<p>Astronomers have caught a nearby stellar duo in a dramatic act. A super-dense white dwarf star is siphoning material from its larger companion at a pace never seen before.</p>



<p>The system, known as V Sagittae (V Sge), sits about 10,000 light-years away and orbits so tightly that the two stars whirl around each other every 12.3 hours. </p>



<p>As the white dwarf feeds, the pair blazes far brighter than similar systems - a century-old mystery that a new study says it has finally cracked.</p>



<p>Led by Pasi Hakala from the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turku</a> in Finland, the team used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile to probe V Sge’s extreme behavior. The results point to a runaway case of “stellar cannibalism.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-white-dwarf-in-a-feeding-frenzy">White dwarf in a feeding frenzy</h2>



<p>White dwarfs are the ultra-compact embers left behind when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">sun-like stars</a> exhaust their fuel. On their own, they glow faintly. Paired with a close companion, they can become voracious, as gravity from the white dwarf pulls gas - mostly hydrogen - off the neighboring star.</p>



<p>As that gas piles up, it heats to extraordinary temperatures and ignites thermonuclear burning on the dwarf’s surface. </p>



<p>The study concludes that V Sge’s famous overbrightness comes from this very process operating at ferocious rates. It turns the white dwarf’s outer layers into a sustained, nuclear-powered beacon.</p>



<p>The V Sge system has baffled astronomers since its discovery in 1902 because it outshines its peers so dramatically. The study argues the system is in a “feeding frenzy,” with mass transfer exceeding what the white dwarf can absorb.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-luminous-halo-signals-instability">Luminous halo signals instability </h2>



<p>One of the team’s most striking finds is a broad ring of gas - a luminous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breathtaking-photo-shows-an-ice-halo-forming-around-the-sun/">halo</a> encircling both stars. That ring appears to be the overflow. </p>



<p>The system rips material from the companion that the white dwarf can’t accrete and flings it outward to form a circumbinary shroud.</p>



<p>The sheer energy released in the process, the researchers say, is also jostling the system, contributing to the erratic, “wild” motion seen in monitoring data.</p>



<p>That halo isn’t just window dressing. It’s a clue that V Sge is being pushed toward instability. When the inflow of fuel momentarily overwhelms the white dwarf’s ability to burn it steadily, pressure can build until the surface layers detonate in a thermonuclear flash.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-rare-outburst-on-the-horizon">A rare outburst on the horizon</h2>



<p>The team warns that V Sge is primed for a classic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/t-coronae-borealis-nova-explosion-nearby-star-light-up-earths-skies/">nova</a> - a powerful, but non-destructive outburst triggered when accumulated hydrogen ignites on the white dwarf’s surface. </p>



<p>If that happens in the coming years, the system could brighten enough to be visible to the naked eye. It would be a rare treat for skywatchers.</p>



<p>Farther down the line, the endgame could be even more spectacular. As the stars spiral inward and the white dwarf gains mass, they may collide or reach a catastrophic limit.</p>



<p>In that scenario, V Sge would explode as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernovae-explosions-seem-to-have-altered-earths-climate-in-the-past-and-could-do-so-again-at-any-time/">supernova</a> - an event so luminous it would be visible even in daylight. That fate isn’t guaranteed, and it may be centuries away. But the current feeding rate and the presence of the gas ring suggest this binary is on a dangerous trajectory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-star-system-in-real-time">A star system in real time</h2>



<p>For decades, astronomers struggled to explain why V Sge was the brightest system of its kind. </p>



<p>By tying its glare to sustained thermonuclear burning driven by extreme mass transfer - and by revealing the telltale, system-wide gas ring - the new study provides a coherent picture of how this oddball works.</p>



<p>It also offers a living laboratory where scientists can study how close binaries evolve and how novae trigger. It may even explain how some white dwarfs cross the threshold into supernovae.</p>



<p>Most of the time, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-star-redefines-our-understanding-of-stellar-evolution/">stellar evolution</a> plays out slowly, across eons. V Sagittae is a rare exception: a nearby, rapidly changing system writing its next chapter in real time. Keep an eye on the southern sky. The next burst from this hungry white dwarf could be bright enough for all of us to see.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <em><a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.22637" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</a></em>. </p>



<p>Image Credit: University of Southampton</p>



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White dwarf star devours its companion in record feeding frenzy

Astronomers have caught a nearby stellar duo in a dramatic act. A super-dense white dwarf star is siphoning material from its larger companion at a pace never seen before. The system, known as V Sagittae (V Sge), sits about 10,000 light-years away and orbits so tightly that the two stars whirl around each other every 12.3 hours. As the white dwarf feeds, the pair blazes far brighter than similar systems - a century-old mystery that a new study says it has finally cracked. Led by Pasi Hakala...

<p>Marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-microbe-may-help-in-the-fight-against-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a> have historically been less explored compared to animal and plant populations, which have significantly enriched our understanding of ecosystem processes and evolutionary adaptations. </p>



<p>The difficulty in isolating, culturing, and analyzing the genetic material of marine microorganisms has meant their vast diversity has largely gone uncharacterized. </p>



<p>However, the landscape is shifting due to advancements in molecular and computational methodologies. These technologies are unveiling the potential of marine microbes to act as indicators of global changes in our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-color-has-changed-significantly-over-the-past-20-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oceans</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-shifts-in-marine-microbes">Genetic shifts in marine microbes</h2>



<p>In a recent study, experts analyzed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-microbe-regulate-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine microbial</a> populations to gauge the impacts of global change. By examining the collective data on these populations and their ecological roles, the researchers have identified an important trend. They found that even minor genetic shifts among marine microbes correlate more directly with gradual environmental shifts than changes within larger species.</p>



<p>"Small genetic changes in these populations could be more directly correlated with the slight but continuous environmental changes associated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-induced-changes-in-ocean-salinity-threaten-biodiversity-and-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global change</a>, than the analysis of species," said study lead author Ramiro Logares from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (<a href="https://www.icm.csic.es/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICM-CSIC</a>).</p>



<p>Furthermore, Logares attributes the insights to the advent of new molecular techniques. These techniques allow for a broader, more detailed genetic exploration of microbial communities directly in their natural habitats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technological-revolution">Technological revolution </h2>



<p>The application of advanced techniques such as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics has revolutionized our ability to study these elusive populations. The methods allow scientists to conduct studies without the need for traditional culturing techniques.</p>



<p>As a result, scientists can directly extract and analyze genetic data from uncultured aquatic microbial species. This analysis has revealed significant genetic diversity and distinct patterns of adaptation and differentiation, influenced by environmental factors like temperature.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-diversity-of-marine-microbes">Genetic diversity of marine microbes</h2>



<p>For the extensive study, the researchers reviewed over 150 scholarly articles. The analysis provides a comprehensive overview of how the genetic variability of microbial populations is linked to broader ecosystem processes and adaptations.</p>



<p>Logares emphasized the importance of this research: "Knowing the genetic diversity and population dynamics of marine microbes allows us to obtain valuable information on their resilience or vulnerability to global change."</p>



<p>Understanding how microbial populations adapt to changing conditions is essential for assessing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-extreme-weather-impact-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystem</a> health and functionality.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-marine-microbial-research">The future of marine microbial research</h2>



<p>Logares advocates for continued exploration into population genomics to deepen our understanding of microbial diversity. He believes that this will not only shed light on the complex architecture and functioning of the marine microbiome, but will also enhance our ability to devise more effective management and conservation strategies.</p>



<p>"The ocean microbiome currently faces multiple challenges derived from anthropogenic-induced climate change. For example, sea-surface warming, decreasing O<sub>2</sub> and increasing CO<sub>2</sub> levels, acidification, changes in water circulation, changes in nutrient inputs, and other biotic factors (such as new parasites or predators). Thus far, relatively few studies have investigated the reaction of marine microbes to global change," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"Selective changes derived from global change can have significant consequences in microbial community structure, populations, evolution, and ultimately, in the biogeochemical cycles they mediate." </p>



<p>"As a response to the changing oceanic conditions, microbes are anticipated to undergo shifts in their geographic distributions, alterations in community structure, modifications in gene expression - including epigenetic changes - and adaptations to the new environmental conditions."</p>



<p>"However, the relative significance of these mechanisms in shaping the overall response remains uncertain. Population genomics has the potential to provide new insights into the relative relevance of these processes in the reaction of microbes to a changing ocean."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-marine-microbes">More about marine microbes</h2>



