Consciousness is usually treated as a human problem, tied to brains and behavior. Yet for centuries some thinkers have quietly asked whether experience might reach far beyond our skulls, right down to the building blocks of matter. 



That radical possibility - panpsychism - holds that every bit of the universe possesses a flicker of experience, however faint.



Interest in the idea has surged again as researchers wrestle with the “hard problem of consciousness,” the stubborn mystery of how physical stuff gives rise to subjective feeling. 



If neurons alone cannot <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conscious-awareness-when-does-our-sense-of-purpose-emerge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fully explain awareness</a>, might awareness already be lurking everywhere, waiting to be arranged into minds like ours?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-panpsychism-through-the-ages">Panpsychism through the ages</h2>



The question is older than science itself. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thales_of_Miletus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thales of Miletus</a>, puzzling over magnets in the 6th century B.C., claimed they must carry a soul because they move iron. 



A generation later, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaxagoras" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anaxagoras</a> said that “everything contains a portion of mind,” foreshadowing today’s talk of micro-experiences combining into richer ones. 



Greek Stoics spoke of the universe as a living creature animated by “logos,” the rational breath binding all things. This principle was thought to permeate all matter, giving rise to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-urgent-plea-sustainable-climate-solutions-save-earth-humanity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interconnectedness</a> of all things.



<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plotinus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plotinus</a> kept the thread alive in late antiquity, arguing that the cosmos emanates from a single living “One.” 



His influence resurfaced in the Renaissance when <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/bruno/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giordano Bruno</a> pictured an infinite universe teeming with worlds, each ensouled. 



Such views clashed with the mechanistic models that soon powered modern science, but they never disappeared.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-magnets-to-monads">From magnets to monads</h2>



During the Enlightenment, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">René Descartes</a> sliced mind from matter, pushing consciousness into an immaterial corner. 



Even so, <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/leibniz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz</a> answered with “monads,” indivisible units that mirror the entire universe through their own tiny perception. 



By the late 19th century, William James, Gustav Fechner, and Alfred North Whitehead were again arguing that feeling might be woven into nature’s fabric instead of perched on top of it.



Their intuition found fresh urgency once Charles Darwin showed that life, and by extension minds, evolve. If consciousness blooms gradually, perhaps it never strictly begins; perhaps it intensifies as matter organizes itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-meets-philosophy-today">Science meets philosophy today</h2>



Modern neuroscience attacks the mystery head-on. <a href="https://www.psychiatry.wisc.edu/staff/tononi-giulio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giulio Tononi</a> at the University of Wisconsin put forward <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn.2016.44" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integrated Information Theory</a> (IIT) in 2004, claiming that a system’s consciousness equals the amount of integrated information it generates, a value symbolized by “Φ.” 



High Φ signals a richer, more unified experience; low Φ signals a dim one. 



Crucially, IIT treats consciousness as “intrinsic and independent of external observers,” meaning it could arise in any structure - animal brains, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-imaging-method-will-unravel-mysteries-of-neural-processes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial networks</a>, or, in principle, a block of silicon - if the informational web is tight enough.



Researchers are now testing IIT’s predictions with brain-stimulation experiments and computer models. 



Some early results suggest that loss of consciousness, as in deep anesthesia, coincides with a sharp drop in measurable integration. The data are tentative, but they push the theory beyond armchair speculation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-information-integration">Inside information integration</h2>



IIT also tries to map the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-reveals-common-altered-states-of-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quality of experience</a>: different shapes of integrated information should correspond to different qualia, the raw feelings of color, taste, or pain. 



That ambition draws praise for its clarity and criticism for its boldness. Skeptics note the difficulty of calculating Φ in real systems and ask whether the math truly captures subjective life. 



Yet the framework has already inspired machine-consciousness tests, raising practical as well as philosophical stakes.



If IIT holds up, panpsychism gains a scientific foothold, because the theory does not limit consciousness to biology. Wherever the right informational architecture appears, experience could spark.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-puzzles-and-panpsychism">Quantum puzzles and panpsychism</h2>



A more controversial route links mind to quantum mechanics. 



Physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff propose the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1571064513001188" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orchestrated Objective Reduction</a> (Orch-OR) theory, which places quantum computations inside neuronal microtubules. 



When enough microtubules entangle, they say, an “objective reduction” occurs, collapsing superposed states and producing a moment of awareness shaped by “quantum gravity.”



Many biophysicists argue that brains are too warm and noisy for prolonged quantum coherence and that microtubules are unlikely qubit hosts. 



Supporters counter with new work on room-temperature <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum effects in photosynthesis</a>, suggesting nature might pull off similar tricks elsewhere. 



So far, definitive evidence for Orch-OR is missing, but the debate keeps the link between physics and consciousness on the table.



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



Panpsychism alarms some thinkers who worry that ascribing feeling to atoms cheapens the concept of consciousness. 



The main technical hurdle is the “combination problem”: even if electrons feel a whisper, how do countless whispers merge into the loud voice of human thought? No consensus mechanism exists.



Still, the position refuses to die because it offers a clean way around dualism. If experience is not tacked onto matter but rides with it from the start, the gap between mind and world may shrink. 



Philosophers compare the shift to realizing that heat is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/no-electron-dancing-allowed-new-molecular-design-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">molecular motion</a> rather than an extra substance called caloric. Whether the analogy holds is an open question, yet it shows why the stakes are high.



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



Future progress will rely on sharper experiments and clearer concepts. Neuroscientists are refining Φ-based metrics, while physicists hunt quantum signatures in biology. 



Philosophers, for their part, are re-examining ancient ideas with modern logic, asking whether panpsychism is a genuine explanation or a verbal sleight of hand.



Wherever the search leads, it forces us to face an unsettling possibility: consciousness might be less a rare jewel than a basic note in the cosmic score. 



If so, the challenge is not to grant minds to stones but to understand how nature composes simple tones into the symphony we call waking life.



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What if everything, from animals to plants to atoms, has consciousness? This theory is gaining momentum

Consciousness is usually treated as a human problem, tied to brains and behavior. Yet for centuries some thinkers have quietly asked whether experience might reach far beyond our skulls, right down to the building blocks of matter. That radical possibility - panpsychism - holds that every bit of the universe possesses a flicker of experience, however faint. Interest in the idea has surged again as researchers wrestle with the “hard problem of consciousness,” the stubborn mystery of how physical stuff gives rise to subjective feeling. If neurons...

