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Scientists have long mapped separate brain areas for sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Yet new research reveals that when we focus sharply on any of those senses, signals converge on the same two structures buried deep in the brain - the midbrain reticular formation and the central thalamus.



This finding highlights a shared neural pathway that sustains <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-stops-paying-attention-to-repeated-distractions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">attention</a> and wakefulness and could inspire therapies for coma, epilepsy, and attention-deficit disorders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-senses-in-a-single-brain-region">Senses in a single brain region</h2>



Research over the past century has shown that visual scenes activate the occipital cortex, melodies light up the temporal lobes, and so forth.



“We were expecting to find activity on shared networks, but when we saw all the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-sense-of-smell-and-different-odors-can-influence-how-we-see-colors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">senses</a> light up the same central brain regions while a test subject was focusing, it was really astonishing,” said Aya Khalaf, a postdoctoral associate in neurology at <a href="https://medicine.yale.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale School of Medicine</a> and lead author of the study.



Those two regions - the reticular formation, a mesh of neurons in the upper brainstem, and the intralaminar and mediodorsal nuclei of the thalamus - form part of the so-called subcortical arousal system, a set of circuits long suspected to regulate alertness and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/consciousness-may-stem-from-unseen-dimensions-beyond-our-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consciousness</a>.



Previous work had linked these hubs to vigilance by studying patients emerging from coma or experiencing absence seizures. But most of those experiments examined responses to a single type of stimulus, for example flashing lights or chirping sounds.



Khalaf and colleagues asked the broader question: do different senses share the same arousal circuitry when people deliberately pay attention?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-massive-data-mine">A massive data mine</h2>



To answer that, the team turned to the publicly available <a href="https://www.humanconnectome.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Connectome Project</a> and other repositories, assembling functional MRI scans from 1,561 healthy adults.



Across 11 tasks, participants viewed moving shapes, listened to spoken stories, sampled liquid tastants, or felt puffs of air on their fingertips. Each task included abrupt cues that forced subjects to switch attention - for instance, a sudden change in picture orientation or a surprise tone embedded in white noise.



The investigators processed more than 500 hours of scan data through a pipeline that removed head motion and physiological noise, then aligned brain volumes to a common atlas.



In every sensory domain, when a cue demanded rapid attentional re-orientation, blood-oxygen signals spiked in the reticular formation and the central thalamus. The effect was absent or minimal during passive stimulation, underscoring the importance of active engagement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consciousness-in-the-brain">Consciousness in the brain</h2>



Why would a taste test and a vision task end up at the same neural address? The authors propose that the midbrain reticular formation integrates sudden sensory changes and broadcasts a “wake-up” volley to the thalamus, which relays it to widespread cortical areas.



That burst synchronizes cortical rhythms, priming the brain to process incoming information. The scheme dovetails with classical animal studies showing that electrical stimulation of the reticular formation induces cortical desynchronization and behavioral arousal, while lesions produce stupor.



“It tells us how important this brain region is and what it could mean in efforts to restore consciousness,” Khalaf said.



“This has also given us insights into how things work normally in the brain. It’s really a step forward in our understanding of awareness and consciousness,” said senior author Hal Blumenfeld, a neurologist at Yale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-awakening-senses-in-the-brain">Awakening senses in the brain</h2>



Because the same deep-brain hubs fire regardless of which sense is active, treatments aimed at modulating those hubs could benefit diverse conditions.



Drugs that enhance thalamic neurotransmission, for instance, might improve focus in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/autism-and-adhd-disorders-directly-linked-amount-of-time-kids-spend-on-screens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</a>. Conversely, overactivity in the arousal circuit has been implicated in insomnia; dampening the circuitry could help induce sleep.



The results also support ongoing trials that deliver low-intensity ultrasound or deep-brain electrodes to the central thalamus in patients with disorders of consciousness. 



If attention triggers the thalamus to “switch on” the cortex, stimulating it directly might help rouse patients who are minimally conscious.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-sensory-rehabilitation"><a></a>Rethinking sensory rehabilitation</h2>



The discovery challenges sensory-specific training programs that ignore subcortical commonalities. 



For example, visual rehabilitation for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stroke</a> survivors may benefit from pairing attentional cues with tactile or auditory tasks to engage the shared arousal pathway.



Likewise, virtual-reality therapies that bombard users with multi-sensory surprises might more effectively sharpen attentional control.



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



The Yale team plans to refine the timeline of activation using magnetoencephalography, which offers millisecond resolution. They also hope to dissect the frequency bands that link the thalamus to frontal and parietal cortices during attentional jumps. 



Such work could reveal whether gamma-band bursts or alpha-band suppression carry the critical “wake-up” message.



Another frontier involves patients. Investigators will compare responses in healthy volunteers with those in people who have attention deficits or who are emerging from anaesthesia. 



Identifying a lost or delayed thalamic spike could serve as a biomarker for impaired consciousness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-regions-and-the-senses">Brain regions and the senses</h2>



For now, the study establishes the midbrain reticular formation and central thalamus as the universal relay through which sight, sound, taste, and touch gain conscious entry - at least when our minds snap to attention.



By showing that “all the senses light up the same central brain regions,” it confirms that consciousness depends not only on specialized cortical maps but also on a common deep-brain gatekeeper. 



Therapies that target this gatekeeper may eventually help restore awareness where it has dimmed and sharpen it where it wanders.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925002277?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NeuroImage</a>.



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Scientists discover a brain region that connects all the senses

Scientists have long mapped separate brain areas for sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Yet new research reveals that when we focus sharply on any of those senses, signals converge on the same two structures buried deep in the brain - the midbrain reticular formation and the central thalamus. This finding highlights a shared neural pathway that sustains attention and wakefulness and could inspire therapies for coma, epilepsy, and attention-deficit disorders. Senses in a single brain region Research over the past century has shown that visual scenes...

