Picture a microorganism swimming through a liquid. It moves with purpose, but it has no brain, no nerves. How does it know where to go? How does it move at all? 



A team of researchers from <a href="https://www.tuwien.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TU Wien</a>, the University of Vienna, and Tufts University decided to tackle these questions. They simulated microorganisms on a computer to understand how they move without having centralized control.



The findings reveal something surprising: even without a brain or any central control, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-glaciers-are-putting-many-unique-ecosystems-at-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microorganisms</a> can still swim efficiently. 



This behavior isn't just interesting from a biological standpoint - it could also lead to more effective designs for nanobots that navigate through fluids to deliver drugs or clean up pollutants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microorganisms-swim-efficiently">Microorganisms swim efficiently </h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-skins-bacteria-could-be-a-natural-sunscreen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bacteria</a>, amoebas, and even blood cells move without central control. Yet, they navigate effectively through fluids. The researchers wanted to know how.



Benedikt Hartl, from TU Wien and <a href="https://www.tufts.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tufts University</a>, explained the concept using a simple analogy. 



“Simple microorganisms can be imagined as being composed of several parts, a bit like a string of pearls,” he said. Each part can move relative to the next, but there is no overall command center issuing orders.



The research team created virtual microorganisms made up of interconnected beads. Each bead could exert a force to the left or right. 



But here’s the catch: each bead only knew the position of its immediate neighbors. It had no idea what the rest of the body was doing. Despite this, the beads still managed to coordinate their movements to swim effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-decentralized-control-is-effective-nbsp">Why decentralized control is effective&nbsp;</h2>



Why bother with decentralized control? Why not just give these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-recreate-an-ancient-war-trick-to-defeat-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microorganisms</a> a virtual brain?



The researchers argue that single-celled organisms don’t have brains, so it made sense to simulate movement without one. They wanted to see if simple rules could still produce coordinated movements. 



“Is there a control system, a set of simple rules, a behavioral strategy that each bead can follow individually so that a collective swimming motion emerges - without any central control unit?” Hartl questioned.



Turns out, there is. The beads don’t need a central controller. Instead, they rely on simple, localized rules. If each bead reacts only to its immediate neighbors, a kind of collective intelligence emerges. The beads work together without knowing it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-microorganisms-swimming">Virtual microorganisms swimming</h2>



The researchers simulated these movements using a basic neural network. Each bead acted like a tiny agent with its own controller. 



The neural network had 20 to 50 parameters - not much in the world of artificial intelligence. Still, it was enough to produce coordinated swimming behaviors.



On the computer screen, the virtual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-found-alive-sealed-inside-rock-after-2-billion-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microorganisms</a> swam through simulated viscous fluids. They didn’t just move randomly. They propelled themselves in specific directions, responding to simulated forces. 



The most intriguing part was that they were swimming with purpose without any central control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-microorganisms-learn-to-swim">How microorganisms learn to swim</h2>



The researchers didn’t just program these beads to swim. They let them learn how to swim. They used neuroevolution - a process that mimics natural selection. 



In each iteration, the virtual microorganisms tried different swimming strategies. The best ones survived, while the less efficient ones were eliminated.



With each new generation, the swimmers got better at moving through fluids. They became more coordinated and more efficient. They developed swimming gaits that propelled them forward with surprising speed and precision.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applications-beyond-biology">Applications beyond biology</h2>



As the simulations progressed, a pattern emerged. Larger microorganisms tended to adopt long-wavelength body deformations. Instead of twitching back and forth, they generated sweeping, wave-like movements. These long-wavelength movements proved to be the most efficient.



Andreas Zöttl from the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a> saw potential beyond biology. If microorganisms could swim using such simple rules, so could nanobots. 



Imagine a swarm of nanobots moving through the bloodstream, delivering drugs directly to cancer cells. With decentralized control, each nanobot could operate independently, yet still contribute to the overall mission.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-microorganisms-adapt-to-cargo">How microorganisms adapt to cargo</h2>



The researchers didn’t stop at swimming. They wanted to know if these decentralized controllers could handle cargo. They loaded the virtual microorganisms with additional beads - representing cargo - and watched what happened.



Despite the added weight, the swimmers kept moving. They didn’t need any adjustments to their control systems. The same simple rules that allowed them to swim also enabled them to transport cargo. As the cargo got heavier, the swimmers slowed down. But they kept moving.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-robustness-without-reprogramming">Robustness without reprogramming</h2>



The researchers pushed the virtual swimmers further. What if a few beads stopped working? What if some connections got severed?



Even then, the swimmers kept going. The decentralized control system was remarkably robust. If one bead failed, the others adapted.



If a connection broke, the swimmers still moved. This kind of resilience is rare in centralized systems. But in decentralized systems, it’s almost a given.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-larger-microswimmers-adapt">How larger microswimmers adapt</h2>



The researchers didn’t just stick to small models. They scaled up to 100 beads. Would the same rules work? Could the microorganisms still swim without central control?



Yes. In fact, the larger swimmers performed even better. They generated longer, smoother waves. They moved more efficiently without any additional programming. The same set of rules that worked for a three-bead swimmer also worked for a 100-bead swimmer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adapting-to-new-challenges">Adapting to new challenges</h2>



The virtual swimmers didn’t just learn to swim. They also learned to adapt. The researchers varied the simulated environment. They added obstacles, changed the viscosity of the fluid, and introduced new challenges.



The swimmers adapted without any reprogramming. Their controllers adjusted to the new conditions. This adaptability hints at the power of decentralized systems. They don’t just follow orders. They learn and evolve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nanobots-could-swim-like-microorganisms">Nanobots could swim like microorganisms</h2>



The implications extend far beyond microorganisms. Zöttl envisioned nanobots that could replicate these movements. 



Imagine a swarm of nanobots in polluted water, seeking out oil droplets and breaking them down. Or consider medical nanobots that navigate through the bloodstream, releasing drugs at specific locations.



These nanobots wouldn’t need complex programming. They’d just follow simple rules - the same rules that let microorganisms swim without a brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-way-of-thinking-about-movement">A new way of thinking about movement</h2>



This study challenges the assumption that complex movement requires complex control systems. Instead, the researchers showed that simple, decentralized rules can produce surprisingly coordinated behaviors.



The implications for nanotechnology are significant. Autonomous nanobots could swim without central control systems, like microorganisms, thus reducing computational costs and increasing resilience.



And by learning from nature, engineers could develop systems that adapt, evolve, and keep moving - even when some parts fail.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42005-025-02101-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Physics</a>.



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How microorganisms swim without a brain and why it matters

Picture a microorganism swimming through a liquid. It moves with purpose, but it has no brain, no nerves. How does it know where to go? How does it move at all? A team of researchers from TU Wien, the University of Vienna, and Tufts University decided to tackle these questions. They simulated microorganisms on a computer to understand how they move without having centralized control. The findings reveal something surprising: even without a brain or any central control, microorganisms can still swim efficiently. This behavior isn't just...

