Scientists have long known that prolonged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/showing-signs-of-stress-could-make-you-more-likeable/">stress</a> can have negative effects on the body, including premature aging, early mortality, chronic disease, depression, and overall poor quality of life. Moreover, stress can also affect the hair, by releasing hormones that change hair pigmentation, turning it gray or white, or cause hair loss. Now, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://english.hi.is/university_of_iceland">University of Iceland</a> and the <a href="https://www.insp.mx/insp-overview.html">National Institute of Public Health of Mexico</a> has found that stress levels are also reflected in how much of the hormone cortisol is stored in hair.



The scientists analyzed hair samples from over 1,200 women from Iceland and Mexico and asked them to fill in a psychological questionnaire measuring their stress perception. The analysis revealed a linear relationship between the women’s perceived stress and the cortisol levels in their hair: the higher they scored on the stress scale, the more cortisol they had in their hair, with one additional point on the scale corresponding on average to a 1.4 percent increase in hair cortisol levels. Women who scored the highest tended to be less likely to be employed, married, or have a graduate degree, and more likely to be obese and smokers, suggesting that these lifestyle and environmental pressures can play a significant role in fostering stress.



“Despite relatively small absolute differences, an association between perceived stress and hair cortisol concentration was found in a sample of women from two diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds supporting the hypothesis that hair cortisol concentration is a viable biomarker in studies of chronic psychological stress,” the study authors wrote.



Although the researchers observed small distinctions between the two groups of women living on two different continents and most likely experiencing different stressors, the similarities were stronger, suggesting that stress levels are indeed correlated with hair cortisol concentrations. However, since only women were involved in the study, further research is needed to determine how gender differences play into the stress-cortisol axis. Moreover, long-term studies investigating how cortisol in the hair changes over time as stress waxes and wanes are also crucial for clarifying the health impact of chronic stress.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000571">PLoS Global Public Health</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Stress is reflected in hair cortisol levels

Scientists have long known that prolonged stress can have negative effects on the body, including premature aging, early mortality, chronic disease, depression, and overall poor quality of life. Moreover, stress can also affect the hair, by releasing hormones that change hair pigmentation, turning it gray or white, or cause hair loss. Now, a team of researchers led by the University of Iceland and the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico has found that stress levels are also reflected in how much of the hormone cortisol is...

The quest for clean energy alternatives may soon include the ability to harvest energy from leaves shifting in the wind. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://liu.se/en/research/laboratory-of-organic-electronics">Laboratory of Organic Electronics </a>at <a href="https://liu.se/en">Linköping University</a> have discovered a way to power a small electric circuit using the fluctuations between sun and shade, similar to a leaf fluttering in the wind. 

Although the technology is in its early stages, the study shows that heat fluctuations from sunlight to shade can be converted into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-solar-panels-appealing/">energy</a>. 

“Plants and their photosynthesis systems are continuously subjected to fluctuations between sunshine and shade,” said Magnus Jonsson, an author of the study. “We have drawn inspiration from this and developed a combination of materials in which changes in heating between sunshine and shade generate electricity.” 

The study was published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials. 

Previously, Magnus Jonsson had worked on a project that developed small nanoantennas made up of gold nanodiscs with the ability to absorb sunlight and generate heat by reacting to near-infrared light. 

In this new study, the nanoantennas powered a tiny optical generator using pyroelectric film. Pyroelectric means that power is generated from changes in heat. 

As the antennae were subjected to fluctuations in sunlight and shade, they generated heat which was then converted to electricity. 

“The nanoantennas can be manufactured across large areas, with billions of the small discs uniformly distributed over the surface,” said Jonsson. “The spacing between discs in our case is approximately 0.3 micrometres. We have used gold and silver, but they can also be manufactured from aluminium or copper.” 

A polarized polymer was also required for energy conversion. 

“We force the polarisation into the material, and it remains polarised for a long time, “ said Mina Shiran Chaharsoughi, the lead author of the study. 

The researchers tested their theory with experiments and computer simulations. In one of the experiments, a twig with leaves in front of a fan powered a small external circuit. 

The study has many exciting applications and result in another dependable source of renewable energy. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fluttering leaves could be one day generate electricity

The quest for clean energy alternatives may soon include the...

The Paris Agreement is a global collaboration that seeks to reduce carbon emissions and stop the world’s temperature from increasing past two degrees Celsius.

While many nations are already working to implement policies that reduce carbon emissions and transition from fossil fuels to renewables, the exact temperature and emissions requirements to meet the Paris Agreement are not widely understood.

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.nies.go.jp/index-e.html">National Institute for Environmental Studies</a> in Japan and the <a href="https://ncar.ucar.edu/">U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research</a> examined several new emissions and temperature scenarios to find out what exactly was needed to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.

The new study found that meeting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/country-paris-agreement/">Paris Agreement</a> does not necessarily mean cutting all greenhouse gas emissions and also that even under a zero-emission scenario, temperatures could still climb higher than preferred.

Their findings highlight the uncertainty and inconsistencies that come with the Paris Agreement’s plans.

“What we found is that the two goals do not always go hand in hand,” said Katsumasa Tanaka, a lead author of the study. “If we meet temperature targets without first overshooting them, we don't have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero. But if we do reduce emissions to zero, we still might not meet the temperature targets if we don't reduce emissions quickly enough.”

The results were published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

For the study, the researchers used an integrated assessment computer model to create and analyze ten different emissions scenarios.