<p>Marine microbes are incredibly diverse microorganisms that inhabit ocean environments, ranging from the sunlit surfaces of the seas to the dark depths of the ocean floor. They include bacteria, archaea, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-algae-steal-beneficial-genes-from-bacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">algae</a>, protozoa, and fungi, each playing a crucial role in oceanic ecosystems. </p>



<p>These tiny life forms are essential in cycling nutrients, breaking down pollutants, and supporting the marine food web through processes like photosynthesis and decomposition.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The planet’s atmospheric balance</h3>



<p>Marine microbes are responsible for producing more than half of the Earth's oxygen, making them vital for maintaining the atmospheric balance. They also contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle, capturing vast amounts of carbon dioxide, thereby influencing climate patterns and the health of the environment.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Scientific research&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Additionally, marine microbes have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in extreme conditions, such as high pressure, low temperature, and varying salinity levels found in different parts of the ocean. This adaptability makes them an interesting subject for scientific research, potentially leading to breakthroughs in biotechnology, medicine, and environmental science.</p>



<p>Their genetic diversity and metabolic capabilities also make them a valuable resource for discovering new pharmaceuticals and enzymes that could have industrial applications. Despite their small size, marine microbes have a profound impact on the global ecosystem and human life.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-024-01778-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microbiome</a></em>.</p>



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Marine microbes can tell us about global changes in the ocean

Marine microbes have historically been less explored compared to animal...

<p>In our increasingly interconnected world, the global challenges faced by humanity - from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-crisis-global-supply-chains-face-25-trillion-in-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate crisis</a> to issues like poverty and food insecurity - demand unified action. Yet, how can diverse global populations be encouraged to work together towards such common goals? </p>



<p>A new study offers some clues, suggesting that recognizing our shared experiences and biological connections may be the key to fostering a sense of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-of-forests-a-time-for-global-unity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global unity</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridging-divides-through-social-bonds">Bridging divides through social bonds</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a> set out to explore the potential of "identity fusion" to promote prosocial action to tackle major challenges on a global scale</p>



<p>"From tackling the climate crisis to preventing nuclear war, many of the world’s largest-scale collective action problems require global cohesion and prosocial action. However, human group alignments are typically parochial, prioritizing regional, national, or local interests over global ones," wrote the study authors. </p>



<p>"Is it possible to create new forms of social cohesion on a global scale, capable of transcending and overcoming parochial concerns?"</p>



<p>The study reveals a significant finding. Recognizing our globally shared experiences and biology can strengthen our psychological connection to all of humanity. This sense of belonging motivates actions that benefit the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-ocean-day-take-action-to-protect-and-restore-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global community</a> and tackle pressing worldwide problems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-scope-of-unity">Expanding the scope of unity</h2>



<p>Shared ancestry and transformative experiences drive social cohesion primarily within smaller groups such as nations or religious communities. However, the study suggests that extending these factors to the global population could lead to a stronger, more unified world.</p>



<p>Study first author Lukas Reinhardt is the leader of the Global Cohesion Lab at the <a href="http://From tackling the climate crisis to preventing nuclear war, many of the world’s largest-scale collective action problems require global cohesion and prosocial action. However, human group alignments are typically parochial, prioritizing regional, national, or local interests over global ones. Is it possible to create new forms of social cohesion on a global scale, capable of transcending and overcoming parochial concerns?" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion</a> (CSSC).</p>



<p>“Us-vs-them thinking is on the rise globally, exacerbating conflicts and complicating efforts to solve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/africas-escalating-air-pollution-crisis-is-a-global-problem/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global problems</a>. Our research, however, suggests that fostering a shared global identity could facilitate cooperation on a global level," said Reinhardt.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empirical-evidence-of-unity">Empirical evidence of unity</h2>



<p>The study involved two significant experiments with over 1,000 participants from the United States. In one experiment, participants viewed a TED Talk. It illustrated that all humans share a common ancestry, which metaphorically portrays us as one large human family.</p>



<p>After viewing the talk, participants reported stronger psychological bonds with humanity at large compared to those who had not seen the video. Interestingly, they also felt a stronger connection to individuals from opposing political parties.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shared-experiences-motherhood-and-beyond">Shared experiences: Motherhood and beyond</h2>



<p>Another part of the research focused on shared experiences, specifically motherhood. The experts found that mothers who recognized shared maternal experiences with other women worldwide reported stronger social bonds with them. </p>



<p>This connection was visually represented through images of overlapping circles, with greater overlap indicating stronger bonds. </p>



<p>The impact of these strengthened bonds was not just theoretical but translated into concrete prosocial actions. The researchers employed a behavioral economics tool to measure this. They asked participants how they would distribute money between different groups. </p>



<p>As a result, the findings indicated that participants who felt a stronger connection to humanity were more inclined to act in favor of the collective good.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uniting-humanity-to-tackle-global-challenges">Uniting humanity to tackle global challenges </h2>



<p>"At the CSSC we have been studying for years these two pathways to strong forms of group cohesion - based on shared biology and shared experiences - but this is the first time we have shown that we can create powerful bonds uniting all of humanity. If we can do this in a simple experiment, we can develop far more powerful methods of motivating action on global problems in the future," said study co-author Professor Harvey Whitehouse, director of the CSSC.</p>



<p>"Remembering that we are all related and all experience many of the same challenges in life could be the key to addressing a wide range of global problems, from intergroup conflicts to extreme poverty and the climate crisis."</p>



<p>This innovative research underscores the potential of shared human experiences and biology to bridge global divides. By cultivating a broader sense of identity and interconnectedness, it is possible to enhance cooperation across borders and tackle the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blue-foods-could-help-address-global-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global challenges</a> that impact all of humanity.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231632" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society Open Science</a></em>.</p>



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How humanity can work together to solve global challenges

In our increasingly interconnected world, the global challenges faced by...

<p>A recent study has exposed a critical vulnerability within coastal cities around the world. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-sea-levels-spiked-dramatically-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rising sea levels</a> are transforming groundwater, making it shallower, saltier, and corrosive. </p>



<p>This slow and steady destruction poses a significant threat to the vast networks of buried city infrastructure that support modern urban living.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saltier-city-groundwater-from-rising-sea-levels">Saltier city groundwater from rising sea levels</h2>



<p>Groundwater is the water that exists beneath the Earth's surface, filling the cracks and spaces between soil, sand, and rock. In coastal areas, it plays a vital role in the environmental balance.</p>



<p>As <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/a-simple-guide-to-understanding-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea levels rise</a>, they exert more pressure on the coastal groundwater system. This pressure pushes the groundwater upwards, making it shallower (closer to the surface). </p>



<p>Seawater is naturally salty. As the groundwater is forced upwards, it mixes with the encroaching seawater, becoming increasingly saltier.</p>



<p>Saltwater is highly corrosive to many of the materials we use for underground infrastructure. The saltier the groundwater becomes due to rising sea levels, the faster it can damage city structures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-modern-cities">Impact on modern cities</h2>



<p>Modern cities have vast networks of buried infrastructure – pipes for water and sewage, foundations for buildings, tunnels for transport, electrical cables, and more. </p>



<p>This infrastructure was mostly built assuming a stable groundwater environment. Shallower, saltier, corrosive groundwater creates conditions it wasn't designed to withstand.</p>



<p>The corrosive groundwater can weaken foundations, cause pipes to leak and burst, and create electrical problems. This leads to costly repairs, public health risks due to contamination, and major disruptions to city life.</p>



<p>"While it has been recognized that shallowing groundwater will eventually result in chronic flooding as it surfaces, what's less known is that it can start causing problems decades beforehand as groundwater interacts with buried infrastructure,” said Shellie Habel, coastal geologist at the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hawai'i at Mānoa</a>.</p>



<p>Here's the shocking part: the damage starts long before the city streets are flooded by rising sea levels. The changing groundwater attacks our sewer lines, building foundations, roads, and everything else buried below ground. This leads to leaks, cracks, and major malfunctions that can cripple a city.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-current-impact-of-rising-sea-levels-on-cities">Current impact of rising sea levels on cities</h2>



<p>Scientists at the University of Hawai'i have revealed just how widespread this problem is. The study revealed that over 1,500 major cities worldwide are already experiencing the negative impacts of rising coastal groundwater. This shows that this is not an isolated problem but one that affects urban areas across all continents.</p>



<p>The really worrying part is that over a billion people live in these impacted cities. That means a huge portion of the world's population is at risk of dealing with the consequences of damaged infrastructure, disrupted services, and potential health hazards.</p>