Woman,Field,Agricultural,Hat,Cowboy,Ranch,Harvest

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.uga.edu/">University of Georgia</a> (UGA) and the <a href="https://www.gatech.edu/">Georgia Institute of Technology</a> has revealed that the iconic Southern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dolphins-have-accents-that-vary-by-region/">accent</a> is quickly evolving in Georgia, with Generation X (people born between 1965 and 1982) at the forefront of this change.



“We found that, here in Georgia, white English speakers’ accents have been shifting away from the traditional Southern pronunciation for the last few generations,” said Margaret Renwick, an associate professor of Linguistics at UGA. “Today’s college students don’t sound like their parents, who didn’t sound like their own parents.”



<h2 id="h-drastic-changes">Drastic changes</h2>



The experts identified a pronounced divergence between the baby boomer era (born 1943 to 1964) and Generation X (born 1965 to 1982), marking a drastic change in the Southern accent.



“We had been listening to hundreds of hours of speech recorded in Georgia and we noticed that older speakers often had a thick Southern drawl, while current college students didn’t,” Renwick explained.&nbsp;



“We started asking, which generation of Georgians sounds the most Southern of all? We surmised that it was baby boomers, born around the mid-20th century. We were surprised to see how rapidly the Southern accent drops away starting with Gen X.”



<h2 id="h-changing-demographics">Changing demographics&nbsp;</h2>



“The demographics of the South have changed a lot with people moving into the area, especially post World War II,” added co-author Jon Forrest, an assistant professor of Linguistics at UGA. According to him, this observed transition in Georgia is reflective of broader linguistic changes throughout the South.&nbsp;



“We are seeing similar shifts across many regions, and we might find people in California, Atlanta, Boston, and Detroit that have similar speech characteristics.”



<h2 id="h-vowel-pronunciations">Vowel pronunciations&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers examined audio recordings of Caucasian Georgia natives, born between the late 1800s and the early 2000s. The analysis primarily revolved around vowel pronunciations.&nbsp;



While older Georgian speakers articulated words like “prize” as prahz and “face” as fuh-eece, newer generations pronounced them as prah-eez and fayce. The statistical analysis of this linguistic shift was led by Joseph A. Stanley, formerly a UGA graduate student and now an assistant professor at <a href="https://www.byu.edu/">Brigham Young University</a>.



<h2 id="h-southern-accent">Southern accent&nbsp;</h2>



“Using transcribed audio, we can use a computer to estimate where you put your tongue in your mouth when you pronounce each vowel, which gives us a quantitative metric of accent,” said senior author Lelia Glass, an assistant professor of Modern Languages at Georgia Tech. Marcus Ma, an undergraduate from Georgia Tech assisting Glass, crafted a method to expedite the transcription task.



“Changes to the diphthong in ‘prize’ are the oldest characteristic pronunciation in Southern speech, that can be traced back well over 100 years,” said Renwick. “The Southern pronunciation of words like ‘face’ emerged in the early 20th century. These are distinctive features of the traditional Southern drawl.”



Having used both old and fresh recordings of white Georgian speakers for this study, the team now aims to investigate the accent variations within the Black community across generations.



<h2 id="h-dynamic-nature-of-accents">Dynamic nature of accents&nbsp;</h2>



This probe into Georgia’s speech patterns showcases the intricate interplay between generational change, societal influences, and language evolution. With the iconic Southern drawl undergoing notable modifications, it becomes evident that regional accents are not static, but are instead shaped by younger generations.&nbsp;



Thus, this study – published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S095439452300011X">Language Variation and Change</a> - not only unveils the dynamic nature of accents but also stresses the significance of broadening the research lens to encompass diverse ethnicities.



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The iconic Southern accent is fading with each new generation

A new study led by the University of Georgia (UGA)...

Siberian,Husky,Dog,With,Narrow,Eyes,,Funny,Smiling,Husky,Dog

In a recent study conducted at the <a href="https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Veterinary Medicine</a> Vienna, Austria, evidence suggests that both wolves and dogs rely not just on their sense of smell but also on their observational memory and social learning when trying to locate hidden food.



The research was led by Sebastian Vetter and his team and published in the open-access journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0290547">PLOS ONE</a>. The study builds upon prior research on social learning in wolves and dogs.



<h2 id="h-study-focused-on-social-learning">Study focused on social learning</h2>



Social learning involves acquiring knowledge by observing or interacting with others. A specific type of this learning, known as observational spatial memory, entails remembering the location where another individual has hidden food.



To delve deeper into this phenomenon, Vetter and his colleagues designed an experiment at the <a href="https://www.wolfscience.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wolf Science Center</a> in Ernsbrunn, Austria. The subjects of this experiment comprised 9 timber wolves and 8 mongrel dogs. These animals were tested on their capability to locate 4, 6, or 8 caches of food, with the variable being whether they had observed a human hide the food or not.



<h2>What the scientists learned</h2>



The results were quite revealing. Both species located more of the initial 5 food caches faster and traversed shorter distances when they had witnessed the hiding process. 



This behavior clearly implies that the wolves and dogs didn't rely solely on their sense of smell to find the food, reinforcing the idea of observational spatial memory's existence in these animals.



Interestingly, even with the presence or absence of visual cues, wolves consistently outperformed dogs in locating the hidden caches. However, this doesn't necessarily point to a superior cognitive ability in wolves. The researchers speculate that the difference might be rooted in other characteristics, such as persistence or the motivation driven by food.



Reflecting on the broader implications of their findings, the researchers commented, "While domestication probably affected dogs’ willingness to adjust to humans, the results of the current study collaborate previous findings suggesting that cognitive abilities do not differ very much between dogs and wolves."



This study contributes significantly to the understanding of cognition in wolves and dogs and might reshape how we train and interact with these animals in various settings, from household pets to conservation efforts.



<h2>More about social learning</h2>



Social learning is a fascinating process through which individuals acquire new behaviors, skills, or information by observing and imitating others. Unlike individual trial-and-error learning, where an individual learns solely through their own experiences, social learning allows for faster adaptation by leveraging the knowledge and experiences of others.



At its core, social learning hinges on observation. From a young age, humans watch their peers, elders, and even media representations to learn how to act, speak, and even think. For example, a child might learn to tie their shoes by watching a parent or sibling, skipping the painstaking process of figuring it out alone.



<h3>Animals also practice social learning</h3>



As noted earlier in this article, humans aren't the only species that benefit from social learning. Many animals, from birds to primates, observe and mimic others in their group. 