The model factored in both the environmental and economic impact of temperature and emissions reductions.

“We investigated the consistency between the Paris targets in two ways,” said Brian O'Neill, a fellow lead researcher. “First, we asked, what happens if you just meet the temperature target in a least-cost way? What would emissions look like? Then we said, let's just meet the emissions goal and see what kind of temperatures you get.”

The scenarios showed that if emissions were reduced sooner, the Earth’s temperature wouldn’t exceed two degrees Celsius.

All in all, the results showed that the biggest driver of temperature changes in the latter half of the century is when emissions are reduced.  

“The timing of when emissions are reduced really matters,” said O'Neill. “We could meet the goal set out in the Paris Agreement of reducing emissions to zero in the second half of the century and still wildly miss the temperature targets in the same agreement if we wait to take action.”

The researchers hope their work will help provide a better foundation for implementing the most effective and consistent policies under the Paris Accord.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Different methods of achieving the Paris Agreement climate goals

The Paris Agreement is a global collaboration that seeks to...

Looking for somewhere to move or vacation with a decent climate but don’t know where to start? A new, easy to use, interactive global climate map with a wide array of applications could be your best bet.

Tomasz Stepinski, a <a href="http://www.uc.edu/">University of Cincinnati</a> geography professor and expert on mapping data and statistics, created a new climate map that compares the climates of areas anywhere in the world.

The map also shows the drastic temperature and precipitation variations over the years due to climate change, and could predict which geographic regions may experience extreme weather events in the coming years.

“The map demonstrates climate change over time but also climate diversity. The concept is powerful and can inspire a lot of research,” Stepinski said.

The map is called <a href="http://www.climatex.com/en/">ClimatEx</a> and was created in Stepinkski’s <a href="http://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/geography/research/space-informatics-lab.html">Space Informatics Lab</a> with the help of researcher Pawel Netzel.

The two collected five decades of data from monthly climate records from <a href="http://www.worldclim.org/">WorldClim</a>, a public database. This data was then used to develop a visual way to study patterns and climate variability in locations all over the world.

The data is mapped in a four-square-kilometer grid which allows people to see how temperatures and precipitations are changing in cities all around the globe. The map also shows which areas have experienced the most change over time, such as the warmer temperatures in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warmer-arctic-northeast-winter/">Arctic</a>.

There are many potential applications for ClimateEx outside of educational purposes or research. The map could also help climatologists see which areas are most at risk of extreme weather due to climate change.

“ClimateEx enables an easy search for locations where climate change may lead to the occurrence of such extreme phenomena in the future,” said Stepinski. “The user simply indicates the location where tornadoes are presently frequent, and ClimateEx finds all locations where in 50 years the climate will be conducive to tornadoes.”

Stepinski says his map is a useful tool but also provides further proof of the way climate change is reshaping climate, weather, and precipitation on a global scale. 

“If you were looking at climate change at a scale of a million years, you wouldn't worry too much,” Stepinski said. “But if you see dramatic changes on the order of a few decades, it's a big problem. Personally, I'm not happy there are people who seem to disregard this as not much of a problem. It is a problem.”

[caption id="attachment_1171083" align="aligncenter" width="996"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/climate-map.png"><img class="wp-image-1171083 size-large" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/climate-map-1024x600.png" alt="" width="996" height="584" /></a> Green areas could see least change while white and brown areas are predicted to see the most. Image Credit: Tomasz Stepinski/ClimateEx[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Tomasz Stepinski/ClimateEx

New map reveals the impact of climate change across the globe

Looking for somewhere to move or vacation with a decent...

Each year, scientists in the Arctic measure the region’s sea ice extent – the peak of the winter’s growth, before the ice begins to thaw for the spring and summer.

And this year, researchers found that the sea ice extent was one of the four lowest on record. The other three were 2015, 2016 and 2017.

"The Arctic sea ice cover continues to be in a decreasing trend and this is connected to the ongoing warming of the Arctic," Dr. Claire Parkinson of NASA's <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> said in a press release. "It's a two-way street: the warming means less ice is going to form and more ice is going to melt, but also, because there's less ice, less of the sun's incident solar radiation is reflected off, and this contributes to the warming."

Every year, sea ice in the Arctic Circle grows during the winter, peaking around mid-March, then shrinks until it reaches its minimum in September. Then, the cycle repeats.

On March 17, sea ice in the Arctic covered 5.59 million square miles – the peak for the year. That’s about 448,000 square miles smaller on average than the sea ice extent in winters from 1981 to 2010, about the size of California and Texas combined, according to the NASA researchers.

The only time the sea ice extent has been lower was in the winter of 2017. The National Snow &amp; Ice Data Center has <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2018/03/arctic-sea-ice-maximum-second-lowest/">published an analysis</a> of this year’s study.

This winter, the Arctic saw several unusual warm spells, at several points reaching temperatures above freezing. In February, one of these warm periods lasted several days. Cooler weather in March spurred ice growth, but not enough to lift this year out of the second-lowest spot.

At one point in February, a thick, multiyear portion of the sea ice cover north of Greenland melted, exposing open water. While that area has refrozen, it remains fragile.

"This old, thicker ice is what we expect to provide stability to the Arctic sea ice system, since we expect that ice not to be as vulnerable to melting out as thinner, younger ice," ice research Dr. Alek Petty said. "As ice in the Arctic becomes thinner and more mobile, it increases the likelihood for rapid ice loss in the summer."

