In the arid, fossil-rich landscape of Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park, a team of paleontologists stumbled across something unexpected. The experts found the fossilized jawbone of a pterosaur that may be the oldest ever found in North America.



The discovery came from a remote site that revealed not just one remarkable creature, but a whole ecosystem preserved in stone.



The study was led by scientists from the Smithsonian’s <a href="https://www.si.edu/museums/natural-history-museum">National Museum of Natural History</a> and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Petrified Forest National Park</a>. The research introduces a new pterosaur species alongside more than 1,000 other fossils.



Some of these include one of the world’s oldest turtle specimens. Together, the fossils paint a vivid picture of life just before one of Earth’s biggest mass extinctions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-before-mass-extinction">Life before mass extinction</h2>



The pterosaur fossils come from rock layers that date back to the Late <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-did-not-impact-dinosaur-abundance-in-the-triassic/">Triassic</a> period. During this time, ancient amphibians and crocodile-like reptiles lived side by side with animals that would go on to shape the future of the planet, including early turtles, frogs, and flying reptiles.



“The site captures the transition to more modern terrestrial vertebrate communities, where we start seeing groups that thrive later in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-were-not-the-only-animals-that-grew-fast-during-the-mesozoic/">Mesozoic</a> living alongside these older animals that don’t make it past the Triassic,” said study lead author Ben Kligman.



This glimpse into prehistoric life is especially valuable because it dates to just before the end-Triassic extinction - about 201.5 million years ago - when massive volcanic eruptions dramatically altered Earth’s climate. 



The event wiped out roughly 75% of all species, paving the way for dinosaurs to rise to dominance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossils-hidden-by-ash">Fossils hidden by ash</h2>



Direct fossil evidence from just before this extinction is hard to come by. Few fossil-rich outcrops from this time exist, but Petrified Forest National Park is one of the rare exceptions. 



Known for its colorful layers of petrified wood and Triassic fossils, the park has long been a treasure trove for paleontologists.



One rock layer, called the Owl Rock Member, has proven especially important. It’s full of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fire-and-ice-volcanic-ash-plays-a-surprising-role-in-cloud-formation/">volcanic ash</a>, which helped scientists date it precisely to around 209 million years ago. These are some of the park’s youngest rocks - but also among its least explored.



Study co-author William Parker explained that the Owl Rock exposures are tucked away in extremely remote areas. Few teams have been able to study them in detail.



In 2011, a research group led by Kay Behrensmeyer decided to take on the challenge. Braving the rugged terrain - complete with rattlesnakes and wild horses - they went in search of mammal-like fossils. 



What they found instead was a densely packed bonebed, full of life from a vanished world.



“That’s the fun thing about paleontology: you go looking for one thing, and then you find something else that’s incredible that you weren’t expecting,” said Kligman, who started working at the site during his PhD studies in 2018.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-life-buried-by-floods">Ancient life buried by floods</h2>



Back in the Triassic, this part of Arizona was located near the equator and sat in the center of the supercontinent <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/supercontinents-101-pannotia-gondwana-and-pangea/">Pangaea</a>. 



The land was semi-arid, with winding river channels and a seasonal flood cycle. One of those floods likely buried the animals that are now preserved in the bonebed.



The fossil layer was so dense with tiny remains that collecting them onsite was impossible. Instead, researchers carved out large blocks of sediment, wrapped them in plaster, and brought them back to the lab.



Many of these blocks were sent to the Smithsonian’s FossiLab, where volunteers spent thousands of hours carefully exposing the bones. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-fossils-major-clues">Small fossils, major clues</h2>



The rivers teemed with fish like coelacanths and freshwater sharks. Giant amphibians - some stretching over six feet long - swam through the streams. On land, armored herbivores and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-crocodile-like-beast-was-a-terrifying-predator/">crocodile-like predators</a> ruled.



At the same time, smaller creatures were starting to make their mark. The team identified early frogs, relatives of today’s tuataras, and a turtle with spike-like armor that could fit in a shoebox. 



The remains of a small pterosaur were also hidden among the layers - just one part of a fossil record that shows how quickly new groups were emerging and spreading across Pangaea.



“This suggests that turtles rapidly dispersed across Pangaea, which is surprising for an animal that is not very large and is likely walking at a slow pace,” said Kligman.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pterosaur-that-perched-like-a-bird">Pterosaur that perched like a bird</h2>



One of the most exciting finds was a jawbone with teeth still in place. It belonged to a small pterosaur, one of the first vertebrates capable of powered flight. This early flier could have perched on a person’s shoulder.



The pterosaur fossil was uncovered by Suzanne McIntire, a volunteer who spent 18 years working in the FossiLab.



“What was exciting about uncovering this specimen was that the teeth were still in the bone, so I knew the animal would be much easier to identify,” McIntire said.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/pterosaur_Eotephradactylus-mcintireae_Arizona_illustration_credit-Brian-Engh_1big.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/pterosaur_Eotephradactylus-mcintireae_Arizona_illustration_credit-Brian-Engh_1s.webp" alt="An artist's reconstruction of the fossilized landscape, plants and animals found preserved in a remote bonebed in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The newly described pterosaur Eotephradactylus mcintireae is seen eating an ancient ray-finned fish alongside an early species of turtle and an early frog species, with the skeleton of an armored crocodile relative lying on the ground and a palm-like plant growing in the background. Credit: Brian Engh" class="wp-image-1977432"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An artist's reconstruction of the fossilized landscape, plants and animals found preserved in a remote bonebed in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The newly described pterosaur Eotephradactylus mcintireae is seen eating an ancient ray-finned fish alongside an early species of turtle and an early frog species, with the skeleton of an armored crocodile relative lying on the ground and a palm-like plant growing in the background. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Brian Engh</figcaption></figure>



The wear on the teeth gave scientists a clue about the pterosaur’s diet. It likely fed on armored fish that were common in the area. 