For instance, a young chimpanzee might learn to use a stick to extract termites by watching an elder demonstrate the technique. This mode of learning has considerable advantages.



Efficiency: By observing, individuals can avoid potential risks and pitfalls that come with trial-and-error methods.



Cultural Transmission: Social learning plays a pivotal role in passing down traditions, customs, and techniques from one generation to the next.



Adaptation: In changing environments, observing successful behaviors in peers can lead to quicker adaptation.



In the modern age, with the rise of digital media and online communities, the scope of social learning has expanded exponentially. Platforms like YouTube, where one can watch and learn anything from cooking to coding, are testaments to the power and reach of social learning in today's interconnected world.



In essence, social learning is a testament to the age-old saying, "Monkey see, monkey do." By observing and imitating, we not only preserve valuable knowledge but also foster innovation and adaptation, proving that sometimes, watching is indeed learning.



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Dogs and wolves have social learning ability and can remember where people hid food

In a recent study conducted at the University of Veterinary...

Bottles,With,Detergent,And,Cleaning,Tools,On,Wooden,Table

A disturbing study published today in the scientific journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139570" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chemosphere</a> has shed light on the potential health hazards posed by common household cleaning products.



Conducted by scientists from the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Working Group</a> (EWG), the study analyzed 30 different cleaning products and found them to emit hundreds of hazardous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-household-products-expose-people-to-dangerous-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volatile organic compounds</a> (VOCs).



<h2 id="h-key-findings-on-vocs">Key findings on VOCs</h2>



<ul>
<li>The study examined a range of cleaning products, including multipurpose cleaners, glass cleaners, air fresheners, and more. </li>



<li>A staggering 530 unique VOCs were detected across the 30 products. Alarmingly, 193 of these VOCs were identified as hazardous, with potential health risks including respiratory damage, increased cancer risk, and developmental and reproductive impacts. </li>



<li>VOC emissions from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/windshield-wiper-fluid-accounts-for-large-percentage-of-toxic-vehicle-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cleaning products</a> are particularly concerning for indoor air quality. They were found to contaminate indoor air two to five times more than outdoor air. Some estimates even suggest the difference could be as much as tenfold. Moreover, certain products continue to emit VOCs for extended periods, ranging from days to months.</li>
</ul>



<a href="https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/our-experts/alexis-temkin-phd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alexis Temkin</a>, Ph.D., a senior toxicologist at EWG, warned, “This study is a wake-up call for consumers, researchers, and regulators to be more aware of the potential risks associated with the numerous chemicals entering our indoor air.”



<h2>Green products vs. conventional products</h2>



Encouragingly, the research showed that products labeled “green” emitted significantly fewer VOCs compared to their conventional counterparts -- approximately half as many, on average. 



Furthermore, when categorized as “fragrance free,” green products produced the least <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-develop-an-eco-friendly-material-to-purify-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VOC emissions</a>, about eight times fewer than conventional products and four times less than green products containing fragrance.



On average, green products emitted only four <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/special-coating-transforms-a-lampshade-into-an-air-purifier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hazardous chemicals</a>, while green products with fragrance emitted about 15, and conventional products as many as 22.



Dr. Temkin also highlighted a potential solution for consumers, “Our findings emphasize a way to reduce exposure to hazardous VOCs -- by selecting products that are ‘green,’ especially those that are ‘green’ and ‘fragrance free.’”



<h2>Implications for health and environment</h2>



The adverse health effects of VOCs are deeply concerning given the exposure rates. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33234692/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a> indicates that individuals employed in the cleaning industry face a 50% higher risk of developing asthma and a 43% increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Women in this sector also experience a heightened risk of lung cancer.



Additionally, children’s health is jeopardized. Some research links higher use of certain indoor cleaners during pregnancy and infancy to an increased risk of asthma and wheezing in childhood.



The environmental impact of VOCs is equally worrying. <a href="https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/our-experts/samara-geller" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Samara Geller</a>, EWG senior director of cleaning science, highlighted that VOCs from consumer products can exacerbate outdoor air pollution. A <a href="https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/chemicals-everyday-products-rival-cars-source-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2018 study</a> estimated that consumer products were the source of half of the VOCs contributing to air pollution.



Geller concluded, “Going green with your cleaning products is an easy way to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. This may be especially important for women’s and children's health.”



This important research emphasizes the importance of making informed choices about household cleaning products, not just for individual health, but also for the well-being of the planet.



<h2>More about VOCs</h2>



Volatile Organic Compounds, commonly known as VOCs and discussed above, permeate our environment. They are essential to understand due to their significant impact on human health and the planet. Let's now dive deep into what VOCs are, where you find them, and the effects they can have.



<h3>What are VOCs?</h3>



VOCs stand for Volatile Organic Compounds. They are a group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. Due to their volatile nature, they can become a primary component of indoor and outdoor air pollution.



<h3>Common sources</h3>



Every day, you encounter products and materials that release VOCs. Some of these sources include:



<ul>
<li>Household Products: Paints, varnishes, and cleaning agents often contain VOCs. When you open a can of paint or use a cleaning agent, you release these compounds into the air. </li>



<li>Automobiles: Car exhaust emits a significant number of VOCs. </li>



<li>Industrial Processes: Factories that produce goods, ranging from plastics to clothing, often release VOCs as a byproduct. </li>



<li>Building Materials: Many construction materials, such as adhesives, wood preservatives, and even some carpets, give off VOCs.</li>
</ul>



<h3>Health impacts of VOCs</h3>



Exposure to VOCs can lead to a range of health issues, including:



<ul>
<li>Short-term effects: These can range from eye, nose, and throat irritation to headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. </li>



<li>Long-term effects: Chronic exposure can lead to liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. Some VOCs, like benzene and formaldehyde, are even potential carcinogens.</li>
</ul>



<h3>Environmental effects</h3>



Apart from human health, VOCs also affect the environment:



<ul>
<li>Ozone Formation: When VOCs mix with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form ground-level ozone. This is a primary component of smog, and it can be harmful to both human health and vegetation. </li>



<li>Contribution to Climate Change: Some VOCs are greenhouse gases, which means they trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming.</li>
</ul>



<h3>Reducing exposure to VOCs</h3>



To minimize the risks associated with VOCs, consider the following steps:



<ul>
<li>Ventilation: Ensure good ventilation when using products that emit VOCs. This can help dilute the concentration of VOCs in the air. </li>



<li>Read Labels: Check products for VOC content and opt for low-VOC or VOC-free options when available. </li>



<li>Limit Use: Use VOC-emitting products sparingly and follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter. </li>



<li>Safe Storage: Store products that contain VOCs in well-sealed containers to prevent unnecessary evaporation.</li>
</ul>



<h3>VOC regulations</h3>



Many governments recognize the threats posed by VOCs and have introduced regulations to limit their emissions. These often include setting limits for VOC content in products, establishing air quality standards, and requiring industries to adopt best practices to minimize VOC emissions.