The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC) has recently highlighted an alarming development. A tropical disease called leishmaniasis, once associated with Americans returning from overseas trips, now has a unique strain in the United States.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinct-genetic-fingerprint-nbsp">Distinct genetic fingerprint&nbsp;</h2>



“There have been previous indications of local transmission based on a small number of case reports, but now, for the first time, we have a distinct genetic fingerprint from a relatively large cluster, providing further evidence that leishmaniasis may be well-established in some parts of the United States,” said Dr. Mary Kamb, an expert in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria at CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infections.&nbsp;



“While most of these infections were in people living in Texas, sand flies that can transmit leishmaniasis are found in many parts of the country and especially in the southern United States.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sand-flies-and-leishmaniasis">Sand flies and leishmaniasis</h2>



While <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parasites-make-dogs-smell-enticing-to-infectious-sand-flies/">sand flies</a> are largely confined to tropical regions, they are expanding their range as temperatures rise. Climate change is predicted to expand the habitats of sand flies further north and increase the reach of leishmaniasis, which affects humans as well as other mammals like woodrats.



As the evidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in American sandfly populations grows, there's heightened concern about a more severe form of this disease surfacing in the country.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-are-the-primary-host">Dogs are the primary host</h2>



The experts report that the Leishmania parasite could go undetected in dogs that are brought into the United States. Currently, the country lacks sufficient screening measures for this parasite.



“Domestic dog imports from abroad, for breeding or via dog rescue organizations, have jumped sharply, to the point that about a million dogs enter the U.S. every year - most without receiving proper screening for infectious diseases,” explained Dr. Christine Petersen, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa. Petersen.



“Dogs are the primary host for this disease, and there are dogs now regularly coming into the U.S. that have lived in areas where Leishmania parasites circulate in animals and people."



“That’s why we need a better system in the United States for guarding against the risk of introducing Leishmania infantum, one of the world’s deadliest tropical parasites, into U.S. sand fly populations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-parasitic-strain-of-leishmaniasis">New parasitic strain of leishmaniasis</h2>



The findings from the CDC show that the disease, specifically the milder form known as cutaneous leishmaniasis, has evolved from a slightly different American parasitic strain. The researchers found that this strain differs from the Leishmania mexicana typically found in Mexico and Central America.



The disease manifests as skin ulcers, which may appear weeks or even months after a sandfly bite. These ulcers can leave lasting scars that, in low-income nations, often come with a societal stigma.



Dr. Kamb said that in Texas there is growing awareness of leishmaniasis as a potential diagnosis for skin lesions - in part due to a history of cases in people returning from Mexico, but also due to increasing recognition of the possibility of locally acquired cases.



The World Health Organization has estimated that nearly a million people contract cutaneous leishmaniasis annually, mainly in warmer regions like the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Latin America.



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



The CDC recently presented its research at the <a href="https://www.astmh.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene</a>’s annual conference in Chicago. The study spanned cases sent to CDC labs for testing between 2005 to 2019. Out of the over 2,000 cases, 86 of the individuals had not traveled overseas before contracting the disease.&nbsp;



Dr. Bridget McIlwee, while training in Texas, encountered a patient with no travel history who had contracted leishmaniasis. In a 2018 study, she discovered that a significant percentage of the cases in Texas over a decade had patients without a history of international travel in the previous 10 years.&nbsp;



However, very few of these diagnosed cases were reported to health officials, emphasizing the need for a national reporting mechanism.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visceral-leishmaniasis">Visceral leishmaniasis</h2>



A major revelation from the study is the role of dogs in transmitting the disease. Visceral leishmaniasis, a more severe form, can spread within local insect populations from imported dogs.&nbsp;



Also transmitted through sandfly bites, Visceral leishmaniasis is associated with a related parasite (Leishmania infantum). This disease impacts the organs and kills thousands of people each year in regions where the parasite thrives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



While there is no human vaccine for leishmaniasis, dog vaccines are accessible in Europe and Brazil. The aim is to strengthen screenings at ports of entry.



Dr. Vitaliano Cama is a senior advisor with CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria who was closely involved with the study.&nbsp;



“A number of factors might be contributing to the increasing number of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases sent to CDC for testing," said Dr. Cama.&nbsp;



"Among these is the speculation that that changes in climate conditions may lead to suitable environments for sand fly survival and reproduction, and that could enable the transmission of leishmaniasis to emerge in new areas."&nbsp;



"There are still a lot of questions about where this disease is going and why.”



The research, led by CDC scientist Marcos de Almeida, is published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.&nbsp;



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Dogs are primary host of flesh-eating parasitic disease called leishmaniasis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently...

Urbanization has undeniably left a permanent mark on our planet. From sprawling skyscrapers to endless highways, man-made infrastructures have dramatically altered the landscape, imposing selective pressures on the organisms that inhabit these regions.&nbsp;



While many studies have explored how urban heat stress impacts animal evolution, a recent study has investigated its effects on plants, specifically the creeping woodsorrel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-heat-islands">Urban heat islands</h2>



Urban regions are predominantly characterized by heat-retaining surfaces constructed of materials like brick, asphalt, and concrete. These surfaces give rise to what is termed as urban heat islands, regions that experience elevated surface temperatures.&nbsp;



Urban heat islands have a profound impact on the behavior, physiology, and evolutionary trajectories of resident organisms. According to the researchers, it has remained unclear whether (and how) urban plants adapt to such heat stress



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



Oxalis corniculata, commonly known as the creeping woodsorrel, serves as a prime example. This cosmopolitan plant boasts a vibrant spectrum of leaf colors, ranging from green to red.&nbsp;



These color variations are not just aesthetic but are believed to be evolutionary adaptations that help the plant cope with environmental stress.&nbsp;



Specifically, the red pigments (anthocyanins) in the leaves play a protective role against heat and light damage by intercepting light and acting as antioxidants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Yuya Fukano and his colleagues from various Japanese institutions set out to investigate the relationship between urban heat islands and the leaf color distribution of the creeping woodsorrel.&nbsp;



"We noticed that the red-leaved variants of the creeping woodsorrel commonly grew near impervious surfaces in urban areas but rarely grew in farmlands or green spaces in and around the city,” said Dr. Fukano. By contrast, the green-leaved variants flourished in rural areas and city green spaces.



This pattern was not restricted to Tokyo. An online database indicated similar distribution patterns worldwide, linking urbanization directly to leaf color variations in this plant species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-red-or-green-which-is-more-adaptive">Red or green: Which is more adaptive?</h2>



Driven by these observations, the team explored the adaptive benefits of the leaf colors. Their findings revealed that red-leaved variants had the upper hand in high-temperature conditions, exhibiting better growth rates and photosynthetic efficiency.&nbsp;



On the other hand, green-leaved variants outperformed the red in cooler conditions, thriving in dense green areas. This could explain their global distribution patterns, with red-leaved wood sorrels dominating urban heat islands and green-leaved variants preferring non-urban green spaces.