The new species was named Eotephradactylus mcintireae, which translates to “ash-winged dawn goddess." This title honors McIntire, who retired last year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-exactly-is-a-pterosaur">What exactly is a pterosaur?</h2>



Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that existed during the time of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-did-dinosaurs-come-from-missing-fossils-hold-the-secret/">dinosaurs</a>. They were the first animals with backbones to evolve powered flight, well before birds or bats came on the scene.



Powered by skin stretched across an extended fourth finger, they ranged in size and shape from something no larger than a crow to giants with wings up to 30 feet or more.



Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs. They formed their own group of reptiles and possessed special adaptations for flight. Some flew above coastlines, while others preyed on fish or small land animals inland.



The new fossil contributes to what is known about those early birds and how they expanded around the globe.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2505513122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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North America's oldest known pterosaur discovered in a petrified forest

In the arid, fossil-rich landscape of Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park, a team of paleontologists stumbled across something unexpected. The experts found the fossilized jawbone of a pterosaur that may be the oldest ever found in North America. The discovery came from a remote site that revealed not just one remarkable creature, but a whole ecosystem preserved in stone. The study was led by scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and Petrified Forest National Park. The research introduces a new pterosaur species alongside more...

Making small dietary changes could be the first step towards reducing carbon emissions and improving our health, suggests a new study co-authored by a researcher from <a href="https://tulane.edu/">Tulane University</a> and published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00864-0">Nature Food</a>.&nbsp;



The study indicates that straightforward alterations, such as opting for chicken over beef or choosing plant-based milk instead of cow’s milk, can potentially diminish the average American’s food-related carbon footprint by 35 percent, and enhance <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-healthy-diet-can-reduce-brain-aging/">diet</a> quality by four to ten percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-changes">Small changes</h2>



This research underscores the viability of a “small changes” methodology, which the authors believe might persuade more individuals to embrace eco-friendly dietary practices.&nbsp;



Since food production contributes to 25-33 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions - with beef production identified as a major source - such changes could be crucial for mitigating pollution and thus climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-swaps">Simple swaps</h2>



“This study shows that cutting dietary carbon emissions is accessible and doesn’t have to be a whole lifestyle change,” said senior author Diego Rose, the director of the nutrition program at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.&nbsp;



“It can be as simple as ordering a chicken burrito instead of a beef burrito when you go out to eat. When you’re at the grocery store, move your hand one foot over to grab soy or almond milk instead of cow’s milk. That one small change can have a significant impact.”



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



The research team analyzed dietary data from over 7,700 Americans to identify high-impact foods and propose lower-emission, nutritionally comparable alternatives.&nbsp;



“For us, substitutes included swapping a beef burger for a turkey burger, not replacing your steak with a tofu hotdog,” explained lead author Anna Grummon, an assistant professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a>. “We looked for substitutes that were as similar as possible.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-substantial-reductions">Substantial reductions</h2>



The most substantial reductions in emissions were observed in mixed dishes like burritos and pastas, where substituting beef with a less impactful protein is relatively straightforward.&nbsp;



The study also incorporated dietary data for children, highlighting that plant-based milk alternatives can significantly reduce carbon footprints and establish positive habits from an early age.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dietary-improvements-nbsp">Dietary improvements&nbsp;</h2>



Although the study wasn’t primarily focused on identifying healthier alternatives to high-carbon foods, the switches to lower-carbon options resulted in considerable dietary improvements.&nbsp;



“There is overlap between sustainable diets and healthy diets. Our study shows that changing just one ingredient, making one swap, can be a win-win, resulting in meaningful changes in both climate outcomes and how healthy our diets are,” Grummon concluded.



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Small dietary changes could offset carbon emissions

Making small dietary changes could be the first step towards...

The pull of your smartphone isn’t just driven by endless streams of information. A new study suggests it's all about our craving for novelty.



The world of online information can be very distracting, and many people blame tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Apple for our dwindling attention spans.



However, in a recent paper, philosopher Jelle Bruineberg from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a> presents a different perspective. He suggests that the real issue might not be the abundance of digital information, but our intrinsic human desire for novelty. And if it's novelty the brain craves, digital technology is certainly able to deliver.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-checking-habits-nbsp">Checking habits&nbsp;</h2>



"When we get this inner urge to check our email or the latest notifications on Facebook, it is not because we are overwhelmed by information; often, we are not even engaging with our mobile phone when the urge comes. But the action of checking our phone affords us easy access to a very satisfying reward: a piece of novel information. This craving for novelty is, according to cognitive neuroscience, a basic aspect of the way our minds work," explained Bruineberg.



"Digital technologies provide us with the means to achieve this reward with hardly any effort. We only need to move a couple of fingers around on our phone."&nbsp;



"If I were in a library, which also contains vast amounts of information, it would not make sense for me to develop a checking habit with respect to a particular book. It would be too much of a hassle, but moreover the information in a book is static, it does not suddenly change in the way that information in the digital realm changes. It is the combination of effortless access and changing content, that makes us so susceptible to develop 'checking habits.'"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-perspective">Historical perspective</h2>



Bruineberg also questions the modern narrative around the attention economy. The prevailing belief is that in a bygone era, when information was sparse, people could focus better. Today, we're inundated with information, leading to our current attention crisis.&nbsp;



Bruineberg challenges this view, noting that maintaining focus has historically been a challenge. As evidence, he cites religious groups' emphasis on meditation and contemplation, designed to aid individuals in gaining control over their wandering minds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-profound-mismatch-nbsp">A profound mismatch&nbsp;</h2>



"The idea I put forward in this article is that there is a profound mismatch between the way our minds work and the structure of modern digital technologies. But it is not about us getting swamped by loads of information," said Bruineberg.



"What it boils down to is that we – and our minds – are not equipped to deal with environments that allow for frictionless engagement and task-switching, practically infinite amounts of easily available novelty and rewards. And the only way to counter this development is to heavily constrain our digital environments."



"For example, receiving emails only twice a day guarantees that there is no novelty to be found in your inbox in between those moments. 50 years from now, we probably look back in horror at how complex and unconstrained our current digital environments are."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nc/niad019">Neuroscience of Consciousness</a>.