<p>While many people are aware of the visible dangers of <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/current-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea level</a> rise, like coastal flooding, the hidden threat to underground infrastructure frequently flies under the radar. This study highlights the urgency of the problem.</p>



<p>The study emphasizes that this isn't some distant future problem. These cities are already facing the consequences, meaning we need to take this seriously and start addressing it proactively.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-coastal-cities-from-rising-sea-levels">Saving coastal cities from rising sea levels</h2>



<p>"The IPCC 6th Assessment Report tells us that sea level rise is an unstoppable and irreversible reality for centuries to millennia," said Chip Fletcher, study co-author and director of the Climate Resilience Collaborative at the University of Hawai'i. </p>



<p>"Now is the time to prepare for the challenges posed by this problem by redesigning our communities for greater resilience and social equity.” Potential measures include:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-warning-systems">Early warning systems</h3>



<p>Changes in groundwater can be subtle and difficult to detect with the naked eye. Imagine a network of advanced sensors buried underground, constantly monitoring groundwater levels, salinity, and chemical composition.</p>



<p>These sensors could provide early warnings of escalating problems. Instead of reacting to a cracked pipe or a flooded basement, city planners and engineers would have time to take preventative action – reinforcing structures, rerouting systems, or implementing targeted repairs.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-super-materials">Super materials</h3>



<p>Consider developing new concrete types that resist saltwater corrosion longer. Imagine metal pipes with coatings that prevent rust and leaks, even in salty groundwater.</p>



<p>These super materials would allow us to build new infrastructure designed to last decades or even centuries in the changing coastal environment. It means less frequent repairs, fewer disruptions, and more resilient cities overall.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reimagining-city-design">Reimagining city design</h3>



<p>We could gradually relocate our most vulnerable infrastructure, like electrical substations or wastewater treatment plants, to higher ground. Alternatively, we could redesign them to operate in partially flooded conditions.</p>



<p>Some cities might explore innovative ways to embrace a wetter future. Think about floating structures, canals instead of some roads, and buildings designed to withstand occasional flooding.</p>



<p>While the challenge posed by rising groundwater due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-rise-will-cost-coastal-cities-over-1-trillion-in-damages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea levels</a> rise is significant, it's crucial to remember that human ingenuity and innovation can pave the way for city solutions. </p>



<p>Scientists and engineers aren't just identifying the problem, they're actively pursuing strategies to help our cities adapt and thrive in a changing world.</p>



<p>The next time you walk down a city street, remember there's a whole world beneath your feet – and it's under attack. It's a problem we can't ignore anymore. By understanding the threat and supporting innovative solutions, we can build cities that are resilient in the face of rising seas.</p>



<p>The study is published in <em><a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-marine-020923-120737" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annual Review of Marine Science</a></em>.</p>



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Rising sea levels threaten global cities' underground infrastructure

A recent study has exposed a critical vulnerability within coastal...

<p>Grades, along with test scores, class participation, and homework completion, are traditional measures of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-exposure-linked-to-poor-academic-achievement/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">academic</a> success. However, a recent study suggests that something as arbitrary as the sequence of the alphabet in which a student’s surname falls could also significantly influence these grades. </p>



<p>This intriguing finding emerged from an extensive analysis of over 30 million grading records, revealing a subtle yet significant alphabetical bias.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alphabetical-sorting-and-grading-bias">Alphabetical sorting and grading bias</h2>



<p>The research was conducted at the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a>, analyzing a broad array of historical data. The data included various programs, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/positive-behavior-improve-student-conduct/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">students</a>, and assignments, all managed through an online system called Canvas. This platform, similar to others, automatically sorts student assignments by surname alphabetically. </p>



<p>Moreover, the study encompassed data spanning from the fall semester of 2014 to the summer of 2022. It also included detailed demographic and academic progress information from the university registrar.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grading-bias-against-later-alphabet-surnames">Grading bias against later-alphabet surnames</h2>



<p>The researchers found that students with surnames starting later in the alphabet often received lower grades.</p>



<p>In addition, the comments they received were often more negative and less polite compared to their peers with surnames starting with letters from the beginning of the alphabet. This trend indicated a decline in grading quality as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/positive-student-teacher-relationships-improve-long-term-health/">educators</a> progressed through the alphabetically ordered list.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alphabetical-gap-and-grading-bias">Alphabetical gap and grading bias</h2>



<p>The data showed a consistent pattern: students with surnames starting with A to E scored an average of 0.3 points higher on a 100-point scale compared to a random grading order. </p>



<p>Conversely, students with later-in-the-alphabet surnames scored 0.3 points lower. This created a 0.6-point disparity, which, although seemingly small, could significantly affect a student’s overall GPA and future career opportunities.</p>



<p>Interestingly, for a small percentage of graders who assessed students from Z to A, the grade gap reversed. This finding confirmed the researchers' hypothesis that the order of assessment contributed to the discrepancy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-grader-fatigue">The role of grader fatigue</h2>



<p>The study’s co-authors, including a doctoral student focusing on educational technology and another on artificial intelligence, initially speculated that grader fatigue might play a role in this phenomenon. </p>



<p>The hypothesis stemmed from observations in other sequential tasks, such as data labeling in machine learning. These tasks can also become tedious and prone to errors over time.</p>



<p>The findings suggest that the longer graders work, the more likely they are to experience a drop in attention and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-profoundly-impairs-childrens-cognitive-abilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cognitive function</a>. This decline can affect the fairness and accuracy of their grading.</p>



<p>“We kind of suspect that fatigue is one of the major factors that is driving this effect, because when you’re working on something for a long period of time, you get tired and then you start to lose your attention and your cognitive abilities are dropping,” said study co-author Jiaxin Pei.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proposed-solutions-to-counteract-bias">Proposed solutions to counteract bias</h2>



<p>To address the unintentional bias revealed by the study, the researchers have proposed several strategic changes to current educational grading systems. </p>



<p>One primary recommendation is for educational platforms to adopt a random order when sorting student assignments, instead of the traditional alphabetical sorting. This change would help mitigate the influence of surname positioning on grading outcomes, ensuring a fairer evaluation process.</p>



<p>In addition to altering the sorting mechanism, the team also suggests that educational institutions could benefit from restructuring their grading resources. One approach is to increase the number of graders for larger classes. </p>



<p>This would not only alleviate the burden on individual graders but also minimize errors related to grader fatigue, which can worsen as graders work through long lists of students. Distributing the grading workload more evenly across multiple evaluators could lead to more consistent and accurate assessments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-awareness-about-the-grading-biases">Awareness about the grading biases</h2>



<p>Furthermore, the researchers advocate for enhanced training programs aimed at raising awareness among graders about potential grading bias. By educating graders on the existence and effects of such biases, institutions can foster a more conscientious grading environment. </p>



<p>Such training could focus on recognizing subconscious preferences and implementing strategies to counteract these biases during the grading process. Through these combined efforts, the educational sector can take significant strides toward achieving a more equitable assessment system.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-academic-and-social-implications">Academic and social implications</h2>



<p>The research has garnered significant attention, resonating with many who suspect such biases, albeit subconsciously, might exist within academic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chocolate-cookies-evaluation-scores/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grading</a> systems. </p>



<p>“Our conclusion is this may be something that happened unconsciously by the graders that’s actually creating a real social impact,” said study co-author Helen (Zhihan) Wang.</p>



<p>The study highlights a crucial aspect of educational fairness and suggests practical steps. These measures could ensure that grading remains as unbiased and equitable as possible.</p>



<p>As the research continues to be shared and discussed within academic circles, it is likely to inspire further investigation. This could potentially lead to significant changes in how student performance is evaluated across educational institutions.</p>



<p>The study is under review by the journal <em><a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/journal/mnsc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Management Science</a></em>.</p>



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



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Student's names unfairly impact grades due to alphabetical bias

Grades, along with test scores, class participation, and homework completion,...