The study also hints that the red-leaf variant evolved multiple times from its green-leaf ancestor, further underlining the adaptability of plants in response to their environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



While the creeping woodsorrel's leaf color variations might not transform our world overnight, Dr. Fukano believes that the study offers a glimpse into ongoing evolution in urban settings.&nbsp;



“Although these findings will not change much in the immediate future, this study showcases one of the most popular examples of ongoing evolution that can be observed in urban areas,” said Dr. Fukano.



“Urban heat islands are precursors to global warming. Understanding the rapid adaptive evolution of urban organisms to high temperatures will provide valuable insights on ecosystem dynamics and sustainable crop production.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abq3542">Science Advances</a>.



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Creeping woodsorrels changed their color to adapt to urbanization 

Urbanization has undeniably left a permanent mark on our planet....

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/origins-cannabis-tibetan-plateau/">Cannabis</a>, a plant often acclaimed for its potential therapeutic effects, may actually be causing some users to fall ill. A recent study reveals that cannabis use - even for medical purposes - could make some people sick due to harmful fungi that contaminate the plants.



The research was led by Kimberly Gwinn, a professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee <a href="https://utia.tennessee.edu/">Institute of Agriculture</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eye-opening-research">Eye-opening research</h2>



The team examined data, previous studies, and international regulations related to the cannabis and hemp industry in the United States.



Ultimately, the researchers found that the contaminants present in cannabis and hemp flowers could pose significant health risks, especially for those with compromised immune systems.&nbsp;



The experts strongly advocate for a more in-depth investigation and reevaluation of the standards set for the medical use of cannabis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-gaps">Research gaps</h2>



“Hemp and cannabis are new crops, and we are in the early stages of understanding relationships with their pathogens," noted Professor Gwinn.



"Several pathogens produce mycotoxins, compounds that negatively impact human health and are regulated in other crops."



"In this review, we summarize the current literature on mycotoxins in hemp and cannabis products, identify research gaps in potential mycotoxin contamination in hemp and cannabis, and identify potential developments based on research in other crop systems."



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



For the investigation, Professor Gwinn collaborated with Maxwell Leung and Ariell Stephens from Arizona State University, and Zamir Punja from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.



Cannabis research has mostly focused on the substance and medical uses of the plant, but with the increased legalization of cannabis for various uses, this article addresses the need for more study of potential health risks.



“Although fungi and mycotoxins are common and well-studied contaminants in many agricultural crop species, they have been generally under-studied in cannabis and hemp. This is partly because human health risk assessment methodologies used to regulate food and pharmaceuticals have yet to become standard for the emerging cannabis and hemp industries," wrote the study authors.



"Additionally, the wide range of consumer uses of cannabis and hemp flowers, including for medical use by patients with susceptible conditions, makes it uniquely challenging to assess and manage human health risk of these contaminants."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-risk-from-harmful-fungi">Cannabis risk from harmful fungi </h2>



The research sheds light on various fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Mucor, among others, that can infect the plants and produce harmful mycotoxins.&nbsp;



The location where these plants are cultivated, whether indoor or outdoor, and the medium in which they grow, whether soil or soilless, play a crucial role in determining the type of contaminants and the associated health risks.



According to the studies examined by the researchers, some fungi can lead to infections in lung and skin tissues, with infections being more common in smoked cannabis than in edibles.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caution-urged-for-some-groups">Caution urged for some groups</h2>



Certain groups, including cancer patients using cannabis for nausea relief, organ transplant recipients, HIV patients, and those with type 1 diabetes, may be especially vulnerable. The researchers also identified risks for those involved in the harvesting of cannabis.



Given the lack of comprehensive data on the prevalence of these contaminants - along with the varying state-to-state legalization levels and regulations of cannabis products - consumers face some important unknowns.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-this-risk-from-cannabis">Implications of this risk from cannabis</h2>



The study identifies challenges in testing for pathogens using methods like culture-based assays, immuno-based technologies, and more advanced techniques.&nbsp;



The experts emphasize the critical need to bridge the gap between production issues and human safety concerns in the cannabis and hemp industries.



“We wrote this article to bring these issues to the attention of the scientific, medical, and regulatory communities," said Professor Gwinn.



"We hope to encourage further research in this area, particularly in the areas of mycotoxins in product. Better data and public access to data will allow us to fully evaluate these risks and subsequently ensure safe products for consumers."



The full study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1278189/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Microbiology</a>.



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Cannabis poses health risks due to harmful fungi that often contaminate the plants

Cannabis, a plant often acclaimed for its potential therapeutic effects,...

Fossils dating back to 170 million years have been identified as belonging to the oldest-known mega-predatory pliosaur from the Age of Dinosaurs.&nbsp;



This discovery not only improves our understanding of these ancient marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-reptile-rhynchosaur-died-off-before-the-dinosaurs-due-to-weak-teeth/">reptiles</a>, but also provides significant insights into the evolution of plesiosaurs.



The remains of this ancient sea monster were originally discovered 40 years ago in northeastern France. Now, these fossils have been meticulously analyzed by an international team of paleontologists.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-pliosaur-genus-nbsp">New pliosaur genus&nbsp;</h2>



The combined efforts have led to the classification of these remains under a new pliosaur genus named Lorrainosaurus.



Pliosaurs, a type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plesiosaur-fossils-are-the-first-evidence-of-jurassic-vertebrates-in-texas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plesiosaur</a> known for their short necks and massive skulls, have been around for over 200 million years. Yet, they became dominant apex marine predators only after a global decline of other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/liopleurodons-that-once-swam-the-jurassic-seas-were-80-feet-long/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine reptiles</a> over 170 million years ago. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-huge-pliosaurs-nbsp">Huge pliosaurs&nbsp;</h2>



“Lorrainosaurus was one of the first truly huge pliosaurs. It gave rise to a dynasty of marine reptile mega-predators that ruled the oceans for around 80 million years,” explained Sven Sachs, a researcher at the <a href="https://namu-ev.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Naturkunde-Museum Bielefeld</a> who led the study.



