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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>High Φ signals a richer, more unified experience; low Φ signals a dim one. </p>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>A more controversial route links mind to quantum mechanics. </p>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

<p>In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> have released a study that provides a new perspective on how individuals chose to navigate the unprecedented challenges. This research, a refreshing departure from narratives of increased substance use, found that many people turned to healthy habits and hobbies to cope with pandemic-related stress.</p>



<p>The study, recently published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109929"><em>Drug and Alcohol Dependence</em></a>, refines our understanding of how the American public adapted their behaviors during the enforced stay-at-home orders, a period marked by pervasive global anxiety.</p>



<h2 id="h-positive-pandemic-experiences">Positive pandemic experiences</h2>



<p>Interestingly, the researchers highlighted that those who reported more types of negative experiences spanning across work, home, and social domains also reported more positive types of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-pandemic-was-especially-damaging-to-the-mental-health-of-college-students/">pandemic</a> experiences.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These included engaging in hobbies, increasing physical activity and exercise, improving diet and nutrition through cooking, and spending more time with family and friends (virtually).</p>



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



<p>The goal of the study was to examine the effects of emotional, physical, and economic stressors related to the pandemic on substance use frequency. The researchers analyzed data from the COVID-Dynamic project run by Caltech.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The COVID-Dynamic survey asked participants a series of questions encompassing a broad range of pandemic-related experiences, from physical and emotional health, employment, finances to family dynamics. It also inquired about their monthly substance use and the potential positive effects the pandemic had on their lives, such as a more vigorous exercise regimen or a better diet.</p>



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



<p>By investigating data from two waves of the COVID-Dynamic project, in July 2020 and January 2021, the researchers identified how substance use correlated with pandemic-related experiences.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, those individuals reporting social and emotional impacts were more likely to consume alcohol, while those who experienced economic hardship drank less.</p>



<p>Nicotine use, however, showed an increase among those reporting economic impacts, and a decrease among individuals reporting significant social impact. Additionally, a positive association was found between emotional hardship and cannabis use.</p>



<p>Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the research was the scarcity of substance use among the study participants. Denise Hien, Director of the Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies and a co-author of the study, noted, “Overall, the amount of substance use in this sample was relatively low.”</p>



<h2 id="h-widespread-resilience">Widespread resilience&nbsp;</h2>



<p>This research challenges the general assumption that the pandemic had a universally negative impact. "We often think in terms of collective trauma, but this sample upends the idea that the pandemic was universally impactful,” said study co-author Alexandria Bauer.&nbsp;</p>



<p>She added that the data reveal nuanced ways in which people experience these types of mass events, suggesting a normative population's resilience.</p>



<p>Margaret Swarbrick, associate director of the Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, noted: “While some data has shown that the use of drugs and alcohol increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that many also coped during its darkest days by doing healthy activities like cooking, reading and gardening.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>This underlines the fact that people demonstrated resilience by embracing healthier habits and hobbies to navigate the pandemic's negative impacts.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-healthy-habits">More about healthy habits</h2>



<p>Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for overall well-being and longevity. Here are some healthy habits you might consider incorporating into your daily routine:</p>



<h3 id="h-balanced-diet">Balanced diet</h3>



<p>Consume a variety of foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Limit intake of processed foods, saturated and trans fats, and added sugars.</p>



<h3 id="h-regular-exercise">Regular exercise</h3>



<p>Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, coupled with muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week.</p>



<h3 id="h-hydration">Hydration</h3>



<p>Drink at least 8 cups (2 liters) of water per day, although this can vary depending on individual needs.</p>



<h3 id="h-adequate-sleep">Adequate sleep</h3>



<p>Adults typically need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Regular, quality sleep is critical for mental and physical health.</p>



<h3 id="h-stress-management">Stress management</h3>



<p>Regularly engage in activities that reduce stress, such as yoga, meditation, reading, hobbies, or other activities you enjoy.</p>



<h3 id="h-regular-check-ups">Regular check-ups</h3>



<p>Schedule regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor your health and detect any potential problems early.</p>



<h3 id="h-mental-health-awareness">Mental health awareness</h3>



<p>Pay attention to your mental health just as much as your physical health. Seek professional help if you are struggling with mental health issues.</p>



<h3 id="h-limit-alcohol">Limit alcohol</h3>



<p>If you drink, do so in moderation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines moderate drinking as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.</p>



<h3 id="h-no-smoking">No smoking&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke. If you currently smoke, seek help to quit.</p>



<h3 id="h-healthy-body-weight">Healthy body weight</h3>



<p>Maintain a body weight that is healthy for your height and body type. This can typically be assessed using the Body Mass Index (BMI) or waist-to-hip ratio, but it's best to consult with a healthcare professional.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

The pandemic prompted a surge in healthy habits

In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at...

<p>Although many studies have shown that, in rodents, prenatal stress affects gut <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-gut-microbiome-is-shaped-by-what-we-eat/">microbiomes</a> way into adulthood, how long after birth such effects last in humans is less understood.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/">University of California, Los Angeles</a> (UCLA) has found that hardship experienced by mothers during their own childhood or pregnancy is reflected in the composition of their two-year-old children’s gut microbiome, which likely affects the latter’s socioemotional development. This study is the first to document the transgenerational effects of adversity on the human gut microbiome.</p>



<p>A growing body of research has shown that the gut microbiome affects brain and immune functioning and that changes in the community of microorganisms are connected to how hardship impacts children’s socioemotional development.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-prenatal-stress">Prenatal stress&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Previous studies on rodents have found that prenatal stress disrupts maternal vaginal and gut microbiomes. Thus, since babies acquire their first gut microbes passing through their mothers’ birth canals, the mother's microbiome is likely to have a major influence on that of the offspring.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Studies conducted on humans have found evidence that, shortly after birth, stress experienced by the infant in the womb – as well as the mother’s own psychological distress – influence the infant microbiome.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although the effects of prenatal stress on rodent microbiomes are known to persist into adulthood, until now scientists were not aware of how long after birth such disturbances remain in humans, or whether they could affect subsequent generations.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted</h2>



<p>To answer this question, the researchers enrolled a cohort of 450 mother-child pairs in Singapore – when the children were two years of age – and investigated the consequences of maltreatment to mothers during their childhoods, anxiety while pregnant, and their children’s exposure to stressful life events.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Mothers were asked to recall abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment they experienced during their own childhoods and were screened for anxiety during the second trimester of their pregnancy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In addition, the experts interviewed the children’s primary caregivers to assess what stressful events the children had experienced during their first two years of life, and tested their stool samples to map the composition of their microbiomes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Finally, the scientists controlled for variables such as family income, which is known to serve as a proxy for childhood adversity.</p>



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



<p>The analyses revealed that children whose mothers reported more anxiety during pregnancy had microbiomes in which various species of microorganisms had populations of similar sizes – a metric biologists call “evenness” – which is different from the typically “lumpier” aspect of the microbiome, with some species being more abundant than others.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Moreover, children who experienced stressful life events after birth also exhibited less microbial genetic diversity, meaning that the microorganisms living in their guts were more closely related to each other than they usually are.</p>



<p>Although more experiences of adversity were found to be correlated with less microbial genetic diversity in each child, the amount of adversity did not appear to affect the similarity between different children’s microbiomes, which were still significantly different from one another.</p>



<p>“There are lot of questions around whether more diversity or evenness is better or worse when the gut microbiome is developing during childhood, so we don’t know if more is better at two years old,” said lead author Francesca Querdasi, a doctoral student in Environmental Biology at UCLA.</p>



<p>“But many of the species we found to be related to adversity are known to interact with the immune system in some way, suggesting that maybe the way the gut microbiome interacts with the immune system is different after adversity. There’s a lot that we need to explore in the future.”</p>



<h2 id="h-adversity-and-the-gutmicrobiome">Adversity and the gutmicrobiome </h2>



<p>The investigation also revealed that some kinds of behavioral and mental health problems were linked to an abundance of certain species in the gut microbiome. While none of these species were the same ones related to adversity in this study, some have been associated with adversity in previous research and could thus perform similar functions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Since the brain-gut microbiome connection develops rapidly during infancy, it is likely that changes caused by adversity may significantly impact children’s socioemotional development. Further research in fields such as nutritional psychiatry is needed to assess how changes in diet could improve the gut microbiome and, consequently, physical and mental health.</p>



<p>“The microbiome gets a lot of attention and is very exciting, but it really is just one piece of the large and complicated puzzle of human health,” said senior author Bridget Callaghan, an assistant professor of Psychology at UCLA.</p>



