighing 17 kilograms (37.5 pounds), and <a href="https://museumsvictoria.com.au/media-releases/meteorite-found-by-gold-prospector-the-first-found-in-victoria-since-1995-comes-to-museums-victoria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">originally</a> part of the leftover chunks from our Solar System’s early days.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-second-largest-of-its-kind">Second largest of its kind</h2>



<p>Experts concluded that this Maryborough meteorite is around <a href="https://museumsvictoria.com.au/media-releases/meteorite-found-by-gold-prospector-the-first-found-in-victoria-since-1995-comes-to-museums-victoria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4.6 billion years old</a>. It is only the 17th meteorite ever recorded in the Australian state of Victoria and the second-largest single chondritic mass found there.</p>



<p>Bill <a href="https://museumsvictoria.com.au/about-us/staff/dr-bill-birch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Birch</a>, also from the Melbourne Museum, immediately noticed how unnaturally heavy the stone felt for its size. He recognized the polished, sculpted exterior, shaped was by a fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere.</p>



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



<p>The researchers say meteorites like this provide vital pieces in the puzzle of how our planetary neighborhood formed. By analyzing their chemical makeup, scientists can learn about conditions that existed long before Earth was fully formed.</p>



<p>When the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-found-that-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/">Solar System</a> took shape, it began as a swirling mix of gas and chondrite fragments. Much of this material coalesced into planets, while some lumps never merged and ended up in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-journey">Unexpected journey</h2>



<p>A cosmic collision in that belt might have dislodged the Maryborough meteorite long ago. It then hurtled through space, entered Earth’s atmosphere, and eventually plopped into the clay where Hole discovered it.</p>



<p>Carbon dating <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/RS/RS19002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">places</a> its arrival at anywhere between 100 and 1,000 years ago. Observers in the region reported bright fireballs overhead at different times in history, any one of which might have been the final leg of this stone’s cosmic trip.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historic-significance">Historic significance</h2>



<p>Investigations show that meteorites of this size do not surface often in Victoria. Many people <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supergiant-gold-deposit-find-claims-to-be-the-worlds-largest-discovery-ever/">find gold</a> in Maryborough’s fields, but few come across something formed beyond our planet.</p>



<p>“Meteorites provide the cheapest form of space exploration. They transport us back in time, providing clues to the age, formation, and chemistry of our Solar System (including Earth),” said Henry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rarity-over-gold">Rarity over gold</h2>



<p>“This is only the 17th meteorite found in Victoria, whereas there’s been thousands of gold nuggets found,” said Henry. That ratio alone underlines how uncommon such objects can be.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered small, metallic chondrules within the space rock. These droplets once floated in a cloud of hot dust in the early Solar System, and eventually hardened into solid rock.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-museum-worthy-exhibit">Museum-worthy exhibit</h2>



<p>The Maryborough meteorite was placed on display at the Melbourne Museum. Hole, who never found gold in that rock, later marveled at its grander significance.</p>



<p>Experts classify it as an H5 ordinary chondrite, a type believed to resemble the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mantle-heat-shaped-earths-crust-3-billion-years-ago/">material that formed our planet</a>. Learning about its texture and composition may shed light on how Earth evolved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-short-stay-on-earth">Short stay on Earth</h2>



<p>The meteorite’s weathered surface suggests it has not spent more than a few centuries in the soil. Researchers point to several historical newspaper accounts about blazing objects in the sky, any of which could match its rough arrival date.</p>



<p>In July 2019, Henry and Birch, along with other collaborators, published a detailed <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/rs/rs19002">paper</a> describing the meteorite's properties. Their study chronicles its structure and chemical makeup, and offers a glimpse at an untouched fragment of our early neighborhood.</p>



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



<p>Hole never got the gold he expected, but he discovered something even more precious to science. His story is a reminder that unusual objects can turn out to be cosmic gifts hiding right under our feet.</p>



<p>Anybody with a backyard might have an interstellar souvenir tucked away in the dirt. In rare cases, that suspiciously heavy rock could be a time capsule from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-novae-star-explosion-may-be-origin-phosphorus-life/">origins of the Solar System</a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

He thought it was gold, but inside this 4.6 billion-year-old meteorite he found something even stranger

He was out prospecting for gold in 2015, when something...

