The moon has two strikingly different sides. The side facing Earth is mostly smooth, with dark, flat plains formed by ancient lava flows. In contrast, the far side is rugged and filled with craters. 



But why do they look so different? What could have caused such a stark contrast between the two halves? Scientists have been searching for answers, and recent findings suggest that the key may lie deep within the moon’s interior.



NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/grail/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GRAIL mission</a> has provided new insights. Two spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, orbited the moon to measure its gravity. They discovered a temperature difference deep inside the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/march-2025-stargazing-a-red-moon-and-a-vanishing-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moon</a>. This could explain why one side looks smooth and the other rough.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-differences-inside-the-moon">Hidden differences inside the moon</h2>



Ryan Park and his team used GRAIL data to peer beneath the surface. They weren’t looking at rocks or craters. They were looking at gravity. The moon’s gravitational field fluctuates slightly as it moves, and Park’s team measured those tiny shifts.



The research was focused on a parameter called the gravitational tidal Love number, k3. It’s a number that reveals how the lunar mantle deforms under gravitational forces - and it revealed something very surprising.



“We report our estimated value of k3 = 0.0163 ± 0.0007, which is about 72% higher than that expected for a spherically symmetric moon,” noted the researchers.



The discovery is significant. It shows that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-ridges-on-moons-surface-suggest-that-it-is-still-active/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moon’s</a> mantle isn’t the same throughout. One side - the nearside - is warmer, softer, and more flexible. 



Meanwhile, the farside is cooler, stiffer, and less likely to deform. This difference could explain why the two sides of moon look so different.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-one-side-of-the-moon-is-hotter">Why one side of the moon is hotter</h2>



Why is the nearside hotter? Park’s team points to radioactive elements - thorium and titanium - locked in ancient lava flows. 



Billions of years ago, volcanic eruptions spread molten rock across the nearside. As the lava cooled, it trapped these heat-producing elements. They are still there, and they are still releasing heat.



Park and his colleagues estimate that the nearside mantle is up to 170°C (338°F) hotter than the farside. That heat keeps the rock softer and more flexible, allowing it to deform more easily under gravitational stress. And that’s why the k3 value is so high.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forces-stretch-the-moon-s-interior">Forces stretch the moon's interior</h2>



Tidal forces don’t just move Earth’s oceans. They also affect the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dry-side-of-the-moon-reveals-new-details-about-its-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moon</a>. As the moon orbits Earth, gravitational forces stretch and squeeze its interior on both sides. 



GRAIL’s measurements showed that the moon’s mantle doesn’t react the same way on each side.



The warmer, softer nearside stretches and bends more under these forces. Meanwhile, the cooler, stiffer farside resists deformation, staying more rigid. This uneven response reveals differences in the moon’s internal structure.



This discrepancy creates gravitational anomalies. And it could also explain why deep moonquakes cluster in certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/total-lunar-eclipse-will-paint-the-moon-blood-red-tomorrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regions</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-melting-rock-and-moonquakes">Melting rock and moonquakes</h2>



When rock gets extremely hot, it begins to melt. Park’s team believes that there are areas deep within the moon’s mantle where rock has partially melted, particularly under the nearside. These pockets of molten rock could act like stress points.



As the moon orbits Earth, tidal forces stretch and compress its interior. The molten zones might respond more intensely to this pressure, causing moonquakes.



These melt zones aren’t just anywhere - they are located at depths ranging from 800 to 1,250 km (497 to 777 miles). That’s the same depth where many deep moonquakes occur. 



This overlap suggests a connection between these molten areas and the origins of moonquakes, pointing to a possible link between the moon’s internal heat and its seismic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-new-lunar-fss-mission-will-explore-moon-far-side-moonquakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">activity</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-volcanic-past-and-a-chilled-future">A volcanic past and a chilled future</h2>



The moon wasn’t always so divided. Billions of years ago, lava gushed across the surface, burying craters and creating vast plains. Today, those plains are the dark spots we see on the nearside - the mare regions.



Park’s team thinks that as the lava cooled, it trapped radioactive elements, creating a thermal imbalance that persists today. 



The farside, lacking such lava flows, cooled more quickly. And that’s why it’s more rugged, cratered, and colder.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-moon-s-interior">Mapping the moon's interior</h2>



Park’s approach didn’t involve digging into the moon or landing any probes. Instead, he and his team focused on measuring the moon’s gravity. 



As the moon moves around Earth, gravitational forces pull and squeeze its interior. By tracking these subtle changes in gravity, Park’s team effectively created a detailed map of the moon’s internal structure - like taking an “X-ray” of its insides.



This technique, called tidal tomography, uses gravitational data to study what’s hidden deep within. And it isn’t just for the moon. 



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



The moon is not the only celestial body with two distinct sides. Mars has flat, smooth plains in the north and rough, elevated highlands in the south. 



Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, shoots icy plumes into space, hinting at internal activity. Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, has a strong magnetic field, suggesting complex processes beneath its surface.



If tidal tomography can reveal hidden structures inside the moon, it could do the same for these worlds. 



By analyzing gravitational changes, scientists could uncover what’s happening deep within these distant bodies - all without landing a single probe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-activity-beneath-the-surface">Hidden activity beneath the surface</h2>



NASA’s upcoming lunar missions include the Farside Seismic Suite and the Lunar Geophysical Network. These missions will monitor moonquakes and map the lunar mantle in even greater detail. 



The missions could confirm the existence of melt zones, pinpoint their depths, and maybe even detect ongoing volcanic activity.



Meanwhile, the GRAIL findings raise new questions. How much heat still lingers in the nearside mantle? Could residual magma still be flowing beneath the surface? And what does that mean for future moonquakes?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-moon-s-geological-story">The moon's geological story</h2>



NASA’s GRAIL mission did more than just measure gravity - it uncovered pieces of the moon’s history. 



The thermal differences between the two sides suggest that ancient volcanic eruptions and radioactive decay left the nearside warmer and more flexible than the farside.



The nearside’s lingering warmth and softer mantle indicate that the moon’s interior hasn’t fully cooled. This ongoing heat suggests that the moon’s geological story isn’t over - there might still be activity beneath its surface.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08949-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Why one side of the moon still glows from within

The moon has two strikingly different sides. The side facing Earth is mostly smooth, with dark, flat plains formed by ancient lava flows. In contrast, the far side is rugged and filled with craters. But why do they look so different? What could have caused such a stark contrast between the two halves? Scientists have been searching for answers, and recent findings suggest that the key may lie deep within the moon’s interior. NASA’s GRAIL mission has provided new insights. Two spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, orbited the...