<p>“Our study is part of a growing body of research showing the effects of early exposure and transgenerational experience on the microbiome. When we understand how experiences of hardship can influence the gut microbiome, we can then try to manipulate diet, supplements, and lifestyle to make positive impacts on an individual’s gut microbiome and broader developmental trajectory.”</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213768120"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-gut-microbiome">More about the gut microbiome&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The gut microbiome refers to the community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes, that live in the digestive tracts of humans and other animals. These organisms play a critical role in health and disease, and research into the gut microbiome is an active and rapidly expanding field.</p>



<h3 id="h-key-aspects-of-the-gut-microbiome">Key aspects of the gut microbiome </h3>



<h4 id="h-diversity">Diversity</h4>



<p>A healthy gut microbiome is diverse, containing many different types of organisms. This diversity helps to protect against disease by competing with harmful bacteria and other microbes for resources.</p>



<h4 id="h-digestion">Digestion</h4>



<p>The gut microbiome assists in the digestion of food, particularly substances that the body can't digest on its own, such as certain types of fiber. These microbes can break down these substances and convert them into useful products, such as short-chain fatty acids.</p>



<h4 id="h-immune-system">Immune system</h4>



<p>The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the development and function of the immune system. Certain types of bacteria in the gut are known to interact with immune cells and influence their activity.</p>



<h4 id="h-mental-health">Mental health</h4>



<p>Emerging research suggests that the gut microbiome might also have an impact on mental health. This connection, often referred to as the "gut-brain axis," could potentially influence conditions such as depression, anxiety, and autism, although more research is needed in this area.</p>



<h4 id="h-disease">Disease</h4>



<p>Imbalances or changes in the gut microbiome, known as dysbiosis, have been linked with a number of health conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even certain types of cancer.</p>



<h4 id="h-probiotics-and-prebiotics">Probiotics and prebiotics</h4>



<p>Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are beneficial for your health, especially your digestive system. Prebiotics are types of dietary fiber that feed the friendly bacteria in your gut. Both can help maintain a healthy gut microbiome.</p>



<h4 id="h-personalized-medicine">Personalized medicine</h4>



<p>Scientists are exploring the use of the gut microbiome in personalized medicine, as individual differences in the gut microbiome can influence how people respond to certain drugs and treatments.</p>



<p>—</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>



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

Mothers' hardships are reflected in their child's gut microbiome

Although many studies have shown that, in rodents, prenatal stress...

<p>Greenland, a white expanse of ice spanning an area three times the size of Texas, was not always so barren and frigid. According to a recent study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.ade4248"><em>Science</em></a>, a large portion of Greenland was an ice-free tundra landscape - perhaps covered by trees and populated by woolly mammoths - as recently as 416,000 years ago.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This revelation challenges the previous assumption that much of the Greenland ice sheet remained frozen for most of the last two and a half million years.</p>



<p>The discovery, made by an international team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/">University of Vermont</a> (UVM), Utah State University, and fourteen other institutions, highlights the sensitivity of the Greenland ice sheet to moderate warming periods.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-harsh-reality">Harsh reality</h2>



<p>The scientists found that, between 424,000 and 374,000 years ago, Greenland's ice sheet melted substantially, leading to at least five feet of global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-rise-will-disproportionally-affect-asian-megacities/">sea level rise</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Intriguingly, the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, a significant driver of climate change, were lower then than they are today - 280 parts per million (ppm) versus today's 420 ppm.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This finding indicates that the ice sheet on Greenland may be more sensitive to human-induced climate change than previously understood, rendering it susceptible to irreversible, rapid melting in the upcoming centuries.</p>



<h2 id="h-long-lost-ice-core">Long-lost ice core</h2>



<p>The evidence for these startling revelations was unearthed from an unlikely source, a long-lost ice core collected by a secret U.S. Army mission during the Cold War.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Under the guise of the Arctic science station, Camp Century, the Army drilled through 4,560 feet of ice, extracting a twelve-foot-long tube of soil and rock from beneath the icy surface.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This icy sediment, initially lost in a freezer for decades, was accidentally rediscovered in 2017. Surprisingly, it held not just sediment but also leaves and moss, testaments to an ice-free landscape that might have been a boreal forest.</p>



<h2 id="h-new-understanding-of-greenland-s-history">New understanding of Greenland's history</h2>



<p>Using advanced luminescence technology and rare isotope analysis on the sediment from the ice core, the researchers have painted a dramatically different picture of Greenland's history.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Until recently, scientists believed Greenland to be a fortress of ice, relatively untouched by melting for millions of years. However, these new techniques allowed the team to create a detailed timeline of Greenland's thawing, revealing that large portions of the ice sheet melted much more recently than one million years ago.</p>



<p>"It's really the first bulletproof evidence that much of the Greenland ice sheet vanished when it got warm," says University of Vermont scientist Paul Bierman, who co-led the new study. The implications of this research are significant, particularly considering the present-day effects of climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-twenty-three-feet-of-potential-sea-level-rise">Twenty-three feet of potential sea-level rise</h2>



<p>Approximately twenty-three feet of potential sea-level rise is stored in Greenland's ice, placing every coastal region in the world at risk.</p>



<p>The study revealed that the sediment from the Camp Century ice core was exposed to sunlight - indicating an ice-free landscap - before being buried under the ice once more. This discovery was made using a "luminescence signal" within the sediment, which zeros out when exposed to sunlight.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Over time, in the darkness, minerals within the sediment accumulate electrons, forming a kind of geological clock. By examining the amount of these accumulated electrons, the scientists could determine when these sediments were last exposed to the sun. The team at Utah State University conducted these examinations in a specialized dark room, using advanced tools and repeated tests.</p>



<h2 id="h-additional-insights">Additional insights&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In the University of Vermont lab, scientists studied quartz from the Camp Century core. Ratios of beryllium and other isotopes gave the scientists a window onto how long rocks at the surface were exposed versus buried under layers of ice.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This data helped the scientists show that the Camp Century sediment was exposed to the sky less than 14,000 years before it was deposited under the ice, narrowing down the time window when that portion of Greenland must have been ice-free.</p>



<p>Understanding Greenland's past is not just about rewriting history books. It provides crucial insight into how its giant ice sheet will respond to future warming and how quickly it could melt. This discovery offers robust and precise evidence that Greenland is more sensitive to climate change than previously thought.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Greenland’s past, preserved in twelve feet of frozen soil, suggests a warm, wet, and largely ice-free future for planet Earth, unless we can dramatically lower the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," says Bierman.</p>



<p>The Camp Century core and its rich data have transformed scientists' understanding of Greenland's icy history. "We had always assumed that the Greenland ice sheet formed about two and a half million years ago - and has just been there this whole time and that it’s very stable," says study co-author Tammy Rittenour. "But this paper shows that it did."</p>



<h2 id="h-implications-of-the-study">Implications of the study&nbsp;</h2>



<p>While 416,000 years ago, there were no cities hugging coastlines, today, millions of people live in low-lying coastal areas. This makes the potential for a significant sea level rise due to the melting of Greenland's ice sheet a major concern.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"If we melt just portions of the Greenland ice sheet, the sea level rises dramatically. Most global population centers are near sea level," explains Rittenour.</p>



<p>The Camp Century study sends a clear warning to the world. It shows that the Greenland ice sheet has a history of melting during periods of moderate warming.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With today's rapidly increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, the chances of significant and irreversible melting are alarmingly high. The outcome of such an event would be catastrophic, given that Greenland's ice holds enough water to raise global sea levels by over twenty feet - a disaster for many coastal cities and nations.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Evidence of a greener Greenland reveals shocking reality of sea level rise

Greenland, a white expanse of ice spanning an area three...