<p>Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity has revolutionized our understanding of gravity and the universe. However, it leaves some unanswered questions, particularly about singularities and black holes. </p>



<p>Recent studies suggest quantum mechanics could help resolve these mysteries and offer new insights into the fundamental nature of space-time and black holes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-general-relativity">General relativity</h2>



<p>General relativity is a theory developed by Albert Einstein to explain how gravity works. </p>



<p>Instead of thinking of gravity as a force that pulls objects toward each other, like Isaac Newton suggested, Einstein proposed that gravity is the result of massive objects bending the space and time around them. </p>



<p>Imagine space and time as a stretchy fabric, and when something heavy, like the Earth or the Sun, sits on it, the fabric bends around it. </p>



<p>This bending is what we experience as gravity. So, objects like planets and moons move in curved paths because they are following the curves in this "fabric" created by mass.</p>



<p>One of the most mind-blowing predictions of general relativity is that time isn't the same everywhere. </p>



<p>Time actually moves slower near a strong gravitational field, like near a planet or a star, and faster in areas with weaker gravity. </p>



<p>This effect is known as time dilation. It's something that satellites in space have to account for because they experience time a little differently than we do on Earth.</p>



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



<p>The elegant framework of general relativity encounters a critical limitation at singularities - points in space-time where matter collapses to infinite density, and the curvature of space-time becomes infinitely sharp.</p>



<p>These singularities arise under extreme gravitational collapse, as shown by Nobel laureate Roger Penrose. When a massive star exhausts its fuel and collapses under its gravity, the result can be a singularity.</p>



<p>At a singularity, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/google-record-shattering-quantum-ai-chip-accesses-parallel-universes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fundamental laws</a> of physics, as we know them, no longer work. Concepts like time, space, and the behavior of matter lose their meaning, rendering physical predictions impossible. </p>



<p>This unpredictability would challenge science’s foundation, which relies on consistent, testable laws to explain the universe.</p>



<p>Understanding and addressing singularities is, therefore, a major challenge in modern physics. </p>



<p>Researchers aim to find ways to reconcile this breakdown, often looking to quantum mechanics or other advanced theories to fill the gaps left by general relativity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-holes-and-cosmic-censorship">Black holes and cosmic censorship</h2>



<p>Black holes, nature's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-a-simple-way-to-grasp-this-impossible-concept-carl-kocher/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enigmatic phenomena</a>, may conceal singularities. Their defining feature, the event horizon, prevents anything, including light, from escaping. </p>



<p>According to Penrose's&nbsp;cosmic censorship conjecture, singularities resulting from gravitational collapse remain hidden behind these event horizons, preserving the predictability of physics elsewhere in the universe.</p>



<p>Despite its elegance, cosmic censorship remains unproven. Scientists have found no definitive counterexamples, making it one of the most significant open problems in mathematical physics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-mechanics-and-black-holes">Quantum mechanics and black holes</h2>



<p>While general relativity focuses on large-scale structures, quantum mechanics governs particles and atoms. </p>



<p>Combining these frameworks to understand black holes has proven complex. Recent research published in the journal <em>Physical Review Letters</em> suggests that Penrose's conjecture is supported by quantum mechanics.</p>



<p>Physicists have long speculated about "quantum black holes," where quantum effects play a significant role. These black holes raise questions about how cosmic censorship applies in the quantum realm. </p>



<p>A potential answer lies in developing a theory of "quantum gravity," which integrates quantum mechanics with space-time. However, such a theory remains elusive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advances-in-quantum-cosmic-censorship">Advances in quantum cosmic censorship</h2>



<p>Quantum mechanics introduces new complexities such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/negative-time-observed-measured-tangible-in-new-quantum-experiments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative energy</a>, a phenomenon allowed in quantum mechanics but absent in classical physics. </p>



<p>Penrose's theorem assumes that all matter has positive energy, so the existence of negative energy introduces scenarios that the theorem does not address.</p>



<p>To explore these complexities, researchers use a hybrid approach called&nbsp;semi-classical gravity. In this model, the space-time structure still obeys Einstein's general relativity, but the matter within it is treated according to quantum mechanics. </p>



<p>This allows scientists to study how quantum effects influence the behavior of space-time and black holes.</p>



<p>From this perspective, quantum mechanics might play a role in keeping singularities hidden. The concept, called&nbsp;quantum cosmic censorship, proposes that quantum effects could reinforce the "clothing" of singularities by black hole event horizons. </p>



<p>This means that quantum mechanics may prevent singularities from becoming observable, thus modifying their behavior and preserving the predictability of the universe.</p>



<p>The idea builds on Penrose’s original cosmic censorship conjecture but extends it into the quantum realm, offering a potential bridge between classical and quantum physics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-energy-of-space-time">The energy of space-time</h2>