<p>An international team of astronomers has identified the most massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/powerful-magnetic-fields-may-be-key-features-of-black-holes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a> known to exist within a binary star system in our Milky Way galaxy. This extraordinary black hole challenges current models of stellar evolution and sheds new light on the enigmatic nature of these cosmic behemoths.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-enigma-of-black-holes">The enigma of black holes</h2>



<p>Black holes represent the final stage in the life cycle of the most massive stars in the universe. Imagine a star many times larger than our own Sun. When a monster star finally exhausts its nuclear fuel, the delicate balance between its outward burning energy and its immense gravity is shattered. </p>



<p>The star implodes in a spectacular supernova explosion, and its core collapses under its own weight. This collapse is so extreme that the remaining matter is crushed into a single point of infinite density – a black hole is born.</p>



<p>The gravitational force surrounding a black hole is nothing short of extraordinary. It's so powerful that it creates a boundary, known as the event horizon, beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape its clutches. This makes directly observing black holes a near-impossible task for astronomers. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaia-spacecraft">Gaia spacecraft</h2>



<p>This is where the European Space Agency's extraordinary <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Gaia_overview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gaia spacecraft</a> revolutionizes the hunt for black holes. Launched in 2013, Gaia's mission is to create the most precise three-dimensional map of our Milky Way galaxy. </p>



<p>It meticulously charts the positions, movements, and brightness of over a billion stars with unparalleled accuracy. This treasure trove of celestial data is a goldmine for astronomers worldwide. </p>



<p>A global team of scientists, including experts from Tel Aviv University, has dedicated themselves to analyzing Gaia's findings. They have a particular interest in binary star systems – cosmic duos where two stars orbit a common center of mass. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heaviest-milky-way-black-hole">Heaviest Milky Way black hole</h2>



<p>Their relentless search, fueled by Gaia's extraordinary data, finally led them to a discovery that would send shockwaves through the astronomical community. </p>



<p>Lurking within the depths of our Milky Way, a mere 1,500 light-years away (a stone's throw in cosmic terms), they pinpointed a star engaged in a seemingly impossible dance. It appeared to orbit an invisible partner, its movements betraying the presence of a massive unseen companion.</p>



<p>As the scientists meticulously analyzed the star's motion, a startling realization dawned on them. This was no ordinary celestial object. They observed the gravitational effects of a colossal black hole, a titan unlike any seen before.</p>



<p>"This is an exciting discovery of the heaviest black hole in a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supermassive-binary-black-holes-secrets-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">binary system</a> known today in the galaxy," said Professor Tsevi Mazeh from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a>. </p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="t3iji8SalS-3570507-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>This black hole has a massive weight, 33 times that of our Sun. It dwarfs all other known black holes in similar binary systems in our galaxy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaia-bh3-system">Gaia BH3 system</h2>



<p>The newfound system, named Gaia BH3, paints a fascinating picture. It appears to be a binary system, a cosmic dance between two celestial objects. One partner is a seemingly ordinary star, a contrast to the monstrous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-map-of-supermassive-black-holes-unveiled/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a> it orbits. </p>



<p>This star is exceptionally intriguing. Analysis suggests it is an ancient relic, having likely formed over 10 billion years ago. This was a time when the Milky Way galaxy was just beginning to emerge from its early stages. This vast age difference between the black hole and its companion star poses a captivating mystery. </p>



<p>It challenges our current understanding of how black holes are born and evolve within binary systems. The existence of Gaia BH3 hints at a more complex and perhaps violent past for this black hole. </p>



<p>Perhaps it was once part of a different binary system, where its partner star met a fiery demise in a supernova explosion, leaving the black hole free to roam the galaxy until it eventually captured the star we see today. </p>



<p>Unraveling the true story of Gaia BH3 will be a captivating scientific endeavor, potentially leading to new insights into the formation and history of these enigmatic giants.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-milky-way-black-hole">Significance of the Milky Way black hole</h2>



<p>Finding Gaia BH3 is like stumbling upon a needle in a cosmic haystack. While we know <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-shaped-the-universe-before-galaxies-existed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black holes</a> exist, they are notoriously elusive. The discovery of several black hole systems by Gaia in just a few years suggests many more cosmic behemoths likely await discovery.</p>



<p>"It is amazing how humankind manages to navigate the vast expanses of the universe and discover such mysterious objects. I am convinced that the discovery will lead to a new mode of thinking regarding the presence and prevalence of the black holes that cruise through the expanses of our galaxy," says Prof. Mazeh.</p>



<p>Discoveries like Gaia BH3 push the boundaries of our astronomical knowledge. With each revelation, we inch closer to understanding the life and death of stars and the enigmatic forces that govern our extraordinary universe.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.aanda.org/component/article?access=doi&amp;doi=10.1051/0004-6361/202449763" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy and Astrophysics</a></em>.</p>



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



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Black hole found in our galaxy is 33 times the sun's mass

An international team of astronomers has identified the most massive...

<p>Remember the social media sensation that wasn't the catchy "Baby Shark" tune, but actual footage of a newborn great white shark spotted by a drone? That glimpse into the lives of these majestic creatures was just the beginning of an exciting scientific discovery.</p>



<p>Marine scientists at <a href="https://www.calstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California State University</a> have recently demonstrated that juvenile great white sharks predominantly inhabit warm, shallow waters close to the shore, specifically within one kilometer. </p>



<p>This study significantly advances our knowledge of the habitat preferences of juvenile great white sharks. Understanding these preferences is crucial for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-need-better-protection-to-maintain-functional-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shark conservation</a> and public safety, especially as ocean temperatures continue to rise.</p>



<p>"Animals respond behaviorally to environmental conditions over a range of spatio-temporal scales, often in ways that shape their habitat use and movement patterns," wrote the study authors. </p>



<p>"While seasonal environmental changes across a species’ entire range may dictate long-term migration patterns, many aquatic animals likely make movement decisions based on micro-scale differences in conditions which may vary based on ontogenetic stage."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-opportunity-to-study-juvenile-white-sharks">Unique opportunity to study juvenile white sharks</h2>



<p>In a region off Padaro Beach near Santa Barbara, baby great white sharks, known as "pups," are found congregating in areas dubbed nurseries. These young sharks receive no care after birth and are left to thrive in the shallows unaccompanied by adult sharks. </p>



<p>According to Dr. Christopher Lowe, this site provided a unique opportunity to study a large group of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-white-sharks-are-moving-north-to-find-suitable-habitat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">juveniles</a> in their near-shore environment. </p>



<p>"This is one of the largest and most detailed studies of its kind,," said Dr. Lowe. "The dense congregation of juveniles around Padaro Beach allowed us to observe how environmental conditions affect their movement patterns."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology-meets-marine-biology">Technology meets marine biology</h2>



<p>From 2020 to 2021, Dr. Lowe's team equipped 22 juvenile white <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sign-of-the-times-solitary-orcas-are-hunting-great-whites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharks</a> (JWS), aged one to six, with sensor-transmitters. These devices tracked water pressure, temperature, and the sharks' locations using acoustic 'pings' to coastal receivers. Data collection paused in winter when the sharks migrated to deeper waters.</p>



<p>Additionally, an autonomous vehicle mapped the local water column's temperature, and artificial intelligence helped create a 3D model showing the juvenile white sharks' preferred temperatures and depths - enhancing our understanding of their behaviors in different conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daily-rhythms-of-juvenile-white-sharks">Daily rhythms of juvenile white sharks </h2>



<p>The juvenile white sharks displayed distinct behavioral patterns. They dove deepest around dawn and dusk, likely for feeding, and stayed closer to the surface in the warmer afternoon sun, possibly to elevate their body temperatures.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="NACz7xCgbL-3569637-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Emily Spurgeon, a research technician on Dr. Lowe's team and the study's first author, explained: "We found that juveniles adjust their vertical position to maintain a temperature range between 16 and 22 °C. Optimally, they stay between 20 and 22 °C to maximize growth efficiency within the nursery."</p>



<p>The study revealed that juveniles occupy much shallower waters than adult <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-whites-are-far-more-prevalent-than-expected-on-the-california-coast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">great whites</a>, who are seldom seen in nursery areas. The three-dimensional temperature variations significantly influence the juveniles' horizontal distribution. They move to deeper areas when seafloor temperatures rise and come closer together towards the surface as deeper waters cool.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-other-factors-in-shark-nursery-behavior">Exploring other factors in shark nursery behavior</h2>



<p>While it's clear that temperature is a crucial factor attracting juvenile white sharks to these nursery areas, it's not the only consideration. "There are many locations along the California coast with similar environmental conditions, so temperature isn't the entire story," said Spurgeon. </p>



<p>"While we do not know where JWS are predominantly foraging, it is likely that they are using particular areas within the aggregation site to increase their foraging success," noted the researchers.</p>



<p>"Tradeoffs must occur throughout JWS developmental period as individuals attempt to find and select areas with adequate environmental conditions to maintain efficient physiological performance, but also try to find sufficient food sources and avoid intra-specific conflicts." </p>



<p>"They may therefore choose a micro-habitat that is a high prey resource environment to maximize their growth by speeding up their metabolic rate in warmer water."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-study-implications">Broader study implications </h2>



<p>Upcoming research will explore potential individual behaviors and relationships, such as whether some juveniles move among different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-ever-great-white-shark-fossil-nursery-found/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nurseries</a> together. As these studies progress, they not only help in shaping effective conservation strategies but also minimize human-shark interactions. </p>



<p>"The results of this study may be used to inform and improve habitat suitability models and species distribution models within a specific location and help predict potential locations of new aggregation sites as well as advise beach public safety officials," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"Knowledge on how JWS respond to the environment is vital for management and future space use predictive models to understand how these patterns will transform as micro-habitat thermal patterns are altered due to climate change."</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1290769/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Marine Science</a></em>.</p>



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Juvenile great white sharks prefer shallow coastal waters

Remember the social media sensation that wasn't the catchy "Baby...