In summary, VOCs, while ubiquitous in our modern environment, can pose significant health and environmental challenges. By understanding what they are and where they come from, and by taking proactive steps to reduce exposure, we can protect both our health and the environment. It's up to both individuals and industries to play their part in ensuring a safer, VOC-reduced world.



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Common household cleaning products release hundreds of toxic chemicals

A disturbing study published today in the scientific journal Chemosphere...

Flowering plants not only survived the mass <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lions-are-dangling-precariously-on-the-brink-of-extinction-immediate-action-is-needed/">extinction</a> that killed the dinosaurs, but ultimately benefited from this catastrophic event, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.bath.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bath</a>.



The K-Pg extinction event wiped out more than 75 percent of all species on Earth, but its impact on flowering plants has been unclear.



<h2 id="h-major-lineages-of-flowering-plants-survived">Major lineages of flowering plants survived</h2>



The experts have discovered that, despite losing some species, major flowering plant lineages miraculously survived.



"At least five major mass extinction events have punctuated the history of life and have profoundly shaped the diversity and distribution of entire groups of organisms," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-regional-extinctions">Regional extinctions</h2>



"The most recent of these events was the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-ancestors-coexisted-with-dinosaurs-yes-according-to-shocking-new-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction</a> (K-Pg) that occurred approximately 66 million years ago (Mya) and is associated with the Chicxulub Impact Event. This event led to the demise of non-avian dinosaurs and high extinction rates of vertebrate species."



"High-resolution fossil records suggest that, despite initial regional massive extinction of angiosperm species, most of their major extant lineages (i.e. orders, families) originated during the Cretaceous, survived the K-Pg event, and eventually recovered in diversity during the Paleocene."



<h2 id="h-how-researchers-studied-flowering-plants">How researchers studied flowering plants</h2>



The fossil record is lacking when it comes to plants, as they do not have skeletons like animals. This makes it challenging to trace the timeline of their evolution.&nbsp;



To investigate, Dr. Jamie Thompson of the Milner Centre for Evolution and Dr. Santiago Ramírez-Barahona of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México turned to MEGA phylogenetics.&nbsp;



"Assessing macroevolutionary dynamics of angiosperms using phylogenetic evidence could provide key insights into the impacts of K-Pg and how this event triggered the restructuring of all terrestrial biomes and the emergence of modern-day ecosystems," wrote the researchers.



The team analyzed evolutionary trees constructed from the DNA sequences of up to 73,000 living species of flowering plants. They used statistical models to estimate the rates of extinction throughout geological time.



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered">What the researchers discovered&nbsp;</h2>



The phylogenetic evidence revealed that the major flowering plant lineages were resilient to the K-Pg event. While some species disappeared, their larger families survived and eventually became dominant. Flowering plants make up about 300,000 of 400,000 modern plant species.&nbsp;



According to the study, the vast majority of flowering plant families that we are living today existed before the K-Pg event. These families - including the ancestors of orchids, magnolia, and mint - all shared Earth with the dinosaurs.



“After most of Earth’s species became extinct at K-Pg, angiosperms took the advantage, similar to the way in which mammals took over after the dinosaurs, and now pretty much all life on Earth depends on flowering plants ecologically," said Dr. Thompson.



<h2 id="h-flowering-plants-are-true-survivors">Flowering plants are true survivors&nbsp;</h2>



It is incredible to consider that flowering plants were tough enough to survive such a devastating event despite being immobile and relying on the sun for energy.



“Flowering plants have a remarkable ability to adapt: they use a variety of seed-dispersal and pollination mechanisms, some have duplicated their entire genomes and others have evolved new ways to photosynthesize," said Dr. Ramírez-Barahona. “This ‘flower power’ is what makes them nature’s true survivors.”



<h2>About the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction</h2>



Around 66 million years ago, Earth faced one of the most devastating events in its history -- the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K-Pg) mass extinction. 



This catastrophe extinguished nearly 75% of Earth's species, including the iconic non-avian dinosaurs. The extinction marked a pivotal shift in Earth's biological diversity, paving the way for mammals to rise as dominant terrestrial animals.



<h3>What Caused the K-Pg Extinction?</h3>



Researchers point to two primary culprits -- a massive asteroid impact and prolonged volcanic activity.



<h4>The asteroid impact</h4>



Evidence suggests a 10-kilometer-wide asteroid struck what is now the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, creating the Chicxulub crater. This impact unleashed an enormous amount of energy, equivalent to billions of nuclear bombs. It set forests ablaze, triggered tsunamis, and threw tons of debris into the atmosphere. 



This debris blocked sunlight, leading to a phenomenon called "impact winter." With reduced sunlight, photosynthesis slowed, disrupting food chains and ecosystems.



<h4>Volcanic activity</h4>



Concurrently, in what is now India, the Deccan Traps underwent extensive volcanic activity. These eruptions spewed vast quantities of lava and also released gases like sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. 



These gases, when in the atmosphere, can contribute to both cooling (sulfur dioxide) and warming (carbon dioxide). Such dramatic shifts in temperature and atmospheric composition further stressed global ecosystems.



<h3>The aftermath of the extinction</h3>



The K-Pg event's impact on life was profound. Ocean ecosystems underwent a significant overhaul as many marine reptiles, like plesiosaurs and mosasaurs, vanished. The skies saw the disappearance of pterosaurs. On land, the non-avian dinosaurs, which had ruled for over 150 million years, came to an end.



However, with the demise of these giants, opportunities arose for other creatures. Mammals, which had previously lived in the shadows of the mighty dinosaurs, began to diversify and expand into niches left vacant. Birds, descendants of theropod dinosaurs, took to the skies in a more diverse array.



In summary, the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction serves as a testament to the planet's dynamic nature. It reminds us of the fragility of life and the interconnectedness of all living organisms. 



While the event ended the reign of many species, it also provided opportunities for others to flourish. Today, as we look back at this crucial juncture in Earth's history, we gain insights into the ever-evolving story of life on our planet.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2023.0314" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



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Nature's true survivors: Flowering plants lived through the dinosaur extinction

Flowering plants not only survived the mass extinction that killed...

Ecuador, home to a rich tapestry of biodiversity, has unveiled a new entrant: the Neacomys marci. This recently identified spiny mouse species, previously mistaken for another of its kind, bears the length equivalent to a tennis ball. 



With distinctive features such as a pale suede underbelly, a long tail, and a white throat, it stands as the 24th recognized species in its genus, Neacomys.



<h2 id="h-many-recent-spiny-mouse-discoveries">Many recent spiny mouse discoveries</h2>



The last five years have been revolutionary for the Neacomys genus with the discovery of 14 new species, including Neacomys marci. 