<p>A key to understanding quantum cosmic censorship lies in the&nbsp;Penrose inequality. This mathematical relationship links the mass of space-time to the area of black hole horizons, assuming cosmic censorship holds. In quantum systems, a similar inequality could provide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/schrodingers-cat-survives-in-quantum-superposition-for-a-record-shattering-23-minutes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insights</a>.</p>



<p>In 2019, researchers proposed a quantum Penrose inequality. Building on this, the new study introduced a refined version that applies even in strong quantum effects.</p>



<p>The research shows that the energy of space-time relates to the combined entropy of black holes and quantum matter, which thus maintains the second law of thermodynamics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strengthening-theories-with-quantum-mechanics">Strengthening theories with quantum mechanics</h2>



<p>The new quantum Penrose inequality strengthens the idea of cosmic censorship. While not a definitive proof, it shows that quantum mechanics reinforces the principles governing black holes and singularities. </p>



<p>This advance bridges classical and quantum physics, and paves the way for deeper insights into the universe.</p>



<p>As space-time might end at singularities, quantum mechanics ensures we remain shielded from such extremes, preserving the predictability of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-instead-of-oil-or-coal-powers-a-new-kind-of-engine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a>. </p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.181501" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review Letters</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Why the universe remains predictable: Insights from "quantum black holes"

Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity has revolutionized our understanding...

<p>If you've ever felt that modern movies seem to resonate with a chorus of ominous verbs that echo through scenes of action, drama, and suspense, you're not alone.</p>



<p>A recent study confirms an increase in the use of violent language and disturbing phrases in film dialogues over the past half-century, shedding light on how our cinematic landscape has shifted over time.</p>



<p>Remarkably, this trend is not limited to crime movies but seems to creep into all genres, and subtly infiltrates even the most unexpected narratives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increase-in-murderous-verbs">Increase in "murderous verbs" </h2>



<p>The researchers embarked on a quest to unravel the mystery of this unsettling trend, driven by a desire to understand how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/power-of-words-how-language-framing-shapes-our-perception/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">language</a> shapes our perception of violence in cinema.</p>



<p>The team used a large database of more than 160,000 movie subtitles, spanning five decades from 1970 to 2020, and meticulously analyzed and quantified the incidence of chilling words like “murder” and “kill” in the dialogues. Their findings revealed a startling linguistic evolution in the film industry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-killer-words-across-all-films">"Killer words" across all films</h2>



<p>According to study co-author Brad Bushman, the surge in these "killer words" has been unsurprisingly variable. Yet, there has been a noteworthy upward trajectory over the 50 years.</p>



<p>Interestingly, this trend isn't confined to crime flicks. Characters in other genres of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-watching-movies-affect-our-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">movies</a> have also been upping their "kill-talk" game.</p>



<p>"Characters in noncrime movies are also talking more about killing and murdering today than they did 50 years ago. Not as much as characters in crime movies, and the increase hasn’t been as steep. But it is still happening. We found increases in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-finds-no-evidence-that-video-games-promote-violence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">violence</a> cross all genres," noted Bushman.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gender-dynamic-of-violent-language">Gender dynamic of violent language</h2>



<p>Authored by researchers at the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> and The Ohio State University, the study was published as a research letter in the journal <em>JAMA Pediatric</em>s. The findings offer new insights into the evolving dynamics of film dialogue.</p>



<p>The study revealed that the rise in the use of violent language was not gender-specific, demonstrating a broad shift in cinematic trends.</p>



<p>Study lead author Babak Fotouhi highlighted an intriguing aspect of the findings. While men typically delivered more violent dialogues, women also showed a discernable increase over time, reflecting a significant shift in character portrayal across genders.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steady-rise-in-violent-language">Steady rise in violent language</h2>



<p>Using the subtitle database from opensubtitles.org, the researchers sifted through 166,534 movies, extracting references to murderous actions with painstaking precision.</p>



<p>The team calculated the proportion of "killer verbs" - semantics rooted in words like “kill” and “murder" which capture the darker tones of cinematic language.</p>



<p>The analysis painted a grim picture of evolving dialogue trends: close to 7% of the movies spewed murderous verbs over the study period, indicating a steady rise in violent language on the silver screen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-competitive-edge-of-violence-in-film">The competitive edge of violence in film</h2>



<p>Pennsylvania-based post-doctoral researcher Amir Tohidi emphasized the team's focus on these ominous verbs to identify only the most severe forms of violence present in movie diologue, thus representing a conservative estimate. </p>