Astronaut,Wearing,Space,Suit,Walking,On,The,Surface,Of,Mars.

In the latest revelation from Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, his company may be on track to land a spacecraft on Mars within the next four years.



<a href="https://www.spacex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SpaceX</a> needs no introduction. The spacecraft manufacturing giants have recorded many giant strides in the area of spaceflight and exploration, including the development and launching of rockets. In what may seem like an attempt at another lofty goal, the company is planning to launch a spacecraft to Mars in a few years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musk-optimistic-about-landing-on-mars">Musk optimistic about landing on Mars</h2>



Musk, made this revelation while speaking via a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan. Musk also expressed optimism about the planned launch of SpaceX's Starship, saying the most powerful launch vehicle in the world stands "a decent chance" of succeeding.



Recall that earlier this year, precisely on April 20, SpaceX attempted a launch of the Starship for its first uncrewed test flight from its facility in Boca, China. However, the mission encountered a setback a few minutes after takeoff. 



The upper stage of the vehicle was unable to separate from the lower-stage, leading to its explosion in mid-air. As a result, what was supposed to be a 90-minute debut flight lasted less than four minutes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musk-unwilling-to-set-too-high-expectations">Musk unwilling to set 'too high' expectations</h2>



During his presentation at the congress on Thursday, Musk expressed SpaceX's unwillingness to "set expectations too high," considering what happened in April. However, he is positive that the <a href="https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starship rocket</a> can finally fulfill its long-term potential of successfully ending up on Mars.



The realization of this goal remains to be seen. But for now, SpaceX will focus on retrieving Starship after it was grounded in September by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starship-is-still-grounded">Starship is still grounded</h2>



According to the FAA, the decision to ground Starship was informed by its findings at the end of an investigation into the explosion. Multiple potential causes were identified, resulting in the FAA requiring SpaceX to address 63 corrective actions to prevent a reoccurrence of such incidents in the future.



However, the launch license could be ready as early as this month (October), as noted by acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg, who spoke with Reuters shortly after the report. 



While SpaceX claims to have addressed these issues, the company has not yet received the necessary launch license from the FAA. In addition to regulatory approval, SpaceX must secure environmental clearances for its launches.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-spacex-land-on-mars">Can SpaceX land on Mars?</h2>



While Musk's vision of landing on Mars by 2027 is ambitious, the path ahead for SpaceX's Starship program is challenging. There are a number of regulatory hurdles to overcome and technical complexities to resolve.



But if there is anyone you can bet on to make this happen, then it is Elon Musk. SpaceX's transformation of the spaceflight landscape in the last two decades is an indication of what the company can do.&nbsp;



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Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to land a spacecraft on Mars in 3 to 4 years

In the latest revelation from Elon Musk, the founder and...

The presence of space aliens up there in the cosmos is one of the biggest scientific fictions. But in reality, we have higher chances of finding extrasolar microbial life first than these legendary aliens. The question is, how soon?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-life-is-closer-than-we-think">Microbial life is closer than we think</h2>



Scientists have previously reported the existence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-exoplanet-k2-18-have-the-right-conditions-to-support-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earth-like exoplanets</a> around sun-like stars, and also the possible existence of life on these planets. But we may now be able to estimate how near we can find them.



According to a new research by Piero Madau, a renowned professor of astrophysics at the <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Santa Cruz</a>, earthlike planets orbiting G and K spectral-type stars may serve as home to microbial life within 326 light-years of the sun.



"Within 326 light years of the Sun, there may be as many as 10,000 rocky planets in the habitable zone--the region around a star where conditions are right for liquid water on a world's surface, also called 'temperate terrestrial planets' or TTPs," Madau said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-star-formation-and-microbial-life">Early star formation and microbial life</h2>



We can break the formation of TTPS in the solar vicinity into different events. The first was a burst of star formation about 10-11 billion years ago. This was followed by another event that peaked about 5 billion years ago, giving rise to the solar system.&nbsp;



With three documented incidents where the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_Dwarf_Spheroidal_Galaxy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy</a> entered the Milky Way's stellar disk, we can say that our own solar system was formed due to the first passing of the Sagittarius.



Madau also observed in his paper, which is appearing in <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.11927" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>, that although most TTPs are older than 4.5 billion years (older than the solar system), it remains unclear what part of these planets could support microbial life.&nbsp;



"If microbial life did arise as soon as it did on Earth in greater than 1 percent of TTPs around K spectral type stars, then the closest ‘life-harboring Earth-like planet’ would be 65 light years away," he added.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frequency-of-abiogenesis-is-crucial">Frequency of abiogenesis is crucial</h2>



We can define abiogenesis as the origin of life from non-living matter. If we assume that abiogenesis is fast and we ultimately record simple life in every existing temperate terrestrial planet, then Madau's population study predicts that we are just 16 light years away from the closest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-discover-earth-sized-exoplanet-covered-in-volcanoes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earth-like planet</a> where life exists.



While this is a mere prediction, the failure to discover biosignatures at this volume in the future may necessitate the reassessment of these assumptions. However, Madau suggests some "cautious optimism" in the quest to unmask habitability markers and biosignatures using next-generation technologies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drake-s-equation-and-madau-s-approach">Drake's equation and Madau's approach&nbsp;</h2>



If there is one thing the renowned <a href="https://www.seti.org/drake-equation-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frank Drake's 1961 equation</a> has achieved, it is providing probabilistic parameters on the number of intelligent civilizations that might exist and relate over interstellar distances.&nbsp;



But Madau believes Drake's equation is not the full story. This is why he is proposing a mathematical model that he believes can answer questions about when the TTPs in the local neighborhood were formed, the abundance of microbial life, and whether it arrived before or after the birth of life on Earth.



If we can obtain better stats from near-term ground- and space-based telescopes, we may be closer than ever to detecting the presence of nearby extraterrestrial intelligent life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-temperate-terrestrial-planets-ttps">More about temperate terrestrial planets (TTPs)</h2>



Temperate terrestrial planets, often hailed as the best candidates for finding life outside our solar system, captivate astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. As mentioned previously, these worlds are similar in size and composition to Earth. They also lie within a star's habitable zone where conditions might just be right for liquid water -- a key ingredient for life as we know it.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-location-matters">Location matters</h3>



The term "habitable zone" refers to the range of distances from a star where a planet's surface can potentially maintain liquid water. Planets too close to their star boil away any surface water, while those too far freeze solid. Temperate terrestrial planets reside within this 'Goldilocks' zone, making them prime targets for study.