Lorrainosaurus, which is the oldest large-bodied pliosaur represented by an associated skeleton, boasted of jaws extending over 1.3 meters with large conical teeth. The creature's body resembled a bulky torpedo propelled by four flipper-like limbs.&nbsp;



It is estimated that this massive reptile spanned over 6 meters from snout to tail and roamed the oceans during the early Middle Jurassic period. Interestingly, this is a period from which very little is known about plesiosaurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mega-predatory-pliosaurs-nbsp">Mega-predatory pliosaurs&nbsp;</h2>



“Our identification of Lorrainosaurus as one of the earliest mega-predatory pliosaurs demonstrates that these creatures emerged immediately after a landmark restructuring of marine predator ecosystems across the Early-to-Middle Jurassic boundary, some 175 to 171 million years ago," explained Daniel Madzia from the <a href="https://www.paleo.pan.pl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Paleobiology</a> of the Polish Academy of Sciences.



"This event profoundly affected many marine reptile groups and brought mega-predatory pliosaurids to dominance over ‘fish-like’ ichthyosaurs, ancient marine crocodile relatives, and other large-bodied predatory plesiosaurs."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-successful-marine-predators-nbsp">Successful marine predators&nbsp;</h2>



Benjamin Kear from The Museum of Evolution at <a href="https://www.uu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uppsala University</a> provided context on the dominance of pliosaurs, which were some of the most successful marine predators of their time.



“Famous examples, such as Pliosaurus and Kronosaurus – some of the world’s largest pliosaurs – were absolutely enormous with body-lengths exceeding 10 m," said Kear.



"They were ecological equivalents of today’s Killer whales and would have eaten a range of prey including squid-like cephalopods, large fish and other marine reptiles. These have all been found as preserved gut contents."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



After their discovery near Metz in Lorraine by paleontology enthusiasts, the fossils examined for the study were donated to the <a href="https://www.mnhn.lu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural History Museum in Luxembourg</a>. 



A brief report on Lorrainosaurus was published in 1994. Otherwise, the fossils remained largely unexplored until this study.



According to the researchers, Lorrainosaurus indicates that the reign of gigantic mega-predatory pliosaurs must have commenced earlier than previously thought, and was locally responsive to major ecological changes.



“Lorrainosaurus is thus a critical addition to our knowledge of ancient marine reptiles from a time in the Age of Dinosaurs that has as yet been incompletely understood," said Kear.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43015-y">Scientific Reports</a>.



Image Credit: Joschua Knüppe



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Massive pliosaur gave rise to a dynasty of mega-predators

Fossils dating back to 170 million years have been identified...

The idea that "a dog is a man’s best friend" takes on a deeper meaning when it comes to Australia's wild dingoes. Historically maligned and feared in Australia, dingoes might have once held a place of reverence, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian National University</a>.



The research sheds light on a previously understudied aspect of pre-colonial Australian history. It suggests that these wild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-use-their-tails-more-for-communication-than-movement/">canines</a> were not just tolerated but perhaps even domesticated by the First Nations people before European settlers arrived on the continent.



The study was based on an in-depth analysis of remains discovered at the Curracurrang archaeological site, situated to the south of Sydney.&nbsp;



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



"Dingo burial is a tradition that began from the time of, or within about 1,000 years of, the dingo’s arrival in Australia, and appears to have been a widespread cultural practice," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Both written and Indigenous oral historical records indicate that the practice was widely distributed throughout Australia at the time of European invasion."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dingo-burials">Dingo burials</h2>



Radiocarbon dating techniques applied to the excavated dingo bones indicate that these animals were buried alongside humans nearly 2,000 years ago.



Dr. Loukas Koungoulos, the lead researcher, emphasized the significance of this ritualistic burial.&nbsp;



“Not all camp dingoes were given burial rites, but in all areas in which the burials are recorded, the process and methods of disposal are identical or almost identical to those associated with human rites in the same area,” said Dr. Koungoulos. “This reflects the close bond between people and dingoes and their almost-human status.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-co-burials">Possible co-burials</h2>



"Both male and females, and individuals of all ages are represented in archaeological dingo burials. Dingo burials frequently or even mostly occur in sites where people are also buried," wrote the researchers.



"Spatial arrangements suggest some dingo burials from southeastern Australia could be co-burials with particular individual people, but possible cases remain to be verified with radiocarbon dating."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-evidence-nbsp">Critical evidence&nbsp;</h2>



Intriguingly, burials were not the sole evidence pointing towards the domestication of dingoes. The site also yielded dingo remains with notably worn teeth, suggestive of a diet rich in large bones.&nbsp;



This characteristic wear pattern is likely a result of the animals consuming leftovers from human meals, hinting at a relationship far more intimate than mere coexistence.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the dingo remains range from young pups to those aged six to eight years. According to the researchers, this shows that First Nations people didn’t just care for young dingoes before they returned to the wild, but that they built much more substantial relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-lasting-bonds">Long-lasting bonds</h2>



“These findings mark an important development in our understanding of the relationship between Australia’s First Peoples and dingoes,” said co-author Professor Susan O’Connor.&nbsp;



“By the time Europeans settled in Australia, the bond between dingoes and Indigenous people was entrenched. This is well known by Indigenous people and has been documented by observers."&nbsp;



“Our work shows that they had long-lasting relationships prior to European colonization, not just the transient, temporary associations recorded during the colonial era.”&nbsp;



The research is published in the journal PLOS One.&nbsp;



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Dingoes were once regarded as "almost human" in Australia

The idea that "a dog is a man’s best friend"...

U.S. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pumping-too-much-groundwater-affects-earths-spin/">groundwater</a> is witnessing a disturbing trend - increasing salinity. This is the conclusion of a study by the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Geological Survey</a> (USGS) that spanned three decades. 