<p>“We focused exclusively on murderous verbs in our analysis to establish a lower bound in our reporting,” said Tohidi. “Including less extreme forms of violence would result in a higher overall count of violence.“</p>



<p>The researchers noted that if they had incorporated less aggressive forms of violence in the analysis, the overall count of violent dialogue would have skyrocketed.</p>



<p>“We designed this to be a conservative estimate,” said Fotouhi. “It is likely there was more violence in the movies than what we calculated in terms of the dialogue.”</p>



<p>This research, backed by an enormous dataset, highlights the escalation in cinematic reference to violence.</p>



<p>"Movies are trying to compete for the audience’s attention and research shows that violence is one of the elements that most effectively hooks audiences," noted Fotouhi.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-call-for-mindful-media-consumption">A call for mindful media consumption</h2>



<p>Bushman weighed in with a cautionary note, suggesting that this unsettling trend may still be on an upward trajectory, with no clear peak in sight.</p>



<p>This observation highlights an urgent call to action: the need to promote greater <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tweens-used-media-more-during-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">media</a> literacy and encourage mindful media consumption. </p>



<p>By equipping audiences - especially vulnerable groups like young viewers - with critical thinking skills, we can mitigate the potential impact of violent language on impressionable minds.</p>



<p>So, the next time you cozy up for a movie night, take a moment to reflect - our screens are brimming with more killer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-brain-uses-a-secret-thesaurus-to-find-the-right-words/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">words</a> than ever before, subtly shaping the narratives we consume.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2828322" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JAMA Pediatrics</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Movies are using more violent language including 'murderous verbs'

If you've ever felt that modern movies seem to resonate...

<p>The Quadrantid meteor shower is the first major celestial event of the year, offering a spectacular display of fireballs streaking across the sky. </p>



<p>Known for its bright fireballs and intense bursts of activity, the Quadrantid meteor shower produces as many as 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. </p>



<p>The meteor shower is unique due to its sharp peak, which lasts for only a few hours. This means that timing crucial for catching the display. </p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/january-2025-stargazing-a-parade-of-bright-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meteor showers</a> happen when Earth moves through a trail of debris left behind by comets or asteroids during their journeys around the sun. These small particles, often no larger than grains of sand, enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds. </p>



<p>As they collide with the atmosphere, the friction causes the particles to heat up and burn, producing glowing streaks of light called meteors. Sometimes, larger fragments burn brighter, creating what we call fireballs, which are exceptionally vivid and long-lasting meteors.</p>



<p>To enjoy this celestial spectacle, you don’t need telescopes or binoculars. A dark, open area away from city lights provides the perfect setting to witness the beauty of meteors streaking across the night sky.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legacy-of-an-obsolete-constellation">Legacy of an obsolete constellation</h2>



<p>Unlike other meteor showers named after active constellations, the Quadrantids derive their name from&nbsp;<em>Quadrans Muralis</em> - which is now obsolete.</p>



<p>"The Quadrantids take their name from a constellation that doesn’t exist anymore," said <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>’s William Cooke.</p>



<p>Introduced by French astronomer Jérôme Lalande in 1795, <em>Quadrans Muralis</em> was once positioned between Boötes and Draco. Though removed from modern star maps in 1922, its legacy endures through the Quadrantids meteor shower.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-and-where-to-watch-the-quadrantids">When and where to watch the Quadrantids</h2>



<p>The Quadrantid meteor shower will reach its peak during the early morning hours of January 3, 2025. The meteors appear to radiate from a point in the northern sky near the Big Dipper and the bright star Arcturus. </p>



<p>This makes the shower ideal for observers in mid-northern latitudes, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.</p>



<p>For the best viewing experience:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Time</strong>: The hours before dawn on January 3 offer the clearest view of the meteors.</li>



<li><strong>Moon Phase</strong>: A waning crescent moon means the sky will remain dark with minimal interference.</li>



<li><strong>Location</strong>: Choose a spot far from city lights to reduce artificial light pollution.</li>



<li><strong>Preparation</strong>: Avoid using your phone or other bright screens. This helps your eyes adjust to the darkness and improves your ability to spot meteors.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parent-objects-of-the-quadrantids">Parent objects of the Quadrantids</h2>



<p>The Quadrantid meteor shower has an intriguing and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-meteor-showers-delta-aquarids-alpha-capricornids-light-up-night-skies-august-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex origin</a> involving several celestial objects.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroid-2003-eh1"><strong>Asteroid 2003 EH1</strong></h3>



<p>This asteroid, discovered in 2003, is the primary source of the Quadrantid meteors. It is believed to be a dormant comet, meaning it no longer exhibits the typical activity of a comet such as a visible tail.</p>