A recent study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16208" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PeerJ</a> reveals that the world’s oceans are becoming increasingly noisy due to the changing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dangerous-climate-feedback-loops-have-been-underestimated/">climate</a>.&nbsp;



Study lead author and <a href="https://www.nioz.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIOZ</a> oceanographer Luca Possenti noted that in some places, by the end of this century, the sound of ships, for example, will be five times as loud. "That will interfere with the behavior of many species of fish and marine mammals."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-noise-propagation">Ocean noise propagation </h2>



"Since the industrial revolution, oceans have become substantially noisier. The noise increase is mainly caused by increased shipping, resource exploration, and infrastructure development affecting marine life at multiple levels, including behavior and physiology," wrote the researchers.



"Together with increasing anthropogenic noise, climate change is altering the thermal structure of the oceans, which in turn might affect noise propagation."



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



The study was based on mathematical modeling conducted in collaboration with Utrecht University. The researchers used moderate to extreme climate scenarios provided by the UN climate panel IPCC, exploring the effects of water temperature and acidity on underwater sound propagation.&nbsp;



The ongoing release of greenhouse gases is causing seawater to become more acidic. When combined with rising ocean temperatures, these factors are anticipated to allow underwater sounds to travel farther in the majority of ocean regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-temperature-layers-nbsp">Changes in temperature layers&nbsp;</h2>



Possenti explained that as warmer surface water supply to the northern Atlantic Ocean decreases, this will cause changes in temperature layers throughout the ocean.&nbsp;



“As a result of this, a separated ‘sound channel’ in the upper part of the North Atlantic may be formed. This will act as a kind of tunnel, which will carry sounds much further,” said Possenti.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underwater-noise">Underwater noise</h2>



Consequently, under a moderate climate scenario, the underwater sound level in this part of the oceans is expected to increase by seven decibels by the end of the century.



Although a 7 dB increase may seem minimal, it represents nearly a fivefold increase in underwater noise energy. Sounds from marine traffic and other sources, such as air guns utilized for seismic surveys, will be significantly amplified.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-profound-impacts-of-ocean-noise">Profound impacts of ocean noise</h2>



With an expected increase in marine traffic contributing to the total underwater noise, the impact of these changes is poised to be substantial, even under moderate climate scenarios.



The implications of this noise increase are profound for marine life, which relies heavily on sound for communication due to limited underwater visibility.&nbsp;



Possenti emphasized the critical importance of sound for these species, noting that increased human-generated noise will undoubtedly affect marine ecosystems.&nbsp;



"In the absence of good visibility underwater, fish and also marine mammals communicate mainly through sounds," said Possenti. "If fish can no longer hear their predators, or if whales have a harder time communicating with each other, this will affect the entire ecosystem."



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



Possenti and his colleagues from TNO and MARIN are actively measuring underwater sounds. Using glass spheres that break at great depths, they generate and record sounds used by marine mammals, capturing these noises from tens to hundreds of kilometers away.&nbsp;



This combination of theoretical and experimental research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by increased underwater noise, offering crucial insights for the protection of marine life.



"Much is still unknown about the exact effects of underwater conditions on the speed of sound. But because of the potentially profound effects on the ecosystem, that knowledge is essential if we want to understand what the changing climate may do to marine life," said Possenti.



---



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Ocean noise is getting louder: What does this mean for animals?

A recent study published in the journal PeerJ reveals that...

Starry,Night,In,The,Forest

It turns out our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-blocks-of-life-found-in-a-galaxy-12-billion-light-years-away/">galaxy</a> is not as heavy as we previously believed. A new study indicates that we may be missing a fifth of the Milky Way's weight, suggesting the disappearance of a considerable amount of dark matter.



The research is scheduled for publishing in the<a href="https://www.aanda.org/component/article?access=doi&amp;doi=10.1051/0004-6361/202347513" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Astronomy and Astrophysics</a> journal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-dark-matter">What is dark matter?</h2>



Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter believed to make up a significant portion of the total mass of the universe.&nbsp;



Unlike ordinary matter - including atoms and particles making up the stars, planets, and other things we see and touch - dark matter is invisible and undetectable. It does not interact with the electromagnetic field.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weight-of-the-milky-way-nbsp">Weight of the Milky Way&nbsp;</h2>



Based on data from the Gaia telescope, the researchers determined that the Milky Way is 200 billion times heavier than the sun. This challenges existing estimates, which put the previous mass at between 890 billion and a little above one trillion solar masses.



The discovery also challenges previous assumptions that dark matter has six times more abundance than ordinary matter.&nbsp;



This could mean that ordinary matter makes up a third of all the matter in the galaxy. After all, the popular opinion is that ordinary matter is equivalent to the mass of around 600 million suns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-questions-remain">Many questions remain</h2>



The findings are profound, no doubt. But they are very different from everything we have known about the matter content of the galaxy. This has led to skepticism among scientists.



Professor Andrew Pontzen of <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> believes that the study needs to provide more evidence to firmly establish the results.



Professor Andrew told The Times: "If our galaxy really has as little mass as this work suggests, one would have to explain why previous works based on different techniques all came up with a higher number."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exceptional-findings">Exceptional findings</h2>



In their defense, the researchers acknowledge that their findings are "quite exceptional."&nbsp;



Their conclusion was made possible through the study of the Milky Way's rotational curve.



The team explained that the difference in the Milky Way's rotational curve compared to other spiral galaxies "could be due to the extraordinarily quiet history of our galaxy."&nbsp;



For example, it's been nine billion years since the Milky Way's last major merger. The time frame is six billion years for its counterparts.&nbsp;



This new discovery is set to reshape how we have perceived our galaxy in the last 13 billion years.



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



As discussed above, dark matter is the elusive cosmic enigma that continues to baffle scientists and astronomers alike. While it doesn't emit, absorb, or reflect light, its profound influence on the universe is undeniable.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defining-dark-matter">Defining dark matter</h3>



Unlike ordinary matter, which comprises atoms and everything we can see and touch, dark matter remains hidden from our senses. Scientists have known of its existence for decades, primarily through its gravitational effects on visible matter, such as galaxies and galaxy clusters.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-dark-matter-matters">Why dark matter matters</h3>



The significance of dark matter lies in its gravitational pull. While it may not emit or interact with light, it exerts a gravitational force that affects the motion of galaxies and galaxy clusters. 