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



Like Earth, these planets primarily consist of rocky materials. They might have iron cores, silicate mantles, and a solid or liquid water surface. Their atmospheres, if present, play a crucial role in regulating their climate. While Earth's atmosphere contains oxygen and nitrogen, temperate terrestrial planets might have different atmospheric compositions, influencing their potential to support life.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-search-and-discovery">Search and discovery</h3>



Telescopes like the Kepler Space Telescope revolutionized our search for these distant worlds. By monitoring the brightness of stars, astronomers detect the minute dimming when a planet transits in front of its star. This transit method, combined with other techniques like radial velocity, has unveiled numerous temperate terrestrial planets in recent years.



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



Finding these planets doesn't only boost our hopes of discovering extraterrestrial life. They also offer insights into planetary formation, evolution, and the intricacies of planetary atmospheres and climates. As technology advances, new missions like the James Webb Space Telescope aim to further scrutinize the atmospheres of these worlds, searching for bio-signatures or other markers of habitability.



In summary, temperate terrestrial planets represent some of the most promising locales in our quest to find life beyond Earth. Every discovery brings us one step closer to answering the age-old question: Are we alone in the universe?



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Microbial life that's 8 billion years old may exist on nearby exoplanets

The presence of space aliens up there in the cosmos...

NASA’s <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/2023/09/29/initial-curation-of-nasas-osiris-rex-sample/">OSIRIS-REx team</a> is diligently working through the initial curation of samples retrieved from asteroid Bennu.&nbsp;



Despite the process moving at a slower pace than initially expected, the delay comes as a positive surprise for the scientific community: the sample is significantly more abundant than anticipated.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-abundant-asteroid-material-nbsp">Abundant asteroid material&nbsp;</h2>



As the science canister lid was removed earlier this week, researchers discovered more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dart-mission-released-boulders-with-the-explosive-capacity-of-an-atomic-bomb/">asteroid</a> material than they expected.&nbsp;



This prompted a careful and methodical start to disassembling the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head, where the majority of the Bennu material is stored.



“The very best ‘problem’ to have is that there is so much material, it’s taking longer than we expected to collect it,” said deputy OSIRIS-REx curation lead Christopher Snead of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “There’s a lot of abundant material outside the TAGSAM head that’s interesting in its own right. It’s really spectacular to have all that material there.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quick-look-analysis-nbsp">Quick-look analysis&nbsp;</h2>



This abundant material has drawn keen interest from the scientists, with the first sample collected from outside the TAGSAM head currently undergoing initial analysis.&nbsp;



This "quick-look" analysis is expected to shed light on the nature of the Bennu material and set expectations for the findings likely to emerge once the bulk sample is unveiled for study.



“We have all the microanalytical techniques that we can throw at this to really, really tear it apart, almost down to the atomic scale,” said Lindsay Keller, OSIRIS-REx sample analysis team member from Johnson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tools-used-for-the-analysis">Tools used for the analysis</h2>



The experts will use various instruments for the analysis, including a scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared measurements, and x-ray diffraction (XRD).&nbsp;



These instruments will provide invaluable data, offering insights into the chemical and morphological composition of the sample, the presence of hydrated minerals and organic-rich particles, and an inventory and potential proportion of different minerals present.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revealing-the-rest-of-the-sample">Revealing the rest of the sample</h2>



With a treasure trove of asteroid material in their hands, researchers anticipate that the forthcoming weeks will be busy as they carefully move the TAGSAM head into a specialized glovebox for disassembly. This intricate process aims to reveal the bulk sample within, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the collected material.



The OSIRIS-REx mission, the first of its kind to successfully collect samples from an asteroid, has garnered significant attention since delivering rocks and dust from asteroid Bennu to Earth on September 24, 2023.&nbsp;



The pristine samples, originally collected in 2020, offer an unparalleled opportunity for scientists to peer back into the formative era of the Sun and planets approximately 4.5 billion years ago.&nbsp;



Following its historic sample delivery, the spacecraft, now renamed OSIRIS-APEX (OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer), has embarked on a new mission to explore asteroid Apophis.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-bennu-special">What makes Bennu special?</h2>



Bennu is not just another asteroid. Its potential for scientific discovery is enormous.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-solar-system-insights">Early solar system insights</h3>



Because Bennu is an ancient asteroid, scientists believe it has remained relatively unchanged since the early days of our solar system.&nbsp;



Studying its composition can give researchers insight into the conditions of the early solar system and how planets like Earth formed.&nbsp;



Additionally, because it's rich in carbon, studying Bennu can also provide clues about the origins of life.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-characteristics">Characteristics</h3>



Asteroid Bennu is a carbonaceous asteroid in the Apollo group discovered by the LINEAR Project on September 11, 1999. It is a near-Earth object, which means it has an orbit that brings it close to our planet.&nbsp;



Bennu has a roughly spheroidal shape, resembling a spinning top with a diameter of about 490 meters (1,600 feet).



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-may-contain-clues-about-the-origins-of-life">May contain clues about the origins of life</h3>



Bennu is a B-type asteroid, which means it's rich in carbon and other volatile materials. This makes it incredibly valuable for scientific study as it might contain organic molecules, amino acids, or other prebiotic molecules that are essential for life.



One of the reasons Bennu is of interest to scientists is that it has a relatively high probability (though still quite low in absolute terms) of impacting Earth in the late 22nd century. However, further observations and studies are required to refine these predictions.



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What will asteroid Bennu samples reveal about the origins of life?

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team is diligently working through the initial curation...

5-meo-dmt,(5-methoxy-n,n-dimethyltryptamine),,Physically,Accurate,Scientific,3d,Model,Of,The,Molecule,

A combination of two psychedelic drugs demonstrated significant efficacy in treating a range of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairments, in U.S. special operations forces veterans. 



This novel approach might offer a beacon of hope for many veterans who do not find relief in traditional therapies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-psychedelic-drugs-were-used">Which psychedelic drugs were used?</h2>



The treatment regimen combined two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-offers-new-explanation-for-how-psychedelic-drugs-work/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychedelic</a> drugs. The first, ibogaine hydrochloride, is sourced from the West African shrub called iboga. The second, <a href="https://psychedelics.berkeley.edu/substance/5-meo-dmt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5-MeO-DMT</a>, is a substance secreted from the Colorado River toad. 