<p>The asteroid completes an orbit around the sun every 5.5 years, but no longer comes close to Earth’s orbit. Despite this, debris that was ejected in the past continues to intersect with Earth’s path, creating the meteor shower.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comet-96p-machholz"><strong>Comet 96P/Machholz</strong></h3>



<p>This active comet is another contributor to the Quadrantids. Its material produces a less intense and broader peak in the shower. </p>



<p>The comet approaches the sun very closely, with a perihelion (closest point to the sun) of just 0.12 astronomical units (AU). Each astronomical unit represents the distance between Earth and the sun.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-machholz-complex"><strong>The Machholz Complex</strong></h3>



<p>Astronomers theorize that a massive comet likely fragmented centuries ago, giving rise to a group of related celestial bodies called the Machholz Complex. This group includes Comet 96P/Machholz, asteroid 2003 EH1, and other smaller fragments. </p>



<p>Together, these objects are responsible for multiple meteor showers, including the Quadrantids.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-significance-of-the-quadrantids">Historical significance of the Quadrantids</h2>



<p>The Quadrantid meteor shower was first observed in 1825 by Antonio Brucalassi. He described "a multitude of luminous bodies" radiating from&nbsp;<em>Quadrans Muralis</em>. </p>



<p>Later studies linked the shower to asteroid 2003 EH1 and Comet 96P/Machholz. These discoveries highlight the intricate connections between ancient celestial objects and modern astronomical phenomena.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stunning-start-to-the-new-year">Stunning start to the new year</h2>



<p>The Quadrantids primarily favor the Northern Hemisphere due to their radiant's high northern position. However, some Southern Hemisphere observers occasionally report sightings of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meteor-showers-help-scientists-discover-where-comets-came-from/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meteors</a>.</p>



<p>The Quadrantid meteor shower provides a stunning start to the new year, with its narrow peak and dazzling fireballs. Whether you're an avid stargazer or a casual observer, this celestial event is worth braving the cold January morning.</p>



<p>The fleeting beauty of the Quadrantids serves as a reminder of the vast and dynamic universe we call home.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Quadrantid meteor shower peaks tonight, kicking off the new year

The Quadrantid meteor shower is the first major celestial event...

<p>In the captivating world of archaeology, where discoveries often turn the tide of understanding, sea level changes have emerged as a powerful force that may have shaped human history.</p>



<p>A recent revelation reveals an intriguing connection between fluctuations in the Atlantic Ocean's sea levels and the rise and fall of early societies in southern Brazil.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-mystery-of-sambaquis">Unraveling the mystery of "sambaquis"</h2>



<p>One could liken the work of an archaeologist to that of a detective, piecing together a puzzle from an array of diverse clues. </p>



<p>This time, the evidence came from gigantic, prehistoric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indigenous-people-harvested-oysters-sustainably-for-thousands-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mounds of shells</a> known as sambaquis. </p>



<p>Sambaquis were produced by pre-colonial people along a 3,000 km (1,800 mile) stretch of the Brazilian coastline, and contain the remains of shellfish and fish, along with plants, artefacts and charcoal.</p>



<p>When the scientists noticed a sudden decline in the size and frequency of these mounds around 2,500 years ago, they hypothesized that the coastal communities present in the region at the time had vanished or become reduced in number.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinguishing-the-pottery-paradox">Distinguishing the pottery paradox</h2>



<p>Some experts believed the reduction in sambaquis resulted from the advent of ceramics and crop farming, which would have reduced the region's reliance on fishing and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mollusks-evolution-shishania-aculeata-spiny-armor-no-shells-500-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mollusk</a> consumption.</p>



<p>However, a study published in December 2021 demonstrated that the decline in sambaqui-building and use commenced before pottery became prevalent in the society.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-the-tides-of-change">Reading the tides of change</h2>



<p>Observations made by examining human and animal remains from Babitonga Bay, the largest repository of sambaquis in Brazil, opened doors to a fresh perspective. </p>



<p>A timeline, based on over 400 radiocarbon dates, established the arrival of ceramics at around 1,200 years ago. The decline in sambaqui activity began significantly earlier, about 2,500 years ago, and culminated in a "dramatic abandonment" around 2,200 years ago.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-level-retreat-and-early-societies">Sea level retreat and early societies</h2>



<p>During the Late <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/welcome-to-humanitys-new-era-the-anthropocene/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Holocene era</a>, as icy cold fronts increased in southern Brazil, sea levels began to fall. </p>