Found in the Chocó biogeographic region, one of South America's significant biodiversity hotspots, this region is not only expansive, stretching along the Pacific coasts of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador, but it's also notably under-researched. 



This particular part of northwestern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-new-species-of-carnivorous-plants-discovered-in-ecuador/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecuador's rainforests</a> boasts immense biodiversity and endemism, credit being owed to the confluence of the Chocó and the Andes Mountains.



<h2>How the study was conducted</h2>



The journey to recognizing Neacomys marci didn't happen in isolation. Collaborative efforts among researchers Nicolás Tinoco of <a href="https://www.puce.edu.ec/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pontificia Universidad</a> Católica del Ecuador, Claudia Koch from Germany's <a href="https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/institutes/leibniz-institutes-all-lists/leibniz-institute-for-the-analysis-of-biodiversity-change#:~:text=The%20Leibniz%20Institute%20for%20the,for%20society%20as%20a%20whole." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leibniz Institute</a> for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Javier E. Colmenares-Pinzón of <a href="https://www.uis.edu.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universidad Industrial de Santander</a> in Colombia, and Jorge Brito from <a href="http://inabio.biodiversidad.gob.ec/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad</a> in Quito, Ecuador were integral to this revelation. 



Their in-depth description and findings on this rodent have been <a href="https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1175.106113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published in the open-access journal, Zookeys</a>.



As a genus, Neacomys has made its presence known across eastern Panama and the northern regions of South America. Studies since 2017 have invigorated the understanding of this genus, introducing several new species. 



However, given the expansive uncharted terrains of South America and nearby Panama, many believe that the genus's true diversity might still be lurking in the shadows, waiting for further discovery.



Modern scientific approaches, including molecular analysis, have been paramount in identifying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dozens-of-frog-species-rediscovered-in-ecuador/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal groups</a> with more precision. Additionally, extensive reviews of museum collections and augmented field collection endeavors have been pivotal in comprehending not just Neacomys marci but its peer species as well.



<h2>How to name a new spiny mouse</h2>



The naming of this new species pays tribute to Marc Hoogeslag from Amsterdam, Netherlands. As a co-founder and leader of the International Union for Conservation of Nature - Netherlands Land Acquisition Fund, Hoogeslag has been instrumental in aiding local groups globally in crafting new ecological reserves and championing the cause of endangered species conservation. 



The discovery of Neacomys marci in the EcoMinga Foundation's Manduriacu Reserve stands as testament to the impact of Hoogeslag's initiatives, with the reserve being one of the many beneficiaries of his program.



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New species of spiny mouse discovered in Ecuador

Ecuador, home to a rich tapestry of biodiversity, has unveiled...

Why was the Sahara Desert once lush and green? A recent study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a> provides new insights into periodic wet phases and greening in the Sahara over the last 800,000 years.



<h2 id="h-earth-s-orbital-precession">Earth’s orbital precession&nbsp;</h2>



The primary driver behind intermittent green periods in the Sahara was identified as changes in Earth’s orbit around the Sun, notably Earth’s orbital precession. This refers to Earth's wobbly motion on its axis, influencing the seasonal contrasts.&nbsp;



The wobbles, which occur approximately every 21,000 years, determine the energy Earth receives during different seasons. This ultimately controls the strength of the African monsoon and, by extension, the spread of vegetation across the Sahara.



<h2 id="h-ice-ages">Ice ages</h2>



However, the researchers also found that these humid greening intervals in the Sahara did not occur during ice ages.&nbsp;



Massive glacial ice sheets, blanketing much of the high latitudes, cooled the atmosphere, suppressing the growth of the African monsoon system.&nbsp;



The experts report that the interconnection between these distant areas might have limited species’ movement, including early humans, out of Africa during the glacial periods spanning the past 800,000 years.



<h2 id="h-remarkable-environmental-changes">Remarkable environmental changes&nbsp;</h2>



Study lead author Dr. Edward Armstrong is a climate scientist at the University of Helsinki and <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>.



“The cyclic transformation of the Sahara Desert into savannah and woodland ecosystems is one of the most remarkable environmental changes on the planet," said Dr. Armstrong.



“Our study is one of the first climate modeling studies to simulate the African Humid Periods with comparable magnitude to what the palaeoclimate observations indicate, revealing why and when these events occurred.”



<h2 id="h-advanced-climate-modeling">Advanced climate modeling&nbsp;</h2>



Many existing climate models have fallen short in simulating the amplitude of these humid periods in the Sahara.



However, the recent study utilized an advanced climate model that not only offers insights into the past shifts but could potentially improve predictions of future changes.



The results confirmed that the African Humid Periods occurred every 21,000 years and were determined by changes in Earth’s orbital precession.&nbsp;



Warmer summers and increased precipitation from the intensified monsoon system drove greening across the desert.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-significance-of-the-study">Significance of the study</h2>



“We are really excited about the results. Traditionally, climate models have struggled to represent the extent of the ‘greening’ of the Sahara," said study co-author Professor Paul Valdes.



"Our revised model successfully represents past changes and also gives us confidence in their ability to understand future change."



<h2 id="h-study-implications">Study implications</h2>



There is undeniable evidence that the Sahara was home to sprawling rivers, lakes, and water-dependent animals, such as hippos, in past epochs.&nbsp;



Such periods of vegetation might have played a pivotal role in creating green corridors for various species, including early humans, to disperse across the globe.



“The Sahara region is kind of a gate controlling the dispersal of species between both North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and in and out of the continent," said study co-author Professor Miikka Tallavaara.



“The gate was open when Sahara was green and closed when deserts prevailed. This alternation of humid and arid phases had major consequences for the dispersal and evolution of species in Africa."&nbsp;



"Our ability to model North African Humid periods is a major achievement and means we are now also better able to model human distributions and understand the evolution of our genus in Africa.”



The study has the potential to reshape our understanding of early human migrations and the broader implications of global climate shifts.



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Study reveals the driving forces behind greening in the Sahara Desert

Why was the Sahara Desert once lush and green? A...

Namibia, known for its rich tapestry of prehistoric stone age rock art, has once again come under the limelight. This time, not just for the artistry, but for the remarkable precision with which ancient artists engraved animal and human tracks during the Later Stone Age.



A recent study, as reported by Andreas Pastoors and his team from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, discovered that the details in this stone age art are so intricate in these engravings that contemporary Indigenous trackers can determine the species, age, and sex of the animal or human just from the footprint.



<h2 id="h-namibia-stone-age-art-stands-out">Namibia stone age art stands out</h2>



Published in the open-access journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289560" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS ONE</a>, the research indicates that while engravings of footprints appear in many prehistoric rock art traditions across the globe, those from Namibia stand out for their detail and execution.