Both these substances are categorized as Schedule I drugs under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, a classification reserved for drugs with no current accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.



This research, spearheaded by <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a>, discovered not only alleviation in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also a noteworthy improvement in cognitive functions related to traumatic brain injury. The latter finding was especially unexpected and sheds new light on the vast potential of psychedelic treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-challenges-in-treating-veterans">Unique challenges in treating veterans</h2>



Alan Davis, the lead author and the director of the <a href="https://www.cpdre.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education</a> (CPDRE) at Ohio State’s College of Social Work, emphasized the unique challenges faced by special operations forces veterans. 



“Their routine exposure to traumatic events often results in a mix of problems including traumatic brain injury, which predisposes them to a plethora of mental health challenges,” said Davis. He noted the most "striking results" were the observed improvements in cognitive functioning linked to brain injuries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-conducted">How the study was conducted</h2>



Most of the veterans in this study involving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/australia-is-the-first-country-to-legalize-psychedelics-for-mental-health-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychedelic</a> drugs had been on active duty post the 9/11 tragedy. They sought care for a gamut of issues ranging from memory problems, depression, PTSD to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and anger. An astounding 86% of these veterans had experienced head injuries, attributing many of their symptoms to these past traumas.



To measure the efficacy of the treatment, 86 veterans were asked to complete pre-treatment questionnaires that gauged various mental health symptoms. The treatment protocol involved administering a single oral dose of ibogaine hydrochloride and inhalation doses of 5-MeO-DMT on separate days. These drug administrations were flanked by preparation and reflection sessions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-therapy-results-from-the-psychedelic-drugs">Therapy results from the psychedelic drugs</h2>



The results were indeed promising. A month after the treatment, the veterans reported significant improvements in symptoms of PTSD, depression, anger, and insomnia. Moreover, there was a substantial uptick in their life satisfaction. 



These benefits remained consistent even at the three- and six-month post-treatment check-ins. Furthermore, the veterans experienced improvements in disability, post-concussive symptoms, and showcased tremendous growth in psychological flexibility and cognitive function.



The latter, improved cognitive function, piqued Davis’s interest. He believes further investigation is needed to discern whether this improvement stems from a reduction in mental health symptoms, biological alterations in the brain's signaling, or a combination of both.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insightful-and-mystical-experiences-reported">Insightful and mystical experiences reported</h2>



Moreover, Davis highlighted the association of psychological flexibility with insightful and mystical experiences induced by psychedelics. "The higher one's psychological flexibility, the more probable is the reduction or mitigation of one’s mental health symptoms," he explained.



Post-treatment feedback also revealed intriguing insights into the veterans’ personal experiences. Almost half described their psychedelic experience as the most spiritually significant or psychologically insightful of their lives. However, a smaller fraction (17.1%) also found it to be the most challenging experience they ever encountered.



To ensure the integrity of their findings, Davis and his team adopted a conservative data analysis approach, accounting for the possibility that non-respondents might not have derived the desired benefits from the treatment.



The positive outcomes of this research emphasize the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly for veterans with intricate trauma histories. This underscores the need to further explore psychedelic therapies in U.S. clinical trials. Notably, Ohio State is already diving deeper into the realm by studying psilocybin-assisted therapy for PTSD treatment among military veterans.



For those keen on delving into the intricate details of this study, it's published in the esteemed <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2023.2220874" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse</a>.



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Psychedelic drugs secreted from toad skin greatly improve cognitive functioning

A combination of two psychedelic drugs demonstrated significant efficacy in...

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Contamination in U.S. drinking water exposes millions of Americans to health risks, including cancer, according to a new study led by Johnnye Lewis of the <a href="https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2023/10/u.s-drinking-water-often-contains-toxic-contaminants-unm-scientist-warns.html">University of New Mexico</a> (UNM). In collaboration with scientists from various parts of the country, Lewis warns that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-water-is-the-key-to-a-long-and-healthy-life/">drinking water</a> from many wells and community water systems contains unsafe levels of toxic contaminants.



While many Americans believe the water from their taps is unpolluted and safe for consumption, this research suggests this is not always the case.&nbsp;



Alarmingly, the experts report that people living in tribal areas or underserved communities are at a higher risk. The research also raises concerns about the exacerbating effects of climate change on sourcing safe drinking water.



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



The researchers investigated the presence of seven contaminants frequently found in drinking water: arsenic, fracking fluids, lead, nitrates, chlorinated disinfection byproducts, synthetic chemicals (specifically PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and uranium.



“There were several of us that have expertise in dealing with these particular contaminants, and we were seeing that they’re not always at safe levels in drinking water sources for a number of reasons,” said Lewis.



Several of the contaminants, such as arsenic, uranium, lead, and nitrates, are known or suspected to cause cancer. Prolonged exposure to many of these contaminants has also been associated with neurological and developmental disorders.



“Some of these, like uranium and arsenic - and even nitrates - are just common,” Lewis said. “They commonly occur in groundwater, and sometimes it is the source that you have access to.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emerging-new-threats">Emerging new threats</h2>



On the other hand, chemicals such as fracking fluids and PFAS, which are human-induced, are emerging as new threats. Notably, PFAS, due to its nature, can persist in the environment for extended periods without breaking down.



The research emphasizes that the identified seven contaminants are just a drop in the bucket. Thousands of chemical agents potentially pollute drinking water, and the possibility of their combined effects poses further threats.



“We’re only really now starting to come up with good methods to assess what those mixtures do,” said Lewis. “There’s always a lot of uncertainty, because a mixture is not the same in one community as it is in the next.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-water-systems-nbsp">Public water systems&nbsp;</h2>



The report highlights the varying capacities of water systems in detecting and eliminating these contaminants. Of the 150,000 public water systems in the United States, about a third are community water systems that cater to 320 million Americans – a staggering 95% of the population.&nbsp;



A significant 91% of these community water systems provide for fewer than 10,000 individuals, which amounts to 52 million people. Meanwhile, over 43 million Americans depend on private wells for their drinking water.



With these findings, the authors stress the urgent need for enhancing the nation's drinking water infrastructure, solidifying water standards, advancing water treatment procedures, and enforcing more rigorous chemical safety tests.