Without dark matter, galaxies would not have enough gravitational pull to hold their stars together, and the universe would be vastly different from what we observe today.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hunt-for-dark-matter">The hunt for dark matter</h3>



Unraveling the mysteries of dark matter is a scientific frontier that has captivated researchers for years. Various experiments and observations are underway to detect and understand this enigmatic substance.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-particle-physics-experiments">Particle physics experiments</h4>



Some scientists believe that dark matter could consist of yet-undiscovered particles. Experiments such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN are searching for these elusive particles, aiming to recreate conditions present in the early universe when dark matter may have been formed.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-direct-detection-experiments">Direct detection experiments</h4>



Deep underground laboratories house experiments designed to directly detect dark matter particles as they pass through Earth. These detectors are highly sensitive and aim to capture the faintest signals of dark matter interactions.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-microwave-background">Cosmic microwave background</h4>



The cosmic microwave background radiation, a relic of the early universe, is another tool in the quest for dark matter. Precise measurements of this radiation can provide clues about the distribution and properties of dark matter.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gravitational-lensing">Gravitational lensing</h4>



Astronomers use gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where the gravitational pull of dark matter bends and distorts light from distant objects, to map the distribution of dark matter in the universe.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unfinished-puzzle">Unfinished puzzle</h4>



Despite decades of research and numerous experiments, dark matter remains an unsolved puzzle. While we have strong evidence for its existence, we have yet to directly observe or identify its constituents. Understanding dark matter is crucial not only for piecing together the universe's history but also for shedding light on fundamental questions about the nature of the cosmos.



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Large amount of dark matter may be missing from the Milky Way

It turns out our galaxy is not as heavy as...

Playing music for your plants may seem unusual, but now you may have a reason to. Scientists have discovered that music could help <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-new-clues-about-how-plants-respond-to-touch/">plants</a> grow better and produce more food.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acoustic-farming">Acoustic farming</h2>



In what could be an unusual breakthrough in agriculture, researchers in China have discovered that music can significantly improve plant growth.



The study further establishes that plants that "listen" to music have been found to grow an impressive 10 percent more leaves, take in more sunlight, and produce more food. They call this groundbreaking concept "acoustic farming."



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



The research team from<a href="http://www.tju.edu.cn/english/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Tianjin Normal University</a>, conducted extensive rounds of experiments with duckweed (Lemna turionifera).&nbsp;



Duckweed or water lentils are perennial plants that float on or just underneath the water's surface. They are usually found in slow-moving bodies of fresh water and wetlands.



The choice of duckweed was based on the plant's protein and amino acid content richness.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



For the experiment, scientists played the soothing sound of Bandri's "The Purple Butterfly." The plants were exposed to the soft music for a duration of five hours for seven consecutive days.



The researchers also maintained a 60-70 decibel sound level, equivalent to the loudness of a typical conversation.



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



At the end of the experiment, the researchers compared the growth of the duckweed plants that listened to the music (musical plants) to those that did not (silent plants).&nbsp;



The experts found that the music had considerable and immediate positive effects on the growth of the Duckweed plants.&nbsp;



The musical plants performed better, recording about 10 percent higher leaf growth than the silent plants. The experts also found that the musical plants had significantly higher average protein content (8.89mg/g FW) than the silent plants (5.49 mg/g FW).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improved-photosynthesis-nbsp">Improved photosynthesis&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers observed that the duckweed exposed to the music processed light better. This prompted them to conclude that "music stimulation promoted photosynthesis by increasing the expression of photosynthesis-related genes with music treatment."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unknown-mechanisms">Unknown mechanisms</h2>



Scientists have not yet determined the exact reasons for the positive impact of music on plant growth, but they uncovered a crucial clue.&nbsp;



The sound vibrations from the music appeared to affect the functioning of the 1,298 genes in the plants. These include the genes controlling photosynthesis and hormonal regulation.&nbsp;



"Our results provided reasonable evidence for elevated photosynthesis during music treatment. The results suggest music enhanced the ability to use light energy and provided new ideas for the research of plant acoustics,” the researchers noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-acoustic-farming-the-future">Is acoustic farming the future?</h2>



The possibility of acoustic farming is fascinating. It could potentially revolutionize how we practice agriculture.&nbsp;However, this will depend on the success of future research to determine the exact mechanisms behind the observations in this study.



It may seem that King Charles saw the future when he admitted to talking to his plants during an interview in 1986. But unlike King Charles, we may have to do more than talking.&nbsp;



Perhaps the right melody will help our plants do better and bring us more agricultural success.



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Plants that listen to music grow faster and healthier

Playing music for your plants may seem unusual, but now...

No one thought we would see the Pontus after 160 million years. But in a remarkable discovery, scientists have detected the existence of this mega-plate in the west Pacific Ocean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-pontus-plate">The Pontus plate</h2>



The resurfacing of the Pontus plate is the latest discovery in the world of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plate-tectonics-active-beginning/">plate tectonics</a>.&nbsp;It is believed that the massive tectonic plate was once about 15 million square miles in size, which equates to approximately one quarter of the Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;



However, Pontus has been gradually subducted beneath the earth over the last millions of years. Scientists believe this gravitational force came from a neighboring plate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-relics-of-pontus-nbsp">Relics of Pontus&nbsp;</h2>



Pontus can be traced back as far as 160 million years, and even more recently to around 20 million years back. By that point, its size would have been greatly reduced.



Suzanna Van de Lagemaat, a geologist at <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en/home-en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utrecht University</a>, led the study uncovering Pontus. She and her team leveraged the power of computer modeling to analyze oceanic rocks, which they call the "relics of Pontus."&nbsp;&nbsp;



The findings from the analysis shed more light on the plate and its complex geological history.



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



Previously, Van de Lagemaat and other scientists at Utrecht University had predicted the existence of the Pontus about a decade ago. The prediction came after they discovered fragments of old tectonic plates deep in the Earth's mantle.



In the current study, Van de Lagemaat reconstructed the lost plates by combining field research with extensive investigations of Japan, Borneo, the Philippines, New Guinea, and New Zealand Mountain belts. These areas were believed to be the "most complicated plate tectonic region."



“The Philippines is located at a complex junction of different plate systems. The region almost entirely consists of oceanic crust, but some pieces are raised above sea level and show rocks of very different ages,” said Van de Lagemaat.



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



Van de Lagemaat and her team started by reconstructing the movements of the current plates in the region between Japan and New Zealand.&nbsp;



This provided an idea about the size of the plates that disappeared in today's western Pacific region.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="rzS74VF5A1-3063237-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unknown-plate">Unknown plate</h2>



The researchers also encountered relics of a lost plate during their investigation of northern Borneo. But these were remnants of a different, unknown plate.



"We also conducted fieldwork in northern Borneo, where we found the most important piece of the puzzle," said Douwe van Hinsbergen, Van de Lagemaat’s PhD supervisor.



"We thought we were dealing with relics of a lost plate that we already knew about. But our magnetic lab research on those rocks indicated that our finds were originally from much farther north and had to be remnants of a different, previously unknown plate."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coherent-plate-tectonic-system-nbsp">Coherent plate tectonic system&nbsp;</h2>



In addition to northern Borneo, Pontus plate relics were found in Palawan, an island in the Western Philippines, and the South China Sea.&nbsp;



The research also indicates that a single coherent plate tectonic system extends from southern Japan to New Zealand. Scientists believe this system may have existed for at least 150 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breaking-new-boundaries">Breaking new boundaries</h2>



Previous assumptions about the existence of the Pontus plate were grounded in the traces left behind by subducted plates.&nbsp;



These traces exist in zones of unusual temperatures and compositions within the Earth's mantle, but they become evident when seismographs record signals from earthquakes.