While the Arctic is beginning its melting season at a low point, the scientists can’t predict what that means for the coming months. Chilly spring temperatures or a cooler than usual summer could prevent another record-low summer, Parkinson said.

NASA’s aerial survey project, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/icebridge/">Operation IceBridge</a>, is currently mapping the Arctic’s sea ice cover. In the fall, the agency will launch a new satellite mission to monitor the thickness of Arctic sea ice and how it is changing.

—

By Kyla Cathey,<a href="http://www.earth.com"> Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Nathan Kurtz, <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>

The not-so-big freeze: Arctic sea ice extent low again this year

Each year, scientists in the Arctic measure the region’s sea...

A study led by the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a> has revealed that some symptoms of aging could be reversed by replenishing two molecules that occur naturally in the body. The discovery could help improve physical performance in older adults.

The two molecules can be boosted to reverse an age-related decline of blood flow to tissues and organs. This restoration process successfully increased exercise capacity and physical endurance in mice.

The research has demonstrated, for the first time, that the body's capacity for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/regular-exercise-slows-aging/">exercise</a> decreases as levels of the metabolite NAD+ decline. 

When mice were treated with the NAD+ booster NMN and increasing levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), physical endurance was improved by over 60 percent in both young and old mice.

The study revealed that endothelial cells, the cells that line the blood vessels, are the primary driver of aging and are most likely the reason that older people feel like they have less energy.

“We become weaker and less fit after 50, and eventually succumb to diseases of aging,” said senior author Dr. David Sinclair. “Remarkably, by feeding mice NMN and H2S it restores NAD+ levels in endothelial cells and makes them believe they are young and exercised.”

“With exercise, the effect is even more dramatic. We saw 32-month-old mice, roughly equivalent to a 90-year-old human - receiving the combination of molecules for four weeks ran, on average, twice as far as untreated mice. Mice treated only with NMN alone ran 1.6 times further than untreated mice.”

The researchers found that the protein SIRT1 was stimulated in the mice, which led to the restoration of capillary formation in muscle.

“Age plays a critical role in the links between blood vessels and muscle, and points to a loss of NAD+ and SIRT1 as the reason people lose the capacity to exercise as they age,” said lead author Dr. Abhirup Das.

“It has significant impact on frailty because one of the main reasons for frailty is reduced blood flow that affects every part of our body. And reduced muscle function makes us weak. Our bodies already make NAD+ in our cells, but after 50 its levels drop dramatically.” 

“Exercise is a way to prevent decline in blood flow but these findings show that by restoring the levels of NAD+ in mice equivalent to 60 year old humans, we can get the same benefits of exercise.”

Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Lindsay Wu have been working for five years to make NAD+ boosters into therapeutic agents. The ultimate goal is the development of NMN-based drugs that replicate the benefits of exercise by increasing blood flow and oxygenation of muscles.

“This new study adds to the body of work showing that the restoration of NAD in mammals can delay and reverse many of the effects of aging. NAD+ boosters, particularly when combined with H2S, are some of the most promising molecules in medical research today,” said Dr. Sinclair.

The research could ultimately lead to improved mobility in older adults, better athletic ability, and could help to reduce the risk of age-related diseases like dementia, liver failure, and stroke.

“If these findings translate from mouse to human, we could have a revolutionary impact on the quality of life of older people,and not to mention the benefits of avoiding diseases of aging,” said Dr. Wu.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Some aging systems can be reversed to improve quality of life

A study led by the University of New South Wales...

Studying the dynamics of volcanoes and their origins beneath the Earth’s crust is important for understanding the Earth’s mantle and its geochemical processes.

One proposed mantle mystery that has been the subject of debate is the existence of deep mantle plumes that could explain the the hotspot beneath the famed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquakes-yellowstone-supervolcano/">Yellowstone</a> Caldera. 

Researchers from the<a href="https://www.utexas.edu/"> University of Texas</a> may have finally proven that mantle plumes exist and that the one beneath Yellowstone reaches as far as Mexico. 

A magma plume is a theorized mushroom-shaped thermal anomaly with a thin trail of magma rooted in the boundary between the Earth’s core and mantle. 

The volatile conditions that occur at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) are the supposed cause of mantle plumes, but their existence is not widely accepted. 

Many have theorized that a mantle plume lies beneath Yellowstone’s supervolcano which could explain the array of geothermal features and surface activity around Yellowstone National Park. 

The researchers analyzed data from the <a href="http://www.usarray.org/ceusn">USArray network</a> which records and tracks seismic activity around North America. 

By focusing specifically on the seismic activity around Yellowstone and using new imaging techniques, the study gives compelling evidence for a plume of magma underneath Yellowstone. 

The researchers discovered a 45 by 34 mile channel below the earth's surface where seismic waves are slower. 

If this were a mantle plume, according to the study’s calculations the mantle would be hotter than anything around it and could reach temperatures of 800 degrees Celsius. 

The researchers conclude in their paper that this plume is the likely “driving source” behind the volcanic activity around Yellowstone. 

“Our results strongly support a deep origin for the Yellowstone hotspot, and also provide evidence for the existence of thin thermal mantle plumes that are currently beyond the resolution of global tomography models,” write the researchers.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Magma plume may be the source of Yellowstone’s famed supervolcano

Studying the dynamics of volcanoes and their origins beneath the...