The research highlights the impact of rising groundwater salinity on infrastructure, ecosystems, and human health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-monitoring-nbsp">Decades of monitoring&nbsp;</h2>



For over 30 years, the USGS has been tracking groundwater quality in wells across the country. The comprehensive analysis examined up to 500 chemical constituents including major ions, metals, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, fertilizers, and radionuclides.&nbsp;



Among these, Na and Cl ions and dissolved solids - which are indicators of salinity - had significantly increased.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The research is an ongoing effort under the National Water Quality Network, which evolved from the National Water Quality Assessment Project initiated in 1992.&nbsp;



“The original goal was to evaluate the status of water quality in the nation, including groundwater, surface water, and ecological health,” said Bruce Lindsey, a hydrologist with USGS.



Over the years, the experts have zeroed in on certain constituents with potential long-term adverse effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-wells">Types of wells</h2>



The researchers classified the wells into three categories: domestic, urban, and agricultural. Domestic wells, representing medium depth aquifers and drinking water, are unregulated private wells.&nbsp;



By contrast, urban and agricultural wells are shallower, ranging between 30 to 50 feet. “The purpose of (sampling) those were to understand the status and trends in the very shallowest water levels,” explained Lindsey. The shallow wells acted as “sort of a sentinel of what might be moving deeper into the aquifer, so to speak.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-constituents-of-concern">Constituents of concern</h2>



After identifying 82 networks with 20 to 30 wells each, the team pinpointed 28 constituents of concern. These results are accessible on the USGS's <a href="https://nawqatrends.wim.usgs.gov/decadal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interactive groundwater map</a>, detailing decadal shifts.



“If we look at all 28 constituents across all 82 networks, dissolved solids, chloride, and sodium had statistically significant increases more frequently than any other constituents that we have on our list,” said Lindsey. “If you look at the map, you’ll see patterns right away that jump out.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-problem-areas">Problem areas</h2>



Two primary regions stood out in terms of rising salinity. The Northeastern and Upper Midwest areas, especially around urban centers with cold climates, were impacted due to substantial road salt application.&nbsp;



Conversely, arid zones, notably in the southwest, faced natural soil salinity, which was exacerbated by irrigation practices.



“When irrigating agriculture in arid regions, you get a lot of evaporation,” explained Lindsey. “So if the salinity of the irrigation water is relatively low, but a large percentage of it evaporates, [salinity levels] can become high.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The repercussions of increased salinity are numerous. Elevated chloride concentrations in groundwater, which feed into many streams, can disturb aquatic ecosystems.&nbsp;



Lindsey warned that these imbalances can take decades to materialize and an equal time to reverse, even if salinity sources are managed better.



On the infrastructure front, increased salinity means heightened corrosivity. This can result in lead and other metals leaching from household plumbing components.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-concerns">New concerns</h2>



The study also revealed a unique concern tied to salinity. In a southern New Jersey sandy aquifer, high salinity combined with low pH water mobilized radium, a radioactive element dangerous to humans.&nbsp;



“It goes back to road salt,” explained Lindsey. “Road salt is increasing, causing sodium and chloride to increase, which is causing radium to increase.”



Lindsey noted that there seems to be increased awareness of the environmental effects of road salt, with trucks spreading less salt or municipalities switching to a lower-concentration brine. He hopes that future research will highlight other cascading impacts of increasing salinity in groundwater.&nbsp;



“The fact that there may be streams that are not able to sustain aquatic life, or that your pipes might start corroding, or this other more rare issue where there's radium, shows there are other negative aspects (to rising groundwater salinity).”



The research was presented at the 2023 meeting of the <a href="https://www.geosociety.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geological Society of America</a>.



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Hidden threats: Groundwater salinity is on the rise

U.S. groundwater is witnessing a disturbing trend - increasing salinity....

A new study is shedding light on the mysterious disappearance of certain marine animals at the South Pole between 390 to 385 million years ago. The research illustrates the profound impacts of climate and sea-level changes on marine ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-setting-the-stage-nbsp">Setting the stage&nbsp;</h2>



Gondwana, a vast landmass encompassing parts of modern-day Africa, South America, and Antarctica, was uniquely positioned near the South Pole during the Early-Middle Devonian period.&nbsp;



Contrary to the icy landscape we associate with Antarctica today, this ancient supercontinent experienced warmer climates and higher <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-last-ice-age-shows-how-rising-sea-levels-will-transform-coastal-habitats/">sea levels</a>, resulting in the flooding of vast areas of land.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-malvinoxhosan-biota">The Malvinoxhosan biota</h2>



For nearly two centuries, scientists have been perplexed by the emergence and eventual disappearance of the Malvinoxhosan biota - a group of marine animals that thrived in cooler waters. This group included various types of shellfish, many of which are now extinct.&nbsp;



"The origin and disappearance of these animals have remained an enigma for nearly two centuries until now," said study lead author Dr. Cameron Penn-Clarke, an expert in the Evolutionary Studies Institute at the <a href="https://www.wits.ac.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of the Witwatersrand</a>.



To investigate, the researchers collected and analyzed an extensive amount of fossil data. Using advanced analytical methods, they sifted through layers of ancient rock, each bearing its own unique set of fossils.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-discovery-nbsp">Disturbing discovery&nbsp;</h2>



The analysis identified 7 to 8 distinct layers, each progressively showing a decline in marine animal diversity.&nbsp;



By comparing these layers with ancient environmental data and global temperature records, the researchers found a disturbing correlation: the decline in marine species coincided with fluctuating sea levels and climate changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooling-phase-nbsp">Cooling phase&nbsp;</h2>



After over a decade of intensive research, Dr. Penn-Clarke and his team believe that the Malvinoxhosan biota thrived during a prolonged global cooling phase.&nbsp;



Cooler conditions fostered circumpolar thermal barriers, such as ocean currents near the poles. This isolation facilitated their specialization. However, as temperatures began to rise, these animals vanished, replaced by marine species better suited to warmer waters.



Alterations in sea levels during this period likely broke natural ocean barriers, allowing equatorial warm waters to permeate the South Pole. Consequently, these warm-water species dominated, signaling the decline of the Malvinoxhosan marine creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-catastrophic-breakdown-nbsp">Catastrophic breakdown&nbsp;</h2>



The demise of the Malvinoxhosan biota resulted in a catastrophic breakdown of polar ecosystems - a damage that was irreversible.&nbsp;



"This suggests a complete collapse in the functioning of polar environments and ecosystems to the point that they could never recover," said Dr. Penn-Clarke.&nbsp;



“It's a 390-million-year-old murder mystery. We now know that the combined effects of changes in sea-level and temperature were the most likely 'smoking gun' behind this extinction event."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-global-phenomenon">A global phenomenon?</h2>



While this extinction event may have corresponded with known extinction events during the Early-Middle Devonian, researchers do not have adequate age inferences.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"This research is important when we consider the biodiversity crisis we are facing in the present day," said Dr. Penn-Clarke. "It demonstrates the sensitivity of polar environments and ecosystems to changes in sea level and temperature. Any changes that occur are, unfortunately, permanent."