Composition,With,Assorted,Raw,Organic,Vegetables.,Detox,Diet

<p>A dedicated team of horticultural scientists from <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edith Cowan University (ECU)</a> in Australia is making significant strides in the effort to use melatonin in efforts to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer periods of time.</p>



<p>For the past year, they have been gathering and examining global research to evaluate the potential benefits of applying melatonin, a hormone naturally occurring in living organisms, to fresh produce.</p>



<p>The team's leader, Professor <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/science/staff/profiles/professors/professor-zora-singh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zora Singh</a>, disclosed that a staggering 44 percent of fresh horticultural produce is wasted from farm to consumption. This loss is largely attributable to a phenomenon known as 'chilling injury'.</p>



<p>“You will often see abnormal ripening, sunken spots, pitting, hardening of flesh and browning of peel and pulp in cold-stored fruits, while browning of tissues, translucency and water-soaked lesions in the vegetables, that is what we call chilling injury,” he explained.</p>



<h2 id="h-combatting-chilling-injury-with-melatonin">Combatting chilling injury with melatonin</h2>



<p>Storage conditions play a critical role in the occurrence of chilling injury. Shippers store subtropical fruits and vegetables at average temperatures between 4–8°C. Tropical produce, however, requires a slightly warmer 10–20°C to sidestep this issue.</p>



<p>As the researchers delved into this area, the mounting evidence pointed to melatonin as a promising candidate for mitigating the effects of chilling injury in cold-stored produce.</p>



<p>Shoaib Shah, a PhD student and researcher on Professor Singh's team, noted that melatonin, also known as a sleep-inducing hormone in living creatures, is beneficial in reducing chilling injury symptoms and membrane leakage. It works by maintaining higher antioxidant levels, thereby keeping horticultural produce fresher.</p>



<p>Shah also emphasized the safety of melatonin application, labeling it a "safe alternative to hazardous chemical treatments, without any adverse effects on consumer health."</p>



<h2>Keeping fruits and vegetables fresh linked to food security</h2>



<p>The stakes are high in this melatonin research. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-food-waste-greater-food-security-less-environmental-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food security</a> continues to be a growing concern around the world, with food losses escalating each year.</p>



<p>Annually, we lose a shocking 13.2 percent of food, equivalent to a $400 billion value, between harvest and the retail market. This, according to a 2019 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).</p>



<p>Furthermore, the <a href="https://www.unep.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)</a> revealed in 2020 that 17 percent of food production is wasted at the household, food service, and retail levels. This food loss and waste account for approximately 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.</p>



<h2>Steady decline in global fruit production</h2>



<p>Professor Singh's work is even more critical when considering the steady decline in fruit production. Various factors link to this decrease. These include diminishing agricultural land, dwindling water supplies, climate change, and soil degradation. </p>



<p>Chilling injury is another culprit. It causes 44 percent of fruits and vegetables to be unfit for human consumption worldwide.</p>



<p>Tropical and sub-tropical fruits, due to their high perishability, are particularly vulnerable. For example, we can store apples for up to nine months, but we can only keep berries refrigerated for seven to 12 days.</p>



<p>Speaking about the resilience of produce, Professor Singh compared grains and other harvested goods to fresh horticultural produce. He pointed out that fruits and vegetables pose more challenges, both in terms of growth and preservation. Singh declared this issue a global crisis, stressing the need for sustainable solutions.</p>



<p>"Fruit and vegetables are not only challenging to grow, preserving them is immensely difficult and this is a crisis affecting nations all over the world, so we need to find the solution to keep producing food from the earth in a sustainable way,” he said.</p>



<p>Professor Singh, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87559129.2023.2212042" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">along with his research team</a>, is working diligently to counter global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungal-infections-are-threatening-global-food-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food and nutritional security challenges</a>. Their focus is on enhancing production technology and curbing postharvest losses in fresh horticultural produce, from farm to fork. Melatonin may be an unlikely savior.</p>



<h2>More about melatonin</h2>



<p>The pineal gland in the brain primarily produces melatonin, a hormone naturally occurring within the body. Its primary function is to regulate sleep-wake cycles, or circadian rhythms, making it a critical component of the body's internal clock.</p>



<h3>Production and release</h3>



<p>Light exposure closely ties to the production and release of melatonin. When darkness falls, the pineal gland responds by synthesizing melatonin from the amino acid tryptophan. This occurs through a process that also involves the neurotransmitter serotonin.</p>



<p>The elevated levels of melatonin in the bloodstream signal the body that it is time to sleep. Conversely, during daylight hours, the production of melatonin decreases. This change helps to maintain alertness and wakefulness.</p>



<h3>Functions and effects</h3>



<p>Beyond its role in sleep regulation, melatonin serves other functions in the body. It acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from damage by free radicals. Research suggests that melatonin might enhance the immune system, support eye health, and have potential anti-cancer properties.</p>



<p>Melatonin also helps in regulating body temperature, blood pressure, and hormone levels. Its role in sleep regulation is beneficial for various physiological processes such as memory consolidation and tissue repair, which primarily occur during sleep.</p>



<h3>Melatonin supplements</h3>



<p>Due to its role in promoting sleep, synthetic melatonin is available as an over-the-counter supplement in many countries. It is often used to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders, combat jet lag, and help shift workers adjust to new sleep schedules.</p>



<p>However, while melatonin supplements are generally safe for short-term use, they can cause side effects like headaches, dizziness, and daytime sleepiness. Long-term effects of melatonin supplement use are still being studied.</p>



<h3>Melatonin in animals and plants</h3>



<p>In addition to humans, many animals produce melatonin, and it plays a crucial role in their seasonal breeding, hibernation, and migration patterns. Plants also produce melatonin, where it functions as an antioxidant and helps to regulate growth.</p>



<h3>Research and future directions</h3>



<p>Ongoing research is investigating melatonin's potential benefits for various health conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer. Studies are also assessing the hormone's potential effects on mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. However, more clinical trials are needed to fully understand these potential uses and their implications for treatment.</p>



<p>In summary, melatonin is a hormone with significant roles in sleep regulation and other physiological functions. It continues to be the subject of extensive research due to its potential health benefits and use as a treatment for various conditions. As with all substances, it should be used responsibly, and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.</p>

Melatonin keeps fruits and vegetables fresh as well as helping you sleep

A dedicated team of horticultural scientists from Edith Cowan University...

<p>A groundbreaking study from the <a href="https://www.unl.edu/home/">University of Nebraska-Lincoln</a> has revealed that microwaving plastic baby food containers can result in the release of billions of tiny plastic particles, raising serious concerns about the health implications for infants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-are-willing-to-try-vegetables-when-theyre-rewarded/">toddlers</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research team found that when microwaved, each square centimeter of these containers can discharge in some cases over 2 billion nanoplastics and 4 million microplastics.</p>



<h2 id="h-alarming-discovery">Alarming discovery&nbsp;</h2>



<p>While the potential health risks of ingesting these tiny plastic particles are yet to be fully understood, the study made a startling revelation: up to 75 percent of cultured embryonic kidney cells perished after just two days of exposure to these particles.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This finding underpins the 2022 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), which advises limiting exposure to micro- and nanoplastics.</p>



<h2 id="h-need-for-public-awareness">Need for public awareness</h2>



<p>Kazi Albab Hussain, the study's lead author and a doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, emphasized the need for public awareness.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"It is really important to know how many micro- and nanoplastics we are taking in," said Hussain. "When we eat specific foods, we are generally informed or have an idea about their caloric content, sugar levels, other nutrients. I believe it’s equally important that we are aware of the number of plastic particles present in our food."</p>



<p>According to Hussain, understanding the quantity of micro- and nanoplastics we consume could be key to grasping the potential harm they might cause. He notes that several studies, including their own, demonstrate a strong link between the toxicity of these particles and the degree of exposure.</p>



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



<p>The idea for this research stemmed from Hussain's personal experience as a new father in 2021. The lack of studies focused on the release of plastic particles from plastic containers and pouches, which are common in the baby food market, motivated him and his team to investigate.</p>



<p>Using polypropylene baby food containers and a reusable polyethylene pouch, both approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the team conducted a series of tests. They filled the containers with deionized water or 3% acetic acid to simulate dairy products and other relatively acidic food items, then microwaved them at full power for three minutes in a 1,000-watt microwave.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team subsequently analyzed the liquids for microplastics, particles at least 1/1,000th of a millimeter in diameter, and nanoplastics, particles even smaller.</p>



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



<p>The results varied depending on several factors, such as the type of container and its contents, but one disturbing trend was clear. Infants and toddlers consuming microwaved water or dairy products appear to ingest the highest relative concentrations of plastics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Simulated experiments on refrigeration and room-temperature storage of food and drink over a six-month period also suggested that these practices could trigger the release of micro- and nanoplastics.</p>



<p>Even with his knowledge, Hussain acknowledges the challenge of avoiding plastics in childcare. "For my baby, I was unable to completely avoid the use of plastic," he admits. "But I was able to avoid those (scenarios) which were causing more of the release of micro- and nanoplastics. People also deserve to know those, and they should choose wisely."</p>



<h2 id="h-kidney-cells-may-be-especially-vulnerable">Kidney cells may be especially vulnerable&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In collaboration with Svetlana Romanova from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the team exposed cultured embryonic kidney cells to the released plastic particles. After 48 hours, a staggering 77% of the kidney cells exposed to the highest concentrations had died. This outcome was more severe than the results of previous studies on micro- and nanoplastic toxicity.</p>



<p>The researchers speculate that kidney cells might be more vulnerable to these particles than other cell types. Additionally, the fact that polypropylene containers and polyethylene pouches release about 1,000 times more nanoplastics than microplastics raises concerns about the ability of these tiny particles to infiltrate cells.</p>



<h2 id="h-safer-materials-are-needed">Safer materials are needed</h2>



<p>The full implications of micro- and nano- plastic consumption require further exploration, but the findings underscore the urgent need for alternative solutions in baby food storage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hussain called for a concerted effort to develop safer materials. “We need to find the polymers which release fewer (particles),” he said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"I am hopeful that a day will come when these products display labels that read 'microplastics-free' or 'nanoplastics-free.'" This is a crucial goal to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable populations.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942"><em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Microwaving baby food containers releases billions of nanoplastics

A groundbreaking study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has revealed...