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Digital distraction: Our phones are irresistible because we crave novelty

The pull of your smartphone isn’t just driven by endless...

Navigating the world around us might seem like a complex task, but it turns out, we all have something in common with an electric knifefish. Whether it's a dog sniffing around or a human glancing in a new setting, the core behavior of trying to understand one's surroundings remains the same.



Recent research reveals that such <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-may-solve-the-mystery-of-bird-movements/">movements</a> aren't unique to humans or even larger animals. It extends across a wide spectrum of organisms, from single-celled amoeba to complex beings like us.&nbsp;



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



“Amoeba don’t even have a nervous system, and yet they adopt behavior that has a lot in common with a human’s postural balance or fish hiding in a tube,” said study co-author Noah Cowan, a professor of mechanical engineering at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins</a>.&nbsp;



“These organisms are quite far apart from each other in the tree of life, suggesting that evolution converged on the same solution through very different underlying mechanisms.”



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



This fascinating discovery originated from a study that was focused on the workings of the nervous system during movement to enhance perception. Observations of the electric knifefish, a creature emitting weak electric discharges to sense its location, were key.&nbsp;



In darkness, the fish shimmied back and forth more frequently than in the light. The darkness made the fish increase their movement, mimicking a rapid ‘explore mode’ to understand their environment better.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-sensing-behaviors-nbsp">Key sensing behaviors&nbsp;</h2>



The concept of switching between an "explore mode" during uncertainty and an "exploit mode" when familiar with the environment isn't restricted to these fish.&nbsp;



“We found that the best strategy is to briefly switch into explore mode when uncertainty is too high, and then switch back to exploit mode when uncertainty is back down,” said study first author Debojyoti Biswas, a Johns Hopkins postdoctoral researcher.



Supported by a model simulating these key sensing behaviors, the team identified similar patterns in amoeba, moths, cockroaches, moles, bats, mice, and even humans.&nbsp;



“Not a single study that we found in the literature violated the rules we discovered in the electric fish, not even single-celled organisms like amoeba sensing an electric field,” said Cowan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maintaining-a-stable-balance-nbsp">Maintaining a stable balance&nbsp;</h2>



To further illustrate the ubiquitous nature of these movements, Cowan related it to everyday human behavior.&nbsp;



“If you go to a grocery store, you’ll notice people standing in line will change between being stationary and moving around while waiting,” said Cowan.&nbsp;



“We think that’s the same thing going on, that to maintain a stable balance you actually have to occasionally move around and excite your sensors like the knifefish. We found the statistical characteristics of those movements are ubiquitous across a wide range of animals, including humans.”



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



Beyond just understanding the natural world, the implications of this research are vast. The findings have the potential to revolutionize robotics, especially in applications like search and rescue drones and space rovers.



Next, the experts will test whether their insights hold true for other living things, including plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-electric-knifefish-nbsp">More about electric knifefish&nbsp;</h2>



Electric knifefish are a diverse group with over 200 species that are found primarily in Central and South America. These fish are known for their ability to generate electric fields, which they use for navigation, communication, and sometimes for capturing prey.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electric-organ">Electric organ</h3>



Electric knifefish have an organ that produces weak electric discharges. This is distinct from the strong electric discharges produced by electric eels, a different group of fish.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electrolocation">Electrolocation</h3>



They use their electric field to sense their surroundings. Objects around them distort this field, and the fish can detect these distortions to understand their environment, much like a sonar.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-communication">Communication</h3>



Different species, and even individual fish, may have unique electric organ discharge patterns. This allows them to communicate and recognize each other.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat">Habitat</h3>



They are primarily found in freshwater environments, especially in slow-moving or stagnant waters like swamps, ponds, and riverbanks.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nocturnal-behavior">Nocturnal behavior</h3>



Electric knifefish are typically nocturnal, using their electric fields to navigate in the darkness.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s42256-023-00745-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Machine Intelligence</a>.&nbsp;



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Shimmying like electric fish is a universal movement across species

Navigating the world around us might seem like a complex...

Childhood trauma, a pervasive issue worldwide, may have greater ramifications than previously believed.&nbsp;



A recent meta-analysis published by the <a href="https://www.aan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Academy of Neurology</a> reveals a potential connection between traumatic events experienced in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-trauma-can-be-overcome-in-adulthood-even-in-the-animal-kingdom/">childhood</a>, such as abuse or household dysfunction, and the onset of headache disorders in adulthood.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-risk-factors">Clear risk factors</h2>



While the research does not provide evidence of a direct causal relationship, it clearly highlights an association.



“Traumatic events in childhood can have serious health implications later in life,” said study author Dr. Catherine Kreatsoulas of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.&nbsp;



“Our meta-analysis confirms that childhood traumatic events are important risk factors for headache disorders in adulthood, including migraine, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and chronic or severe headaches. This is a risk factor that we cannot ignore.”



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



The team analyzed the results of 28 studies across 19 countries involving over 150,000 participants. 



Overall, 31 percent (48,625 individuals) recounted at least a single traumatic event from their childhood. Meanwhile, 16 percent (24,956 individuals) were diagnosed with primary headaches.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-results-of-the-analysis">Results of the analysis</h2>



The analysis showed that, among the group with traumatic childhood events, 26 percent had a primary headache disorder. By contrast, only 12 percent from the non-traumatic group suffered from a headache disorder.



When the researchers took a closer look at the data, they found that individuals with one or more childhood traumas were almost 50 percent more prone to headache disorders than individuals without such traumas.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traumatic-events-nbsp">Traumatic events&nbsp;</h2>



Furthermore, the risk escalated with the number of traumatic events: a single traumatic event resulted in a 24 percent increased risk, while experiencing four or more traumatic events doubled the likelihood of a headache disorder.