Historically, such engravings have been clubbed with geometric shapes in the annals of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/archeologists-make-an-illuminating-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rock art</a> studies, leaving this specific niche under-researched, despite its widespread presence. This oversight makes the present study even more significant.



To glean insights from these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spanish-cave-was-used-for-art-and-burials-for-50000-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rock art</a> engravings, researchers sought expertise from Indigenous tracking specialists of the Kalahari desert. The trackers were assigned the task of analyzing footprints carved into the rocks of the Doro! Nawas Mountains located in central Western Namibia.



<h2>Indigenous experts can easily translate</h2>



In a stunning revelation, the Indigenous experts managed to determine not just the species represented by the engravings, but also the sex, age group, and even which exact leg (left or right) the print belonged to in over 90% of the 513 analyzed engravings. 



Further, it was identified that the range of animal species depicted by their tracks was far greater than the actual engravings of the animals themselves.



Patterns emerged, suggesting the engravers had a discernible inclination towards specific species. They leaned more towards representing adult animals than their younger counterparts and showed a penchant for male footprints over female ones. 



These patterns, as intriguing as they are, emanate from what seems like culturally determined preferences. However, the exact significance behind these choices is yet to be deciphered.



While researchers believe that contemporary Indigenous knowledge holds immense potential to further archaeological research, the specific context and meaning behind this rock art, in all its depth and nuances, might remain a mystery.



Summing up the importance of the study, the authors noted, "The engravings on Namibia's rock faces, largely overlooked due to previous research limitations, provide a window into a past where animals and humans coexisted, and where the artists differentiated cultural patterns in their representation. Partnering with Indigenous trackers from the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in Tsumkwe has opened up a richer understanding of this ancient art form."



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Stone age artists carved incredibly detailed animal tracks onto rocks

Namibia, known for its rich tapestry of prehistoric stone age...

Blond,Woman,Blowing,Nose,Outdoors

Experts from the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Food and Drug Administration</a> (FDA) have disclosed that common over-the-counter decongestants with Phenylephrine do not work. Following a review of the latest research on the drug ingredient, members of an FDA Advisory panel confirmed that it doesn't provide relief or any improvement for congestion.&nbsp;



Phenylephrine, an active ingredient found in many over-the-counter decongestants including Sudafed, Benadryl, and Robitussin, had initially been approved to replace pseudoephedrine. This was another decongestant that was taken off drugstore shelves in 2006 due to the presence of an illegal stimulant called methamphetamine.



<h2 id="h-phenylephrine-drugs-will-soon-disappear">Phenylephrine drugs will soon disappear</h2>



With the emergence of recent studies which found that Phenylephrine is, in fact, not more effective than a placebo against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/allergy-season-will-become-increasingly-brutal-as-climate-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">allergies</a>, experts have now voted unanimously against the effectiveness of the drug ingredient, claiming inconsistencies in past studies.&nbsp;



“In conclusion, we do believe that the original studies were methodologically unsound and do not match today’s standard. By contrast, we believe the new data are credible and do not provide evidence that oral phenylephrine is effective as a nasal decongestant,” said Dr. Peter Starke, an FDA official who led the review panel.



While it might take a while before any regulation is made, these new findings could now see common phenylephrine drugs taken off the shelves of medical stores.&nbsp;



<h2>Another FDA warning</h2>



This news comes on the same day the FDA sent warning letters to eight companies for allegedly marketing illegal eye drug products which were not FDA approved. The agency, in a news release, announced this as part of its efforts to protect people from harmful eye products.&nbsp;



The illegal products were found to mainly be in use for treating conditions such as conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The FDA warned that these products when applied directly to the eyes could take down some of the body's natural defences, hence making them potentially harmful.&nbsp;



Additionally, the agency mentioned that some of these drug products contain silver, which has been found to be associated with agyria, a condition that permanently causes some areas of skin to turn bluish-grey after long-term use.&nbsp;



The warning letters were sent to Boiron Inc., CVS Health, DR Vitamin Solutions, Natural Ophthalmics, Inc., OcluMed LLC, Similasan AG/Similasan USA, TRP Company, Inc., and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc..&nbsp;



The FDA also threatened to take legal action against the companies if they fail to reply within 15 days of receiving the letter.



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An independent advisory panel of the FDA votes against phenylephrine use as a decongestant

Experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have...

In an era long past, when the Earth was hot and humid, marine life thrived. The sea teemed with early squids, eel-like fish, and sea worms, all hunting smaller marine animals -- like the springtails.



Yet, above ground, life had not yet ventured. Such was the state of our planet about 450 million years ago, at the tail end of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ordovician-period_illustration_Credit-Fritz-Geller-Grimm_1big.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ordovician period</a>.



The warm oceans provided an idyllic haven for marine creatures, but change was imminent. Earth’s once balmy land masses began to freeze, as a vast ice cap steadily expanded across its surface.



The previously hospitable waters transformed into cold, unforgiving habitats. Within a brief span, our world witnessed its second-worst mass extinction event. Half of all known species were obliterated.



<h2 id="h-springtails-are-everywhere">Springtails are everywhere</h2>



However, against the odds, the springtail emerged as a survivor. These insect-like creatures are minute, with the largest among them only stretching to six millimeters. At a casual glance, you might mistake them for a garden-variety insect, but they command a unique evolutionary branch.



Over 9,000 species of springtails have been identified, and their habitats range from the soils of backyards to the foliage of dense forests. Interestingly, they get their name from a forked tail, also known as furcula, which allows them to jump up to 10 centimeters high when threatened, a notable feat for such a tiny creature.



Amidst the ever-expanding list of their fascinating traits, springtails have another impressive adaptation: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snailfish-have-a-secret-weapon-to-survive-in-frozen-arctic-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antifreeze proteins</a>.



<h2>Tiny animals and antifreeze proteins</h2>



A fascinating <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35983-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a> by researchers from <a href="https://international.au.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aarhus University</a> and <a href="https://www.queensu.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen’s University</a> in Canada suggests that the springtail may have been the first animal to ever produce antifreeze proteins. Prior to this discovery, the scientific consensus was that animals did not develop this ability until much later.



“We knew that antifreeze proteins had developed independently of each other several times during evolutionary history. Fish have them. Insects have them. Some spiders have them. But until we saw these results, we didn't know that they’d developed so early in the animal world," says Professor Martin Holmstrup of the Department of Ecoscience at Aarhus University.