A,Saber-toothed,Cat,Stands,Atop,A,Boulder,On,A,Grassy

<p>With an eye toward the past, an international team of researchers has delved into the mysteries of the sabertooth cat. This fascinating and diverse group of ancient predators once roamed the African continent around six to seven million years ago.</p>



<p>This time period is especially significant as it's the same time hominins -- the group to which modern humans belong -- began their evolutionary journey.</p>



<p>From their detailed examination of one of the world's largest collections of Pliocene-era fossils in Langebaanweg, just north of Cape Town in South Africa, the researchers have unearthed two previously unknown species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sabertooth-skull-offers-new-clues-about-the-extinct-mammal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sabertooth</a> cats.</p>



<p>Their findings, published on July 20 in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(23)01289-0">scientific journal iScience</a>, also feature the first family tree of these formidable creatures from the region.</p>



<p>Senior author Alberto Valenciano (@paleo_alberto), a paleontologist at <a href="https://www.ucm.es/english" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Complutense University</a>, shares, “The known material of sabertooths from Langebaanweg was relatively poor, and the importance of these sabertoothed cats has not been properly recognized. Our phylogenetic analysis is the first one to take Langebaanweg species into consideration.”</p>



<h2 id="h-studying-new-sabertooth-cat-species">Studying new sabertooth cat species</h2>



<p>In total, the team described four species, including the newly discovered Dinofelis werdelini and Lokotunjailurus chimsamyae. Dinofelis sabertooths were widespread, leaving their fossil traces in diverse corners of the globe, from Africa to China, Europe, and North America. The researchers had anticipated discovering a new species of this genus, based on previous investigations.</p>



<p>However, the unveiling of a new Lokotunjailurus species was an unexpected twist. Previously, this genus was known only from Kenya and Chad. This finding suggests a broader geographic range for Lokotunjailurus across Africa around 5-7 million years ago.</p>



<p>Valenciano was a postdoctoral fellow at the Iziko Museums of South Africa. This museum was the home to all the sabertooth fossils analyzed in the study. Together with his international colleagues from China, South Africa, and Spain, they pieced together this remarkable project.</p>



<h2>Creating a sabertooth cat family tree</h2>



<p>In order to construct <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/sabertooth-cat_family-tree_credit-iScience.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a family tree</a>, the researchers meticulously classified the physical traits of each sabertooth species. From the presence or absence of teeth to the shape of their jaws, skulls, and teeth structures, they captured this information in a matrix. This allowed them to deduce how closely related each sabertooth species was to its evolutionary relatives.</p>



<p>Their investigation reveals that the population of Langebaanweg's sabertooths, namely the Machairodontini, Metailurini, and Feline, reflects the rising global temperatures and environmental changes during the Pliocene epoch.</p>



<p>Specifically, the presence of Machairodontini cats, larger and capable of running at high speeds, suggests that the Langebaanweg region once hosted open grassland environments. However, the presence of Metailurini cats indicates the existence of more covered environments, like forests.</p>



<p>The coexistence of both these species suggests a diverse ecosystem of forests and grasslands in Langebaanweg 5.2 million years ago. Additionally, the higher ratio of Machairodontini species compared to other fossil sites in Eurasia and Africa signals a transition towards more open grasslands in southern Africa during this period.</p>



<p>The authors write, “The continuous aridification throughout the Mio-Pliocene, with the spread of open environments, could be an important trigger on the bipedalism of hominids. The sabertooth guild in Langebaanweg and its environmental and paleobiogeographic implications provide background for future discussion on hominid origination and evolution.”</p>



<h2>Similar evolutionary timeline to China’s sabertooth cats</h2>



<p>In an intriguing development, the team also found that the mix of sabertooth species in Langebaanweg closely mirrored that of Yuanmou in China. This implies a possible close evolutionary relationship between the Yuanmou's Longchuansmilus sabertooths and Africa's Lokotunjailurus species.</p>



<p>First author Qigao Jiangzuo, a paleontologist at <a href="https://english.pku.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peking University</a>, says, “This suggests that the ancient environment of the two regions was similar or that there was a potential migration route between the Langebaanweg and Yuanmou.”</p>



<p>According to Romala Govender, a curator and paleontologist at the Iziko Museums in South Africa, more fossil evidence could bring further clarity to the relationships between these two sites. She says, “The two new sabertooths are only an example of the numerous unpublished fossils from Langebaanweg housed at Iziko in the Cenozoic Collections. This brings to the fore the need for new and detailed studies of Langebaanweg fauna.”</p>



<p>These new findings not only enhance our understanding of sabertooths but also open up fresh avenues for discussion and research in the broader field of paleontology. As we unravel these age-old secrets, we come closer to understanding the complex tapestry of evolution and environmental adaptation, woven millions of years ago.</p>



<h2>More about sabertooth cats</h2>



<p>Sabertooth Cats, also known as sabertooth tigers, encompass several species of prehistoric cats known for their iconic elongated upper canine teeth. They fall under the subfamily Machairodontinae within the family Felidae (true cats). Contrary to popular belief, sabertooth cats are not direct ancestors of modern tigers or lions. They do, however, share a common feline ancestor.</p>



<h3>Taxonomy and evolution</h3>



<p>The Machairodontinae subfamily, home to the sabertooth cats, emerged during the Miocene epoch (23 million to 5.3 million years ago). This group split into four distinct sects: the Machairodontini, Homotherini, Metailurini, and Smilodontini. The most famous of these, the Smilodontini, included the iconic species Smilodon fatalis, commonly known as the sabertooth tiger.</p>



<p>Throughout their existence, sabertooth cats experienced significant variation in size and tooth shape. This is a testament to their adaptability to different environments and prey. However, they went extinct towards the end of the Pleistocene epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago). Scientists believe their extinction was likely due to a combination of climate change and the disappearance of large prey animals.</p>



<h3>Physical characteristics</h3>



<p>Sabertooth cats are most notable for their extended upper canine teeth. These enormous features could reach up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) in length in some species like Smilodon fatalis. These teeth, coupled with a strong jaw, made them lethal predators.</p>



<p>Contrary to popular belief, sabertooth cats' teeth were not suitable for biting into bone. Instead, they used these formidable weapons to deliver precise, debilitating bites to the soft throats or bellies of their prey.</p>



<p>In addition to their striking teeth, sabertooth cats possessed robust bodies and powerful forelimbs. Some species, such as Smilodon, were short-limbed with barrel chests, indicating strength rather than speed. They also had retractable claws like modern cats, useful in hunting and climbing.</p>



<h3>Behavior and diet</h3>



<p>Paleontologists believe that sabertooth cats were carnivorous predators that hunted large herbivores. Evidence from fossil records suggests a diet that included bison, camels, and young mammoths.</p>



<p>The sabertooth's hunting technique likely involved ambushing prey from a short distance. They probably used their powerful forelimbs to hold onto the victim before delivering a lethal bite with their long canines.</p>



<p>Sabertooth cats likely lived in social groups, as suggested by fossil evidence of healed injuries. Such healing indicates that injured individuals received care, which would likely occur in social groups.</p>



<p>Moreover, the abundance of Smilodon fossils found in the La Brea Tar Pits suggests they might have lived and hunted in packs.</p>



<h3>Fossil record and discovery</h3>



<p>Fossils of sabertooth cats have been discovered on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. The most extensive collection of Smilodon fatalis fossils comes from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. That area has provided a wealth of information about these captivating creatures.</p>



<p>The first scientific descriptions of sabertooth cats date back to 1842, when Danish naturalist Peter Wilhelm Lund described the genus Machairodus, based on fossils found in Brazil. However, the iconic Smilodon genus was not named until 1850, following discoveries in North America.</p>



<p>The sabertooth cats, with their iconic elongated canines and formidable hunting prowess, continue to fascinate scientists and the public alike. Although they have been extinct for thousands of years, ongoing research into their fossils continues to reveal intriguing details about their lifestyle, behavior, and place in prehistoric ecosystems. The sabertooth cat remains a symbol of prehistoric life and a testament to the wonder of natural evolution.</p>

Two new species of sabertooth cat discovered in South Africa

With an eye toward the past, an international team of...