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Disappearance of the Malvinoxhosan biota linked to climate change

A new study is shedding light on the mysterious disappearance...

Portrait,Of,Three,Chickens,Isolated,On,White,Background

In an industry often criticized for its environmental impact, a creative solution for clean electricity emerges from an unexpected source: chicken feathers. 



Typically, these by-products contribute significantly to the waste in poultry production, with an astonishing 40 million ton globally being incinerated annually. This disposal method not only exacerbates CO2 emissions but is also responsible for releasing harmful gases, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/short-term-exposure-to-air-pollution-increases-stroke-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sulfur dioxide</a>, making it an environmentally detrimental practice.



However, a collaborative venture between researchers at <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH Zurich</a> and <a href="https://www.ntu.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nanyang Technological University Singapore</a> (NTU) promises a revolutionary repurposing for these feathers, potentially transforming a substantial environmental liability into a pioneering energy solution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-converting-keratin-to-energy">Converting keratin to energy</h2>



The innovation hinges on an intricate understanding of the composition of chicken feathers. Recognizing that the feathers are composed of 90% keratin, a protein also found in human hair and animal fur, the researchers developed a process to extract this protein and convert it into ultra-fine fibers known as amyloid fibrils. 



These fibrils present a remarkable application: forming the membrane of a fuel cell, a device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water, thereby <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chicken-feathers_electricity_diagram_credit-ETH-Zurich_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generating CO2-free electricity</a>.



In stark contrast to conventional methods, this approach circumvents the use of toxic "forever chemicals" in fuel cell membranes. These traditional materials pose substantial environmental and health risks due to their non-biodegradable nature and high costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-fuel-cell">Inside the fuel cell</h2>



Fuel cells function through a delicate balance of chemical reactions, at the heart of which lies a semipermeable membrane. This membrane's critical role is to allow protons to pass while blocking electrons, thereby directing these electrons through an external circuit, generating an electric current.



The keratin-based membrane, born from repurposed waste, is not only a more environmentally friendly option but also significantly cheaper. Laboratory demonstrations indicate that these new membranes are up to three times less costly than their conventional counterparts, presenting an economically appealing alternative.



Professor Raffaele Mezzenga, a pivotal figure in this research from ETH Zurich, explains the profound environmental implications of their findings. He said, “Our latest development closes a cycle: we’re taking a substance that releases CO2 and toxic gases when burned and using it in a different setting. With our new technology, it not only replaces toxic substances but also prevents the release of CO2, decreasing the overall carbon footprint.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hydrogen-production-challenges">Hydrogen production challenges</h2>



Despite the promise of hydrogen as a clean energy source, its widespread adoption faces significant hurdles. One primary challenge is the scarcity of naturally occurring hydrogen on Earth, necessitating energy-intensive production processes.



Here, the novel keratin membrane again demonstrates its potential. The membrane's unique properties make it suitable for water electrolysis, a process where water is split into oxygen and hydrogen using an electric current. While traditional electrolysis methods require certain additives to enhance water's conductivity, the keratin-based membrane facilitates efficient water splitting even in pure water, eliminating the need for these potentially harmful additives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electricity-from-chicken-feathers-the-path-ahead">Electricity from chicken feathers: the path ahead</h2>



While the research has provided promising results, further investigations are necessary to determine the long-term stability and durability of the keratin membranes in real-world applications. Addressing these and other technical challenges is crucial for transitioning from laboratory success to full-scale commercial viability.



The team, driven by the potential global impact of their discovery, has filed a joint patent for the keratin-based membrane technology. They are actively seeking partnerships with investors and forward-thinking companies willing to join their quest in pioneering a cleaner, sustainable energy future. This collaboration will be essential for refining the technology, scaling up production, and eventually introducing these innovative fuel cells to the market.



In transforming poultry waste into an opportunity, the researchers are not just proposing a more sustainable form of energy production; they are reimagining global resources management and setting the stage for a more sustainable industrial future.



The full study was published by the <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.3c10218" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>.



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New tech uses chicken feathers to generate clean electricity

In an industry often criticized for its environmental impact, a...

The study of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dwarf-planet-ceres-water/">dwarf planet</a> close to Mars could offer pivotal insights in the quest to discover extraterrestrial life, given the extensive amount of organic material present on it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-organic-compounds-nbsp">Complex organic compounds&nbsp;</h2>



Located in the asteroid belt that sits between Mars and Jupiter, the planet known as Ceres is highly intriguing for researchers worldwide. This planet seems to have garnered an array of complex organic compounds from the asteroids around it.



While the existence of these organic compounds on Ceres was first identified in 2017 via the Dawn spacecraft, recent research suggests their presence might be even more widespread than anticipated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-initial-discovery-nbsp">Initial discovery&nbsp;</h2>



Discussing the initial discovery, Terik Daly, lead author and planetary scientist at the <a href="https://www.jhuapl.edu/">Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory</a> reported that “the organics were initially detected in the vicinity of a large impact crater, which is what motivated us to look at how impacts affect these organics."&nbsp;



"We are finding that organics may be more widespread than first reported and that they seem to be resilient to impacts with Ceres-like conditions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-elements-of-life">Elements of life</h2>



Considering the significant organic material on Ceres, combined with indications of its substantial water ice content, experts believe that the planet might have the essential elements to foster life beyond Earth.