<h2>How to find springtails</h2>



Martin Holmstrup and his colleagues collected the springtails from Denmark, Iceland, and Greenland for their lab. Finding them isn't difficult. You might even discover them in your garden. Here's how:



<ol type="1">
<li>Take a handful of soil or foliage from your garden and put it in a sieve. </li>



<li>Position an adjustable lamp above the sieve and set a tray underneath. </li>



<li>The lamp's heat drives the springtails to seek cooler surroundings, causing them to fall through the sieve. You can then observe them scurrying about in the tray.</li>
</ol>



<h2>What the researchers learned</h2>



Holmstrup, who oversees nearly 20 species of springtails in his laboratory, sent samples to his Canadian colleagues to ascertain when these creatures first developed the antifreeze protein. With DNA sequencing technology, the team searched for sequences associated with antifreeze protein production across a wide range of species.



Their findings? The gene mutation leading to antifreeze protein genesis happened during the Ordovician period.



"The calculations show that springtails developed the antifreeze protein long before other animals. It didn’t happen for fish and insects until a million years later. Although plants and microorganisms, such as bacteria and single-celled algae, might have developed a similar mechanism even earlier,” Holmstrup adds.



<h2>Springtails dry out like raisins</h2>



While these proteins are vital, springtails have another survival mechanism. To protect their cells from freezing, they undergo a form of hibernation, drying out completely. In this state, their metabolism drops to near-undetectable levels.



“You can compare them to a grape that dries into a raisin in a process reminiscent of freeze-drying. The springtails shrink and become small, wrinkly critters in winter. And then, when spring arrives, they absorb water and swell back to normal size,” Holmstrup explains.



<h2>Antifreeze proteins and the food industry</h2>



The concept of antifreeze proteins first emerged in the mid-20th century. For years, scientists were puzzled at how Arctic fish could thrive in icy waters that, based on temperature alone, should have frozen them. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that the American researcher Arthur DeVries identified these proteins in Arctic fish, noting their ability to prevent ice from forming within their cells.



Today, the implications of these proteins reach beyond our understanding of evolutionary survival. The food industry, particularly in the frozen sector, has taken a keen interest.



Holmstrup shares, "The genes that encode the antifreeze proteins in fish have been copied into industrial yeast cell cultures. This makes the yeast produce the very useful proteins, which can then be added to different foods."



For instance, companies like Unilever have integrated these proteins into ice creams, resulting in enhanced textures and an improved freezing-thawing process. But the potential applications don't end there.



As Holmstrup concludes, "In the longer term, this effect could be used in connection with the cryopreservation of transplant organs. Other industries like the aerospace and wind turbine industries have also experimented with the proteins. They hope the proteins can protect wings from freezing and needing to be de-iced.”



In understanding the springtail's evolutionary triumph, we not only gain insight into our planet's rich past but also draw inspiration for technological advancements in our future.



<h2>More about the Ordovician period</h2>



Dive deep into Earth's geologic timeline, and you'll find the Ordovician Period. Spanning from approximately 485 to 443 million years ago, this epoch, following the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-did-the-first-animals-appear-on-earth-we-are-now-one-step-closer-to-knowing-the-answer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambrian Period</a>, paints a vivid picture of an ever-evolving world.



<h3>A flourishing marine life</h3>



The Ordovician Period primarily showcased an explosion in marine life. Oceans covered a vast majority of the Earth's surface, and within these primordial waters, diverse marine species thrived. Trilobites, brachiopods, graptolites, and nautiloids dominated the oceans. Notably, corals began constructing the first significant reef systems, laying the foundation for an ecosystem we recognize and value today.



However, it wasn't just about the animals. The first evidence of green algae appeared during this period, indicating the beginnings of plant life that would later colonize the land. The marine plankton diversified, which led to a significant increase in the overall amount of life. This diverse marine food web set the stage for the rapid evolution and proliferation of predatory organisms.



<h3>Advancements in ocean dynamics</h3>



The world's continents underwent significant transformation during the Ordovician. The supercontinent known as Gondwana was on a slow journey toward the South Pole. This migration played a key role in shaping oceanic patterns and sea levels. As Gondwana approached the pole, global cooling ensued, setting the stage for the period's eventual ice age.



<h3>The rise of fish</h3>



Fish, albeit very early fish, first emerged during the Ordovician Period. Although these early fish lacked jaws, they still represented a significant evolutionary advancement, marking the onset of vertebrates' dominance in the following periods. These early fish primarily relied on filter feeding, with their soft bodies navigating the depths of the ancient oceans.



<h3>Life takes its first steps on land</h3>



While the Ordovician seas teemed with life, land remained mostly barren. However, by the end of the period, the first evidence of life on land began to emerge. Early, non-vascular plants called bryophytes likely took root on terrestrial landscapes. These first steps onto land would pave the way for the more advanced plants and animals that would later dominate the Silurian and Devonian periods.



<h3>A freezing conclusion</h3>



The Ordovician Period did not end quietly. The movement of Gondwana over the South Pole led to widespread glaciation. This global cooling caused a drop in sea levels, which, combined with other yet-to-be-confirmed factors, triggered the Ordovician mass extinction. This catastrophic event wiped out nearly 60% of marine invertebrate genera and 85% of marine invertebrate species.



However, despite its chilling conclusion, the Ordovician Period remains significant for its contributions to Earth's evolutionary history. It showcased the diversification and dominance of marine life, saw the emergence of the first fish and land plants, and underwent significant geological changes that shaped the Earth as we know it. 



The legacy of the Ordovician Period offers us a profound understanding of our planet's dynamic history and the intricate web of life it nurtures.



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What are springtails and why would humans not exist without them?

In an era long past, when the Earth was hot...

Doctor,Making,A,Vaccination,Into,Patient,With,Needle,Getting,Immune

Moderna Inc said its experimental mRNA-1010 flu vaccine had met safety standards across all four Influenza A and B strains. The updated shot had stimulated improved immune response in all age groups, including older adults.



According to the company’s announcement released as part of its annual R&amp;D day, the vaccine was a match for Sanofi’s Fluzone HD against the B/Yamagata, while it providing greater resistance against the three other strains. This was discovered in ‘’a separate Phase ½ head-to-head study.’’



Following this announcement, Moderna’s shares increased by about 7% in pre-market trading.



The CEO Stéphane Bancel stated, in an interview with Fierce Biotech, that they plan to get regulatory approval soon and the mRNA flu vaccine might go on sale as early as 2024.



“We’ll know more in a few months when we speak to regulators, but we’re (sic) trying to go as fast as we can,” Bancel said.



<h2 id="h-mrna-flu-vaccines">mRNA flu vaccines</h2>



As expected, the CEO added ‘’Several players are trying to make an (sic) <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experimental-mrna-flu-vaccine-shows-promising-results/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mRNA</a> flu vaccine and we have no intention of (sic) educating them on how we came (sic) to a good outcome.’’



In February, the biotech company had reported mixed results in a trial, sending its shares on a downward spiral of over 6% in after-hours trading.