<p>In a shocking turn of events, an asteroid larger than the Leaning Tower of Pisa made an exceptionally close approach to Earth, slipping unnoticed past NASA's monitoring systems. This giant asteroid, designated 2023 NT1, managed to avoid detection until two days after it had already whizzed past our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-planet-discovered-with-an-ocean-not-far-from-earth/">planet</a>.</p>



<p>The asteroid reached a startlingly close distance of around 62,000 miles from Earth. To put it in context, this is roughly a quarter of the distance between Earth and the Moon, a strikingly short distance in astronomical terms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, due to the unfortunate alignment with the sun, the asteroid was masked by sunlight, thereby evading early detection.</p>



<h2 id="h-flying-under-the-asteroid-detection-radar">Flying under the asteroid detection radar</h2>



<p>The asteroid, now moving away from Earth at an impressive speed of 25,000 miles per hour, boasts a diameter of up to 200 feet.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This size distinction places 2023 NT1 as larger than the 60-foot Chelyabinsk meteor that famously crashed into Earth's atmosphere in 2013, resulting in injuries to over 1,600 people.</p>



<p>Based on information provided by <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a> and the <a href="https://www.iau.org/">International Astronomical Union</a>, the close encounter with 2023 NT1 occurred at 10:12 UTC on July 13.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, ATLAS South Africa didn't make the first recorded observation until two days later. Specialists specifically designed this four-telescope system to detect potentially hazardous asteroids.</p>



<h2 id="h-was-the-asteroid-potentially-hazardous">Was the asteroid potentially hazardous?</h2>



<p>In a social media discussion about the incident, amateur astronomer Tony Dunn speculated that, with a diameter of up to 200 feet, 2023 NT1 could be larger than the asteroid believed to have created the Meteor Crater in Arizona. </p>



<p>This significant landmark near Flagstaff, spanning around 3,900 feet in diameter, is attributed to a collision that occurred approximately 50,000 years ago.</p>



<p>Although 2023 NT1's approach to our planet was alarmingly close, it is not technically classified as "potentially hazardous." </p>



<p>The criteria for this designation require the asteroid to come within 0.05 astronomical units (roughly 4.65 million miles) of Earth and be larger than 459 feet in diameter. While 2023 NT1 meets the proximity requirement, its size falls short of the designated threat threshold.</p>



<h2 id="h-the-sun-s-glare-obscured-nt1">The sun's glare obscured NT1</h2>



<p>Despite its innocuous passage this time around, 2023 NT1's close flyby underscores the ongoing challenge in detecting some asteroids, particularly those obscured by the sun's glare. </p>



<p>For example, the Chelyabinsk meteor of 2013 remained undetected due to its radiant point's proximity to the sun. The meteor eventually exploded in a spectacular fireball, releasing an energy equivalent to 500,000 tons of TNT and sending a shockwave twice around the globe.</p>



<p>In light of such incidents, there are proactive measures underway to mitigate future threats. The European Space Agency plans to launch its NEOMIR orbiting observatory around 2030 as one such initiative. Designers created this observatory to act as an early warning system, detecting and monitoring any asteroid approaching Earth from the direction of the sun.</p>



<p>Positioned at the L1 Lagrange point, a stable point in space between Earth and the sun, NEOMIR's infrared telescope aims to identify asteroids 65 feet and larger that are currently masked by sunlight.</p>



<h2 id="h-planetary-defense">Planetary defense&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Such efforts are part of the broader conversation around planetary defense, a topic that has gained substantial attention following NASA's successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission last September. During this mission, the DART spacecraft intentionally crashed into Dimorphos, an asteroid moonlet in the double-asteroid system of Didymos, marking humanity's first successful planetary defense test.</p>



<p>Despite these advancements, there are some asteroid types that may prove difficult, if not impossible, to deflect using current techniques, as indicated by recent studies. "Rubble pile" asteroids, like Itokawa, consist of boulders and rocks loosely clustered together. </p>



<p>Due to their structure, these asteroids could potentially absorb the energy of an impact and continue on their trajectory, posing challenges to future mitigation strategies.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-asteroid-detection">More about asteroid detection</h2>



<p>Asteroid detection involves the use of various observational technologies and techniques to identify and track asteroids, particularly those that may pose a threat to Earth (also known as Near-Earth Objects, or NEOs).&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-ground-based-telescopes">Ground-based telescopes</h3>



<p>Ground-based telescopes typically use charge-coupled devices (CCDs) to record images of the sky. Scientists then use software to compare images taken at different times and look for objects that have moved. The key ground-based facilities include the Catalina Sky Survey in the United States and the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii.</p>



<h3 id="h-space-based-detection">Space-based detection</h3>



<p>Space-based detectors offer several advantages over ground-based ones. They can observe the sky continuously, aren't affected by the Earth's weather or daylight, and can detect objects that are faint or close to the sun, which are difficult to observe from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations (NEOO) program uses a space-based infrared telescope called NEOWISE to detect asteroids. Development is also underway for the NEO Surveillance Mission (NEOSM), previously known as the Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOCam).</p>



<p>Efforts are also underway to improve asteroid detection capabilities. For instance, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), renamed as Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which is under construction in Chile, will have a much larger field of view than existing telescopes. When it becomes operational, scientists expect it to significantly improve asteroid detection.</p>



<p>Scientists use data from these telescopes and detectors to calculate the orbits of detected asteroids and assess whether they pose a threat to Earth. The Minor Planet Center in Massachusetts is the global repository for such information.</p>



<h3 id="h-detection-remains-a-challenge">Detection remains a challenge</h3>



<p>However, even with these resources, asteroid detection remains a significant challenge. Many asteroids are very small or dark, making them difficult to spot, and the vastness of space means that there are many areas to search. </p>



<p>Additionally, predicting the exact path of an asteroid is difficult due to the gravitational influence of other celestial bodies and the so-called Yarkovsky effect, where an asteroid's trajectory can be subtly altered by the radiation of heat from its surface.</p>



<p>Scientists and engineers continue to develop new technologies and techniques to improve asteroid detection, including better algorithms for processing images, new types of sensors, and proposals for new space-based telescopes. The goal is to find potentially hazardous asteroids as early as possible, providing time to take action if necessary.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Close encounter: Giant asteroid slipped by Earth last week, evading detection

In a shocking turn of events, an asteroid larger than...

<p>Killer whale mothers can live up to ninety years in the wild, and most of them live an average of 22 years after menopause. Since only six species – humans and five species of toothed whales – experience menopause, scientists have long wondered what is the evolutionary purpose of females spending a significant portion of their lives not reproducing.</p>



<p>In previous research, experts have found evidence that, after having their last calf, killer whale mothers continue to help their families by sharing the fish they catch. Now, a recent study published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00824-2"><em>Current Biology</em></a> has discovered that these mothers also provide social support to their sons by protecting them from being injured by other orcas.</p>



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



<p>“The motivation of this project was really to try and understand how these post-reproductive females are helping their offspring,” said lead author Charli Grimes, an animal-behavior scientist at the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>. “Our results highlight a new pathway by which menopause is adaptive in killer whales.”</p>



<p>The scientists studied southern resident orcas that live off the Pacific Northwest coast in matriarchal social units consisting of a mother, her offspring, and the offspring of her daughters. While male orcas often breed outside their pods, both males and females continue to live in their unit of birth for life.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The scientists looked for evidence of scarring by examining data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whaleresearch.com/">Center for Whale Research’s&nbsp;</a>annual photographic census of the orca population.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>The investigation revealed that, if a given male’s mother was still alive but no longer reproducing, the male has fewer tooth marks than his motherless peers or other peers with mothers that were still reproducing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Since killer whales have no natural predators besides humans, tooth marks able to puncture their skins are most likely inflicted by other orcas. These findings suggest that, instead of competing with their daughters to breed, post-menopause killer whales have evolved to pass on their genes by helping their children and grandchildren.</p>



<p>“It was striking to see how directed the social support was,” said senior author Darren Croft, an expert in Animal Behavior at Exeter. “If you have a post-reproductive mother who’s not your mother within the social group, there’s no benefit. It’s not that these females are performing a general policing role. These post-reproductive mothers are targeting the support they are giving to their sons.”</p>



<h2 id="h-captivating-insights">Captivating insights&nbsp;</h2>



<p>According to Grimes, females focus their efforts on protecting their sons because males can breed with multiple females and so they have more potential to pass on their mother’s genes. Moreover, since they breed with females outside their social group, the burden of raising the calves falls on another pod.</p>



<p>“The similarities with humans are intriguing,” said Croft. “Just as in humans, it seems that older female whales play a vital role in their societies – using their knowledge and experience to provide benefits including finding food and resolving conflict."</p>



<p>“Our findings offer captivating insights into the role of post-menopausal killer whale mothers,” added co-author Dan Franks, a biologist at the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/">University of York</a>.</p>