To refine their understanding, the team placed traumatic events into two categories: threat traumas (like abuse or witnessing violence) and deprivation traumas (such as neglect or living with a chronically ill family member).&nbsp;



Threat traumas increased the headache risk by 46 percent and deprivation traumas by 35 percent. Physical and sexual abuse escalated the risk of headache disorders by 60 percent. In the deprivation category, childhood neglect almost tripled the risk.



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



“This meta-analysis highlights that childhood traumatic events categorized as threat or deprivation traumas are important and independent risk factors for headache disorders in adulthood,” said Dr. Kreatsoulas.&nbsp;



“Identifying the specific types of childhood experiences may help guide prevention and treatment strategies for one of the leading disabling disorders worldwide. A comprehensive public health plan and clinical intervention strategies are needed to address these underlying traumatic childhood events.”



“It is important to note that the true estimate of the association is likely higher due to the sensitive nature of reporting childhood traumatic events."



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



Headache disorders, among the most common disorders of the nervous system, are pervasive conditions that can affect individuals across all age groups. Here are some of the most common types of headache disorders:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-migraines">Migraines</h3>



Characterized by throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tension-headaches">Tension headaches</h3>



Often described as a tight band around the head, they are typically a result of muscle tension or stress.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cluster-headaches">Cluster headaches</h3>



These headaches are extremely painful, and occur in cyclical patterns or clusters. They are one of the most severe types of headache disorders.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.neurology.org/">Neurology</a>.



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Childhood trauma could triple the risk of headache disorders

Childhood trauma, a pervasive issue worldwide, may have greater ramifications...

As climate change intensifies, so does the urgency to protect our planet's precious marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-induced-changes-in-ocean-salinity-threaten-biodiversity-and-marine-ecosystems/">ecosystems</a>. An international team of experts has risen to the challenge by devising the first comprehensive framework for creating networks of marine protected areas (MPAs).



The goal of the research is to help protect vulnerable species amidst the pressures of climate change-induced habitat loss.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-timing">Critical timing</h2>



<a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford</a> marine conservation scientist Nur Arafeh-Dalmau led this ambitious project, which involved 50 scientists and practitioners from agencies in the U.S., Mexico, and Australia.



Their proposed guidelines arrive at a time when nearly every country around the world has committed to protecting 30% of both land and sea by 2030.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significant-oversight-nbsp">Significant oversight&nbsp;</h2>



While marine protected areas, and their terrestrial counterparts, aim to connect habitats fractured by human interference and the unpredictable ravages of climate events like wildfires, there has a significant oversight.&nbsp;



“Until now, marine protected areas have been designed for biodiversity conservation, but not necessarily for climate resilience,” said Arafeh-Dalmau. “They suffer from climate impacts but aren’t designed to endure them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-southern-california-bight-nbsp">Southern California Bight&nbsp;</h2>



For a detailed case study, the team focused on the Southern California Bight. This region, marked by the gradual curve of California's coastline stretching into Baja California, Mexico, supports a rich ecosystem.&nbsp;



Its giant kelp forests, vital to numerous commercially and culturally significant species, are under threat from marine heatwaves and reduced oxygen levels. These factors have already impacted critical fisheries, such as the jumbo squid and abalone, threatening local communities' livelihoods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-under-protected-waters">Under-protected waters</h2>



While California boasts marine protected areas covering 16 percent of its state waters, with half being fully protected, Baja California's waters remain under-protected, with less than one percent prohibiting activities like fishing.&nbsp;



Moreover, current MPA networks don't adequately account for species migration across U.S. and Mexico boundaries, leading to potential losses in conservation efforts.



“We designed a systematic approach to help resource managers stay ahead of the curve and anticipate rather than react to climate change,” said co-lead author Adrian Munguia Vega, a genomics researcher at The University of Arizona.&nbsp;



“A big part of that is showing how entire marine ecosystems and the species that inhabit them are connected by ocean currents that do not stop at the international border. Thus, we need coordinated efforts and protections across political boundaries.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-redefining-marine-conservation">Redefining marine conservation</h2>



The authors advocate for the integration of climate adaptations into the MPA planning process. By factoring in anticipated climate scenarios, conservationists can create more resilient protections against worsening marine conditions.&nbsp;



In addition to habitat diversity, the researchers prioritized habitat persistence. These habitats, known as "climate refugia," can provide consistent relief for species faced with extreme thermal shocks.



“Climate extremes don’t stop at the boundary of a marine protected area,” said co-author Fiorenza Micheli, chair of the Oceans Department and co-director of the Center for Ocean Solutions. “If California’s network of marine protected areas had been designed with climate considerations, it would look different.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-potential-outcomes-nbsp">Alarming potential outcomes&nbsp;</h2>



For their study, the researchers analyzed satellite imagery spanning decades to gauge the persistence of giant kelp along the Southern California Bight. They discovered alarming potential outcomes: marine heatwaves in the upcoming five decades could drastically fragment suitable habitats for marine larvae.&nbsp;



As a result, ecological connectivity could plummet by 50 percent, with population densities witnessing a possible decline of up to 90 percent.



In a departure from conventional conservation strategies that focus on areas with maximum kelp species, the new framework prioritizes areas where kelp - and by extension, other marine life - has the highest survival likelihood.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stepping-stone-strategy-nbsp">Stepping stone strategy&nbsp;</h2>



The experts recommend a series of protected areas, or "stepping stones," that link isolated populations like beads of a necklace along the Southern California Bight.



“This stepping stone strategy can be very cost-effective and cheaper for everyone,” said Arafeh-Dalamu, who documented Mexico’s worst marine heat wave from 2014 to 2016.&nbsp;



“Maybe you need fewer areas to be protected if you are protecting the important areas.” Plus, the collaboration between countries can strengthen research capacity, and ideally, diplomacy, noted Arafeh-Dalamu.



“We have the information and tools to design and implement marine conservation in a way that explicitly and proactively accounts for climate change,” said Micheli. “Now is the time to understand where we strategically invest in expanding and strengthening protection so these ecosystems have a future.”



The study is published in the journal One Earth.&nbsp;



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Marine protected areas were not designed for climate resilience

As climate change intensifies, so does the urgency to protect...