The movement of the seismic waves through the zones of anomaly usually disrupts the signal. Geologists then trace these disruptions to an unusual event in the mantle, which could be fragments of tectonic plates.



This innovative technique means scientists can look as far back as 300 million years into the Earth's past, considering the older plate fragments have depleted the boundary between the Earth's core and mantle.



With Van de Lagemaat's new discovery, we have confirmed a hypothesis from about 11 years ago that suggested that a large subduction zone passed through the western paleo-Pacific Ocean. This separated the known eastern Pacific plates from the hypothetical western Pontus plate.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1342937X23002617" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gondwana Research</a>.



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Long-lost mega-plate Pontus resurfaces after 160 million years

No one thought we would see the Pontus after 160...

The,Land,Is,Cracked,,The,Rain,Does,Not,Fall,In

Researchers from institutions including the <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> and <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a> have recently found that if the Earth’s temperatures rise only one degree Celsius over current measurements, each year countless individuals will experience unbearable heat and humidity levels that will render their bodies incapable of cooling themselves.&nbsp;



Moreover, the experts found that temperature increases of more than 1.5 C above pre-industrial times will result in significant negative impacts on human health worldwide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-thresholds-nbsp">Heat thresholds&nbsp;</h2>



Humans have certain thresholds for the combined effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scorching-reality-extreme-heat-worsens-cognitive-decline/">heat</a> and humidity. Crossing these thresholds can lead to severe health issues, like heat strokes or cardiac incidents. As the climate continues to change, these boundaries could be exceeded, putting billions at risk.



Since the industrial era’s onset, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/summer-of-extremes-earth-just-endured-it-hottest-three-month-stretch-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global temperatures</a> have risen approximately 1 C (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). This led to the 2015 Paris Agreement, where 196 countries committed to restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 C over the pre-industrial average.



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



The scientists analyzed several potential scenarios, looking at global temperature rises from 1.5 C up to 4 C. They aimed to identify regions where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-linked-to-vision-impairment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human tolerance</a> levels for heat and humidity would be breached.



“To understand how complex, real-world problems like climate change will affect human health, you need expertise both about the planet and the human body,” said co-author W. Larry Kenney, a professor of Physiology and Kinesiology at Penn State.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“I am not a climate scientist, and my collaborators are not physiologists. Collaboration is the only way to understand the complex ways that the environment will affect people’s lives and begin to develop solutions to the problems that we all must face together.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exceeding-human-limits-nbsp">Exceeding human limits&nbsp;</h2>



A study by Penn State researchers last year pinpointed the wet-bulb temperature limit for young, healthy individuals at about 31 C (87.8 F at 100 percent humidity). Multiple factors influence this limit, such as exertion, wind speed, and solar radiation.&nbsp;



The researchers noted that only a handful of instances in human history have registered temperatures and humidity exceeding human limits, typically in areas like the Middle East and Southeast Asia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intolerable-heat-levels-nbsp">Intolerable heat levels&nbsp;</h2>



The current study projects that with a 2 C temperature rise, billions residing in areas like Pakistan and India’s Indus River Valley, eastern China, and sub-Saharan Africa will regularly face intolerable heat levels.&nbsp;



The scientists express concern over the high-humidity nature of these heatwaves and the socioeconomic status of these regions. Moreover, the affected populations might lack access to essential cooling measures, exacerbating health risks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncertainties-remain">Uncertainties remain</h2>



A temperature increase of 3 C above pre-industrial levels could make places like the US’ Eastern Seaboard and central areas, South America, and Australia too hot for humans. While the US might be spared the worst direct impacts, Daniel Vecellio, the study’s lead author, cautioned that models like these might not account for extreme, unprecedented weather events.



Another 2022 study by the team found that the previously theorized limits for heat and humidity tolerance were too high.&nbsp;



“The data collected by Kenney’s team at Penn State provided much needed empirical evidence about the human body’s ability to tolerate heat. Those studies were the foundation of these new predictions about where climate change will create conditions that humans cannot tolerate for long,” said co-author Matthew Huber, a professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue.



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



Huber’s graduate student, Qinqin Kong, emphasized the need for governments to address the threat of humid heat, which poses more danger than dry heat.&nbsp;



“Around the world, official strategies for adapting to the weather focus on temperature only. But this research shows that humid heat is going to be a much bigger threat than dry heat. Governments and policymakers need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of heat-mitigation strategies to invest in programs that will address the greatest dangers people will face,” he said.



The experts advised the public to always be vigilant regarding extreme heat events, particularly for vulnerable groups like older people.&nbsp;



“Models like these are good at predicting trends, but they do not predict specific events like the 2021 heatwave in Oregon that killed more than 700 people or London reaching 40C last summer,” said lead author Daniel Vecellio, a bioclimatologist who completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State with Kenney.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uninhabitable-regions">Uninhabitable regions</h2>



“And remember, heat levels then were all below the limits of human tolerance that we identified. So, even though the United States will escape some of the worst direct effects of this warming, we will see deadly and unbearable heat more often. And — if temperatures continue to rise — we will live in a world where crops are failing and millions or billions of people are trying to migrate because their native regions are uninhabitable.”



In order to address rising temperatures, the scientists stressed the urgent need for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. If such proactive measures are not taken, countries with middle and lower economic statuses will be hit hardest.



Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the team drew attention to Al Hudaydah in Yemen, a bustling port city on the Red Sea with a population exceeding 700,000.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-billions-will-suffer">Billions will suffer</h2>



According to the study’s findings, should global warming reach an increase of 4 C, residents of this city might endure temperatures exceeding human comfort thresholds for over 300 days annually, rendering it close to unlivable.



“The worst heat stress will occur in regions that are not wealthy and that are expected to experience rapid population growth in the coming decades. This is true despite the fact that these nations generate far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than wealthy nations. As a result, billions of poor people will suffer, and many could die. But wealthy nations will suffer from this heat as well, and in this interconnected world, everyone can expect to be negatively affected in some way,” Huber concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2305427120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Unbearable heat could make some parts of the world uninhabitable if warming continues

Researchers from institutions including the Pennsylvania State University and Purdue...

3d,Illustration,Of,A,Meteor,Shower,Falls,To,The,Ground.