<p>“They perform protective behavior, reducing the incidence of socially inflicted injuries on their sons. It’s fascinating to see this post-menopausal mother-son relationship deepening our understanding of both the intricate social structures in killer whale societies and the evolution of menopause in species beyond humans,” he concluded.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-killer-whale-mothers">More about killer whale mothers</h2>



<p>Killer whale mothers, play a significant role in the social structure of their pods. Here are some interesting facts about them:</p>



<h3 id="h-longevity">Longevity</h3>



<p>Female killer whales are known to live significantly longer than males, sometimes reaching ages over 100. Despite experiencing menopause in their 30s to 40s, they continue to play a pivotal role in their pods.</p>



<h3 id="h-matriarchal-societies">Matriarchal societies</h3>



<p>Killer whale societies are matriarchal, meaning that older, post-reproductive females often lead the pods. These matriarchs pass on knowledge and wisdom, such as hunting techniques and navigational routes, to the younger members of the group.</p>



<h3 id="h-calf-rearing">Calf rearing</h3>



<p>Orca calves have a strong bond with their mothers. The mother will feed, protect, and teach the calf for at least the first two years of its life. Even after weaning, offspring frequently stay close to their mother for life, especially in "resident" orca communities.</p>



<h3 id="h-post-menopausal-leadership">Post-menopausal leadership</h3>



<p>Even after they stop giving birth, killer whale females continue to play a key role in their pods. Researchers believe that this is because older females are the most knowledgeable about where to find food, particularly during times of scarcity. This phenomenon is known as the "grandmother hypothesis."</p>



<h3 id="h-teaching-dkills">Teaching dkills</h3>



<p>Killer whale mothers teach their offspring vital skills. This includes how to hunt and use unique tactics that vary from group to group. They even exhibit cultural learning, as these hunting techniques differ among different orca communities and are passed down through generations.</p>



<h3 id="h-shared-care">Shared care</h3>



<p>In some orca populations, not only the mother, but also siblings and other pod members, participate in caring for calves in a behavior known as alloparenting. This shared care helps younger or less experienced whales learn parenting skills.</p>



<p>Killer whale social structure and behavior offer a fascinating insight into the lives of these marine mammals, highlighting the important role that mothers play within their communities.</p>



<p>-—</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>



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

Killer whale mothers protect their sons from injury in the years post menopause

Killer whale mothers can live up to ninety years in...

<p>A study from the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> has uncovered a new perspective on the environmental benefits of reducing food waste. Contrary to long standing beliefs, curbing food waste may not deliver the anticipated environmental impact, although it could potentially improve global food security.</p>



<p>The reduction of food waste has been widely recognized as a crucial step in mitigating the environmental impacts of our food system. For instance, food loss and waste in the supply chain contribute to an astounding 24 percent of global food system greenhouse gas emissions and six percent of total <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-emissions-from-fertilizers-could-be-cut-by-80-percent/">emissions</a> worldwide. That's not even accounting for the average of 527 calories wasted per person per day on a global scale.</p>



<p>However, the study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023-00792-z"><em>Nature Food</em></a>, suggests that the environmental benefit of reducing food waste might be less pronounced than previously assumed. Instead, the real impact could be a significant drop in food prices, causing a surge in consumption rates.</p>



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



<p>The research was led by a team from the <a href="https://cires.colorado.edu/">Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences</a> (CIRES), using a holistic approach to examine the implications of reducing food loss and waste.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This incorporated guidelines set out by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2021, focusing on food loss occurring on the supply side (food spoiled or damaged before reaching retailers) and food waste happening on the demand side (food discarded by consumers or retailers).</p>



<p>Margaret Hegwood, the study's lead author and a CIRES/CU Boulder PhD candidate, emphasized the necessity of understanding the full repercussions of reducing food waste and loss. She argued that increasing the available food supply would lead to lower prices, sparking predictable shifts in consumer behavior.</p>



<p>“Let's say the price of cereals goes down because of improvements in food system efficiency, now you can afford to eat the same amount more often. Consumers respond to these price decreases, purchasing more than they had before, which offsets some of the benefits of reducing the food loss and waste," explained Hegwood.</p>



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



<p>In order to understand this interplay between supply and demand, the authors developed a simple model to observe the consequences of waste and loss reductions.</p>



<p>“Our model basically formalized ECON 101: reducing food loss and waste shifts the supply and demand curves, respectively,” said study co-author Professor Matt Burgess. “How sensitive supply and demand are to prices - which we get from previous research - then determines how much we project food prices and consumption will change.”</p>



<p>The results revealed that a significant offset exists, with a complete reduction in food loss and waste slicing away from half to two-thirds of the expected environmental benefits.</p>



<p>While the research simulated scenarios of reduced food waste and loss, the authors refrained from making specific assumptions about how these reductions would be achieved. Such strategies depend heavily on a plethora of variables including food type, regional factors, consumption habits, access to technology, political context, and dietary needs.</p>



<h2 id="h-implications-of-the-study">Implications of the study</h2>



<p>This research stands out in the academic landscape, marking the first of its kind to scrutinize the impacts of decreased food loss and waste on a global scale. Previous studies have mostly confined their focus to regional or national levels.</p>



<p>Hegwood hopes that their findings will prompt a reevaluation of the discourse surrounding food waste and loss, shifting the emphasis from environmental impact towards food security.</p>



<p>“And I think likely, at least to some extent, that this could mean that our efforts to reduce food loss and waste could actually not be as beneficial for the environment as we think they could be, but it’s super beneficial in terms of food security,” said Hegwood. “And I think that is very important for people to think about.”</p>



<h2 id="h-what-types-of-food-are-often-wasted">What types of food are often wasted?</h2>



<p>Food waste is a significant issue globally. It not only represents a waste of resources but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Here are some types of food that are commonly wasted:</p>



<h3 id="h-fruits-and-vegetables">Fruits and vegetables</h3>



<p>These are among the most frequently wasted foods. This is often because of their relatively short shelf life, and also because cosmetic standards can lead to the rejection of perfectly good produce.</p>



<h3 id="h-bread-and-bakery-items">Bread and bakery items</h3>



<p>Bread and other bakery items are often wasted because they have a short shelf-life and may not be consumed before they go stale or moldy.</p>



<h3 id="h-dairy-products">Dairy products</h3>



<p>Milk, yogurt, and other dairy products are often thrown away when they are not consumed by their sell-by or use-by dates. The same goes for cheese, which can go bad if not properly stored or consumed in a timely manner.</p>



<h3 id="h-meat-and-fish">Meat and fish</h3>



<p>These are commonly wasted both at the retail level and in households. This may be due to over-purchasing, improper storage, or not being consumed by the expiration date.</p>



<h3 id="h-prepared-foods-and-leftovers">Prepared foods and leftovers</h3>



<p>A significant amount of food waste comes from both homes and restaurants in the form of prepared foods that are not eaten in time. This includes leftovers from meals that are not consumed.</p>



<h3 id="h-grains-and-pasta">Grains and pasta</h3>



<p>While these items often have a longer shelf life, they can still contribute to food waste, particularly when cooked in too-large quantities that are not consumed.</p>



<h3 id="h-eggs">Eggs</h3>



<p>These can be wasted if they're not used by their sell-by date or if they break during transport or storage.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Reducing food waste: Greater food security, less environmental benefits

A study from the University of Colorado Boulder has uncovered...