Researchers at the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) have created a new device that can extract water out of dry air. The potential of the instrument has already been demonstrated, and the experts say that they will now be working to scale up the process.

The system is based on relatively new high-surface-area materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). It was designed to extract potable water from even the driest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-earths-driest-desert-mars/">desert</a> conditions. 

The concept was initially described last year in the journal Science, and senior author Evelyn Wang said that the paper drew a lot of attention.


“It got a lot of hype, and some criticism,” she said. But now, “all of the questions that were raised from last time were explicitly demonstrated in this paper. We've validated those points.”


A small version of the device that was tested on a rooftop at <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a> proved that the extraction system can work even in subzero dewpoints powered by nothing but sunlight. 

The researchers explained that, if the device was scaled up, its output would be equivalent to more than a quarter-liter of water per day per kilogram of MOF.


Dew-harvesting systems that are currently in use require 50 percent humidity, and fog-harvesting methods require 100 percent humidity. Remarkably, the new system can work with relative humidity as low as 10 percent.

According to Wang, the next step is to work on scaling up the system and boosting its efficiency.

“We hope to have a system that's able to produce liters of water.” The small test systems were only designed to produce a few milliliters of water, but Wang says “we want to see water pouring out!” 

The water extracted by the system was tested for impurities and no traces were found. Further testing showed that “there's nothing from the MOF that leaches into the water. It shows the material is indeed very stable, and we can get high-quality water,” said Wang.

Ultimately, the team would like to produce systems that can supply water to individual households.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New device can extract water from even the driest desert air

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/">University of Surrey</a> have revealed how widespread drugs have become in our environment. More than one-tenth of individuals they observed in a study had traces of drugs they had never used on their fingerprints.

As a result of their investigation, the experts developed a method of determining the difference between people who have used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-susceptible-cocaine-use/">cocaine</a> or heroin and those who have simply been exposed to the drugs somewhere in their surroundings. The technique works even if individuals have washed their hands.

The research team tested the fingerprints of 50 drug-free individuals and 15 participants who had used either cocaine or heroin in the previous 24 hours.


Even though they had no history of drug use, cocaine was found on 13 percent of the drug-free individuals and heroine was detected on one percent.

“Believe it or not, cocaine is a very common environmental contaminant - it is well known that it is present on many bank notes. Even so, we were surprised that it was detected in so many of our fingerprint samples,” said study co-author Dr. Melanie Bailey.

The researchers found that cocaine and heroin can be transferred through a handshake. This experiment enabled the experts to identify a cut-off level that can be used to accurately distinguish between drug use and secondary transfer.

“By establishing a threshold for significance on a fingerprint test, we can give those tested the piece-of-mind of knowing that whatever the result of the test may be, it was not affected by their everyday activities or shaking hands with someone that had taken drugs,” said Dr. Bailey.

“It's clear that fingerprint testing is the future of drug-testing,” said lead author Mahado Ismail. “There are many factors that set fingerprint testing apart - it's non-invasive, easy to collect and you have the ability to identify the donor by using the sample. Our study will help to add another robust layer to fingerprint drug testing.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://clinchem.aaccjnls.org/">Clinical Chemistry</a>.

--

By <a href="http://caexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Heroin and cocaine commonly found on fingerprints of non-users

Researchers from the University of Surrey have revealed how widespread...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.city.ac.uk/">City University London</a> have discovered that approximately 20 percent of people have the ability to hear sounds associated with silent light flashes and inaudible movements.

Synaesthesia is a mysterious condition in which sensations that are typically experienced separately occur at the same time. For example, the most common type of synaesthesia called vEAR causes people to hear sounds when they see motion or flashing lights.

“The survival of this association may explain links between sound and vision, such as why we like to listen to music synchronized with flashing lights or dance,” said the study authors.

“The effect also provides a good way to learn about what's happening in the brain in people with synaesthesia, with vEAR's high prevalence making it easier to investigate the mechanisms behind such cross-sensory perception.”

The research team conducted an online survey with over 4,000 participants. More than 20 percent of the individuals reported that they had experienced vEAR prior to the study.

The participants were instructed to watch video clips that featured people engaging in different types of movement, ranging from slow and smooth to fast and sudden.

The researchers found that meaningless visual stimuli often caused the subjects to hear sounds.

“It was seen that correspondents who had answered ‘yes’ to experiencing vEAR were specifically sensitive to the pure motion energy present in videos such as swirling or patterns that were not predictive of sounds.” 

An association was also noted between vEAR and musical imagery, suggesting that the effect may be a natural physiological response that occurs when certain areas of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-memories-lost-brain/">brain</a> are stimulated.

“Some people hear what they see. Car indicator lights, flashing neon shop signs and people's movements as they walk may all trigger an auditory sensation,” said study co-author Dr. Elliot Freeman.

“Ours is the first large-scale survey of this ability. We found that as many as 21 percent of people may experience forms of this phenomenon, which makes it considerably more prevalent than other synaesthesias.”

According to the researchers, the cross-sensory phenomena may also be caused by a “leakage” of information from visual regions of the brain into areas that regulate hearing.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/cortex">Cortex</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Some people can detect silent sounds through visual stimulation

Researchers at City University London have discovered that approximately 20...

A powerful new instrument was successfully launched to the International Space Station earlier this year. The Total and Spectral solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS-1) was designed to direct itself toward the Sun during daylight hours to collect information about the Sun's influence on the Earth.