October offers to stargazers a celestial treat, with both the forthcoming solar eclipse and the Hunter’s Moon on the horizon. However, it’s also a month where shooting stars will soar through the skies due to two active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/over-100-meteors-per-hour-will-light-up-the-skies-this-weekend-as-the-perseids-peak/">meteor showers</a>, with the Draconids coming up first.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-draconids-and-orionids-nbsp">Draconids and Orionids&nbsp;</h2>



The Draconids set the stage for the month’s stellar events, commencing on October 6, peaking around October 8-9, and concluding on October 10. Later in the month, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-of-the-most-beautiful-meteor-showers-of-2020-peaks-tonight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orionids</a> will reach their peak around October 21-22.&nbsp;



Fortunately, for those eager to witness the meteor shower, the moon will be in its new moon phase. This means that minimal light interference will allow the Draconids to shine brightly.



Originating from the <a href="https://web.pa.msu.edu/people/horvatin/Astronomy_Facts/constellation_pages/draco.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Draco constellation</a>, the Draconids have, on occasion, given birth to meteor storms, showering the night with tens of thousands of stars. However, such a spectacular event has not occurred since 1946.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-draco-nbsp">The constellation Draco&nbsp;</h2>



The Draconid meteor shower is rooted in the remnants of the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. This comet, discovered in 1900 by Michel Giacobini, measures a mere 1.24 miles across and completes its orbit around the sun roughly every 6.6 years.



According to Anna Gammon-Ross, an expert at the <a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Observatory Greenwich</a>, the Draconid meteor shower derives its name from the constellation Draco (Latin for the dragon).&nbsp;



“This is because, although meteors can be seen all over the sky, they all appear to emerge or radiate from a single point lying within this constellation,” she explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-remnants-of-the-comet-21p-giacobini-zinner">Remnants of the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner</h2>



The Draconid spectacle is a result of the Earth passing through the remnants left behind by the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. As Gammon-Ross points out, these fragments combust approximately 50 miles above our planet, rendering the event safe for Earth’s inhabitants.



Shooting stars, or meteor showers, are the result of minuscule particles, sometimes as small as a grain of sand, igniting upon entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. If any of these larger fragments endure the blazing descent and manage to reach the Earth’s crust, they earn the title of “meteorite.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meteor-storm">Meteor storm</h2>



While the Draconid meteor shower might not be the most populated display of the calendar, its distinctiveness lies in its capacity to evolve into a meteor storm. During such rare phenomena, viewers might behold more than a thousand meteors painting the sky.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wish-on-a-star">Wish on a star</h2>



Although meteor showers have a variety of astrological connections, according to astrologer Kyle Thomas they “don’t have exact astrological relevance” akin to new moons and full moons. However, as he puts it, “seeing a meteor shower or shooting star is always indicative of luck, synchronicity, and good fortune.”



“The reason people believe to ‘wish on a shooting star’ is because it has been said for many years throughout time that these moments are rare, thus giving someone a boost of luck,” said Thomas, an enthusiast of mythology and astrology since his early years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astrological-meaning-nbsp">Astrological meaning&nbsp;</h2>



Moreover, the constellation from which meteor showers seem to emanate adds another layer of astrological meaning.&nbsp;



Compared to the moon’s phases, meteor showers do not bear the same specific zodiac relevance. However, they offer a unique esoteric lens through which they can be interpreted.&nbsp;



Often, the Draconids are linked with the Aquarius constellation, offering another method to interpret a shooting star’s zodiac significance. Given the Draconids’ association with Aquarius, Thomas argues that themes such as “the future, community, aspirations, hopes, dreams, freedom and revolution” resonate closely with this astronomical event.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mythological-meaning-nbsp">Mythological meaning&nbsp;</h2>



Moreover, Thomas notes that Draco has a mythological meaning of “protection,” particularly concerning “hidden treasures.” While such treasures can be tangible, like monetary riches, they can also be intangible, representing wisdom. Thus, the Draconids could guide individuals to unearth the “hidden treasure” they seek.



With his rich background in mythology, Thomas shares fascinating insights into Draco as a constellation, historically symbolized as a dragon, serpent, or snake. Tracing back to ancient civilizations, Thomas argued that the Babylonians revered this constellation.&nbsp;



Later on, Christian tales link it to the Garden of Eden’s serpent, and for the Egyptians, it signifies the crocodile that consumed those burdened by guilt. Finally, for the Greeks, Draco protected the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides. In symbolic terms, Draco embodies themes of guardianship, representing creation, annihilation, and timelessness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnificent-spectacle-nbsp">Magnificent spectacle&nbsp;</h2>



Whether or not amateur and professional stargazers are interested in such astrological connections, the Draconid shower promises a magnificent spectacle during the following nights.&nbsp;



To increase the chances of spotting the meteor shower, people should look for a dark area of clear sky and allow around 20 minutes to let their eyes adapt to the dark.&nbsp;



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Draconid meteor shower peaks tonight in beautiful celestial display

October offers to stargazers a celestial treat, with both the...

Researchers at the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> have found that geomagnetic disturbances, often a result of solar flares and other energetic outbursts, can significantly impact the migratory patterns of nocturnal birds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-magnetic-field-nbsp">Earth's magnetic field&nbsp;</h2>



Birds, and numerous other animals, depend on the Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-can-switch-their-perception-of-earths-magnetic-field-on-and-off/">magnetic field</a> for long-distance navigation during their seasonal migrations. However, the impact of periodic disruptions in this magnetic field have remained largely unknown.



The researchers analyzed information stored in long-term datasets from networks of U.S. Doppler weather radar stations and ground-based magnetometers. They found a startling link between space weather events and nocturnal bird migration.&nbsp;



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



The findings reveal a substantial 9-17% reduction in the number of <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/how-does-the-climate-affect-the-behavior-of-migratory-birds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migrating birds</a> during significant space weather occurrences, observable in both spring and autumn seasons. 



Furthermore, birds that did choose to embark on their migration journeys during such geomagnetic disturbances faced increased navigational challenges, particularly in overcast conditions during the fall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncharted-relationships-nbsp">Uncharted relationships&nbsp;</h2>



The research sheds light on previously uncharted relationships between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-have-new-strategy-to-cope-with-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird migration</a> and geomagnetic disturbances. 



"Our findings highlight how animal decisions are dependent on environmental conditions - including those that we as humans cannot perceive, such as geomagnetic disturbances - and that these behaviors influence population-level patterns of animal movement," said study lead author Eric Gulson-Castillo, a doctoral student in the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.



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



While it's understood that Earth's magnetic field experiences regular disturbances from solar outbursts, which manifest as breathtaking auroras and can interrupt satellite communications and power grids, the implications of these disturbances on wildlife remained largely speculative.&nbsp;



Previous research has suggested a potential link. For example, a study analyzing millions of bird banding records found increased incidents of migratory bird "vagrancy" - or birds getting lost during migration - correlating with geomagnetic disruptions.