<p>The ocean receded by 1.6 meters (5 feet) between 7,000 and 1,000 years ago, resulting in the expansion of drylands and mangrove systems.</p>



<p>The scarcity of mollusks, fishing areas, and edible plants under these conditions would have pushed the shellfish-dependent societies to confront fierce competition for dwindling resources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-the-past-insights-for-the-present">Lessons from the past, insights for the present</h2>



<p>The authors suggested that the changing landscape forced communities to reorganize into more dispersed, independent social units. </p>



<p>Warning bells should be sounding for us as well. With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-evidence-that-climate-change-is-caused-by-human-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anthropogenic climate change</a> predicted to increase sea levels by about 0.3 meters (12 inches) by the turn of this century, we stand to lose roughly half of the world's sandy beaches and rocky coasts.</p>



<p>The repercussions could be disastrous for global communities relying heavily on oceanic, coastal, and marine resources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ever-changing-sea-levels-a-force-of-transformation">Ever-changing sea levels: A force of transformation</h2>



<p>Sea levels have long acted as both creators and destroyers of human civilizations, shaping landscapes and the societies that inhabit them. </p>



<p>In the case of Brazil's Sambaqui societies, fluctuating sea levels during the Late Holocene were a driving force behind dramatic societal changes.</p>



<p>As the ocean decreased in vertical height by 1.6 meters over millennia, shellfish-dependent communities faced dwindling resources, with mollusks and fish becoming scarce and food insecurity taking hold.</p>



<p>This transformation was not merely about the physical loss of coastline but also reflects a profound reshaping of the environment itself.</p>



<p>The retreating seas exposed new drylands and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mangrove-forest-reveals-ancient-climate-change-effects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mangrove</a> systems, forcing communities to rethink their reliance on coastal ecosystems. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-societies-changing-with-sea-levels">Societies changing with sea levels</h2>



<p>These changes triggered a reorganization of society, with dispersed settlements replacing the centralized shell mound communities that had thrived for thousands of years. Such historical events highlight the lasting impact of sea level changes on human history. </p>



<p>Today, the world faces a parallel challenge: rising sea levels driven by anthropogenic climate change. </p>



<p>Unlike the gradual retreat that impacted the sambaqui builders, the current rate of sea level rise is accelerating, posing an even greater threat to modern coastal populations. </p>



<p>Entire cities could be inundated, and vital ecosystems may collapse, leading to mass displacement and economic turmoil.</p>



<p>The sambaqui story serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between humans and their environment. It highlights the urgency of understanding and mitigating sea level changes - not just to protect infrastructure - but to safeguard cultural and ecological heritage for future generations.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02888-7#Sec7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Sea levels linked to the rise and fall of early human societies

In the captivating world of archaeology, where discoveries often turn...

<p>NSF NOIRLab has begun the New Year by unveiling a remarkable deep-space image of the Antlia Cluster. The image was captured with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), which is mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>This ultra-detailed view reveals hundreds of galaxies in the cluster, each belonging to a larger cosmic structure that continues to fascinate astronomers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-clusters-and-cosmic-evolution">Galaxy clusters and cosmic evolution</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/titanic-galaxy-cluster-collision-defies-all-current-understanding-of-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galaxy clusters</a> rank among the biggest assemblies of matter in the universe. They come into being when dark matter gravitationally pulls galaxies together, typically forming groups of dozens.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Over time, these groups coalesce into clusters containing hundreds or even thousands of galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Researchers can learn a great deal about cosmic evolution by studying these superstructures, as their formation and organization shed light on how dark matter operates on vast scales.</p>



<p>Located around 130 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Antlia (the Air Pump), the Antlia Cluster is one such assembly.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-the-features-of-the-antlia-cluster-nbsp">Exploring the features of the Antlia Cluster&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Over the last two decades, scientists have turned to multiple <a href="https://noirlab.edu/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOIRLab</a> programs to explore the cluster’s features.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Researchers in Chile employed the Blanco telescope using an earlier camera, known as MOSAIC II, as well as the Gemini South telescope, which is part of the International Gemini Observatory under NOIRLab’s purview.&nbsp;</p>



<p>More recently, data from both ground-based and space-based observatories have expanded knowledge of Antlia’s makeup, revealing a lively variety of galaxy types.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EjWijtOA3g-4180568-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observations-of-the-antlia-cluster">Observations of the Antlia Cluster</h2>