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



Highlighting the broader implications, Lewis pointed out that the changing climate, especially in the western U.S., is complicating the quest for clean water sources.&nbsp;



“For me the thing that is most concerning is that you start looking at drought and the stresses that that puts on looking for additional water sources,” said Lewis. “The potential for making sure those sources are clean could become more limited.”



The impact of climate change will most heavily burden those who are least equipped to handle it, such as people living in communities with minimal or no water monitoring.



"When we talk about racial injustice and societal injustice in communities that are underserved, they're the ones that are going to bear the brunt of this," said Lewis.&nbsp;



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-023-00597-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology</a>.



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95% of U.S. drinking water contains unsafe levels of toxic contaminants

Contamination in U.S. drinking water exposes millions of Americans to...

Scientists utilizing the H.E.S.S. observatory in Namibia have identified the most energetic gamma rays ever recorded from a pulsar, a type of dead <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-stars-scientists-discover-a-new-type-of-star-powered-by-dark-matter/">star</a>. 



Clocking in at a staggering 20 tera-electronvolts, these gamma rays possess energy approximately ten trillion times greater than that of visible light. These observations present a challenge to existing theories concerning the genesis of such intense pulsed gamma rays.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-pulsars">Understanding pulsars</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-mystery-solved-the-puzzling-behavior-of-a-pulsar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pulsars</a> are remnants of stars that have undergone a massive explosion termed a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova</a>. This cataclysmic event leaves behind a minuscule, dead star, roughly 20 kilometers in diameter, spinning at incredible speeds and possessing a potent magnetic field. 



"These dead stars are almost entirely made up of neutrons and are incredibly dense: a teaspoon of their material has a mass of more than five billion tons, or about 900 times the mass of the Great Pyramid of Giza,” explained H.E.S.S. scientist Emma de Oña Wilhelmi. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-radiation-flashes">Radiation flashes</h2>



Resembling cosmic lighthouses, pulsars emit rotating beams of electromagnetic radiation. When these beams pass through our solar system, we witness regular intervals of radiation flashes.&nbsp;



Scientists believe that the origin of this radiation is the swift electrons that are generated and propelled in the pulsar’s magnetosphere as they move toward its outer boundary. The magnetosphere, filled with plasma and electromagnetic fields, revolves with the star.&nbsp;



“On their outward journey, the electrons acquire energy and release it in the form of the observed radiation beams,” said Bronek Rudak from the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center (CAMK PAN) in Poland.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gamma-rays-from-the-vela-pulsar">Gamma rays from the Vela pulsar</h2>



Located in the Southern sky within the Vela constellation, the Vela pulsar is notably the most radiant pulsar in the radio band of the electromagnetic spectrum.&nbsp;



It also stands as the brightest continuous cosmic gamma-ray source in the giga-electronvolts (GeV) range, with a rotation frequency of around eleven times every second.&nbsp;



However, its radiation abruptly halts beyond a few GeV, presumably when electrons surpass the magnetosphere's confines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ultra-high-energy-emissions-nbsp">Ultra-high-energy emissions&nbsp;</h2>



Now, thanks to in-depth observations with H.E.S.S., a previously undetected radiation component of even higher energies has emerged, peaking at tens of tera-electronvolts (TeV).&nbsp;



“That is about 200 times more energetic than all radiation ever detected before from this object,” said Christo Venter from the North-West University in South Africa.&nbsp;



Interestingly, these ultra-high-energy emissions appear in the same intervals as those observed in the GeV range. But to achieve such intensities, electrons might journey beyond the magnetosphere, even as the rotation emission pattern persists.



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



"This result challenges our previous knowledge of pulsars and requires a rethinking of how these natural accelerators work,” said Arache Djannati-Atai from the Astroparticle &amp; Cosmology (APC) laboratory in France, who led the research.&nbsp;



“The traditional scheme according to which particles are accelerated along magnetic field lines within or slightly outside the magnetosphere cannot sufficiently explain our observations."&nbsp;



"Perhaps we are witnessing the acceleration of particles through the so-called magnetic reconnection process beyond the light cylinder, which still somehow preserves the rotational pattern? But even this scenario faces difficulties to explain how such extreme radiation is produced.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Regardless of this mystery, the Vela pulsar now holds the distinction of emitting the most energetic gamma rays observed to date.&nbsp;



“This discovery opens a new observation window for detection of other pulsars in the tens of teraelectronvolt range with current and upcoming more sensitive gamma-ray telescopes, hence paving the way for a better understanding of the extreme acceleration processes in highly magnetized astrophysical objects,” said Djannati-Atai.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41550-023-02052-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>.



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High-energy gamma rays discovered are ten trillion times greater than that of visible light

Scientists utilizing the H.E.S.S. observatory in Namibia have identified the...

Gliding,Frog,Look,Like,Laughing,On,Moss,,Flying,Frog,Laughing,

Scientists warn the state of amphibians worldwide continues to rapidly deteriorate, according to a new study.&nbsp;Researchers found that over 40 percent of the world's more than 8,000 amphibian species could face extinction in the coming decades.&nbsp;This makes <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/why-are-some-endangered-amphibians-going-extinct/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians</a> the most endangered group of vertebrates in the world today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commonly-documented-threats-nbsp">Commonly documented threats&nbsp;</h2>



"When considering all threatened amphibians, the most commonly documented threats are types of habitat loss and degradation, with the top three being agriculture (77% of species impacted), timber and plant harvesting (53%), and infrastructure development (40%)," wrote the study authors.



"Climate change effects (29%) and disease (29%) are other common threat types. Although these are important findings, they do not account for the severity and scope of these threats."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinction-threat-for-amphibians-is-escalating">Extinction threat for amphibians is escalating</h2>



In tracing the evolutionary journey of <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/are-amphibians-cold-blooded/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians</a>, the researchers found an escalating trend of extinctions.&nbsp;



Researchers recorded a mere 23 species as extinct in 1980, and that number surged to 37 by 2022.



Distinct species like the gastric-brooding frogs, which had the unique capability of incubating their eggs in their stomachs, have unfortunately been lost forever.



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



‘As humans drive changes to our planet, amphibians are becoming climate captives, unable to move very far to escape the climate change-induced increase in frequency and intensity of extreme heat, drought and hurricanes," said study lead author Jennifer Luedtke Swandby.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-amphibians-face-extinction">Why amphibians face extinction</h2>



While habitat loss, largely due to agriculture, impacts an estimated 77% of <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-do-amphibians-breathe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians</a>, it is only the main cause of decline and extinction for about a third of species.&nbsp;



Diseases, particularly chytridiomycosis caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, have historically been more destructive, causing abrupt declines.&nbsp;



Notably, the sharp-snouted day frog from Queensland, Australia, was wiped out within a decade of being infected, marking its extinction in 2021.