NASA has been measuring the incoming energy from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-solar-panels-rain/">Sun</a> for the last 40 years. TSIS-1, which became fully operational this month, will revolutionize the way this data is collected.

Dong Wu is project scientist at NASA's <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> in Greenbelt, Maryland.

“TSIS-1 extends a long data record that helps us understand the Sun’s influence on Earth’s radiation budget, ozone layer, atmospheric circulation, and ecosystems, and the effects that solar variability has on the Earth system and climate change,” explained Wu. 

A team at the <a href="http://lasp.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics</a> (LASP) has been testing TSIS-1 for the last two months to refine its pointing platform, a critical component of the sensor which controls the projection of the solar instruments toward the Sun.

TSIS-1 was initially launched on December 15th, 2017 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It was transported by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the space station. 

NASA explained in a statement:

“TSIS-1 studies the total amount of light energy emitted by the Sun using the Total Irradiance Monitor, one of two sensors onboard. This sensor's data will give us a better understanding of Earth's primary energy supply and provide information to help improve models simulating the planet's climate.”

“The monitor first started collecting science data - called "first light" - on January 11th after its doors were opened to fully view the Sun. The sensor extends a 40-year measurement of the sun's total energy to Earth.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New sensor measures how much of the Sun’s energy reaches Earth

A powerful new instrument was successfully launched to the International...

Norwegian scientists at <a href="https://www.sintef.no/ocean/">SINTEF Ocean</a> are currently testing a way to slow hurricanes down by cooling seawater surface temperatures in an effort to cut off the storms’ energy source. The idea is to produce air bubbles deep in the ocean that will carry cold water along with them as they rise to the surface.

Warm ocean temperatures give <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hurricane-harvey-worst-hurricanes/">hurricanes</a> and other tropical storms the fuel they need to strengthen and continue churning. In addition, the hot water contributes to a warmer atmosphere which can hold more water.

Unusually warm seawater in the Atlantic Ocean intensified the devastating 2017 hurricane season, which claimed hundreds of lives and caused a reported $370 billion in damages worldwide.

Hurricanes form when hot and cool air collide over ocean water that is at least 79.7 degrees Fahrenheit, or 26.5 degrees Celsius.

Grim Eidnes is a Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF Ocean.

“Climate change is causing sea surface temperatures to increase,” said Eidnes. “The critical temperature threshold at which evaporation is sufficient to promote the development of hurricanes is 26.5 degrees Celsius.”

“In the case of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in the period August to September 2017, sea surface temperatures were measured at 32 degrees Celsius.”

OceanTherm founder Olav Hollingsæter first came up with the concept of cooling the ocean after witnessing the catastrophic power of Hurricane Katrina. He proposed his idea to scientists at SINTEF, who were already testing the bubble technique to control the spread of oil spills, and the project was launched.

Using the “bubble curtain” method, bubbles are released from a perforated pipe filled with compressed air. As the bubbles rise, they bring up cold water from deep in the ocean to cool the surface.

“Our initial investigations show that the pipes must be located at between 100 and 150 meters depth in order to extract water that is cold enough,” said Eidnes. “By bringing this water to the surface using the bubble curtains, the surface temperature will fall to below 26.5 degrees Celsius, thus cutting off the hurricane’s energy supply.”

Bubble curtains have been successfully used for many years to keep Norwegian fjords free of ice. Hollingsæter explained that the technique can be implemented on a small or a large scale, and that bubble curtains can be deployed based on oil production platforms.

“The cost-benefit potential of the SINTEF project is very great,” said Hollingsæter. “The most intense hurricanes cause communities major material damage and, in some cases, many lives are lost. This project is both meaningful and important. I hope and believe that we will succeed.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Inducing air bubbles into the ocean may help slow down hurricanes

Norwegian scientists at SINTEF Ocean are currently testing a way...

The idea of nature vs. nurture has been the subject of much discussion and research within the scientific community for centuries. How do they influence growth and development, and is there an ideal combination of the two that provides the greatest benefit in raising offspring? A new study from Tracy Bedrosian and colleagues has produced some interesting results that may move us further down the path to answering these questions.

Bedrosian and her team set out to explore the influence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-immune-system-brain/">maternal care</a> in mice on the prevalence of transposons in their offspring. Transposons are repeated genetic sequences that can spontaneously replicate within the genome. Their study focused on L1 retrotransposons, over 3,000 of which reside in the mouse genome. 

The researchers monitored mother mice and their newborn pups for two weeks, then categorized them into two different groups based on low and high levels of maternal care. Maternal care was defined by the amount of licking and grooming that a pup received from its mother.

Pups that received less maternal care were observed to have significantly more transposon replication in the neurons of the hippocampus. However, this difference in replication was not observed in the heart or the frontal cortex of the brain. This indicates that it is unlikely the observed difference is a result of inherited differences in the number of L1 copies, meaning that it were ultimately influenced by maternal care. Further analysis shows that methylation of transposons may be behind this phenomenon. Methylation is where methyl groups are attached to a DNA molecule, typically acting to repress gene transcription (when DNA is copied into mRNA).

The study’s authors highlight the findings of a recent report that childhood stress and adversity lead to hypomethylation of retrotransposons in humans. However, the average human genome has only about 100 active copies compared to the 3,000 active copies in the mouse genome. Although the implications of these findings are currently unknown, revealing that maternal care can influence the brain’s genetic code in mice may lead to greater discoveries down the road.