These earlier studies, however, had a limited scope as far as their duration, geographic extent, and the number of bird species examined.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-great-plains">The Great Plains</h2>



The current study involved a 23-year dataset spanning the vast stretch of the U.S. Great Plains, providing an unprecedented look at the migration patterns on a larger scale.&nbsp;



The chosen region for data collection, the central flyway of the U.S. Great Plains, is a significant migratory corridor extending over 1,000 miles from Texas to North Dakota. The area was chosen for its relatively flat topography, eliminating influences from mountains or extensive coastlines.



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



The research team accessed images from 37 NEXRAD radar stations. These radar scans detected groups of migrating birds numbering in the hundreds to thousands, enabling estimations of migration intensity and flight directions.&nbsp;



The data was then compared with concurrent geomagnetic measurements obtained from superMAG, a global collection of geomagnetic ground stations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geomagnetic-disturbances-nbsp">Geomagnetic disturbances&nbsp;</h2>



Ben Winger, the study's senior author, noted the broad agreement in findings that migration intensity is diminished by intense geomagnetic disturbances.&nbsp;



"Our results provide ecological context for decades of research on the mechanisms of animal magnetoreception by demonstrating community-wide impacts of space weather on migration dynamics," said Winger.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drifting-in-the-wind">Drifting in the wind</h2>



Further observations revealed that birds seem to drift more with the wind during geomagnetic disturbances, especially in the fall.&nbsp;



Strong solar storms under cloudy conditions reduced "effort flying" against the wind by 25%, suggesting that the combined effects of blocked celestial cues and magnetic disruptions might be impacting navigation.



"Our results suggest that fewer birds migrate during strong geomagnetic disturbances and that migrating birds may experience more difficulty navigating, especially under overcast conditions in autumn," said Gulson-Castillo. "As a result, they may spend less effort actively navigating in flight and consequently fly in greater alignment with the wind."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2306317120">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Geomagnetic disturbances from solar flares throw nocturnal birds off migratory course

Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that geomagnetic...

In a world where change is often considered the only constant, many species surprisingly remain the same over long spans of time. Traditional biology explains this phenomenon by suggesting that natural selection favors moderate characteristics. This means that creatures with more extreme features might not fare as well as their more average counterparts.&nbsp;



However, a new study led by <a href="https://wustl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington University in St. Louis</a> is shedding new light on our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/color-evolution-ginger-pigment-found-in-10-million-year-old-frogs/">evolution</a> in species that live in close proximity to each other. 



According to the research, these species occupy distinct “fitness peaks," which can best be described as part of a wider community “fitness surface” or landscape. This study fundamentally alters our perception of how species relate and remain distinct over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lizards-and-natural-selection">Lizards and natural selection</h2>



The experts closely observed the survival of various <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-pushes-lizard-origins-back-35-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lizard</a> species over time. Their results challenge the conventional wisdom that species undergo little change due to natural selection favoring moderate characteristics. 



“If species are adapted to their environment, and the environment doesn’t change, then you wouldn’t expect the species to change. However, when scientists have gone out and studied natural selection, they rarely find evidence of such stabilizing selection," explained study co-author Professor Jonathan Loso.&nbsp;



“Given this disconnect, we set out to study natural selection on the organisms we know so well, Anolis lizards, to measure selection over several years and try to understand what’s going on."



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



The research was focused on Anolis lizards living on a small island within the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden near Miami. This site was identified by James Stroud of <a href="https://www.gatech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Georgia Tech</a>, who was working as a postdoctoral researcher in Losos’ lab at WashU at the time.



Stroud and his team caught, tagged, and measured thousands of individual lizards, closely monitoring their survival and physical traits over 2.5 years (two to three generations of these lizards). This data allowed for a detailed analysis of survival in relation to physical traits such as leg length.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coexisting-lizard-species">Coexisting lizard species </h2>



“What is special about this study is that we simultaneously measured natural selection on four coexisting species, something that has rarely been accomplished,” said Losos, who also serves as the director of the Living Earth Collaborative.&nbsp;



“By coincidence, just as our paper was published, another group published a similar study on Darwin’s famous finches of the Galapagos Islands.”



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



In the Florida lizards, Losos and Stroud found that the stabilizing form of natural selection - that which maintains a species’ average features - was extremely rare. In fact, natural selection varied massively through time.&nbsp;



Some years, lizards with longer legs would survive better, and other years, lizards with shorter legs fared better. For other times, there was no clear pattern at all.



“The most fascinating result is that natural selection was extremely variable through time,” said Stroud. “We often saw that selection would completely flip in direction from one year to the next. When combined into a long-term pattern, however, all this variation effectively canceled itself out: species remained remarkably similar across the entire time period.”



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



Professor Losos elaborated on the significance of these insights. He emphasized that even though species might appear unchanged, evolution is consistently at work beneath the surface.&nbsp;



The variability in selection was emphasized as a particularly intriguing outcome of the study, underscoring the complex and dynamic nature of evolutionary processes.



“Evolution can and does happen - it’s this ongoing process, but it doesn’t necessarily mean things are constantly changing in the long run,” said Stroud. “Now we know that even if animals appear to be staying the same, evolution is still happening.”



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2222071120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Coexisting lizards challenge what we know about natural selection

In a world where change is often considered the only...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Helsinki</a> have recently discovered unexpected changes in bird communities within protected areas due to climate change. The study was focused on shifts in Canadian bird communities from 1997 to 2019.



"An increasing number of species are under threat from climate change and many populations are at risk of decreasing in abundance. Consequently, some species have become endangered," wrote the study authors.



"Therefore, predicting how the range, distribution, abundance, and phenology of species may change in response to a warming climate is a timely and important step in planning actions to mitigate the negative impacts of climate warming."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasingly-similar-trends">Increasingly similar trends</h2>



The experts found that bird communities in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protected-areas-provide-a-thermal-buffer-against-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protected and unprotected areas</a> are becoming increasingly similar, with both witnessing a rise in southern species and a decline in northern species. 



One significant observation was that during the breeding season, communities within protected spaces began to mimic those in unprotected spaces in terms of their climate requirements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protected-areas-are-not-immune-to-climate-change-nbsp">Protected areas are not immune to climate change&nbsp;</h2>



“Protected areas are more effective in helping cold-dwelling northern bird species, but it was surprising to discover that southern species increased faster in abundance inside than outside protected areas,” explained Leena Hintsanen of the <a href="https://www.luomus.fi/en/natural-history-museum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finnish Museum of Natural History</a>.



This finding highlights that the impact of climate change in protected areas is greater than previously anticipated.