Asian,Little,Child,Girl,Wearing,A,Protection,Mask,Against,Pm

<p>Recent research has underscored a concerning link between air pollution and the cognitive development of children, highlighting that the first years of life are particularly critical. </p>



<p>A new study has discovered that exposure to <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/tracking-nitrogen-dioxide-across-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen dioxide (NO2)</a> during the initial two years of life correlates with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/safe-levels-of-air-pollution-can-negatively-impact-the-developing-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduced attention capacities</a> in children between the ages of 4 and 8, with a more pronounced effect observed in boys.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prolonged-no2-exposure">Prolonged NO2 exposure</h2>



<p>The research was published in the <em>Environment International </em>journal. It indicates that higher levels of NO2 exposure result in diminished attentional functions in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-breathe-toxic-air/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">children</a> aged 4 to 6. Furthermore, this impact persists into the ages of 6 to 8 for boys.</p>



<p>Consequently<strong>,</strong> this study utilized data from 1,703 mother-child pairs across four Spanish regions, collected under the <a href="https://www.proyectoinma.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">INMA Project</a>.</p>



<p>By analyzing residential NO2 exposure levels and subsequent cognitive tests, researchers provided a comprehensive overview of the pollutant's long-term effects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-pollution-and-cognitive-health">Air pollution and cognitive health</h2>



<p>This investigation builds on previous findings from the same project. These earlier studies linked NO2 exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to weaker attention spans in young children.</p>



<p>Notably, exposure between 1.3 and 2.2 years was associated with specific cognitive deficits, such as slower reaction times and more frequent omissions in attention tests.</p>



<p>Anne-Claire Binter, a postdoctoral researcher and the study's last author, emphasized the significance of these results. </p>



<p>"These findings underline the potential impact of increased traffic-related air <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-mental-health-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollution</a> on delayed development of attentional capacity and highlight the importance of further research into the long-term effects of air pollution in older age groups," she explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-pollution-impacts-brain-development">Air pollution impacts brain development</h2>



<p>The research also sheds light on the developmental trajectory of the brain's executive functions, which are essential for managing and controlling behavior. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/damage-brain-anxiety-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prefrontal cortex</a>, responsible for these functions, matures slowly and remains vulnerable throughout childhood. </p>



<p>"In boys, the association between exposure to NO2 and attentional function may last longer because their brains mature more slowly, which could make them more vulnerable," Binter noted. </p>



<p>She further indicated a need for ongoing research to explore how age and gender influence susceptibility to air pollution.</p>



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



<p>The study's implications are far-reaching, suggesting that early childhood is a crucial period for implementing preventive measures against air pollution. </p>



<p>"Even a small effect at the individual level from relatively low levels of exposure, as in this study, can have large consequences at the population level," Binter concluded. She stressed the importance of addressing traffic-related air pollution for the health of future generations.</p>



<p>This research highlights the need for immediate action to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants. It also calls for continued investigation into the effects of environmental factors on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-air-pollution-boosts-brain-development-in-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">child development</a>.</p>



<p>The insights provided by such studies are invaluable in shaping policies that safeguard the well-being and cognitive development of children worldwide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-harms-of-air-pollution-beyond-cognitive-effects">Broader harms of air pollution beyond cognitive effects</h2>



<p>Air pollution has a wide range of negative effects on health, the environment, and society, including:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Health risks</strong>: Besides affecting cognitive development in children, air pollution can cause respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It's also linked to cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and premature death.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Environmental damage</strong>: Pollutants can harm wildlife and ecosystems. Acid rain, caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, damages forests and aquatic habitats. Particulate matter can degrade soil quality and affect plant health.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Climate change</strong>: Some air pollutants, like black carbon (a component of particulate matter), contribute to global warming by absorbing heat in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane also come from the same sources that emit air pollutants.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Visibility reduction</strong>: Smog and haze, which result from air pollution, reduce visibility. This can affect driving safety and decrease the scenic value of landscapes.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Economic costs</strong>: Health care costs for treating diseases caused by air pollution are significant. Additionally, pollution can decrease property values and impact tourism revenues due to degraded air quality and visibility.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-impact-of-air-pollution-on-child-cognition">Addressing the impact of air pollution on child cognition</h2>



<p>In summary, the ISGlobal study underscores the urgent need for action to protect children from the detrimental effects of air pollution on brain development. </p>



<p>By demonstrating the link between NO2 exposure and impaired attentional function, particularly in boys, the study highlights the importance of implementing preventive measures during the critical early years of life. </p>



<p>As we strive to create a healthier future for the next generation, we must prioritize reducing traffic-related air pollution and safeguarding the well-being of our children. </p>



<p>The consequences of inaction are far too great to ignore, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a clean and safe environment.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024001909?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environment International</a></em>.</p>



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Air pollution profoundly impairs children's cognitive abilities

Recent research has underscored a concerning link between air pollution...

Green,Renewable,Alternative,Energy,Concept,-,Wind,Generator,Turbines,Generating

<p>Decision-makers have hesitated to embrace wind farms despite their affordability and renewable nature. This reluctance stems from the belief that wind farms require vast tracts of land. This is especially notable when compared to fossil fuel-driven <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-wind-farms-interact-with-wind-can-optimize-their-power/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">power plants</a>.</p>



<p>However, researchers at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a> conducted a remarkable study revealing that this belief may be based on outdated information.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dispelling-the-myths-of-wind-farms-land-use">Dispelling the myths of wind farms' land use</h2>



<p>The research, the largest of its kind, examined nearly 320 wind farms across the U.S. Subsequently, findings published in the journal <em>Environmental Science and Technology</em> reveal a significant discrepancy in the way researchers calculate land use for wind farms.</p>



<p>Typically, the entire area of a wind farm is considered dedicated to wind energy. In reality, infrastructure like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-wind-turbines-impact-property-values-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">turbines and roads</a> only occupy about 5% of the land. The majority of the space continues to support other uses, predominantly agriculture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-existing-infrastructure-boosts-wind-farm-productivity">Existing infrastructure boosts wind farm productivity</h2>



<p>By placing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wind-turbines-are-displacing-bats-from-their-forest-habitats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wind turbines</a> on land that already has roads and infrastructure, such as agricultural fields, the setup for wind energy becomes significantly more efficient. </p>



<p>Utilizing existing structures minimizes the need for additional space and construction, streamlining the process and reducing the environmental footprint. </p>



<p>As a result, these wind farms are about seven times more land-efficient when it comes to producing energy per square meter. </p>



<p>This level of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-power-can-wind-farms-generate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">efficiency</a> is in stark contrast to the efficiency of wind farms established on newly developed sites, where the entire area must be adapted or built from scratch, requiring more land and resources for a comparable amount of energy production.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overcoming-old-perspectives">Overcoming old perspectives</h2>



<p>"The land use of wind farms has often been viewed as one of the major hurdles to wind development," said Sarah Jordaan, an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill and the senior author of the study.</p>



<p>She highlighted that the study's analysis of nearly 16,000 wind turbines in the western U.S. showed "gas-fired generation offers no real benefits in terms of lesser land use when you consider the infrastructure, including all the wells, pipelines, and roads associated with the natural gas supply chain."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovating-for-sustainability">Innovating for sustainability</h2>



<p>This research also broke new ground by integrating geographic information systems (GIS) with machine learning. </p>



<p>Subsequently<strong>,</strong> researchers developed a deep learning model trained on nearly 2,000 images of wind farms. These images were from the American portion of the Western Interconnection. </p>



<p>This advanced model assessed various factors like turbine placement and the age of the infrastructure, providing a more detailed understanding of the land directly impacted by wind energy facilities.</p>



<p>"The method we have developed is potentially usable for future assessments of various energy technologies," Jordaan added. </p>