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



However, the changing climate has now emerged as a dominant factor. The climate crisis accounts for declines and extinctions in more than 40% of amphibian species.&nbsp;



Climate change's multifaceted impacts, such as rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, are challenging amphibians' survival, given their reliance on moisture.&nbsp;



Moreover, changing weather patterns can catalyze the spread of diseases.



The findings of the study indicate that amphibians have the highest extinction risk among major animal groups listed on the conservation Red List.



Salamanders and newts emerge as particularly vulnerable within this group.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-amphibians-from-extinction">Protecting amphibians from extinction</h2>



Despite these bleak statistics, there is a glimmer of hope. Over the past 40 years, focused conservation initiatives have revived 60 species.&nbsp;



An additional 57 species seem to be making a natural comeback, potentially developing resistance against diseases.&nbsp;



Yet, the conservation status of many remains uncertain, with over 600 awaiting assessment and 900 listed as "data deficient."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prioritizing-conservation-action-nbsp">Prioritizing conservation action&nbsp;</h2>



‘Though thousands of amphibian species are known about, we know very little about their ways of life of many of them," said study co-author Dr. David Gower, an expert in amphibians at the Natural History Museum.



‘Without detailed information on their population trends or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loss-of-wildlife-happens-five-times-slower-in-protected-lands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">where they live</a>, it is difficult to accurately categorize species on the Red List. Overcoming this is a major challenge in amphibian conservation biology.’



‘We’re in the process of adding new species to the global inventory and re-assessing the conservation status of known species," said Dr. Loader. "These assessment data help to prioritize conservation action in areas where we see most evidence of change and need.’



The full paper was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06578-4">Nature</a>. Over 100 scientists from across the globe provided insights to back this comprehensive study.



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Over 40% of amphibians face extinction due to escalating climate threats

Scientists warn the state of amphibians worldwide continues to rapidly...

A team of scientists led by the University of Bern in Switzerland has found that attending a classical music concert can lead to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-have-brains-that-synchronize-when-they-socialize/">synchronicity</a> among the audience members in various physiological ways.&nbsp;



The heartbeats of attendees can align, and they might even find themselves breathing in harmony or making similar movements in their seating.



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



The study involved 132 participants in Berlin, ranging from 18 to 85 years of age. The researchers witnessed this synchronization as the audience listened to compositions from renowned artists such as Beethoven, Brahms, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s contemporary composer, Brett Dean.&nbsp;



Monitoring tools showed that the breathing rates of these individuals, captured using sensor-equipped belts, aligned most consistently with the musical performance. Their heartbeats and subtle changes in fingertip sweat, indicating excitement, followed suit.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-synchronized-heart-rhythms-nbsp">Synchronized heart rhythms&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, those who felt ‘inspired’ or were ‘emotionally moved’ by Brahms and Dean’s pieces showed a higher tendency for synchronized heart rhythms.



“It is fascinating that people at a concert, who do not know each other and do not even speak to each other, seem to have a shared experience, based on measurements like their heart rate,” said lead author Wolfgang Tschacher, a psychologist at Bern.&nbsp;



“When we see synchrony, we know people are really engaged in the music, as they are reacting to it emotionally in the same way.”



Upon further investigation, the researchers discovered that participants who prioritized socializing and interaction with companions during the concert demonstrated less physiological alignment with the music than others.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-traits">Personality traits</h2>



Additionally, extroverted and neural traits seemed to correlate with decreased synchronization, specifically in their fingertip sweat. 



On the other hand, those characterized as agreeable and open to novel experiences exhibited a heightened response to the melodies, mirroring the reactions of their fellow attendees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-subconscious-immersion-nbsp">Subconscious immersion&nbsp;</h2>



Even under subdued lighting and separated seating, audience members managed to exhibit similar reactions, alluding to a shared, subconscious immersion in the music. The term "synchronization" in this context implies a statistically significant coordination, rather than perfect simultaneity.&nbsp;



Interestingly, Beethoven’s Op. 104 in C minor generated less of this coordinated response compared to Brahms’ Op. 111 in G Major and Dean’s Epitaphs. Past studies have also highlighted that not only audience members but musicians and conductors too can exhibit synchronized physical reactions during performances.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-41960-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Scientific Reports</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-responses-to-classical-music-nbsp">Brain responses to classical music&nbsp;</h2>



Listening to classical music can elicit various responses in the brain, which may include relaxation, improvement in mood, and stimulation of cognitive functions.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-relaxation">Relaxation</h3>



Classical music often leads to the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and relaxation. Slow tempo and soft dynamics can help lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormone levels.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cognitive-function">Cognitive function</h3>



Some research suggests that listening to classical music, like that of Mozart, may temporarily improve spatial-temporal abilities and memory in listeners. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the “Mozart Effect.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-quality">Sleep quality</h3>



The soothing quality of classical music can help with insomnia and improve overall sleep quality in some individuals.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-regions-nbsp">Brain regions&nbsp;</h3>



Different aspects of music (such as rhythm, melody, and harmony) can engage various areas in the brain, including the auditory cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotional-responses">Emotional responses</h3>



Classical music can evoke strong emotions and activate areas of the brain associated with emotional processing, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.



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Classical music can synchronize the heartbeats of strangers

A team of scientists led by the University of Bern...

Lionesses,Walk,Along,The,Road,Against,The,Backdrop,Of,A

A new study led by the Western University in Canada has found that mammals inhabiting the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa, which boasts one of the largest existing lion populations, exhibit heightened fear when exposed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-are-affected-by-the-emotions-in-human-voices/">human voices</a> in comparison to sounds such as lion roars, dogs barking, or even gunshots. Worldwide data indicates that humans prey on other species at significantly greater rates than other predators.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humans-as-predators-nbsp">Humans as predators&nbsp;</h2>



“We usually think about the top of the food chain being large carnivore predators,” said first author Liana Y. Zanette, a conservation biologist at <a href="https://www.uwo.ca/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Western University</a>. “But what we’re interested in is the unique ecology of humans as predators in the system, because humans are super lethal.”