<p>Astronomers discovered that the Antlia Cluster is dominated by two large elliptical galaxies, NGC 3268 and NGC 3258. Around these giants, numerous faint <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happened-when-a-dwarf-galaxy-clashed-with-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dwarf galaxies</a> circle, adding to the cluster’s complexity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There is also evidence that these two massive galaxies may be in the process of merging, based on X-ray studies that found a line of globular clusters in the region of peak luminosity between them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some experts propose that what is currently labeled as the Antlia Cluster might actually be two smaller clusters on the path to merging.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-diverse-range-of-galaxies">A diverse range of galaxies</h2>



<p>Looking more broadly, the cluster includes a range of additional galaxy types, such as lenticular galaxies with little gas or dust for star formation, irregular galaxies, and many lower-luminosity systems like ultra-compact dwarfs, compact ellipticals, and blue compact dwarfs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Researchers think the cluster could also hold dwarf spheroidal galaxies and ultra-diffuse galaxies, though these remain to be confirmed with further observations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The ability to detect these small and often dim objects has only emerged in the last few decades, thanks to continual improvements in telescope instrumentation and data analysis approaches.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolution-of-the-antlia-cluster-nbsp">The evolution of the Antlia Cluster&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The assorted galaxies in Antlia are more than just visually striking; they also provide a window into how galaxies take shape, evolve, and possibly fade.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some galaxy varieties found in the cluster are associated with higher levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/existence-of-dark-matter-confirmed-by-new-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>, giving researchers further clues about how dark matter influences galactic development.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As scientists trace the origins and transformations of these objects, they gain a richer understanding of the cluster’s evolutionary history, as well as the universe’s larger-scale dynamics.</p>



<p>An additional benefit of more advanced instruments, such as DECam, is that astronomers can now detect faint intracluster light - the hazy glow of stars that have been gravitationally pulled out of their original galaxies during interactions and collisions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This faint glow sometimes overlaps with residual light from regional features, such as the Antlia Supernova Remnant discovered in 2002, which adds yet another dimension to the overall cosmic picture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-light-of-galaxy-clusters">Studying the light of galaxy clusters </h2>



<p>As scientists delve more deeply into clusters like Antlia, they look to upcoming projects and observatories to unlock even greater insights. The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time, set to commence in the near future, will mark a major leap forward.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For the first time, astronomers will have the data to examine intracluster light in thousands of galaxy clusters, shedding more light on how dark matter is distributed and how these structures have evolved across cosmic epochs.</p>



<p>By comparing results from a wide range of clusters, astronomers can piece together the events and processes that shaped today’s vast galactic formations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This level of detail supports or challenges existing theories and refines the overall model of how galaxies gather and transform over billions of years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-large-scale-structures-in-astronomy">Importance of large-scale structures in astronomy</h2>



<p>The Antlia Cluster, as portrayed in the new image, stands out for its remarkable diversity of galaxies and ongoing processes. From the central elliptical giants that may be merging, to the smaller dwarf galaxies circling on the fringes, the cluster captures the drama of cosmic evolution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Advances in observing technology and data analysis have made it possible to study these objects in greater depth than ever before, setting the stage for even more detailed research in the years to come.</p>



<p>Ultimately, these efforts underscore the broader importance of large-scale structures in astronomy. By examining the architecture and composition of galaxy clusters, researchers glean essential clues about the mechanics of dark matter, the fate of stripped stars, and the origins of galaxy populations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Images like the one provided by DECam not only captivate astronomers and the public alike, but they also fuel the quest to understand the forces and processes that shape the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Dark Energy Survey/ DOE/ FNAL/ DECam/ CTIO/NOIRLab/ NSF/ AURA.Dark Energy</p>



<p>Video Credit: NSF NOIRLab</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Hundreds of glittering galaxies captured in the Antlia Cluster

NSF NOIRLab has begun the New Year by unveiling a...

<p>A new study from Tel Aviv University has uncovered how bacterial defense mechanisms can be neutralized, facilitating more efficient genetic material transfer between bacteria.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Researchers believe this discovery could significantly aid in combating antibiotic resistance and advancing genetic engineering for medical, industrial, and environmental applications.</p>



<p>The study was conducted by PhD student Bruria Samuel, under the guidance of professor David Burstein at the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a>'s Wise Faculty of Life Sciences.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study also involved contributions from Dr. Karin Mittelman, Shirly Croitoru, and Maya Ben-Haim - all members of Burstein's lab.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-dna-transfer-in-bacteria-survival">The role of DNA transfer in bacteria survival</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-trees-protect-their-genetic-diversity-for-millions-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genetic diversity</a> is critical for organisms to adapt and survive in changing environments. While humans and many other species achieve this through sexual reproduction, bacteria rely on alternative mechanisms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One key method is the direct transfer of DNA between cells, a process that enables rapid genetic exchange and adaptation. This mechanism is exemplified by the swift spread of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-resistance-could-cause-a-health-crisis-globally/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotic resistance</a> among bacterial populations.</p>