<p>"It sets the stage for the first consistent comparisons of environmental sustainability across different energy technologies in future, which is crucial for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clean-energy-transition-may-boost-job-opportunities-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy systems</a> planning aimed at achieving net zero emissions," she concluded.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-additional-advantages-of-wind-farms">Additional advantages of wind farms</h2>



<p>Wind farms offer several significant advantages beyond their minimal land use, contributing broadly to environmental sustainability and economic benefits. Here are some key advantages:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Renewable energy source</strong>: Wind energy is a plentiful, renewable resource that reduces reliance on fossil fuels, helping to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Reduces carbon footprint</strong>: Generating electricity from wind does not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants, making it an environmentally friendly option that contributes to combating climate change.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Cost-effectiveness</strong>: After the initial investment in installation, wind energy has low operational costs since it doesn’t require fuel. The cost of wind energy has also dropped significantly over the years, making it one of the most competitive renewable energy sources.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Energy independence</strong>: By harnessing local wind resources, regions and countries can reduce their dependence on imported fuels, enhancing energy security and stability.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Job creation</strong>: The wind energy sector creates jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and support services, contributing to economic growth in local communities.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Compatible with other land uses</strong>: As seen in agricultural settings, wind turbines can coexist with other land uses, allowing for continued farming and livestock grazing, thereby supporting rural economies.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Scalability and flexibility</strong>: Wind farms can be scaled up or down to fit the energy needs of a community or region. They can also be deployed in a variety of settings, from large-scale farms to small, distributed units.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Innovation and technology development</strong>: The ongoing development and refinement of wind technology drive innovation across the renewable energy sector, leading to more efficient and effective solutions.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Water conservation</strong>: Unlike power plants that require significant water for cooling processes, wind energy generation uses no water, conserving vital resources particularly in arid regions.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li><strong>Public support and policy incentives</strong>: Wind energy often enjoys strong public support, which is complemented by government policies and incentives aimed at expanding renewable energy deployment.</li>
</ul>



<p>These benefits make wind farms a crucial component of a sustainable energy future, addressing environmental, economic, and social goals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fresh-breeze-for-wind-power">A fresh breeze for wind power</h2>



<p>In summary, the McGill University-led study revolutionizes our understanding of wind farm land use, debunking the misconception that wind power requires extensive land compared to fossil fuel-driven power plants. </p>



<p>By combining GIS data with machine learning models, the researchers provide a more accurate assessment of the land directly impacted by wind infrastructure. </p>



<p>This innovative approach highlights the efficiency of wind power and paves the way for consistent comparisons of environmental sustainability across various energy technologies. </p>



<p>As decision-makers consider investments in renewable energy, this research offers valuable insights that can guide informed decision-making and effective energy systems planning, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><em><a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c07908" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a></em></em>.</p>



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

Wind farms require far less land than previously believed

Decision-makers have hesitated to embrace wind farms despite their affordability...

<p>For nearly a hundred years, the soil bacteria <em>Streptomyces</em> has been a goldmine for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-resistance-increasing-enterococci-looming-global-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotic discovery</a>, yet it still harbored a secret -- umbrella toxin particles. </p>



<p>These intriguing toxic proteins, which remarkably resemble the shape of an umbrella, were only recently uncovered after being overlooked for a century. </p>



<p>This discovery sheds light on the aggressive tactics <em>Streptomyces</em> employs to defend against, and dominate, its microbial neighbors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-umbrella-toxin-particles">Umbrella toxin particles</h2>



<p>The research, published in <em>Nature</em>, describes the structure, composition, and function of the umbrella toxin particles. These toxins are named for their structural resemblance to an umbrella, a feature that distinguishes them visually and functionally from other microbial agents.</p>



<p>The structure of umbrella toxins is complex, comprising multiple protein components that assemble into a formation reminiscent of an umbrella. This includes a "cap" and "spokes," which are thought to be critical for their function and specificity. </p>



<p>Unlike typical antibiotics produced by <em>Streptomyces</em> that are smaller molecules, umbrella toxins are large, multi-protein complexes. Their specificity in targeting certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-method-for-classification-of-bacteria-includes-all-strains/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> sets them apart from the broad-spectrum antibiotics like streptomycin.</p>



<p>In the study, the detailed architecture of these proteins was revealed through advanced techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy. Umbrella toxins represent a new class of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/researchers-create-antimicrobial-substances-using-lignin-and-plant-wastes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antimicrobial agents</a> derived from the complex interactions within microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-weapons-using-umbrella-toxins">Microbial weapons using umbrella toxins</h2>



<p>The discovery of the umbrella toxins is a glimpse into the fierce competition among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-microbes-communicate-battle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a> in soil.  Additionally, these bacteria reside in densely packed communities. </p>



<p>They are constantly engaged in a battle for survival, deploying an arsenal of antimicrobial substances. Interestingly, many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-in-livestock-are-major-drivers-of-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotics</a> used in clinics today originate from these microbial weapons.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bioinformatics-unveil-umbrella-toxins">Bioinformatics unveil umbrella toxins</h2>



<p>The journey to this discovery began with a bioinformatics search that led to the identification of genes encoding these toxins. </p>



<p>Qinqin Zhao and the team from Joseph Mougous' microbiology lab at the <a href="https://www.uwmedicine.org/school-of-medicine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington School of Medicine</a> conducted biochemical and genetic experiments to uncover the role of these proteins. </p>



<p>Cryo-electron microscopy studies by Young Park, under the guidance of David Veesler, further illustrated that these proteins assemble into complexes resembling umbrellas -- a fitting discovery for researchers based in Seattle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-properties-of-umbrella-toxins">Properties of umbrella toxins</h2>



<p>Joseph Mougous, a professor of microbiology and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (<a href="https://www.hhmi.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HHMI</a>), noted the peculiar shape of these particles. Intriguingly, these toxins are highly specific. They primarily target other <em>Streptomyces</em> species.</p>



<p>"We think this exquisite specificity may be due to the proteins that make up the spokes of the umbrella, which vary across the particles," explained S. Brook Peterson, a senior scientist in the Mougous lab. </p>



<p>These proteins potentially latch onto specific sugars on the surfaces of competitor bacteria, allowing for targeted attacks.</p>



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



<p>Further investigation by Dapeng Zhang from <a href="https://www.slu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St. Louis University</a>, alongside his graduate student Youngjun Tan, has expanded our understanding of umbrella toxins. </p>



<p>Their research found that the genes encoding these unique toxins are widespread among various bacteria. This is particularly significant in bacteria that exhibit branching filament growth, a rare trait that adds a layer of complexity to their biological functions.</p>



<p>The clinical implications of these findings are substantial. As pathogens responsible for severe diseases like tuberculosis and diphtheria increasingly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-create-viruses-to-combat-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resist current antibiotics</a>, the discovery of umbrella toxins offers a promising new avenue for treatment. </p>



<p>These toxins' ability to target specific bacteria with precision could revolutionize how we develop <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-have-been-found-in-clouds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotics</a>, potentially leading to more effective therapies against resistant strains. </p>



<p>This breakthrough paves the way for novel medical strategies that could significantly impact public health by providing targeted, potent solutions to combat stubborn bacterial infections.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-frontier-in-antibiotic-research">A new frontier in antibiotic research</h2>



<p>The discovery of umbrella toxin particles opens a new chapter in the quest for novel antimicrobial strategies. It enhances our understanding of microbial warfare and holds promise for developing new therapeutic agents to tackle some of the toughest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-increases-risk-of-fatal-bacterial-infections/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacterial infections</a>. </p>



<p>As research continues, the implications of this discovery could reach far beyond the confines of microbiological labs, potentially ushering in a new era of antibiotic development.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07298-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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



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Umbrella toxin discovery may help human antibiotic resistance

For nearly a hundred years, the soil bacteria Streptomyces has...