Portrait,Of,Primeval,Caveman,Wearing,Animal,Skin,And,Fur,Hunting

<p>By analyzing a 300,000-year-old hunting weapon discovered in 1994 in Schöningen in Germany, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a> in the UK has shed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-impacted-earth-than-previously-thought-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new light on early humans</a> as woodworking masters. </p>



<p>According to the experts, this double-pointed wooden throwing stick was scraped, seasoned, and sanded before being used as a hunting weapon for animals. This suggests that early humans’ woodworking techniques were much more sophisticated than previously thought. </p>



<p>The painstaking creation of such lightweight weapons may have enabled group hunts of small and medium animals, and is likely to have involved entire communities, including children.</p>



<h2 id="h-early-human-hunting-weapons">Early human hunting weapons</h2>



<p>“Discoveries of wooden tools have revolutionized our understanding of early human behaviors. Amazingly these early humans demonstrated an ability to plan well in advance, a strong knowledge of the properties of wood, and many sophisticated woodworking skills that we still use today,” said study lead author Annemieke Milks, an archeologist at Reading.</p>



<p>“These lightweight throwing sticks may have been easier to launch than heavier spears, indicating the potential for the whole community to take part. Such tools could have been used by children while learning to throw and hunt.”</p>



<p>“The Schöningen humans used a spruce branch to make this <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Schonigen-double-pointed-wooden-throwing-stick_Credit-Volker-Minkus.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aerodynamic and ergonomic tool</a>. The woodworking involved multiple steps including cutting and stripping off the bark, carving it into an aerodynamic shape, scraping away more of the surface, seasoning the wood to avoid cracking and warping, and sanding it for easier handling,” added co-author Dirk Leder, an expert in Paleolithic Archaeology and Cognitive Evolution at the <a href="https://www.lower-saxony.de/tourism_and_culture/culture/heritage_conservation_archaeology/-99329.html">Lower Saxony State Office for Cultural Heritage</a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-hunting-weapons-discovered-in-schoningen">Hunting weapons discovered in Schöningen</h2>



<p>The 77-centimeter-long stick is one of several tools discovered in Schöningen, including throwing spears, thrusting spears, and another similarly sized throwing stick. </p>



<p>The double-pointed throwing stick was likely used by early humans to hunt both small prey such as difficult-to-catch hares or birds and medium-sized game like red and roe deer. </p>



<p>Such sticks would have been launched rotationally, like a boomerang, instead of overhead such as a modern-day javelin, and could have enabled hunters to throw as far as 30 meters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although this weapon is lightweight, the high velocity with which it can be launched would likely result in deadly high-energy impacts. </p>



<p>Moreover, its carefully shaped points and polish resulting from handling suggest that the stick was a weapon with repeated use rather than a quickly made tool that was carelessly discarded after hunts.</p>



<h2 id="h-valuable-insights-on-early-human-woodworking">Valuable insights on early human woodworking</h2>



<p>“The systematic analysis of the wooden finds of the Schöningen site financed by the <a href="https://www.dfg.de/en/">German Research Foundation</a> provides valuable new insights and further exciting information on these early wooden weapons can be expected soon,” concluded senior author Thomas Terberger, an expert in Hunter-Gatherer Archaeology at the Lower Saxony State Office for Cultural Heritage.</p>



<p>An in-depth description of the tool – which is currently on display at the <a href="https://forschungsmuseum-schoeningen.de/home">Forschungsmuseum</a> in Schöningen - and its uses was published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287719"><em>PLoS ONE</em></a><em>.</em>&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-early-hunting-tools-and-woodworking">More about early hunting tools and woodworking</h2>



<p>Wooden tools and evidence of advanced woodworking have been in use for thousands of years, dating back to early human history. They are typically associated with the Stone Age, a prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools.</p>



<p>However, it is important to note that due to the nature of organic materials, very few early wooden tools have survived to the present day, making it hard for archaeologists to definitively state when or how they were used.</p>



<h3 id="h-digging-sticks">Digging sticks</h3>



<p>One of the earliest forms of wooden tools likely included sharpened sticks used for digging. They could have been used to dig for water, roots, and tubers, or to prepare the ground for planting.</p>



<h3 id="h-spears">Spears</h3>



<p>Early wooden spears would have been used for hunting. The Schöningen spears, discovered in Germany and dating back nearly 400,000 years, are an example of early wooden hunting tools.</p>



<h3 id="h-fire-making-tools">Fire-making tools</h3>



<p>Wood was instrumental in the creation of early fire-making tools, such as the hand-drill and the bow drill.</p>



<h3 id="h-clubs-and-batons">Clubs and batons</h3>



<p>Wood would have been used to create blunt-force weapons or tools, such as clubs. Batons might have been used for various purposes like signalling, ceremonial purposes, or possibly for processing food.</p>



<h3 id="h-canoe-paddles-and-boats">Canoe paddles and boats</h3>



<p>Evidence of early wooden boats or canoes have been found dating back thousands of years. The Pesse canoe, discovered in the Netherlands, is thought to be one of the world's oldest known boats.</p>



<h3 id="h-tool-handles">Tool handles</h3>



<p>While stone, bone, and later metal might have been used for the business end of a tool, wood was often used to form the handle due to its shapeability and relative ease of use.</p>



<p>—-</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>



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

Early humans were masters at woodworking and crafting wooden hunting weapons

By analyzing a 300,000-year-old hunting weapon discovered in 1994 in...

<p>A recent study led by <a href="https://www.durham.ac.uk/">Durham University</a> has revealed an intriguing yet concerning phenomenon regarding how European breeding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diving-birds-face-a-greater-risk-of-extinction/">birds</a> have adapted to climate change over the past three decades.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Contrary to initial expectations, these avian species have exhibited a slower response to climate shifts, offering a potential insight into the challenges and intricacies of species migration and survival in a rapidly changing environment.</p>



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



<p>The researchers discovered that the geographical range of European breeding birds has shifted at an average rate of 2.4km per year over the last 30 years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This finding is particularly significant when considering that the predicted shift based on climate changes alone should have been approximately 50 percent faster. These results, therefore, underscore the extent to which the migration of these species has deviated from the theoretical predictions.</p>



<p>The methodology of the study involved analyzing data from two Europe-wide bird distribution atlases published 30 years apart.&nbsp;</p>



<p>An intriguing finding from the study was that local colonization and extinction events among species were not strongly impacted by the climatic changes between the two survey periods. Instead, they were predominantly influenced by the climatic conditions at the time of the first surveys.</p>



<h2 id="h-fascinating-responses">Fascinating responses&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Professor Stephen Willis from Durham University’s Department of Biosciences, one of the study leaders, provided a comprehensive interpretation of these findings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our results possibly indicate two fascinating responses to recent climate change," Willis explained. "On one hand, we see ‘colonization lags’ where species fail to follow improving climates, potentially due to the unavailability of suitable habitats or prey in new locations. On the other hand, we witness fewer extinctions in areas where we anticipated them, potentially indicating ‘extinction debts.’”</p>



<p>Willis further elaborated on the concept of "extinction debts," referring to situations where species persist in areas with unfavorable climatic conditions, due to time lag effects in their preferred habitats changing.</p>



<h2 id="h-implications-of-the-study">Implications of the study</h2>



<p>A significant revelation from the study was the importance of maintaining networks of local populations, both to minimize extinctions and to make populations more resilient to the impacts of climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The significant role of non-climatic factors in altering range changes illustrates that climate is just one factor impacting populations of European breeding birds," said study first author Dr.&nbsp; Christine Howard. She also warned against factors like persecution, which are still causing major issues for many species.</p>



<p>Dr. Sergi Herrando, who spearheaded the collation of data for the most recent distribution atlas, remarked on the invaluable contribution of coordinated survey data across many countries. “The work presented here underscores the ways in which such data, collected from a staggering number of 120,000 field workers, can be utilized to better comprehend the causes of species losses and gains,” Dr. Herrando said.</p>



<p>The findings from this research, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>, are not only enlightening for the scientific community but also carry far-reaching implications for conservation efforts. Funded in part by the National Environment Research Council, the study forms a vital part of UK Research and Innovation, contributing to our understanding of how climate change is influencing biodiversity.</p>



<h2 id="h-european-breeding-birds">European breeding birds</h2>



<p>There are numerous species of breeding birds in Europe, from the common to the rare and endangered. They encompass a wide variety of habitats including forests, wetlands, grasslands, mountains, and even urban areas.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-well-known-examples">Well-known examples&nbsp;</h3>



<h4 id="h-european-robin">European Robin</h4>



<p>This is one of the most famous European birds. They are small, often found in gardens, and are identifiable by their distinctive red breast.</p>



<h4 id="h-barn-swallow">Barn Swallow</h4>



<p>Known for their long migrations, Barn Swallows breed across Europe and fly south to Africa for the winter. They have a beautiful blue-black back and a reddish-brown throat.</p>



<h4 id="h-common-chaffinch">Common Chaffinch&nbsp;</h4>



<p>These are common garden birds throughout Europe. The males are brightly colored, with a blue-grey cap, pink cheeks and breast, and a greenish rump.</p>



<h4 id="h-european-goldfinch">European Goldfinch&nbsp;</h4>



<p>These are small birds with a distinctive red face, black and white head, warm brown upperparts and white underparts with buff flanks and breast patches.</p>



<h4 id="h-blue-tit">Blue Tit&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Known for their blue and yellow plumage, these are popular garden birds that are often seen at bird feeders.</p>



<h4 id="h-common-blackbird">Common Blackbird&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4>



<p>These birds are entirely black in males with a yellow eye-ring and bill, while females are brown. They are common in gardens and woodland areas.</p>



<h4 id="h-eurasian-sparrowhawk">Eurasian Sparrowhawk</h4>



<p>A small bird of prey, it's found in woodland and sometimes in gardens. Males have bluish-grey back and wings and orangey-brown bars on their chest and belly, while females are larger with brown back and wings.</p>



<h4 id="h-white-stork">White Stork&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Famous for their nesting habits, they build large stick nests in trees or on buildings and other structures. They are white with black flight feathers and a red bill and legs.</p>



<h4 id="h-european-bee-eater">European Bee-eater&nbsp;</h4>



<p>A brightly colored bird found in southern Europe, they nest in sandy banks, usually near river shores, where they dig a tunnel and lay their eggs.</p>



<h4 id="h-atlantic-puffin">Atlantic Puffin&nbsp;</h4>



<p>This seabird breeds in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, laying its eggs in burrows or crevices.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

European breeding birds adapt to climate change at a slower pace

A recent study led by Durham University has revealed an...