“Although researchers have performed impact and shock experiments on various types of organics in the past, what was missing was a study dedicated to the type of organics detected on Ceres using the same type of analytical method used by the Dawn spacecraft to detect them,” Daly said, emphasizing the value of comparative analysis of the organic data derived from the dwarf planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-evidence">New evidence</h2>



“By capitalizing on the strengths of two different datasets collected over Ceres, we’ve been able to map potential organic-rich areas on Ceres at higher resolution,” added co-author Juan Rizos, a postdoctoral fellow at the <a href="https://umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a>.&nbsp;



“We can see a very good correlation of organics with units from older impacts and with other minerals like carbonates that also indicate the presence of water. While the origin of the organics remains poorly understood, we now have good evidence that they formed in Ceres and likely in the presence of water.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The potential astrobiological implications of the research are substantial. “There is a possibility that a large interior reservoir of organics may be found inside Ceres. So, from my perspective, that result increases the astrobiological potential of Ceres,” Rizos said.



Discoveries like the one on Ceres underscore the significant role of organic material in the searth for life in space. This is exemplified by the recent discovery of organic material on Mars by NASA’s Perseverance rover.



The implications of such findings, especially in relation to Mars, are vast. “They are an exciting clue for astrobiologists since they are often thought of as building blocks of life,” concluded Joseph Razzell Hollis, a postdoctoral fellow at London’s <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/">Natural History Museum</a>.



The study was presented at the Geological Society of America’s <a href="https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2023AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/392730">GSA Connects 2023</a> meeting on October 17.



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Dwarf planet Ceres, close to Mars, could sustain life

The study of a dwarf planet close to Mars could...

Ancient,Cavemen,People,Sit,Near,A,Campfire,Render,3d,Illustration

Approximately 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals, long-time inhabitants of the western part of the Eurasian continent, met the incoming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earliest-human-footprints-ever-found-are-believed-to-be-300000-years-old/">Homo sapiens</a> from Africa. These two species shared the region for several millennia, leading to the infusion of Neanderthal DNA into the Homo sapiens genome.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neanderthal-dna-nbsp">Neanderthal DNA&nbsp;</h2>



Recently, researchers at the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Geneva</a> (UNIGE) have been meticulously analyzing how the DNA from Neanderthals has been distributed in Homo sapiens over the last 40,000 years. Their findings, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg9817" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>, indicate subtle variations across time and geography, shedding light on the intertwined history of these two species.



The advances in genome sequencing and comparative analysis have shown that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens did interbreed. From these interactions, present-day Eurasians carry about two percent of Neanderthal-origin DNA. However, this percentage is not consistent across Eurasia: Neanderthal DNA is slightly more abundant in Asian genomes compared to European ones.



One theory proposes that the variances between Asian and European populations could be due to different impacts of natural selection on Neanderthal-origin genes.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-migratory-flows">Migratory flows</h2>



However, the UNIGE scientists have proposed an alternative theory based on migratory flows: when a migrating population merges with a local population, the local population’s DNA tends to increase in proportion with distance from the migrating group’s point of origin.



With Homo sapiens originating from Africa and Neanderthals predominantly located in Europe, the theory is that the farther one travels from Africa, the higher the proportion of Neanderthal DNA.&nbsp;



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



To validate this, the researchers utilized a database from <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1fgDS6Vm2DmqPlgJ1hR7iGDNWTAiikFm16l35f975iuY/edit">Harvard Medical School </a>which contains over 4,000 genomes of individuals from Eurasia over the past 40 millennia.



“Our study is mainly focused on European populations since we are obviously dependent on the discovery of bones and the state of conservation of DNA. It turns out that archaeological excavations have been much more numerous in Europe, which greatly facilitates the study of the genomes of European populations,” explained lead author Claudio Quilodrán, an expert in Population Genetics and Ecology at UNIGE.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The team’s statistical findings reveal that, after Homo sapiens migrated from Africa, European Paleolithic hunter-gatherers had a slightly higher proportion of Neanderthal DNA than their Asian counterparts.&nbsp;



This observation is in line with paleontological records, emphasizing Neanderthals’ dominance in western Eurasia, notably with no Neanderthal remains found east of Siberia’s Altai region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neolithic-transition-nbsp">Neolithic transition&nbsp;</h2>



However, the researchers observed a significant shift during the Neolithic transition, about 10,000 to 5,000 years ago: there was a reduction in the proportion of Neanderthal DNA in European genomes, resulting in a slightly lower percentage than in Asian populations.&nbsp;



This shift aligns with the arrival of the first farmers from Anatolia and the Aegean region, who carried less Neanderthal DNA. Their integration further diluted the Neanderthal DNA concentration in Europe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance-nbsp">Study significance&nbsp;</h2>



The fusion of ancient genome research and archaeological data provides a window into the evolutionary journey of hybrid species.&nbsp;



“In addition, we are beginning to have enough data to describe more and more precisely the percentage of DNA of Neanderthal origin in the genome of Sapiens at certain periods of prehistory," said study senior author Mathias Currat, a professor of Genetics and Evolution at UNIGE.



"Our work can therefore serve as a reference for future studies to more easily detect genetic profiles that deviate from the average and might therefore disclose an advantageous or disadvantageous effect."



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Mystery solved: How and why humans have Neanderthal DNA

Approximately 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals, long-time inhabitants of the western...

The skies are set to mesmerize spectators this weekend with the peak of the Orionids meteor shower, described by <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/orionids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> as one of the most beautiful showers of the year.



The Orionids, which are remnants of the well-known Halley’s comet, ramp up their activity each fall in late October.&nbsp;



The point from which the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/over-100-meteors-per-hour-will-light-up-the-skies-this-weekend-as-the-perseids-peak/">meteors</a> appear to radiate is located near the constellation <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jumbos-james-webb-reveals-free-floating-worlds-that-cant-be-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orion</a>, specifically near its "club." This is how the meteor shower got its name.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orionids-known-for-astonishing-speed">Orionids known for astonishing speed</h2>



According to NASA, the Orionids are known for their brightness and mind-boggling speed - traveling into Earth's atmosphere at about 148,000 miles per hour.



Their swift trajectory often leaves behind radiant "trains" that linger and occasionally morph into brilliant fireballs.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peak-activity">Peak activity</h2>



While the Orionids meteor shower lasts from September 26 to November 22, the event will reach its peak this weekend. The peak activity will begin after midnight on Friday, October 20, with the most vibrant display taking place in the early morning hours on Sunday.&nbsp;



With the first quarter moon setting around midnight on October 22, moonlight interference will be minimal. At their peak, the Orionids are expected to blaze across the sky at a rate of up to 23 meteors per hour.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-see-the-orionids">How to see the Orionids</h2>



"The Orionids are viewable in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres during the hours after midnight. Find an area well away from the city or street lights. Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair," says NASA.