<p>Despite its prevalence, the process of DNA transfer has remained somewhat mysterious. Bacteria possess sophisticated defense systems designed to destroy foreign DNA, raising the question: How do plasmids, the carriers of genetic material, evade these defenses?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investigating-conjugation-and-plasmid-behavior">Investigating conjugation and plasmid behavior</h2>



<p>The study focused on conjugation, a primary mechanism for DNA transfer in bacteria. During this process, a bacterium connects to another via a microscopic tube, through which genetic material called plasmids is passed.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Plasmids are small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules classified as 'mobile genetic elements.' Like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-create-viruses-to-combat-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">viruses</a>, plasmids move from one cell to another, but unlike viruses, they do not need to kill the host bacterium to complete the transfer,” explained Burstein.</p>



<p>Since plasmids are technically foreign DNA, they must find ways to evade bacterial defenses to survive and replicate within cells.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-associated-with-anti-defense-systems">Genes associated with anti-defense systems</h2>



<p>Samuel began her research by analyzing 33,000 plasmids, identifying genes associated with anti-defense systems that allow plasmids to bypass bacterial defenses. The location of these genes proved to be a crucial discovery.</p>



<p>“The genes for the anti-defense systems that I identified were found to be concentrated near that cutting point, and organized in such a manner that they would be the first genes to enter the new cell,” noted Samuel.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This strategic positioning allows the genes to be activated immediately upon transfer, giving the plasmid the advantage needed to neutralize the recipient bacteria's defense systems.”</p>



<p>When Samuel first presented her findings, Burstein admitted that he found it “hard to believe that such a phenomenon had not been identified before.” After an extensive review of the scientific literature, they confirmed that no prior studies had observed this pattern.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plasmids-evading-defense-systems">Plasmids evading defense systems</h2>



<p>To test the computational findings, the team conducted laboratory experiments. They introduced antibiotic-resistant plasmids into bacteria equipped with CRISPR, a well-known bacterial defense system.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This setup allowed the researchers to observe whether the plasmids could evade CRISPR and confer antibiotic resistance to the recipient bacteria.</p>



<p>Samuel's experiments demonstrated that plasmids with anti-defense genes positioned near the DNA entry point successfully overcame the CRISPR system, enabling the bacteria to develop resistance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Conversely, plasmids with anti-defense genes located elsewhere were destroyed, and the bacteria succumbed to antibiotics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-antibiotic-resistance-nbsp">Implications for antibiotic resistance&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Understanding the strategic positioning of anti-defense genes could lead to the discovery of new anti-defense systems, a topic of active research. </p>



<p>The findings may also enhance the design of plasmids for genetic manipulation in industrial and research settings.</p>



<p>“Our study can contribute to designing more efficient plasmids for genetic manipulation of bacteria in industrial processes," said Burstein.</p>



<p>"While plasmids are already widely used for these purposes, the efficiency of plasmid-based genetic transfer in lab conditions is significantly lower than that of natural plasmids."</p>



<p>Potential applications include designing plasmids to block antibiotic resistance genes in hospitals, enabling bacteria in soil and water to degrade pollutants, or improving human health by modifying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-have-very-clever-ways-of-supporting-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut bacteria</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-major-breakthrough-in-biotechnology-nbsp">Major breakthrough in biotechnology&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The study has been described as a major breakthrough in biotechnology. Dr. Ronen Kreizman, CEO of Ramot, Tel Aviv University's technology transfer company, highlighted its potential.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The new research opens revolutionary possibilities in areas such as developing drugs against resistant bacteria, synthetic biology, agritech, and foodtech,” said Dr. Kreizman.</p>



<p>“The ability to control and fine-tune genetic material transfer between bacteria could become a powerful tool for addressing environmental, agricultural, and medical challenges.”</p>



<p>By unveiling the mechanisms that allow plasmids to overcome bacterial defenses, this research sets the stage for innovative solutions to pressing global challenges, including antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07994-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

How bacteria share genes and defy defenses

A new study from Tel Aviv University has uncovered how...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p id="block-eff5dea3-a9bb-40b5-a923-e5a9978bc0e2">Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p id="block-43e218f4-0391-477c-8396-eb777c8c80a3">Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

News coming your way