<p>Scientists from globally renowned institutions in Ireland, China, and the UK have unearthed new insights into the parenting habits of the prehistoric flying reptiles, the pterosaurs. These creatures roamed the skies during the era of the dinosaurs, and their parental instincts have long intrigued the scientific community.</p>



<p>A collaboration between researchers at <a href="https://www.ucc.ie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College Cork (UCC)</a>, <a href="https://www.nju.edu.cn/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nanjing University</a>, <a href="http://english.ynu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yunnan University</a>, the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, and <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University</a> of London has led to the surprising conclusion that pterosaurs did, in fact, exhibit parental care, but only within the larger species.</p>



<p>These <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.1102" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> offer solutions to an ongoing mystery. In order for both birds and pterosaurs to take flight soon after birth, they require sufficiently developed wings. </p>



<p>Earlier studies of smaller, Jurassic-era pterosaurs revealed that hatchlings were born with large wings. This equipped them to flutter into the air within days of emerging from their eggs.</p>



<p>However, this finding raised questions about the pterosaurs' later relatives. They evolved to be considerably larger. </p>



<p>In the Cretaceous period, pterosaurs typically bore wingspans of about 5 meters. Some even boasted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jurassic-park-was-wrong-about-how-fast-pterosaurs-could-fly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wingspans between 10 and 15 meters</a>, which is roughly the size of a small glider.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-to-study-pterosaur-parenting">How to study pterosaur parenting</h2>



<p>Conducting this research was no small feat, according to the project's lead, Dr. Zixiao Yang from UCC. The team had to find examples of pterosaur parenting in which at least one very young or newly hatched specimen could be compared to adults to study their growth rates. However, infant pterosaurs are incredibly rare.</p>



<p>In collaboration with fellow researchers Professor Baoyu Jiang, Professor Michael Benton, Professor Xu Xing, and Professor Maria McNamara, Dr. Yang undertook the investigation. </p>



<p>With a mix of classic specimens from the Jurassic period in Europe and the Cretaceous period in North America, along with fresh finds from China, the team began their detailed study. They measured the skulls, backbones, wings, and hind legs of their samples.</p>



<h2>The allometry of flying reptiles</h2>



<p>The scientists focused on analyzing the allometry of these creatures. This refers to how their physical traits changed as they grew larger. </p>



<p>The concept of allometry is common in many animals, including humans, where babies, puppies, and kittens have relatively larger heads, eyes, and knees. As they mature, the rest of the body grows at a faster pace to achieve adult proportions.</p>



<p>"Our findings show that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-pterosaurs-were-fierce-competitors-in-the-late-cretaceous/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">small, bird-sized Jurassic pterosaurs</a> were born flight-ready, equipped with large wings and robust limbs," Dr. Yang explained. "Throughout their growth from infancy to adulthood, their limbs displayed negative allometry—meaning they started off large but grew slower compared to the rest of their bodies."</p>



<p>The story for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mystery-solved-pterosaurs-had-colorful-feathers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous-era giant pterosaurs</a>, however, was different. These creatures also began life as tiny hatchlings, but the growth of their key limb bones showed positive allometry, pointing to a contrasting developmental model.</p>



<h2>Larger pterosaur species were better at parenting</h2>



<p>In essence, this suggests that the giant pterosaurs had to give up low-energy parenting for the ability to grow to considerable sizes as adults. While minimal childcare might have been an energy-saving tactic in the early evolution of these ancient reptiles, the larger pterosaurs faced a unique challenge. </p>



<p>Larger pterosaur species took longer to mature. Consequently, their parents had to protect them from potential accidents. Due to the constraints of egg size, all pterosaur hatchlings, irrespective of whether they were large or small, began life as tiny creatures.</p>



<p>"To allow for the evolution of truly massive sizes, pterosaurs compensated for their investment in childcare by birthing non-flying infants," Dr. Yang clarified. This behavior is mirrored in certain birds and mammals today. Species like cattle and antelopes are mobile from the day they're born, while some birds can fly at a very young age.</p>



<p>While this behavior may pose risks to the young—due to their vulnerability to predators and their clumsiness—it's also costly for the mother, who must ensure that their offspring have well-developed limbs at birth. As with modern animals, extinct pterosaurs faced similar trade-offs. "They were restricted in maximum body size until the end of the Jurassic, at which point their parental care behavior changed, and then they could achieve huge sizes," Dr. Yang concluded.</p>



<h2>More about pterosaurs</h2>



<p>Pterosaurs, often referred to as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-pterosaur-bones-found-in-australia-date-back-107-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pterodactyls</a>, were an order of flying reptiles that lived from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period. They are notable for being among the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, existing from about 228 to 66 million years ago.</p>



<p>Here's a more in-depth look at these fascinating prehistoric creatures:</p>



<h3>Classification and diversity</h3>



<p>Pterosaurs are part of the Archosauria group, which also includes dinosaurs, crocodiles, and birds. However, pterosaurs are not dinosaurs themselves, but a separate and distinct group. They were incredibly diverse, with over 130 known species varying widely in size and form.</p>



<h3>Size</h3>



<p>The size of pterosaurs ranged from the very small to the gigantic. The smallest pterosaurs like Nemicolopterus were about the size of a sparrow, with a wingspan around 25 centimeters (10 inches). </p>



<p>The largest known pterosaurs, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-worlds-largest-flying-dinosaur-jumped-before-takeoff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quetzalcoatlus</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hatzegopteryx-ancient-t-rex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hatzegopteryx</a>, had wingspans up to about 10-11 meters (33-36 feet), roughly the size of a small airplane.</p>



<h3>Physical characteristics</h3>



<p>Pterosaurs had a number of unique physical traits. One of the most notable was their wings, which consisted of a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissues stretching from the ankles or elongated fourth finger to the body. </p>



<p>Unlike bats, which have fully webbed fingers, pterosaurs had a single large wing finger. Pterosaurs also had hollow bones, a trait they shared with the theropod dinosaurs and which greatly reduced their weight.</p>



<h3>Flying reptiles</h3>



<p>Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to achieve true powered flight, meaning they could flap their wings to fly rather than just gliding. Their wing structure was complex and highly adapted for flight, with a large surface area that allowed them to create lift.</p>



<h3>Diet and lifestyle</h3>



<p>Pterosaurs had a wide range of diets and lifestyles. Some were fish eaters, catching their prey while flying low over water. </p>



<p>Others were adapted to eat insects, small dinosaurs, or scavenged carrion. Some fossils even suggest that certain types of pterosaurs may have had a primarily terrestrial lifestyle. Finally, as we learned above, larger pterosaurs spent much of their lives parenting to help their offspring survive and thrive.</p>



<h3>Fossil record</h3>



<p>Pterosaur fossils are rare because their bones were hollow and fragile, making them less likely to fossilize well. Despite this, fossils have been found all over the world on every continent.</p>



<h3>Extinction</h3>



<p>Pterosaurs went extinct at the end of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-pterosaur-from-the-cretaceous-found-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous period</a>, about 66 million years ago. This coincides with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that also wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs. </p>



<p>It's generally believed that a combination of environmental changes, possibly triggered by a large asteroid or comet impact, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pterosaurs-mass-extinction-event/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">led to their extinction</a>.</p>



<h3>Parental care</h3>



<p>Recent studies suggest that at least some pterosaurs may have provided parental care to their young, similar to modern birds. However, as with many aspects of pterosaur biology, this is still a topic of ongoing research and debate.</p>



<p>Despite sharing the skies with the ancestors of modern birds, pterosaurs were a unique lineage of flying animals, distinct from both birds and bats. Today, they continue to fascinate scientists and the public alike as we learn more about their biology and place in Earth's history.</p>

Pterosaurs had good parenting skills, but only the larger species

Scientists from globally renowned institutions in Ireland, China, and the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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<p>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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>"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."</p>



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



<p><em>Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



<p>"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."</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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.”</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



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



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio</em></p>



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>“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;</p>



<p>“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."</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Stowers...

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



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



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



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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."</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>"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;</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



<p><em>Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)</em></p>



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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<p>Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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