For example, while protected areas continue to be crucial for the conservation of northern species like the Lapland longspur, these spaces are not immune to the alterations brought about by climate change.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-requirements-nbsp">Climate requirements&nbsp;</h2>



The 22-year study documented that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-birds-dream-of-flying-scientists-say-they-now-know-the-answer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird</a> communities within protected areas are increasingly reflecting those in non-protected areas due to their similar climate requirements.



Hintsanen explained that the trend poses significant challenges for conservation efforts aimed at preserving the vitality of various bird species in the face of global warming. 



Communities that have comparable climate requirements tend to have a balanced proportion of species that prefer cold and warm climates, respectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-southern-species-moving-north">Southern species moving north</h2>



Furthermore, the researchers noted that the observed changes in bird communities in both protected and unprotected areas are primarily driven by southern species, such as the grass wren and the northern cardinal.&nbsp;



These species are expanding their habitats further north as the climate warms, seeking environments that are conducive to their survival.



“This indicates that protected areas, in particular, are highly significant for the northern spread of southern species. However, protected areas cannot entirely guarantee protection for declining northern species,” explained Hintsanen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rapid-changes">Rapid changes</h2>



Past studies conducted in various countries, including Finland, have shown that protected areas generally slow down alterations in species communities.&nbsp;



However, the recent findings highlight the overwhelming influence of climate change on these areas, leading to faster-than-expected changes in bird communities.&nbsp;



According to Hintsanen, a complex network of factors might be contributing to the rapid changes observed in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-negatively-impact-wildlife-even-in-protected-areas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protected areas</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-data-nbsp">Long-term data&nbsp;</h2>



Long-term data from bird surveys conducted since the 1960s in North America have been crucial for this kind of research, providing valuable insights into the effects of climate change on bird populations.&nbsp;



The digitalization of decades-old data has further empowered researchers to gain a better understanding of these impacts, shedding light on the subtle yet significant changes unfolding in the avian world due to the changing climate.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14134" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conservation Biology</a>.



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Bird communities in protected areas are rapidly changing

Researchers at the University of Helsinki have recently discovered unexpected...

In a recent study from the California Grape Table Commission, experts have found that older adults can improve key markers of eye health by consuming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grapes-help-protect-skin-from-uv-damage/">grapes</a> on a daily basis.&nbsp;



"Oxidative stress is a key risk factor for visual impairment and consuming dietary antioxidant-rich foods may help in managing visual impairments," wrote the researchers.&nbsp;



"However, a limited number of studies have investigated the effect of dietary antioxidant-rich food including grapes on eye health in older adults."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-grapes-and-eye-health">Studying grapes and eye health</h2>



The experts set out to investigate impact of regular grape consumption on macular pigment accumulation and other biomarkers of eye health.&nbsp;



While this is the first human study of its kind, the results support preliminary studies which indicated that grape consumption protects retinal structure and function.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



"This was a 16 week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty-four Singapore older adults were randomized into regularly consuming either 46 g day−1 of freeze-dried table grape powder (the intervention group) or the same amount of placebo powder (the control group)," explained the study authors.&nbsp;



"Macular pigment optical density (MPOD), skin carotenoid status, advanced glycation end product (AGEs) status and dietary lutein intake were assessed every 4 weeks, and plasma lutein concentration, total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content were measured every 8 weeks."



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



The study revealed that grape eaters showed a significant increase in MPOD, plasma antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content compared to those on placebo.&nbsp;



Furthermore, participants who did not consume grapes saw a significant increase in harmful AGEs, as measured in the skin.



“Our study is the first to show that grape consumption beneficially impacts eye health in humans which is very exciting, especially with a growing aging population,” said co-author Dr. Jung Eun Kim.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Grapes are an easy, accessible fruit that studies have shown can have a beneficial impact in normal amounts of just 1 ½ cups per day.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-grapes-and-eye-health">Implications for grapes and eye health</h2>



The findings underscore the significant risk of eye disease and vision problems within aging populations.&nbsp;



With age being a considerable risk factor, it is essential to address the issue proactively to preserve eye health.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-population-nbsp">Aging population&nbsp;</h2>



Science has shown that an aging population has a higher risk of eye disease and vision problems, as noted by the researchers.



With an increase in life expectancy across the globe, this issue becomes even more pressing. The aging process naturally exacerbates the susceptibility to various health issues, including eye diseases and visual impairments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-risk-factors">Key risk factors</h2>



Among the notable risk factors for eye diseases in aging individuals are oxidative stress and high levels of ocular advanced glycation end products (AGEs).&nbsp;



Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, plays a pivotal role in the development of age-related eye conditions. Concurrently, elevated levels of ocular AGEs also significantly contribute to the predicament.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-ages">Impact of AGEs</h2>



Advanced glycation end products&nbsp; are notorious for their detrimental effects on the eyes, particularly through damaging the vascular components of the retina, impairing cellular function, and causing oxidative stress.



Such damage to the retina’s vascular components is especially concerning, as it directly influences vision quality.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the impairment of cellular functions and induction of oxidative stress by AGEs collectively accelerate the progression of various eye diseases, making them a crucial target for prevention and treatment strategies.



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



The experts noted that dietary antioxidants can decrease oxidative stress and inhibit the formation of AGEs, with possible beneficial effects on the retina.



The reduction of oxidative stress and prevention of AGE formation through dietary means offer a practical and accessible approach to mitigating the risk of eye diseases.&nbsp;



Improved macular pigment optical density is particularly noteworthy, as it is closely associated with enhanced visual function and protection against age-related macular degeneration.



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



The protective effects of antioxidants - particularly those found naturally in grapes - is a promising avenue for further research focused on eye health.&nbsp;



Through dietary interventions and a focus on antioxidant-rich foods, there is hope for improving quality of life among older adults.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d3fo02105j">Food &amp; Function</a>.



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Grapes provide a dietary shield to protect eye health

In a recent study from the California Grape Table Commission,...

An international team of researchers has uncovered evidence of the largest solar storm ever identified by studying ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/violent-earthquake-threat-in-the-pacific-northwest-revealed-in-tree-rings/">tree rings</a>.&nbsp;



The evidence points to a colossal spike in radiocarbon levels from 14,300 years ago, found in tree rings from the French Alps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-catastrophic-solar-storm">Catastrophic solar storm</h2>



The colossal storm discovered by the scientists originated from the Sun and was so powerful that a similar event would be catastrophic with modern technology.



Today, a solar storm of this magnitude would cause massive destruction to power grids and satellite systems.



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



The research was conducted by experts at the <a href="https://www.college-de-france.fr/fr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Collège de France</a>, CEREGE, IMBE, <a href="https://www.univ-amu.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aix-Marseille University</a>, and the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a>. 