In an unprecedented move that marks a significant shift in the global health discourse, over 200 health journals worldwide have collectively published a seminal editorial. 



This concerted effort urgently calls upon global leaders and health professionals to acknowledge and confront the intertwined nature of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. This coalition of publications asserts that these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-planet-faces-six-risk-tipping-points-with-irreversible-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">twin crises</a> constitute a single, immediate global health emergency that demands a unified and robust response.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-health-emergency">Global health emergency</h2>



This rare collaborative editorial underscores the grievous error of addressing climate change and biodiversity loss as isolated events. It emphasizes the urgency for the <a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) to officially declare this intertwined crisis as a global health emergency. The scientists highlight the direct and devastating impacts of these environmental catastrophes on human health.



Featured in renowned journals such as The BMJ, The Lancet, JAMA, and several regional titles like the Medical Journal of Australia, the East African Medical Journal, the National Medical Journal of India, and Dubai Medical Journal, the editorial marks a milestone in a unified global health message.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vulnerable-populations">Vulnerable populations</h2>



The authors point out that the most impoverished and vulnerable populations often shoulder the heaviest burden. The editorial elaborates on global health threats magnified by climate change, including rising temperatures, increasingly severe weather events, escalating air pollution, and the spread of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-loss-could-promote-the-spread-of-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infectious diseases</a>.



One of the profound examples provided is the fundamental human reliance on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tackling-the-worlds-climate-driven-water-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clean water</a>. The editorial explains how pollution compromises water quality, leading to a surge in water-borne diseases. Concurrently, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/ocean-acidification/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean acidification</a> is causing a detrimental decrease in both the quality and availability of seafood, a primary food source and income for billions globally.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biodiversity-loss-a-multifaceted-threat">Biodiversity loss: A multifaceted threat</h2>



The crisis extends beyond immediate global health impacts. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-crisis-how-can-we-stop-massive-forest-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biodiversity loss</a> drastically undermines nutritional health and hampers the discovery of new, nature-derived medicines. Alterations in land use are bringing thousands of species into closer contact. This heightens the exchange of pathogens and the potential emergence of novel diseases and pandemics.



Moreover, the scientists underscore the intrinsic health benefits of high-quality <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-greening-projects-can-dramatically-boost-urban-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">green spaces</a>. These areas contribute to air purification, temperature reduction, encouragement of physical activity, and improvement in mental health. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-expansion-linked-to-global-decline-of-wild-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Urbanization</a> poses a relentless threat to these critical advantages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unfulfilled-promises-harm-global-health">Unfulfilled promises harm global health</h2>



Reflecting on the biodiversity conference (<a href="https://www.unep.org/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COP 15</a>) of December 2022, where an agreement was reached on conserving 30% of the world's land, coastal areas, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/historic-treaty-adopted-to-protect-biodiversity-in-the-high-seas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oceans</a> by 2030, the editorial voices concern. The conference inadvertently created a segmentation of climate and nature scientists. 



This separation has led to unmet commitments. Ecosystems have been pushed to the verge of collapse, heightening the risk of catastrophic global health implications. Whether or not global warming can be kept below a 1.5°C increase has no relevance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calling-out-the-world-health-organization">Calling out the World Health Organization</h2>



Given the dire circumstances and the tangible health impacts already underway, the authors urge the WHO to officially declare the combined climate and nature crises as a global health emergency. This pivotal step, they advocate, should occur before or during the World Health Assembly in May 2024.



The resolution of this emergency, the editorial suggests, necessitates a harmonization of the COP processes. The initial move in this direction would require an enhanced integration of national climate plans with their biodiversity counterparts.



Furthermore, global health professionals are called upon to be vigorous advocates for restoring biodiversity and combating climate change. They must utilize their unique positions of public trust to influence political action. 



The editorial concludes with a powerful message, emphasizing the necessity for global recognition of this dual crisis as the profound health emergency it is.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uniting-voices-for-collective-action">Uniting voices for collective action</h2>



Kamran Abbasi, Editor-in-Chief of <a href="https://www.bmj.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The BMJ</a>, echoed the sentiments of the collective. He stressed the intrinsic link between human health, climate, and biodiversity, criticizing the current compartmentalized approach to these urgent issues. Abbasi highlighted the crucial role of health professionals in conveying this critical message and advocating for urgent political action.



In unison, these health journals are sending an unequivocal message to the world. The time for recognizing and robustly addressing the intertwined global health emergency of climate crisis and biodiversity loss is NOW. 



This collaborative stand serves as a beacon, rallying health professionals, policymakers, and individuals worldwide to take concerted, meaningful action towards safeguarding our collective future.



The full editorial was published in the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj.p2355" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMJ</a>.



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Climate change and biodiversity loss are one indivisible global health crisis

In an unprecedented move that marks a significant shift in...

Venus may have once been more dynamic and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-earth-like-planet-may-be-hiding-just-beyond-neptune/">Earth-like</a> than previously thought. A study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a> reveals evidence suggesting that Venus exhibited Earth-like plate tectonics billions of years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tectonic-movements">Tectonic movements</h2>



The findings are based on simulations using atmospheric data from Venus. These simulations indicate that the existing composition of Venus’ atmosphere and its surface pressure could have evolved due to early plate tectonic activities. This geologic process, vital for life, consists of continental plates that move, collide, and slide beneath one another.



Such tectonic movements on Earth, intensified over billions of years, sculpted continents, mountain ranges, and triggered chemical reactions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sharp-detour-nbsp">A sharp detour&nbsp;</h2>



These reactions played a pivotal role in stabilizing Earth’s temperature, paving the way for life's development. However, Venus' fate took a sharp detour, leading to its present-day hostile conditions, with temperatures soaring high enough to melt lead.



The new study challenges the idea that Venus has always had a static single plate known as a "stagnant lid." The study suggests that Venus, around 4.5 billion to 3.5 billion years ago, underwent tectonic movements comparable to those on early Earth, but on a much more limited scale.