The previous shot couldn’t be proved effective against less common influenza B, despite showing positive results against the A strains.&nbsp;



On its COVID-19 updates, <a href="https://www.modernatx.com/en-US" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moderna</a> received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) of Spikevax for persons from 12 and older. The FDA also gave Emergency Use Authorization to the company’s COVID-19 vaccine for ages six months to 11 years.



The company expects COVID-19 vaccine sales to fall between $6 billion and $8 billion, while also downsizing its supply chain in the face of reduced demands.



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Moderna announces mRNA flu vaccine success, will soon be released

Moderna Inc said its experimental mRNA-1010 flu vaccine had met...

By the end of this century, many coastal communities will face "100-year floods" on a yearly basis, according to a study published by the <a href="https://www.agu.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Geophysical Union</a>.&nbsp;



The experts suggest that this forecast may be inevitable, reporting that even if carbon dioxide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-rivers-in-the-andes-are-hotspots-for-emissions/">emissions</a> peak by 2040, extreme floods will likely become an annual event.



<h2 id="h-100-year-flood">100-year flood&nbsp;</h2>



The term "100-year flood" refers to a severe flooding event that historically had a one percent likelihood of occurring each year. The terminology may be misleading because these floods can happen in consecutive years or might not occur at all within a century.&nbsp;



Regardless, the new study indicates that these historical patterns may no longer be useful for predicting future flood events. The research was led by Hamed Moftakhari, a civil engineer and professor at the <a href="https://www.ua.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alabama</a>.



“The threshold that we expect to be exceeded once every hundred years on average is going to be exceeded much more frequently in a warmer climate until they are no longer considered 100-year events," said Moftakhari.



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



Storms and waves cause severe flooding in coastal communities, but the researchers focused their study on the longer term impacts of sea-level rise.



"The gradual increase of global mean sea level (MSL), known as sea-level rise (SLR), is one of the biggest climate change-related concerns of the 21st century. SLR poses a threat to seaside communities and can lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of coastal flooding. Thus, evaluating the future expected number of extreme sea-level events and their magnitudes is critical for sustainable coastal flood risk management," wrote the study authors.



The experts set out to estimate future extreme sea levels under two carbon emission scenarios: if carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise through the end of the century, or if carbon dioxide emissions reach their peak by 2040 and then decline.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-proactive-planning-is-needed">Proactive planning is needed</h2>



The researchers analyzed trends based on data from 375 tide gauges located all over the globe. The results showed that in both carbon emission scenarios, sea level rise will lead to an increase in 100-year flood events in most of the locations that were examined.



Moftakhari said that a proactive approach to land planning, urban development and coastal protective measures could help communities reduce flooding and avoid disaster, and that starts with realistic forecasts of future coastal conditions.



“What makes it so challenging is that the majority of tools, design guidelines, manuals of practice and more are all based on the assumption of stationarity,” said Moftakhari. “They need to be updated to enable us to keep pace with the rate of change.”



<h2 id="h-unique-solutions">Unique solutions&nbsp;</h2>



According to a study published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0118571">PLOS ONE</a>, more than 600 million people live in low-lying coastal regions, and that number is expected to rise. In order for coastal communities to withstand extreme flooding, well-designed coastal defense structures are critically important.&nbsp;



According to Moftakhari, coastal communities will require unique solutions based on local information to match their needs. Some areas are experiencing much faster rates of sea level rise. This is the case in parts of Texas and Louisiana on the Gulf coast where the land is gradually sinking.



<h2 id="h-enhancing-the-resilience-of-coastal-communities">Enhancing the resilience of coastal communities&nbsp;</h2>



“We know that mean sea level is rising, the question is: how are we going to deal with it?” said Moftakhari. “We’ve already seen that many portions of the coast are permanently inundated and losing land, and many coastal cities and islands are experiencing flooding much more frequently than in the past - it’s time to learn how to deal with non-stationarity.”



Moftakhari is determined to remain optimistic, noting that disasters are the outcome of human decision-making, not hazards alone.&nbsp;



“Don’t forget that this is all about the level of water that we expect to experience without mitigation measures. There will be technological advancements that could enhance the resilience of communities.”



The research is published in the AGU journal Earth's Future. 



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100-year floods will be annual events by the end of the century

By the end of this century, many coastal communities will...

Asteroid,In,Outer,Space,Near,Earth,Planet.,Meteorite,On,Orbit

The Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) of NASA has urged the space agency to launch a spacecraft with the sole mission of exploring Apophis before its anticipated close flyby of Earth in 2029. 



The community-based advisory group shared this in its 10-point report published online. <a href="https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SBAG</a> considers this a ‘’unique and rare close approach opportunity’’, while hinting at the return of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-is-bringing-an-asteroid-sample-back-to-earth-this-month-worrying-many-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSIRIS-REx</a> to Earth on September 24th, 2023.



<h2 id="h-why-send-a-mission-to-apophis">Why send a mission to Apophis?</h2>



‘’The mission effort should focus on exploring the asteroid Apophis prior to its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjJIyZKbHqc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">close flyby</a> of the Earth in 2029, leveraging the natural laboratory experiment afforded by this unique and rare close approach opportunity, to complement the data to be collected by the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft after Apophis’ close flyby of the Earth.’’



SBAG ‘’encourages <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> to pursue a mission opportunity, achievable within available resources, to explore Apophis prior to its close Earth approach, whether initiating its own effort or via collaboration with foreign and domestic partners.’’



<h2>Perfect complement to OSIRIS-REx mission</h2>



OSIRIS-REx landed on Bennu in October 2020 to collect a sample, four years after its launch in 2016. The spacecraft will become known as OSIRIS Apophis Explorer (OSIRIS-APEX) when it starts a mission to study the asteroid.



The body believes ‘’the collected data will provide a complete investigation of this remarkable opportunity to quantify and understand in real time the consequences of planetary tides on the evolution of asteroids and glean important information on Apophis’ interior structure, which is otherwise unobtainable.’’



<h2>International year of planetary defense</h2>



SBAG also prompted NASA and the international planetary defense community to work with the United Nations and adopt 2029 as the International Year of Planetary Defense.&nbsp;



Asteroid Apophis, also known as 99942 Apophis, was previously identified with a 2.7% probability of hitting the Earth in April 2029. With its estimated 1,100 feet (340 metres), the near-Earth object had raised concerns of possible threat to the planet.&nbsp;



However, astronomers used radar observations to precisely estimate its orbit around the sun during the distant flyby of Earth in March 2021. They were able to discard collision risk in 2068 and beyond.



<a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/asteroids/apophis/in-depth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">99942 Apophis</a> was discovered in 2004 by Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at the Kitt Peak National Observatory.



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SBAG advises NASA to explore asteroid Apophis before its close flyby of Earth in 2029

The Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) of NASA has urged...

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

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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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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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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