"Lie flat on your back with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible."



"In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-halley-s-comet-nbsp">Halley's Comet&nbsp;</h2>



The Orionids are associated with Halley's Comet, which leaves a trail of debris as it orbits the Sun. When Earth passes through this debris, particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating the meteor shower. Interestingly, Halley's Comet also gives rise to another meteor shower, the Eta Aquariids, which occurs in early May.



Halley's Comet is one of the most famous comets, and its periodic appearances have been documented for millennia. The last time Halley's Comet was visible from Earth was in 1986, and it's predicted to return in 2061.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-name">Name</h3>



The comet is named after the British astronomer Edmond Halley, who first predicted its return in 1758. However, the comet itself has been observed for over 2,000 years.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orbit">Orbit</h3>



Halley's Comet orbits the Sun approximately once every 76 years, though this can vary slightly with each pass. Its orbit is elliptical, taking it far beyond Neptune and then back inside the orbit of Venus.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-composition">Composition</h3>



Like other comets, Halley's Comet is made up of ice, dust, and rocky material. As it approaches the Sun, the heat causes the icy nucleus to vaporize and release dust, creating its glowing coma and characteristic tail.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance">Significance</h3>



Halley's Comet is significant not only because of its brightness and visibility from Earth but also because its periodic returns have allowed astronomers to study a single comet over multiple orbits.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-observations">Historical observations</h3>



The comet's appearances have been recorded by various cultures throughout history. For instance, it's believed to have been depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, which describes the Norman conquest of England in 1066.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spacecraft-exploration">Spacecraft exploration</h3>



In 1986, several spacecraft (most notably the European Space Agency's Giotto) conducted flybys of Halley's Comet, providing the first close-up images of its nucleus and delivering valuable data about its composition and structure.



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Look up! The Orionids meteor shower peaks this weekend, here's how to see it

The skies are set to mesmerize spectators this weekend with...

Jupiter’s atmosphere is characterized by some of the most noticeable phenomena in our solar system, with its Great Red Spot being a particularly iconic feature. Comparable to Earth’s continuous evolution, Jupiter’s characteristics shift, and there remains a lot that scientists have yet to discover.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-swift-jet-stream">Swift jet stream</h2>



NASA’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expansion-rate-of-the-universe-confirmed-by-jwst/">James Webb Space Telescope</a> (JWST) has been instrumental in this exploration, unveiling previously unobserved elements of Jupiter, most notably a swift jet stream cruising above the planet’s equator.&nbsp;



This jet stream, though perhaps not as visually captivating as Jupiter’s other marvels, offers scientists invaluable information about the interplay of the planet’s atmospheric strata.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-details">Unprecedented details</h2>



NASA’s innovative telescope has identified a fresh, previously undetected atmospheric detail on Jupiter. This rapid jet stream, stretching more than 3,000 miles across, hovers above Jupiter’s main cloud decks at the equator.&nbsp;



Understanding this jet provides key insights into the interaction of the layers within Jupiter’s famously volatile atmosphere and highlights JWST’s distinctive prowess in monitoring such features.



“What we have always seen as blurred hazes in Jupiter’s atmosphere now appear as crisp features that we can track along with the planet’s fast rotation,” said lead author Ricardo Hueso, an astronomer at the <a href="https://www.ehu.eus/en/en-home">University of Basque Country</a> in Spain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



Data from JWST’s NIRCam, gathered in July 2022, played a pivotal role in this research. The goal was to capture images of Jupiter in distinct filters, aiming to discern variations in minor features at varying altitudes within Jupiter’s atmosphere.&nbsp;



Study co-author Imke de Pater from the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>, highlighted the unique revelations the telescope has brought, surpassing observations from other missions.



“Even though various ground-based telescopes, spacecraft like NASA’s Juno and Cassini, and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have observed the Jovian system’s changing weather patterns, Webb has already provided new findings on Jupiter’s rings, satellites, and its atmosphere,” he explained.



Although Earth and Jupiter differ significantly, they both possess stratified atmospheres. While other missions primarily focus on the deeper atmospheric layers, JWST’s enhanced near-infrared capabilities target the loftier layers, approximately 25-50 kilometers above Jupiter’s cloud canopy. Within this scope, the telescope delineates intricate details within the normally indistinct, luminous equatorial haze.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insights">New insights</h2>



This newfound jet stream boasts impressive speeds, nearly double that of Earth’s most powerful hurricanes. Positioned about 40 kilometers above the cloud layer, it resides in Jupiter’s lower stratosphere. The team leveraged both JWST and Hubble data to gauge wind variations with altitude, leading to insights on wind shears.



“We knew the different wavelengths of Webb and Hubble would reveal the three-dimensional structure of storm clouds, but we were also able to use the timing of the data to see how rapidly storms develop,” said co-author Michael Wong, an astronomer at UC Berkeley, who oversaw the complementary Hubble observations that shed new light on the multi-dimensional structure of storm clouds and their rapid evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-observations-nbsp">Future observations&nbsp;</h2>



The team eagerly anticipates future JWST observations to ascertain the consistency of the jet’s velocity and elevation.&nbsp;



Leigh Fletcher, a planetary scientist at the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leicester</a> in the UK highlighted Jupiter’s intricate but consistent wind and temperature patterns in its equatorial stratosphere, speculating on the potential variability of the jet in upcoming years.



“Jupiter has a complicated but repeatable pattern of winds and temperatures in its equatorial stratosphere, high above the winds in the clouds and hazes measured at these wavelengths. If the strength of this new jet is connected to this oscillating stratospheric pattern, we might expect the jet to vary considerably over the next two to four years – it’ll be really exciting to test this theory in the years to come,” he said.



“It’s amazing to me that, after years of tracking Jupiter’s clouds and winds from numerous observatories, we still have more to learn about Jupiter, and features like this jet can remain hidden from view until these new NIRCam images were taken in 2022,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-02099-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>.



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Jupiter’s turbulent atmosphere includes a high-speed jet stream

Jupiter’s atmosphere is characterized by some of the most noticeable...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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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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Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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