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



Study lead author Matt Weller completed the work while he was a postdoctoral researcher at Brown and is now at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.



“One of the big picture takeaways is that we very likely had two planets at the same time in the same solar system operating in a plate tectonic regime - the same mode of tectonics that allowed for the life that we see on Earth today,” said Weller.



This revelation highlights the potential of microbial life existing on ancient Venus, hinting that these sister planets were more similar in their early histories than previously assumed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plate-tectonics-and-habitability">Plate tectonics and habitability</h2>



The research not only reshapes our understanding of Venus but also underscores the temporality of plate tectonics and planetary habitability. Study co-author Professor Alexander Evans noted that planets might transit between various tectonic states.&nbsp;



“We've so far thought about tectonic state in terms of a binary: it’s either true or it’s false, and it's either true or false for the duration of the planet,” said Professor Evans.&nbsp;



“This shows that planets may transition in and out of different tectonic states and that this may actually be fairly common. Earth may be the outlier. This also means we might have planets that transition in and out of habitability rather than just being continuously habitable.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-the-surface-nbsp">Looking beyond the surface&nbsp;</h2>



The study began with a broader objective to discern how exoplanetary atmospheres could be markers of their early histories.&nbsp;



By using Venus as a reference, the team soon realized the mismatch between simulations based on the stagnant lid assumption and the actual atmospheric composition of Venus. A breakthrough came when the model incorporated limited early tectonic movement, mirroring Venus' current state.



“We’re still in this paradigm where we use the surfaces of planets to understand their history,” said Professor Evans. “We really show for the first time that the atmosphere may actually be the best way to understand some of the very ancient history of planets that is often not preserved on the surface.”



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



The implications of this research extend beyond Venus. Upcoming NASA DAVINCI missions will measure Venusian atmospheric gases, which might further support these findings. But a lingering question remains: What caused Venus' plate tectonics to cease?



“Venus basically ran out of juice to some extent, and that put the brakes on the process,” said study co-author Daniel Ibarra, a professor in Brown’s Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences.



The researchers said that the details of how this happened may hold important implications for Earth.



“That’s going to be the next critical step in understanding Venus, its evolution and ultimately the fate of the Earth,” said Weller. “What conditions will force us to move in a Venus-like trajectory, and what conditions could allow the Earth to remain habitable?”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41550-023-02102-w">Nature Astronomy</a>.



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Venus' secret past may have implications for Earth's future

Venus may have once been more dynamic and Earth-like than...

In an effort to understand the implications of marijuana use on adolescent brain development, researchers at <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins Medicine</a> have discovered alarming alterations in brain immune cells. 



Their findings suggest that THC, the primary psychoactive compound in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-number-of-americans-are-high-on-marijuana-at-work/">marijuana</a>, may have detrimental effects on these cells - which are crucial for teenage brain growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microglial-cells-nbsp">Microglial cells&nbsp;</h2>



The team, led by Dr. Atsushi Kamiya, focused on the effects of THC on microglial cells. Microglia, a specialized subset of immune cells located in the central nervous system, play pivotal roles in neuron-to-neuron communication, immune response, and overall healthy brain development.



During the adolescent years, microglial cells are particularly significant. They assist in brain maturation, impacting social and cognitive functions through synapse pruning and the release of chemical transmitters.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structural-changes-nbsp">Structural changes&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers theorized that any structural changes to these cells could disrupt the brain’s intricate wiring and messaging system, especially in teenagers.



To investigate, the team used genetically engineered mice that mirrored human genetic risks for psychiatric disorders. Alongside a control group of normal mice, both sets were either administered daily injections of THC or a benign saline solution.&nbsp;



Following 30 days of injections and a three-week rest period, behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the mice's psychosocial development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-programmed-cell-death-nbsp">Programmed cell death&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that mice exposed to THC underwent a spike in microglial apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death. More notably, genetically modified mice treated with THC showed a 33% higher reduction in microglial cells compared to the normal mice injected with THC.&nbsp;



The brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for memory, social behavior, and decision-making, was the most affected region.



The team concluded that a decrease in healthy microglia might elevate abnormal cell signaling and communication. Supporting this theory, genetically altered mice exposed to THC scored 40% lower in social memory tests than their saline-injected counterparts.



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



The implications of the study are vast, especially considering the surge in both recreational and medical marijuana usage in recent years.&nbsp;



“This kind of study is critical right now because marijuana is becoming more mainstream, and we are just beginning to understand how it affects the brain immune cells,” said study lead author Dr. Yuto Hasegawa.



Dr. Kamiya said that while the study results from genetically engineered mice cannot be applied directly to what happens in a human brain, studies in animals suggest there may be long lasting and negative effects of marijuana use during adolescence.



“More research is needed, but we strongly advise caution in marijuana use by teenagers,” said Dr. Kamiya.



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



According to the researchers, the next step for these studies is to pinpoint exactly how microglial abnormality affects neuron function at the molecular level. From a clinical perspective, they hope to use these findings to explore how marijuana exposure contributes to schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.



This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation, the Brain &amp; Behavior Research Foundation, and the Korea Brain Research Institute.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Marijuana use may change brain structure in adolescents

In an effort to understand the implications of marijuana use...

A recent study from Japan has revealed the extraordinary journey of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-heatwaves-are-causing-massive-seabird-mortality-events/">seabird</a> caught in a typhoon. The sheer resilience exhibited by this bird offers a profound look into the challenges and adaptations seabirds could face in a changing climate.



The research was conducted by Kozue Shiomi, a seabird biologist at <a href="http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tohoku University</a>. The findings suggest that the rise in severe weather conditions due to climate change could push seabirds to their limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-opportunity-nbsp">Unprecedented opportunity&nbsp;</h2>



In August 2019, Shiomi fitted 14 adult seabirds from a nesting colony on Mikurajima, an island near Tokyo, with GPS bio-loggers. The goal was to study the homing behavior of streaked shearwaters.