The full results were published by the <a href="http://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a>.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Love and attention from a mom impacts genetic code of offspring

The idea of nature vs. nurture has been the subject...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Singapore, a city-island-nation with a total of 64 offshore islands. The port of Singapore is the largest in Southeast Asia, and is one of the busiest in the world - connecting to more than 600 ports in 123 countries.



"The Republic of Singapore is located just off the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia, around 135 km north of the equator. It consists of the 710 sq km Singapore Island, visible in the top-centre of the image, as well as some 60 small islets," reports ESA.



"Nearly two-thirds of the Singapore Island is less than 15 m above sea level. The highest summit, Timah Hill, has an elevation of only 160 m. Changi Airport, one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia, can be seen at the eastern end of the island."



The Island is separated from Peninsular Malaysia to the north by the Johore Strait, while the southern end faces the Singapore Strait. The city is among the most densely populated places in the world, and is known for its clean streets and modern buildings.



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

The modern island-nation of Singapore

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features part of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve on the coast of southeast Alaska. This region has a diverse group of animals, such as humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, bears, moose, wolves and mountain goats. The landscape of Glacier Bay includes rugged mountains, freshwater lakes, glaciers and deep fjords.



"The bay contains some of the world’s most impressive glaciers that descend from the ice-covered St. Elias Range in the east and the Fairweather Range in the west, with a few notable tidewater glaciers extending all the way to the sea," reports NASA.



"Glacier Bay is just one of the many areas suffering from the effects of global warming. The bay is expected to become warmer and drier over the next century, with widespread effects including the further shrinking glaciers, reduced sea ice and shoreline erosion."



The remoteness of the area makes it challenging to monitor, but satellite images provide an opportunity for scientists to observe and study Glacier Bay with great detail. In 2021, experts with ESA’s CryoSat mission used radar altimeter data to determine how much ice has been lost from mountain glaciers in the region.&nbsp;



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Glacier Bay National Park in southeast Alaska

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Balkhash in east-central Kazakhstan. It is the largest lake in Central Asia, with a length of 605 kilometers from east to west and a maximum depth of 25 meters.&nbsp;



"Jutting out into the lake is the Sarymsek Peninsula which divides Balkhash into two separate hydraulic parts. The west part is wide and shallow with its water on this side particularly fresh and suitable for drinking," reports ESA.



"The east part, on the other hand, is narrow and relatively deep, with its waters on this side of the basin brackish and salty. The two parts of the lake are united by a narrow strait, the Uzynaral visible in the centre of the image, with a depth of around 6 m."



A sediment plume is visible passing through the Uzynaral Strait. According to ESA, it is most likely due to waves stirring up sediments from the bottom of the lake. Near the southern coastline, an abundance of sea ice appears in bright blue-green colors. Balkhash itself is usually frozen from the end of November to the beginning of April.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Lake Balkhash in east-central Kazakhstan

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Patagonia, which includes Argentina and Chile at the southern tip of South America. The region is known for its rugged beauty, with an abundance of glaciers and dramatic mountain peaks.&nbsp;



"Covering an area of around 673,000 square kilometers, Patagonia is split by Argentina and Chile," reports ESA. "The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains, with lakes, fjords, rainforests and glaciers in the west and deserts and tablelands to the east."



"The island archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, located at the southern tip of Patagonia, is shared by Argentina and Chile, with the eastern part of the main island belonging to Argentina and the southern point of the archipelago, which forms Cape Horn, belonging to Chile. The Strait of Magellan, named after the discoverer, lies between Tierra del Fuego and mainland Argentina."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Patagonia: the southernmost region of South America

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the topic of space debris. How long does it take for space junk to break down, or - does it ever really break down?



There are several different types of debris in space, including natural meteoroids and orbital debris (anything sent to space by humans).&nbsp;



The unusual environment of space means that debris does not break down the same way it would on Earth. Estimates suggest that there are more than 100 million pieces of space junk. While much of these pieces are quite small, the Space Surveillance Network is currently tracking nearly 40,000 objects larger than a softball.&nbsp;



Regardless of its size, space debris is traveling at approximately 17,500 miles per hour, which makes potential collisions very dangerous.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS



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

What really happens to millions of pieces of space debris?

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Gulf of Taranto, a gulf of the Ionian Sea in southern Italy.



Taranto, which is an important commercial port, is visible on the bottom right of the image. Along the coast, the Aleppo pine forest of the Stornara Nature Reserve is visible in dark green.



Above the forest, there are various patches of agricultural fields where a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and cereals are grown.



The Gulf of Taranto is 140 kilometers long and wide, making it the largest gulf in Italy. The city of Taranto is an important commercial and military port, with steel and iron factories, oil refineries, chemical works, shipyards, and food-processing plants. The Gulf of Taranto (Italian: Golfo di Taranto; Tarantino: Gurfe de Tarde; Latin: Sinus Tarentinus) is a gulf of the Ionian Sea, in Southern Italy. 



Located in the Apulia region of Southern Italy, Taranto is a huge commercial and military port and is one of the most important cities in this area of Italy. Currently the city has a population of 200,000 and has several major economic industries including commercial shipping and trade, steel works, iron foundries and shipyards for military use.



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency

The Gulf of Taranto, Italy

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/">Binghamton University</a> describes how spiders can use their webs to extend their hearing. For more than three decades, Professor Ron Miles has been investigating how small animals like insects can detect sounds.