<p>Video games have catalyzed a convergence of entertainment and science, as millions of gamers worldwide leverage their gaming prowess into a powerful tool for advancing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biomedical-research-could-protect-humans-from-next-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biomedical</a> research related to gut microbiome.</p>



<p>Consequently, these players have engaged with a mini-game embedded in the popular video game "Borderlands 3." Their involvement has significantly advanced our understanding of the evolutionary relationships of microbes within the human gut.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-video-gamers-and-microbiome-research">Video gamers and microbiome research</h2>



<p>"Borderlands Science" is not just a fun diversion within a video <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/playing-brain-games-before-surgery-improves-recovery-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">game</a>; it represents a serious scientific tool. As players align rows of tiles, which symbolize genetic sequences, they perform tasks that challenge even the most sophisticated algorithms. </p>



<p>This innovative approach has yielded exponential growth in our understanding of the microbiome. Additionally, it has demonstrated the potential of video games to solve complex scientific problems that traditional methods have struggled with.</p>



<p>Researchers, game developers, and a Swiss IT company specializing in integrating science with video gaming collaborated to develop the game. With support from genomic data, the project showcases how effectively <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/video-gaming-actually-improves-brain-functions-at-any-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gaming technology</a> can be leveraged for scientific pursuits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refining-science-through-gameplay">Refining science through gameplay</h2>



<p>The players of Borderlands Science have vastly improved upon the data collected by traditional DNA analysis methods.</p>



<p>Jérôme Waldispühl, the senior author of the study, expressed astonishment at the volume and quality of data gathered. "In half a day, the players collected five times more data about microbial DNA sequences than our earlier game had collected over a 10-year period," noted Waldispühl.</p>



<p>Consequently, this massive influx of data has refined our understanding of the microbial relationships crucial to human health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaming-and-scientific-research-collaboration">Gaming and scientific research collaboration</h2>



<p>Attila Szantner envisioned the integration of DNA analysis into a commercially successful video game, emphasizing the need to creatively utilize the vast amounts of time and intellectual energy spent on gaming. </p>



<p>This vision led to the creation of "Borderlands Science," which received an enthusiastic reception from players worldwide. The project's success highlights its ability to engage and utilize the cognitive resources of a diverse gaming community effectively.</p>



<p>Randy Pitchford, the CEO of the game's development company, further emphasized the project's impact, describing it as a pioneering achievement in citizen science. He highlighted how Borderlands Science pushes the boundaries of what video games can contribute to the world. </p>



<p>"Borderlands Science has become one of the largest and most accomplished citizen science projects of all time," said Pitchford.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-video-gamers-data-linked-to-gut-microbiome">Video gamers' data linked to gut microbiome</h2>



<p>The microbiome research facilitated by this video gaming initiative is pivotal in understanding how microbes influence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/video-gaming-may-increase-cognitive-performance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health</a>. It also explores how these microbes are influenced by diet, lifestyle, and other factors.</p>



<p>Subsequently, Rob Knight, a lead researcher in the project, discussed the potential of this data. He highlighted its ability to link specific microbes to various health outcomes, including diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and Alzheimer’s.</p>



<p>"Because evolution is a great guide to function, having a better tree relating our microbes to one another gives us a more precise view of what they are doing within and around us," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fostering-a-community-of-citizen-scientists">Fostering a community of citizen scientists</h2>



<p>The success of Borderlands Science extends beyond scientific achievements. It has engaged over 4.5 million individuals in the scientific process, fostering a community dedicated to advancing knowledge.</p>



<p>"Here we have 4.5 million people who contributed to science." Waldispühl added, "It shows that we can fight the fear or misconceptions that members of the public may have about science and start building communities who work collectively to advance knowledge."</p>



<p>Moreover, Daniel McDonald, scientific director of the project, emphasized the significance of these collaborative efforts. He also highlighted the remarkable value of open access data in expanding the scope of scientific inquiry.</p>



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



<p>The intersection of video <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/playing-video-games-in-childhood-improves-working-memory-years-later/">gaming</a> and scientific research demonstrated by Borderlands Science offers a promising new pathway for scientific discovery. Additionally, it facilitates community engagement.</p>



<p>This innovative approach not only enhances our understanding of complex biological systems but also exemplifies how creative collaborations can address some of the most challenging issues of our time.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-024-02175-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Biotechnology</a></em>.</p>



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

Millions of gamers help advance gut microbiome research

Video games have catalyzed a convergence of entertainment and science,...

<p>Zebrafish stand out for their remarkable ability to regenerate heart tissue. This amazing capability starkly contrasts with their evolutionary cousin, the medaka fish, and humans, who suffer permanent scars from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-attacks-young-women/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart attacks</a>.</p>



<p>Zebrafish heart tissue regeneration is a captivating prospect for transformative advances in human cardiac care. A team of biologists at the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Utah</a> has explored the mechanisms underlying this fascinating regerative ability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cellular-secrets-of-zebrafish-heart-regeneration">Cellular secrets of zebrafish heart regeneration </h2>



<p>"Adult humans respond to heart injury by forming a permanent scar, yet other vertebrates are capable of robust and complete cardiac regeneration," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"Despite progress towards characterizing the mechanisms of cardiac regeneration in fish and amphibians, the large evolutionary gulf between mammals and regenerating vertebrates complicates deciphering which cellular and molecular features truly enable regeneration."</p>



<p>By examining the cardiac injury responses of the zebrafish, known for its <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/organ-regeneration-offers-new-clues-about-the-immune-system/">regenerative capacity</a>, and the medaka, which lacks this ability, the researchers set out to uncover the underlying mechanisms of cardiac repair. </p>



<p>"We thought by comparing these two fish that have similar heart morphology and live in similar habitats, we could have a better chance of actually finding what the main differences are," explained study co-author Clayton Carey, a postdoctoral researcher.</p>



<p>The research, although not conclusive, pinpoints several potential factors - particularly within the immune system - that may explain the regenerative capabilities of the zebrafish. "It told us these two hearts that look very similar are actually very different," noted Professor Jamie Gagnon, who led the research team</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experimental-insights">Experimental insights</h2>



<p>To mimic heart attack conditions, the researchers used a cryoprobe. They crafted this device from copper wire and cooled it to extreme temperatures to selectively damage the fish's heart tissue.</p>



<p>They then made observations at various intervals following the procedure to assess how each species responded to the injury.</p>



<p>In zebrafish, the researchers observed a vigorous immune response, similar to that seen during viral infections. This response was notably absent in medaka.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-the-immune-system">The role of the immune system </h2>



<p>The study showed major differences in immune cell behavior. Specifically, macrophages migrated to the injury site in zebrafish much more than in medaka.</p>



<p>"Zebrafish have this immune response that is typical of what you might see during a viral infection, called an interferon response," said Carey. Consequently, this response promotes new blood vessel growth and the replacement of damaged muscle with new cells.</p>



<p>"Our approach revealed key differences in both pre- and post-injury hearts that may be responsible for the contrasting regeneration outcomes. We found differences in immune cell recruitment and behavior, epicardial and endothelial cell signaling, and alterations in the structure and makeup of the myocardium," wrote the researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reflections-on-evolutionary-loss">Reflections on evolutionary loss</h2>



<p>Gagnon speculated that the ability to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zebrafish-regenerate-their-heart-tissue-after-injury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regenerate heart</a> tissue might have been a common ancestral trait among teleosts. This group of ray-finned fish includes both zebrafish and medaka.</p>



<p>"My hunch is the ancestor of all animals could regenerate its heart after an injury, and then that’s been repeatedly lost in different types of animals," said Gagnon. He expressed a desire to understand why such a beneficial trait would be lost over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-into-zebrafish-heart-regeneration">Critical new insights into zebrafish heart regeneration </h2>



<p>"Medaka and zebrafish have been used extensively as laboratory model vertebrates and have similar care requirements and body plans," wrote the study authors. "While it was known that medaka are incapable of heart regeneration, it could have been assumed that medaka as fellow teleost fish would only have minor differences in cardiac structure." </p>



<p>"Our study found a surprising number of distinguishing characteristics of the medaka heart compared to zebrafish. These differences included not only changes in cellular behaviors but also substantial changes in the structure of the myocardium itself."</p>



<p>"Given the number of notable differences we observed between zebrafish and medaka, a wider phylogenetic survey of cardiac injury responses will be particularly useful to identify features that correlate with heart regeneration or non-regeneration across the teleost phylogeny." </p>



<p>"These observations highlight how biodiversity within shorter evolutionary distances can enable comparative studies that reveal fundamental insights about the gain or loss of complex traits."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-toward-the-future">Looking toward the future</h2>



<p>The ultimate goal of the research is to use insights from zebrafish to develop treatments for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/regeneration-human-heart/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human heart</a> conditions.</p>



<p>"The more we learn about how animals can regenerate tissues, how those features have been lost in us and other animals, that’s going to help us think about our limitations and how we might engineer strategies to help us overcome those," explained Gagnon.</p>



<p>The ongoing research opens new avenues for potential therapies in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/circadian-medicine-light-therapy-could-help-millions-of-heart-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human medicine</a>, perhaps even leading to a future where heart damage is fully reversible.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.biologists.com/bio/article/13/4/bio060156/346486/Distinct-features-of-the-regenerating-heart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Open</a></em>.</p>



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Secrets of zebrafish heart regeneration could transform human cardiac care

Zebrafish stand out for their remarkable ability to regenerate heart...