The following month, Typhoon Faxai hit southeastern Japan with winds speeds of nearly 200 kilometers per hour. The typhoon inadvertently provided scientists with an unprecedented opportunity to understand how seabirds endure extreme storm conditions - which they will encounter more frequently in the future due to climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-remarkable-flight">Remarkable flight</h2>



The tracking data revealed that while several of the tagged shearwaters managed to sidestep the typhoon, one male shearwater seabird was not as fortunate. 



In a span of 11 hours, this bird completed five comprehensive circular loops - each ranging from 50 to 80 kilometers in diameter - over a total distance of 1,146 kilometers.



While these birds usually fly at speeds of 10-60 km/hr and maintain altitudes under 100 meters, the tracked shearwater exhibited speeds of 90-170 km/hr, reaching heights of up to 4,700 meters. The typhoon swept this bird over mainland Japan before redirecting it back over the Pacific.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seabird-typhoon-survival-strategy">Seabird typhoon survival strategy </h2>



According to the researchers, it is possible that the shearwater willingly chose to ride out the storm instead of trying to escape. This may be the case, considering that the bird's natural low-altitude flying strategy over the ocean would place it at heightened risk of colliding with infrastructures over land.&nbsp;



Different seabirds adopt varied tactics when faced with storms. For instance, red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds ascend to high altitudes, allowing storms to pass underneath, while Eastern brown pelicans tend to stay grounded until conditions become favorable. Some even choose to remain within the storm's eye, where the turmoil is relatively subdued.



As Shiomi notes, improving our understanding of how oceangoing birds cope with extreme weather will provide essential insight into the response – and resilience – of seabirds to the increasingly adverse environmental conditions expected under future climates.



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



The streaked shearwater, known scientifically as Calonectris leucomelas, is a fascinating seabird with distinct characteristics and behaviors.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-appearance-nbsp">Appearance&nbsp;</h3>



Streaked shearwaters have a large, robust build with long wings and a wedge-shaped tail. They boast a brownish-gray upper body and a lighter, often white, underside. Their name stems from the streaked pattern on their neck and underparts.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distribution">Distribution</h3>



These birds primarily breed on the islands of Japan and South Korea. Outside the breeding season, they are highly migratory and can be found across the northwestern Pacific, ranging from the Kamchatka Peninsula to the coasts of China and even as far south as Australia.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet">Diet</h3>



Streaked shearwaters predominantly feed on fish and squid. They often follow ships and larger marine predators like whales to feed on the fish they stir up. Their feeding strategy involves a combination of skimming the water's surface and plunge-diving to capture their prey.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breeding">Breeding</h3>



They typically nest in burrows on isolated islands. After laying a single egg, both parents share incubation duties. The chick, once hatched, is fed by both parents until it's ready to fledge.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior">Behavior</h3>



Like many other shearwaters, the streaked shearwater is pelagic, meaning it spends a significant portion of its life out at sea. They are known for their dynamic flight patterns, which involve a combination of rapid flapping and long, soaring glides.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation">Conservation</h3>



While streaked shearwaters are not currently considered endangered, they face threats from habitat loss due to human development, predation by introduced species on breeding islands, and bycatch in fisheries.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4161" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology</a>.



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Incredible journey: Seabird rode out a typhoon for 11 hours and over 1000 miles

A recent study from Japan has revealed the extraordinary journey...

Fluctuations in human populations in Neolithic Europe were significantly influenced by variations in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-climate-change-species/">climate</a>, as revealed in a study led by <a href="https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kiel University</a> in Germany and published recently in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291956" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS ONE</a>.



To reach these conclusions, the experts leveraged&nbsp; the archaeological record, a crucial tool for delving into the intricate interplay between humanity and the environment.&nbsp;



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



The researchers focused on Central European areas rich in both archaeological and geological data related to climate, utilizing these resources to draw connections between shifts in human populations and climate transformations.



The areas under scrutiny included the Circumharz region in central Germany, the Czech Republic/Lower Austria region, and the Northern Alpine Foreland in southern Germany.&nbsp;



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



The team compiled nearly 3,400 radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites across these regions, using them as proxies for ancient population sizes. The underlying premise was that larger populations would leave behind more artifacts, resulting in a greater number of radiocarbon dates.&nbsp;



Climate insights were gleaned from cave formations within these areas, offering a window into past climatic conditions. The time frame of the study spanned from 3,550 to 1,550 BCE, covering the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age.



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



The findings highlight a clear interrelation between climatic conditions and human population dynamics. Periods characterized by warm and wet climates were generally associated with population growth, possibly driven by enhanced agricultural productivity and economic prosperity.&nbsp;



Conversely, cooler and drier periods correlated with population declines and sometimes even significant cultural transformations, including potential signs of growing social inequality. This is exemplified by the emergence of “princely burials” in the Circumharz region, indicating that a higher social status already existed for certain individuals.



Thus, the experts concluded that climate played a substantial role in shaping population trends and social structures in the aforementioned regions between 5,500 and 3,500 years ago. However, they also acknowledged the potential for biases in their findings due to limitations in the archaeological record of these areas, emphasizing the need for additional data to reinforce their conclusions.&nbsp;



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



Studies of this nature are pivotal for deepening our understanding of the historical connections between human societies and the environment, as well as the cascading impacts of climatic changes on human civilizations.



“Between 5500 and 3500 years ago, climate was a major factor in population development in the regions around the Harz Mountains, in the northern Alpine foreland, and in the region of what is now the Czech Republic and Austria. However, not only the population size, but also the social structures changed with climate fluctuations,” the authors concluded.



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Climate change significantly impacted early human Neolithic populations

Fluctuations in human populations in Neolithic Europe were significantly influenced...

A new study from Canada has shed light on the potential therapeutic power of music in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-therapy-can-reduce-pain-stress-and-anxiety/">pain management</a>.&nbsp;



Drawing from the universally acknowledged notion that music can be a profound emotional experience, researchers have taken this idea a step further.&nbsp;



The team set out to investigate&nbsp; how emotional connections with our favorite music can actually help reduce pain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pain-perception">Pain perception</h2>



Over the years, research has consistently illustrated the relationship between music and reduced pain perception in humans. This phenomenon, termed hypoalgesia, is characterized by a decreased sensitivity to pain.&nbsp;



It happens when the pain signals are disrupted during their transmission from the source to the point where our conscious mind identifies them as pain.