In collaboration with Professor Ron Hoy of Cornell University and Binghamton doctoral student Junpeng Lai, Professor Miles discovered that orb-weaving spiders use their webs to capture sounds. This strategy could give them advanced warning of incoming prey or predators.



“The spider is really a natural demonstration that this is a viable way to sense sound using viscous forces in the air on thin fibers,” said Professor Miles. “If it works in nature, maybe we should have a closer look at it.”



The study revealed that spiders may actually be able to customize their webs to hear different sorts of sounds. The experts explained that by crouching and stretching, spiders may be changing the tension of the silk strands. This would allow them to tune into different frequencies.&nbsp;



Going forward, the team would like to test whether other types of web-weaving spiders are using their silk to extend their hearing.



“It’s reasonable to guess that a similar spider on a similar web would respond in a similar way,” Ron Miles said. “But we can’t draw any conclusions about that, since we tested a certain kind of spider that happens to be pretty common.”



Video Credit: Binghamton University&nbsp;



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

Spiders are using their webs to extend their hearing

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Milky,Way,In,The,Night,Sky

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> features some tips for skywatchers in August 2022. 



The morning quartet of planets will come to an end in August - with Venus and Saturn making their exits on opposite sides of the sky. Mars and Jupiter, however, will remain visible.&nbsp;



"The daily parade of four naked-eye planets in the mornings comes to an end this month. But there are still lots of great highlights, especially if you have access to binoculars," says NASA. "Plus, Saturn and Jupiter are returning to nighttime skies!"&nbsp;



"The outlook for the Perseid meteors isn't great due to a full moon on the peak night of August 12, but still it's worth keeping an eye out for early Perseids after midnight the week before. And August is a great month to learn an easy-to-spot constellation – Cygnus the swan."



Video Credit: NASA JPL



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

NASA reveals what you can find in the August sky

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Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/">NTU Singapore</a> reveals that some plants can remove toxic heavy metals from soil.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed samples of various tropical plant species to test for levels of heavy metals and metalloids. The study showed that there are existing plants with high levels of these contaminants, which means that these species are great candidates for drawing pollutants out of the soil.&nbsp;



Among the plants examined in the study, 12 species had accumulated several types of heavy metals and metalloids. These plants are widely available, including species that are native to Singapore.



“In a small nation like Singapore, land may be repurposed to support new development plans, so it is important that we have a green and sustainable way to remediate land that is contaminated," said Professor Lam Yeng Ming.



"We set out to uncover how to better make use of tropical plants to do phytoremediation and through advanced characterization techniques, we showed how some of these tropical plant species can be an environmentally friendly and literally a 'green' way to remove contaminants in soil."&nbsp;



"Phytoremediation also has benefits of cost effectiveness, simplicity of management, aesthetic advantages, and long-term applicability and sustainability. The strategy prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilizing or accumulating heavy metals, so that helps reduce the risk of contaminant spread.”



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new data release from the Gaia observatory, which was launched in 2013. The observatory has been mapping our galaxy from Lagrange point 2, creating the most accurate and complete multi-dimensional map of the Milky Way.



"By now two full sets of data have been released, the first set in 2016 and a second one in 2018. These data contained stellar positions, distances, motions across the sky, and colour information, among others," says ESA.



On June 13, 2022 a third full data set was released. ESA said this data release contains even more and improved information about almost two billion stars, Solar System objects and extragalactic sources. 



"It also includes radial velocities for 33 million stars, a five-time increase compared to data release 2," explains ESA. "Another novelty in this data set is the largest catalog yet of binary stars in the Milky Way, which is crucial to understand stellar evolution."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Gaia is mapping the Milky Way in unprecedented detail

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The arch is an iconic symbol of French national identity. It is also one of the best-known commemorative monuments in the world.&nbsp;



The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806 to celebrate the country's military achievements, and to honor those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The construction of the monument began on August 15, 1807, and it took 30 years to build.&nbsp;



"The arch stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, the meeting point of 12 grand avenues which form a star (or étoile), which is why it is also referred to as the Arch of Triumph of the Star. The arch is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide," reports ESA.



"The names of all French victories and generals are inscribed on the arch’s inner and outer surfaces, while the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I lies beneath its vault. The tomb’s flame is rekindled every evening as a symbol of the enduring nature of the commemoration and respect shown to those who have fallen in the name of France."



"The Arc de Triomphe’s location at the Place Charles de Gaulle places it at the heart of the capital and the western terminus of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées."



"Often referred to as the ‘most beautiful avenue in the world,' the Champs-Élysées is known for its theatres, cafés and luxury shops, as the finish of the Tour de France cycling race, as well as for its annual Bastille Day military parade."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> explores how climate patterns influence the behavior of migratory birds. Each year, several billion birds migrate north to the United States in the spring, but the timing of their arrival varies each year. 



"Every spring, migratory birds arrive in the continental United States from south and central America to breed. But precisely when they arrive each spring varies from year to year," says NASA.



"To better understand what is driving variability, scientists decided to turn to climate models, radar stations and a little bit of math. By studying the link between climate patterns and bird migration, scientists can better prepare to protect these birds and the habitats on which they rely."



The experts analyzed 23 years worth of data collected by a network of 143 NOAA radar stations located throughout the United States. The goal was to see if some of the stations had similar year-to-year variability in migration observations.



"What they found is that the U.S. can be divided into two regions - east and west - each with its own specific pattern of variability of migratory bird arrival times," explains NASA.