“Normally, if you’re a mammal, you’re not going to die of disease or hunger. The thing that actually ends your life is going to be a predator, and the bigger you are the bigger the predator that finishes you off,” added co-author Micheal Clinchy, another conservation biologist at the same institution.&nbsp;



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lions-are-dangling-precariously-on-the-brink-of-extinction-immediate-action-is-needed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lions</a> are the biggest group-hunting land predator on the planet, and thus ought to be the scariest, and so we’re comparing the fear of humans versus lions to find out if humans are scarier than the scariest non-human predator.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-various-audio-recordings-nbsp">Various audio recordings&nbsp;</h2>



In the course of this extensive South African study, the research team examined the responses of 19 mammalian species to various audio recordings: human voices, lion sounds, barking dogs, and gunshots.&nbsp;



The vocalizations of humans were taken from TV and radio broadcasts in the region’s predominant languages: Tsonga, Northern Sotho, English, and Afrikaans.&nbsp;



The sounds of dogs and gunshots symbolized human hunting activities, while the lion sounds, chosen in collaboration with lion specialist and co-author Craig Packer of the <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota</a>, represented the apex predator in the area.



“The key thing is that the lion vocalizations are of them snarling and growling, in ‘conversation’ as it were, not roaring at each other,” Clinchy explained. “That way the lion vocalizations are directly comparable to those of the humans speaking conversationally.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-animal-interactions-nbsp">Diverse animal interactions&nbsp;</h2>



Utilizing specially designed waterproof devices that integrated a camera trap with a speaker, the team was able to record animal reactions for extended durations. These devices were strategically placed at waterholes during the dry season to capture diverse animal interactions, leading to an impressive collection of over 15,000 videos to analyze.



Zanette recalled one memorable incident involving their equipment: “We put the camera in a bear box, not because there are bears out in South Africa, but because of the hyenas and leopards that like to chew on them. One night, the lion recording made this elephant so angry that it charged and just smashed the whole thing.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-voices-associated-with-predators">Human voices associated with predators</h2>



The analysis revealed a stark difference in animal reactions to human voices versus other sounds. A staggering 95 percent of species, encompassing creatures like leopards, giraffes, rhinos, and elephants, demonstrated more pronounced avoidance behavior when hearing human voices compared to lion or hunting sounds.



“There’s this idea that the animals are going to habituate to humans if they’re not hunted. But we’ve shown that this isn’t the case,” Clinchy reported. “The fear of humans is ingrained and pervasive, so this is something that we need to start thinking about seriously for conservation purposes.”



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



Currently, the researchers are exploring the potential of their audio systems in diverting endangered species from poaching hotspots in South Africa. Preliminary results, especially with the Southern white rhino, appear promising.



“I think the pervasiveness of the fear throughout the savannah mammal community is a real testament to the environmental impact that humans have. Not just through habitat loss and climate change and species extinction, which is all important stuff," said Zanette.



But just having us out there on that landscape is enough of a danger signal that they respond really strongly. They are scared to death of humans, way more than any other predator."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.089" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Humans are the scariest predators in the African savannah

A new study led by the Western University in Canada...

When seabird couples have similar personalities, they tend to be better parents, according to a recent study from the University of Liverpool.&nbsp;



The researchers also found that personality compatibility is a significant factor in the longevity of the couples' relationship.



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



The team investigated the breeding habits of black-legged kittiwake couples.&nbsp;



The study revealed that seabird pairs with matching personalities are less likely to lose their chicks – an event which might prompt these generally monogamous birds to contemplate starting anew with a different partner.



The research was focused on a wild kittiwake population in Svalbard, located within the Arctic Circle.&nbsp;



The goal was to analyze how personality compatibility impacted both their parenting prowess and the stability of their pair bond.



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



The researchers conducted a unique personality assessment. Birds were presented with a blue plastic penguin toy to gauge their level of boldness.&nbsp;



Upon analyzing their reactions, the team compared personalities among paired birds and subsequently linked these findings to their success rates in parenting and the likelihood of them parting ways.



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



A greater disparity in personalities was associated with a greater likelihood of chick loss. This, in turn, increased the chances of the couples splitting up.&nbsp;



This observation is particularly significant given the breeding environment of the kittiwakes. They breed under strenuous conditions where single-parenting is hardly feasible.&nbsp;



Both parents are integral for tasks like foraging and nest safeguarding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-similar-personalities-nbsp">Similar personalities&nbsp;</h2>



“Our findings suggest that having similar personalities within pairs makes it easier for parents to predict and respond to each other’s behavior," explained study lead author Fionnuala McCully.



“Seabird parents spend long periods of time apart when they are finding food at sea, and so they often need to make decisions without having their partner there for reference."



"If you and your partner have similar personalities, you might also make similar decisions. What would my partner do in this situation? Easy, the same thing that I would do! And when your partner is more predictable, it is easier for you to make informed choices which benefit you both.”



“After all, human relationships thrive on compatibility and our lives are easier when we can predict how our partner might react in challenging circumstances. This research suggests that animal relationships may need exactly the same thing.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-relationships">Long-term relationships</h2>



Interestingly, kittiwakes often live into their 30s and even longer. These birds usually remain with the same mate for most of their lives.&nbsp;



Swapping partners demands considerable effort and energy. The choice to "divorce" is rarely made unless prompted by significant reasons, such as the tragic loss of a chick.



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



This research comes at a time when kittiwakes, the world's most prevalent gull species, are witnessing a drastic plunge in their numbers.&nbsp;



Factors like climate change and human activities - most notably overfishing - jeopardize their young's survival.&nbsp;



Unless there's a decisive shift in human behavior, even the most compatible kittiwake couples may find themselves unable to tackle the challenges of the future.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eth.13405" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethology</a>.



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Compatible seabird couples are more successful parents

When seabird couples have similar personalities, they tend to be...

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that the brain undergoes significant rewiring during pregnancy, preparing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-animals-may-acquire-mate-preferences-through-observation/">females</a> for motherhood.&nbsp;



According to the study, pregnancy hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone are instrumental in initiating these brain changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parental-behaviors">Parental behaviors</h2>



The researchers found that these hormones act upon a select group of neurons in the brain, inducing parental behaviors even before the offspring are born.&nbsp;



In mice, the activated neurons led to heightened and selective responses towards pups, which is a crucial aspect of maternal care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hormonal-changes">Hormonal changes</h2>



Traditionally, it was believed that the onset of maternal behaviors was primarily triggered by hormones released during childbirth.&nbsp;



However, earlier studies indicated that even rats who underwent Caesarean sections and virgin mice exposed to pregnancy hormones exhibited maternal behaviors.&nbsp;



This observation implied that hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy play a pivotal role in promoting maternal instincts.