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



The experts wanted to pinpoint the kind of music that best aids in diminishing pain perception. The research was conducted at the Roy Pain Lab at McGill University.&nbsp;



“In our study, we show that favorite music chosen by study participants has a much larger effect on acute thermal pain reduction than unfamiliar relaxing music,” said Darius Valevicius, a doctoral student at the <a href="https://www.umontreal.ca/">Université de Montréal</a>.&nbsp;



“We also found that emotional responses play a very strong role in predicting whether music will have an effect on pain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-music">The power of music</h2>



For the investigation, study participants were exposed to thermal stimuli (similar to the sensation of a hot teacup being held against the skin). These sensations were paired with music excerpts, each lasting approximately seven minutes.



The participants reported having strongly reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness while listening to their favorite music compared to unfamiliar tracks or even just silence.&nbsp;



“In addition, we used scrambled music, which mimics music in every way except its meaningful structure, and can therefore conclude that it is probably not just distraction or the presence of a sound stimulus that is causing the hypoalgesia,” explained Valevicius. This points toward an emotional connection with the music.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotional-themes">Emotional themes</h2>



Venturing into the emotional landscape of music, the study further explored if specific musical themes could influence the pain-reducing effects.&nbsp;



“We found that reports of moving or bittersweet emotional experiences seem to result in lower ratings of pain unpleasantness, which was driven by more intense enjoyment of the music and more musical chills,” said Valevicius.&nbsp;



An interesting factor that emerged during experimentation was the concept of musical chills – a physical manifestation of intense musical enjoyment. While the exact nature of musical chills remains a mystery, they seem to be key players in the process of blocking pain signals.



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



Despite their promising findings, the experts acknowledged certain limitations of the study. The duration for which participants listened to music samples could potentially impact results.



According to the researchers, questions which also need to be addressed in further research include if listening to favorite music is as effective with other, non-thermal pain stimuli, such as mechanical stimulation or chronic pain.



“Especially when it comes to the emotion themes in favorite music like moving/bittersweet, we are exploring new dimensions of the psychology of music listening that have not been well-studied, especially in the context of pain relief," said Valevicius. "As a result, the data we have available is limited, although the preliminary results are fairly strong."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2023.1210572" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Pain Research</a>.&nbsp;



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Music as a pain reliever: The power of your playlist

A new study from Canada has shed light on the...

Brain,Hologram,On,Aerial,View,Of,Road,,Busy,Urban,Traffic

In an era where urbanization draws millions to live near major roadways and city centers, a new study raises critical public health concerns. Researchers in China and the UK have uncovered startling connections between living close to significant traffic arteries, higher dementia rates, and consequential changes in brain structure. 



This extensive study, a collaboration led by prominent scientists, highlights traffic-related air pollution as a key factor in these alarming correlations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neurological-shadows-of-urban-living">Neurological shadows of urban living</h2>



The research illuminates the often-overlooked consequences of urban lifestyles. "Existing studies vaguely explored neurological risks tied to major roads, leaving the mechanisms largely unexplained," explains Fanfan Zheng, lead author from the School of Nursing, <a href="https://www.pumch.cn/en/introduction.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peking Union Medical College</a>. 



The study breaks focuses on how residential proximity to traffic hotspots corresponds with an escalated risk of dementia, underscoring the pollutants involved.



This comprehensive research analyzed an expansive pool of data from 460,901 participants over a substantial median period of 12.8 years, sourced from the reliable <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Biobank</a> dataset. By distinguishing cases by dementia type, the study offers an in-depth perspective on this global health issue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traffic-causes-silent-changes-in-the-brain">Traffic causes silent changes in the brain</h2>



Innovatively extending the scope of the UK Biobank's resources, researchers incorporated brain MRI scans, unveiling alterations in brain structures indicative of Alzheimer's. This occurred even before symptoms surfaced. This proactive approach, considering genetic predispositions and other dementia influences, fortifies the study’s findings.



Associate Professor Wuxiang Xie, from Peking University's <a href="http://pucri.bjmu.edu.cn/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clinical Research Institute</a>, notes, "Our evidence points to a persistent connection between high-traffic residence and increased dementia risk, indicting traffic-related pollutants, specifically nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5." 



These revelations propose that tackling air pollution could significantly counter the dementia risks tied to traffic proximity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-debunking-noise-highlighting-pollution">Debunking noise, highlighting pollution</h2>



Contrasting certain preceding studies, this research found negligible links between long-term exposure to traffic noise and dementia. The authors made sure to aim the spotlight firmly back on air pollution.



Additionally, the research discerned that closeness to heavy traffic consistently correlates with reductions in brain volumes associated with Alzheimer's disease. The study emphasizes the subtle yet profound neurological impacts of environmental factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-and-public-health-policies">Future research and public health policies</h2>



Chenglong Li, co-author, advocates for intensified focus on exploring whether decreasing traffic-related pollution impacts on the brain, plus dementia biomarkers and incidence.



"We envision a strategy to prevent numerous dementia instances at the pre-symptomatic phase by addressing the root environmental cause—pollution due to heavy traffic," Li concludes.



This disturbing research serves as a clarion call to global health authorities and urban planners, emphasizing the necessity to re-evaluate urban living frameworks. By prioritizing the reduction of traffic-related air pollutants, societies can potentially safeguard millions from the insidious risks of dementia, thereby enhancing public health and community well-being worldwide. 



The implications of this research resonate far beyond individual health, urging a transformative reassessment of sustainable living and preventive healthcare infrastructure.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/hds.0091" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Health Data Science</a>.



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Living near traffic can cause dementia and change brain structure

In an era where urbanization draws millions to live near...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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.

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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