For example, when climate patterns bring warm temperatures to the eastern United States, the migratory birds arrive earlier.&nbsp;



"Variations in the West, however, seem to be linked to more regional climate conditions, such as sea surface temperatures of adjacent waters."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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

How does the climate affect the behavior of migratory birds?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> describes the first observation of a white dwarf star ripping apart the rocky and icy material of its planetary system. A white dwarf is a remnant of a dead star that has burned through all of the hydrogen that it once used as nuclear fuel.&nbsp;



When a star like the sun begins to die it expands into a "red giant" and then begins to lose mass as it sheds its outer layers. This alters the gravitational pull that the star has on its planetary system.&nbsp;



Scientists have determined that our sun will reach the end of its life in approximately ten billion years. In about five billion years, the sun will become a red giant. This expansion is expected to completely vaporize Mars, Venus, and Earth.



According to NASA, the star’s death throes have so violently disrupted its planetary system that the dead star is siphoning off debris from both the system’s inner and outer reaches. The agency says that data from the Hubble Space Telescope and other NASA observatories were essential in identifying this "cosmic cannibalism."&nbsp;



"The findings help describe the violent nature of evolved planetary systems and can tell astronomers about the makeup of newly forming systems," reports NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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

Scientists observe a violent dead star

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Mount Aso, which is the largest active volcano in Japan.



Mount Aso is located in the Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost major island. The volcano rises to an elevation of 1,592 meters.&nbsp;



"The caldera was formed during four major explosive eruptions from approximately 90,000 to 270,000 years ago," reports ESA. "These produced voluminous pyroclastic flows and volcanic ash that covered much of Kyushu region and even extended to the nearby Yamaguchi Prefecture."



"The caldera is surrounded by five peaks known collectively as Aso Gogaku: Nekodake, Takadake, Nakadake, Eboshidake, Kishimadake. Nakadake is the only active volcano at the centre of Mount Aso and is the main attraction in the region."&nbsp;



"The volcano goes through cycles of activity. At its calmest, the crater fills with a lime green lake which gently steams, but as activity increases, the lake boils off and disappears. The volcano has been erupting sporadically for decades, most recently in 2021, which has led to the number of visitors drop in recent years."



Located near the crater, Kusasenri is a vast grassland inside the mega crater of Eboshidake, which was active just over 20,000 years ago. The land is used for dairy farming and horseback riding.&nbsp;



Japan has 110 active volcanoes - 47 of are monitored closely as they have erupted recently or shown worrying signs including seismic activity, ground deformation or emissions of large amounts of smoke, according to ESA.



"Satellite data can be used to detect the slight signs of change that may foretell an eruption. Once an eruption begins, optical and radar instruments can capture the various phenomena associated with it, including lava flows, mudslides, ground fissures and earthquakes. Atmospheric sensors on satellites can also identify the gases and aerosols released by the eruption, as well as quantify their wider environmental impact."



Video Credit: ESA



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

Mount Aso: the largest active volcano in Japan

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.salk.edu/">Salk Institute</a> reveals the discovery of a brain molecule that is responsible for associating good or bad feelings with a memory. The research may ultimately help explain why some people are more likely to retain negative emotions, which is characteristic of many mental health conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).



“We’ve basically gotten a handle on the fundamental biological process of how you can remember if something is good or bad,” said study senior author Professor Kay Tye. “This is something that’s core to our experience of life, and the notion that it can boil down to a single molecule is incredibly exciting.”



The results of the study suggest that the brain’s default state is to have a bias toward fear. Professor Tye explained that from an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense because it helps people avoid potentially dangerous situations - and it probably resonates with people who tend to find the worst in a situation.



“We can actually manipulate this switch to turn on positive or negative learning,” said study co-first author Hao Li. “Ultimately, we’d like to try to identify novel therapeutic targets for this pathway.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.



Video Credit: Salk Institute



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

How do we make a memory positive or negative?

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.gatech.edu/">Georgia Tech</a> describes how skin plays an important role in giving elephant trunks flexibility. The researchers found that the skin on an elephant’s trunk does not stretch uniformly. 



“When people extend their tongue – a muscle-filled, boneless tissue similar in composition to an elephant’s trunk – it stretches uniformly. We expected the same when we challenged an elephant to reach for food,” said study lead aptly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schulzscience.com/">Andrew Schulz</a>.



“But when we looked at our high-speed camera footage and plotted the trunk’s movements, we were surprised. The top and bottom weren’t the same at all."



When an elephant is stretching to reach food or other objects, the skin folds on the dorsal surface prove to be more stretchy than the wrinkled ventral skin - allowing the trunk to extend further.&nbsp;



“Flexible skin folds are the elephant’s innovation,” said Professor &nbsp;<a href="https://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/hu">David Hu</a>. “They protect the dorsal section and make it easier for the elephant to reach downward, the most common gripping style when picking up items.”



In addition to gaining a better understanding of elephants, Schulz sees applications for the knowledge in the field of soft robotics.



“Soft robotics created with biologically inspired design are always based on muscle movement. If they were wrapped with a protective skin, like an elephant’s muscle-filled trunk, the machines could apply larger forces,” said Schulz. “Last year we learned that a trunk is a multi-purpose, muscular hydrostat. Now we know that skin is another tool at its disposal.”



Video Credit: Georgia Tech/Zoo Atlanta



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

Flexible skin folds help elephants stretch their trunks

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