The ancient trees examined for the study were found in the eroded banks of the Drouzet River, near Gap, in the Southern French Alps.&nbsp;



These trees, categorized as subfossils, showcased individual rings that revealed the unprecedented spike in radiocarbon levels precisely 14,300 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creating-a-timeline">Creating a timeline</h2>



“Finding such a collection of preserved trees was truly exceptional. By comparing the widths of the individual tree rings in the multiple tree trunks, we then carefully pieced together the separate trees to create a longer timeline using a method called dendrochronology," explained study co-author Professor Cécile Miramont.&nbsp;



"This allowed us to discover invaluable information on past environmental changes and measure radiocarbon over an uncharted period of solar activity.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gigantic-solar-storm-nbsp">Gigantic solar storm&nbsp;</h2>



To validate their findings, the team compared the radiocarbon spike with beryllium measurements from Greenland ice cores.&nbsp;



The experts concluded that the spike was an outcome of a gigantic solar storm, which had the power to hurl massive volumes of energetic particles into the Earth's atmosphere.



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



Lead researcher, Professor Edouard Bard, noted that radiocarbon is constantly produced in the upper atmosphere due to cosmic rays.



"Recently, scientists have found that extreme solar events including solar flares and coronal mass ejections can also create short-term bursts of energetic particles which are preserved as huge spikes in radiocarbon production occurring over the course of just a single year," explained Professor Bard.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-damage">Potential damage</h2>



Such massive solar occurrences would be disastrous today, as they could disrupt our telecommunications, satellites, and electricity grids, leading to a massive economic cost.&nbsp;



“Extreme solar storms could have huge impacts on Earth. Such super storms could permanently damage the transformers in our electricity grids, resulting in huge and widespread blackouts lasting months," said study co-author Tim Heaton.



"They could also result in permanent damage to the satellites that we all rely on for navigation and telecommunication, leaving them unusable. They would also create severe radiation risks to astronauts."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-solar-storms-nbsp">Extreme solar storms&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, this isn't the first such discovery. Nine extreme solar storms, known as Miyake Events, have been identified from the last 15,000 years.&nbsp;



However, the 14,300-year-old storm stands out as the most massive, almost double the size of the events from 993 AD and 774 AD. Yet, the nature of these events remains elusive, largely due to the absence of direct instrumental observation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-sun-s-behavior-nbsp">Understanding the Sun's behavior&nbsp;</h2>



“Direct instrumental measurements of solar activity only began in the 17th century with the counting of sunspots," noted Professor Bard.



"Nowadays, we also obtain detailed records using ground-based observatories, space probes, and satellites. However, all these short-term instrumental records are insufficient for a complete understanding of the Sun."



"Radiocarbon measured in tree-rings, used alongside beryllium in polar ice cores, provide the best way to understand the Sun’s behavior further back into the past.” &nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-carrington-event-nbsp">The Carrington Event&nbsp;</h2>



The largest directly observed solar storm was the Carrington Event from 1859. The storm destroyed telegraph machines and created a night-time aurora so bright that birds began to sing.



Although the Carrington Event was massive, it pales in comparison to these ancient Miyake Events.&nbsp;



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



Professor Heaton praised the role of radiocarbon in studying Earth’s history, emphasizing the importance of understanding our past to prepare for future risks.



“Radiocarbon provides a phenomenal way of studying Earth’s history and reconstructing critical events that it has experienced," said Professor Heaton.&nbsp;"A precise understanding of our past is essential if we want to accurately predict our future and mitigate potential risks."&nbsp;



"We still have much to learn. Each new discovery not only helps answer existing key questions but can also generate new ones.” &nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2022.0206" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences</a>.&nbsp;



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Earth's largest-ever solar storm discovered through tree rings 

An international team of researchers has uncovered evidence of the...

Tropical ecosystems are significantly dependent on emerging aquatic insects, which could expose them to greater risks, according to a new study led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London.



Published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ele.14322" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology Letters</a>, the study is the first to directly analyze and compare the interconnectedness between land and water in tropical and temperate environments through the lens of aquatic insects.



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



The study was focused on English, Welsh, and Scottish forests as well as Amazonian and Atlantic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amazons-rainforests-are-at-risk-of-transforming-into-dry-grassy-savannas/">rainforests</a> in Brazil.&nbsp;



The researchers used stable isotope analysis to trace signals of aquatic prey within the tissues of arthropod predators, such as spiders. This technique illuminated the predators' dietary patterns away from water bodies.



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



Notably, spiders in tropical locales exhibited higher consumption of aquatic insects compared to their UK counterparts. Such dietary diversity indicates that terrestrial fauna in the tropics heavily relies on aquatic insects.&nbsp;



According to the researchers, these results suggest that tropical environments are more vulnerable to future disruption to the interconnections between land and water.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-pressures-nbsp">Increasing pressures&nbsp;</h2>



“Our findings show that we cannot simply apply knowledge from research in temperate zones to protect tropical ecosystems,” said study senior author Dr. Pavel Kratina.&nbsp;



“That tropical ecosystems are more vulnerable to disruptions to the links between land and water is worrying considering the increasing human pressures on tropical freshwater ecosystems, which are among the most threatened in the world.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-negative-human-impacts">Negative human impacts</h2>



Emerging aquatic insects serve as pathways through which negative human impacts can travel from aquatic to terrestrial environments.&nbsp;



Activities that diminish insect populations, like stream pollution, inadvertently affect land-based predators by limiting their access to essential nutrition derived from insects.&nbsp;



Given that tropical aquatic insects are perilously declining due to human endeavors and climate shifts, the study forewarns of consequential ripple effects throughout tropical regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-riparian-buffers-nbsp">Riparian buffers&nbsp;</h2>



The study highlights the urgent need for robust protection measures for “riparian buffers,” or safeguarded land strips surrounding waterways that are crucial for maintaining the land-water connections.&nbsp;



Present buffer dimensions, ranging between 5 to 100 meters, are deemed insufficient to protect vast terrestrial biodiversity around water bodies.&nbsp;



With buffer regulations in Brazil having been eased in recent years, the researchers advocate for enhanced protection policies for these buffers and a more integrated approach considering the interconnectivity between different ecosystems, especially in tropical areas.



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



“Our research took us to remote parts of the world from the Amazon jungle and Iguaçu River basin in Brazil to Snowdonia national park in Wales and The Trossachs in Scotland,” said study lead author Dr. Liam Nash.



“We braved ticks, wasps, midges, and snakes to collect our samples, and saw animals such as harpy eagles and tapirs along the way. We ran into challenges with the pandemic, which saw me having to fly out of Brazil on one of the last available flights in March 2020 as travel rules were changing hourly! This work could not have happened without the help of experienced local field guides and close collaboration with scientists and students from Brazil.”



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Tropical ecosystems at risk: The critical role of aquatic insects

Tropical ecosystems are significantly dependent on emerging aquatic insects, which...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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.

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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