The researchers observed enhanced parental behaviors in female mice during late pregnancy. Interestingly, exposure to pups was not a prerequisite for the development of these behaviors.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galanin-expressing-neurons">Galanin-expressing neurons</h2>



The study highlighted the role of galanin-expressing neurons situated in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus, a region associated with parenting. These neurons were particularly influenced by oestrogen and progesterone.



Oestrogen was found to decrease the baseline activity of these neurons while increasing their excitability.&nbsp;



Progesterone, on the other hand, altered the neurons' inputs by increasing the number of synapses, which are crucial communication points between neurons.&nbsp;



When these neurons were made insensitive to hormones, mice failed to exhibit parental behaviors, highlighting the significance of hormonal influence during pregnancy.



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



The researchers noted that some of these neuronal changes persisted for at least a month post-childbirth, with others potentially being permanent, indicating long-term brain rewiring as a result of pregnancy.



"We know that the female body changes during pregnancy to prepare for bringing up young. One example is the production of milk, which starts long before giving birth. Our research shows that such preparations are taking place in the brain, too," explained study co-author Jonny Kohl.&nbsp;



“We think that these changes, often referred to as ‘baby brain,' cause a change in priority - virgin mice focus on mating, so don’t need to respond to other females’ pups, whereas mothers need to perform robust parental behaviour to ensure pup survival."&nbsp;



"What’s fascinating is that this switch doesn’t happen at birth - the brain is preparing much earlier for this big life change.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-of-brain-plasticity-nbsp">Window of brain plasticity&nbsp;</h2>



“We’ve demonstrated that there’s a window of plasticity in the brain to prepare for future behavioral challenges," said co-first author Rachida Ammari.&nbsp;



"These neurons receive a large number of inputs from elsewhere in the brain, so now we’re hoping to understand where this new information comes from.”



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



The team is optimistic that their findings may have implications for understanding pregnancy and motherhood in humans, as similar hormonal changes are expected to influence the same brain regions.&nbsp;



The experts believe that these alterations in brain wiring could work in tandem with environmental and social cues to influence parental behaviors.&nbsp;



With these insights, the study sheds light on the complex interplay between hormonal changes during pregnancy and the onset of maternal instincts and behaviors.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adi0576." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Pregnancy brain: How neurons get rewired to prepare for motherhood

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that the...

Forests, with their incredible capacity to absorb and store <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canadian-fires-have-released-a-billion-tons-of-carbon-dioxide/">carbon dioxide</a>, have always been important in the battle against climate change.&nbsp;



However, a recent study based on data from ESA's SMOS satellite mission has thrown a fascinating twist into this narrative. Young trees, contrary to prior beliefs, are truly the champions of carbon capture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-balance-nbsp">Carbon balance&nbsp;</h2>



A critical aspect of understanding our complex climate system is knowing how much carbon is stored in different parts of the planet, particularly in land-based vegetation.&nbsp;



Historically, this has posed a challenge to scientists, leading to uncertainties in estimating the global carbon balance.



The new study, which is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-023-01274-4#citeas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geosciences</a>, has provided much-needed clarity. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellite-imagery">Satellite imagery</h2>



Scientists, funded by ESA, utilized observations from the SMOS satellite to directly observe terrestrial carbon stock changes on both regional and global scales.



The implications of these findings are significant. They offer a more accurate gauge to monitor the progress towards the net-zero goals by 2050, which is an essential part of the Paris Agreement.



The team, led by researchers from the French Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), discovered that from 2010 to 2019, land-based carbon stocks saw an increase of approximately 510 million tons per year.&nbsp;



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



Boreal and temperate forests were the major contributors, while tropical forests, affected by deforestation and agricultural interference, showed only minor carbon gains.



An unexpected outcome from the study, conducted under ESA's Climate Change Initiative RECCAP-2 project, revealed that forests between 50 to 140 years of age were the heavy lifters in carbon absorption.&nbsp;



By contrast, forests over 140 years old were nearly carbon neutral, a finding that counters traditional vegetation model predictions.



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



"Vegetation models that predict terrestrial carbon stores do not represent forest demographics and tend to overestimate the carbon sequestration capacity of old-growth forests and underestimate of carbon absorbed by boreal and temperate forests," explained Hui Yang, from LSCE.



“Using space-based observations we can track and better understand long-term variations in terrestrial living-biomass. Our study highlights the importance of forest age in predicting carbon dynamics in a changing climate."



“Delaying and decreasing the harvesting of timber from young forests could be a way forward for climate-friendly forest management.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smos-satellite-nbsp">SMOS satellite&nbsp;</h2>



ESA’s SMOS satellite, orbiting since 2009, uses its interferometric radiometer to capture "brightness temperature" images. These images are instrumental in deriving global maps depicting soil moisture and ocean surface salinity levels.&nbsp;



Thanks to recent advancements, the satellite can now produce robust measurements of L-band microwave vegetation optical depth (L-VOD) which, in turn, aids in the diagnosis of global changes in terrestrial carbon stocks.



Philippe Ciais, also from LSCE, elaborated on the immense value of L-VOD data: “Using L-VOD data from SMOS has provided valuable insights into global terrestrial carbon storage."



“The study's findings have important implications for climate change mitigation efforts, as they contribute to a more accurate estimation of the global carbon balance which is needed to inform and track progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement goals.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upcoming-missions">Upcoming missions</h2>



ESA's upcoming Earth Explorer mission named Biomass, launching next year, is poised to provide more comprehensive insights into forest carbon.&nbsp;



Equipped with an innovative P-band synthetic aperture radar, it will enhance our understanding of forests' role in the carbon cycle.



“The use of SMOS to understand more about carbon capture by forests is another example of one of our Earth Explorer research missions surpassing expectations," said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s director of Earth Observation Programmes.



“With the carbon cycle so fundamental to our climate system and to the health of our planet, we are busy preparing the Biomass Earth Explorer mission, which is dedicated to measuring forest height and biomass."&nbsp;



"Information from this upcoming mission will not only shed new light on the carbon cycle, but also contribute to international efforts to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and land degradation.”



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Young forests are unexpected heroes of carbon capture

Forests, with their incredible capacity to absorb and store carbon...

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

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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



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.

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



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 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

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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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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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