<p>Madagascar is famous for its lush rainforests, playful lemurs, and hidden dangers. Scientists have long known that even the top predators on this island are facing threats to their survival. But what they've recently discovered goes beyond the usual story of habitat loss. It's a hidden clash between endangered species, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lemurs-provide-a-window-into-the-evolution-of-hair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lemurs</a> and fosas, with shocking implications.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fosa-and-lemurs">Fosa and lemurs</h2>



<p>While fosas might resemble a small cat or an oversized weasel, don't be fooled. They're actually unique members of a mongoose-like family of carnivores found only in Madagascar. </p>



<p>These predators are built for success in Madagascar's forests. Their slender bodies and long tails make them experts at navigating the treetops.</p>



<p>Lemurs are the cornerstone of a fosa's diet. Unfortunately, this puts them in direct conflict with conservation efforts, as most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mouse-lemurs-of-madagascar-are-threatened-with-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lemur</a> species are endangered or critically endangered.</p>



<p>Fosas typically rely on their stealth and ambush tactics to catch prey. This means scientists have had to piece together their diet from clues like leftover bones and poop.</p>



<p>Witnessing fosa hunts in action is incredibly rare and valuable for researchers. It helps them understand how these predators behave and the true impact they have on vulnerable lemur populations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-madagascar-habitats">Madagascar habitats</h2>



<p>Madagascar's <a href="https://www.madagascarfaunaflora.org/betampona-natural-reserve.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Betampona Strict Nature Reserve</a> is meant to be a haven for wildlife, but it's surrounded by farmland. This creates a habitat 'island' where animals are cut off from other populations of their own kind.</p>



<p>For the lemurs, isolation means their gene pool shrinks over time. This can lead to health problems and makes the population less resilient to changes in their environment.</p>



<p>With less ability to escape or find new resources, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lemurs-first-arrive-madagascar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lemurs</a> in Betampona could become easy targets for the fosas, putting even more strain on their survival.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-survival-tactics-of-lemur-from-fosas">Survival tactics of lemur from fosas</h2>



<p>Lemurs use two main forms of survival:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fight-or-flight-or-freeze">Fight or flight (or freeze)</h3>



<p>We usually think of prey animals running for the hills when threatened. But in Betampona's small reserve, running might not be the best option.</p>



<p>Staying still and vigilant might confuse the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/domestic-animals-contributed-to-the-downfall-of-rare-species-in-madagascar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fosa</a>, making the lemur seem less like a meal. It could also help the lemur track the predator's movements in case it needs to make a quick escape.</p>



<p>This tactic highlights the difficult choices lemurs face in an isolated habitat. Without the ability to flee far, they must adapt their survival instincts.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isolation">Isolation</h3>



<p>Betampona's lemurs can't easily leave and find mates from other groups. This leads to them breeding with close relatives, a process called inbreeding.</p>



<p>Inbreeding weakens the population. Babies might be born with health problems or not survive at all. This makes it even harder for the species to bounce back from threats like fosa attacks.</p>



<p>A small, unhealthy lemur population is an easier target for predators. This puts even more pressure on their numbers, potentially pushing the species closer to extinction within the reserve.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lemur-fosa-conservation">Lemur fosa conservation</h2>



<p>"It's not that the fosa is the bad guy. It's also in need of conservation," says Giovanna Bonadonna, a researcher involved in the study. This is where things get tricky. It's a reminder of a key conservation concept: ecosystems.</p>



<p>Humans changing the landscape, even with the best intentions of creating protected spaces, can have unintended consequences. Every species is connected in a delicate web.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-be-done">What can be done?</h2>



<p>Madagascar's wildlife is so unique and so threatened that it requires a team effort stretching far beyond the island itself.</p>



<p>Organizations like <a href="https://stlzoo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Saint Louis Zoo</a>, <a href="https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Missouri Botanical Garden</a>, and the <a href="https://livingearthcollaborative.wustl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Living Earth Collaborative</a> bring different strengths to the table:</p>



<ul>
<li>Zoos: Expertise in animal care, breeding programs, and educating the public.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Botanical Gardens: Knowledge of plants, which are the foundation of any ecosystem.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Collaborative Networks: Combine resources and coordinate large-scale conservation projects.</li>
</ul>



<p>These organizations share a common goal: preserving Madagascar's incredible biodiversity for future generations.</p>



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



<p>This study about lemurs and fosas isn't just about those two species. It reveals how every creature, plant, and even the landscape itself are connected in a delicate web. True conservation means protecting <em>habitats</em>. That way, entire ecosystems can stay healthy and in balance.</p>



<p>We might picture an endangered animal, but this study forces us to look wider. A thriving ecosystem protects even the predators, because they play a vital role too.</p>



<p>The study is published in<em> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.11248" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology and Evolution</a></em>.</p>



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



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Endangered lemurs are now prey for equally endangered 'fosas'

Madagascar is famous for its lush rainforests, playful lemurs, and...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>His pivotal insight arrived while hospitalized for a heart condition—a profound irony given his father's heart attack started this journey. The breakthrough was elegantly simple yet revolutionary: "If gravity can bend time, and light can create gravity, then light can bend time."</p>



<p>"It turns out that black holes can create a gravitational field that could lead to the creation of time loops that could allow us to go back in time," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-blueprint-for-a-temporal-vortex">The blueprint for a temporal vortex</h2>



<p>Mallett's vision for a functioning time machine replicates spacetime-warping phenomena around black holes. He offers a compelling analogy: "Picture a cup of coffee. Stir it with a spoon, and the coffee swirls. A spinning black hole does the same to spacetime."</p>



<p>In Einstein's general relativity, the universe is a dynamic fabric woven from space and time. Massive objects like black holes warp this fabric—an effect we perceive as gravity. Mallett theorizes that an intense, continuous, circulating beam of light from a ring of powerful lasers could replicate this gravitational torsion, effectively twisting time into a loop.</p>



<p>This "time loop" would theoretically allow information—or perhaps matter—to travel backward in time. He detailed this mathematical concept in his 2006 autobiography, <em>Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-published-research-and-recognition">Published research and recognition</h2>



<p>His work, published in respected journals including <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/physics-letters-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics Letters A</a></em> and <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations of Physics</a></em>, suggests circulating laser light could generate gravitational fields potent enough to create closed timelike curves, enabling time travel for data.</p>



<p>Mallett's research has gained worldwide media attention, featured on <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio's <em>This American Life</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.history.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">History Channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC's <em>Today Show</em></a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galactic-hurdles-and-persistent-skepticism">The galactic hurdles and persistent skepticism</h2>



<p>While Mallett's equations captivate imagination, the path to reality faces immense obstacles. The energy requirement is staggering—Mallett acknowledges needing "galactic amounts of energy," far beyond current technological capabilities.</p>



<p>There's also a poignant limitation: even if realized, his machine could only send information back to when it was first activated, meaning it couldn't transport him to 1955 to prevent his father's death.</p>



<p>The scientific community remains skeptical. Physicists Ken Olum and Allen Everett argue that Mallett's proposed laser ring would need to be larger than the observable universe to achieve the necessary spacetime distortion. They invoke Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture, suggesting physics may prevent macroscopic time travel.</p>



<p>Astrophysicist Paul Sutter has voiced doubts about Mallett's underlying mathematics, while science writer Brian Clegg finds the concept intriguing enough to warrant experimental investigation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-that-transcends-time">A legacy that transcends time</h2>



<p>Now approaching 80, Dr. Mallett remains steadfast. "I believe my work will show time travel is possible," he asserts. "Future generations will build on it in ways we can't yet imagine."</p>



<p>His equations, though yet to physically bend time, have bent our collective imagination. Ongoing public interest, evidenced by his continued media appearances and Spike Lee's film adaptation of his memoir, underscores his ideas' profound impact.</p>



<p>More than a scientific pursuit, Mallett's story testifies to human resilience, intellectual courage, and hope's enduring power. Whether his theoretical time machine ever materializes, his legacy is immeasurable—inspiring countless individuals to challenge conventional limits and perceive time not as an unyielding barrier, but as a boundless frontier awaiting exploration.</p>



<p></p>



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



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



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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<p>Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. </p>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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;</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



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



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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?</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ACS Reactions</em></p>



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



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features 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;</p>



<p>'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)."</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



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



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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