The International Space Station (ISS) is not just a place to live in space - it’s an experimental laboratory. With astronauts onboard and Earth positioned below, the ISS offers a unique opportunity: long-duration research in microgravity. 



The space station also provides low Earth orbit views of our planet, along with a human crew who support experiments, swap samples, and troubleshoot in real time.



Since its launch, researchers have used the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/">space station</a> to conduct hundreds of studies. These range from characterizing fluid behavior in zero gravity to tracking changes in the human body. Their work advances science by answering questions that can’t be studied on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-without-gravity">Science without gravity</h2>



Without Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/matter-spacetime-gravitational-waves-fabric-of-the-universe/">gravity</a> pulling things down, scientists can run experiments that simply aren’t possible on the ground. For example, hot air doesn't rise. Flames take on a spherical shape. Fluids stop behaving the way they do in a glass of water.



This gives researchers a rare opportunity to examine physical, chemical, and biological processes in new ways. 



By eliminating variables like surface tension or capillary movement, they can get a much clearer picture of how things actually work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orbiting-lab-sees-it-all">Orbiting lab sees it all</h2>



The space station orbits Earth in about 90 minutes, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour from about 250 miles above the surface. 



This low vantage point means the ISS is able to make observations of the planet both in daylight and darkness, and from various angles and lighting conditions.



By being outside&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-shrinking-earths-atmosphere-and-thats-bad-for-satellites/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earth's atmosphere</a>&nbsp;and magnetic field, the ISS carries instruments that could not be used on Earth. 



That makes it possible to study space radiation, neutron stars, and other phenomena - along with how materials and living organisms behave in space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iss-crew-makes-science-possible">ISS crew makes science possible</h2>



Other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-debris-issue-growing-exponentially-worse-now-threatens-working-satellites/">satellites</a> can carry instruments, but only the ISS has a living, breathing crew to run the science. Human operators are key. They adjust setups, monitor changes, fix problems, and pack samples for return to Earth.



This flexibility is critical for complex research on the ISS. It also means scientists can get a second chance if something doesn’t go as planned. 



Since experiments can stay on the station for months or even years, there's plenty of time to refine ideas and gather more data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-body-changes-in-space">Body changes in space</h2>



Because the space station has been operating for over two decades, scientists have been able to track long-term changes - including how space affects the human body. One example: vision changes that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronauts-can-survive-mars-space-journey-but-their-kidneys-will-be-permanently-damaged/">astronauts</a> began noticing after spending months in orbit.



Scientists launched the Fluid Shifts investigation in 2015 to understand what was happening. They suspected that in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microgravity-causes-big-problems-with-human-gene-expression/">microgravity</a>, fluids move from the lower to the upper body, increasing pressure in the head and possibly changing eye shape.



The study asked whether increased fluid pressure was the cause of these vision changes.



It ran through 2020 and tracked multiple astronauts over time. It marked a major step toward understanding the effects of spaceflight on human health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-on-the-space-station">Research on the space station</h2>



Research on the space station takes time. First, scientists have to identify a question and come up with a possible answer. Then, they design an experiment to test it, decide what data to collect, and figure out how.



Getting that experiment into space is its own process. NASA reviews proposals based on scientific value and relevance. 



Once approved, studies are scheduled for future missions - often many months away. Training, hardware development, flight procedures, and data collection plans all need to be worked out.



Once the experiment is on board, astronauts begin collecting data. After that, the real work begins: analyzing results and writing them up. That alone can take a year or more.



Before a study is published, it goes through peer review. One analysis found that peer review alone takes an average of 100 days. Editors may also ask for revisions or more analysis before giving the green light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-crew-big-science">Small crew, big science</h2>



One challenge with human research on the International Space Station is the limited number of subjects. With only about six people on board at any given time, gathering enough data takes longer.



Consider the Lighting Effects study, which tested whether adjusting the station’s lighting could improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/">sleep</a>, mood, and performance by syncing with astronauts’ circadian rhythms.



Because researchers needed data from several astronauts, the study ran from 2016 to 2020. Other long-term human studies have looked at heart muscle loss and nutrition, including how to grow fresh food in space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-space-station-research-takes-time">Space station research takes time</h2>



Research in physical science can often move more quickly. Scientists can send up batches of materials and collect results faster. But even then, one round of experiments often leads to more questions.



<a href="https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/space/iss-research/msg/bass/">The Burning and Suppression of Solids </a>(BASS) series ran from 2011 to 2017, studying how different fuels behave in space. That work led to the Saffire series, which began in 2016 and ended in 2024.



These fire safety demonstrations helped answer critical questions about how to prevent and put out fires in space.



Scientific breakthroughs don’t happen overnight, especially not in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shifts-in-earths-orbit-triggered-ancient-megadroughts/">orbit</a>. But the space station gives researchers something priceless: time, access, and the ability to keep going.



The payoff? New insights into how our bodies work, how materials behave, and how we can prepare for longer missions. That’s not just useful for life in space - it helps improve life back on Earth, too.



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What 20 years of space station research means for life on Earth

The International Space Station (ISS) is not just a place to live in space - it’s an experimental laboratory. With astronauts onboard and Earth positioned below, the ISS offers a unique opportunity: long-duration research in microgravity. The space station also provides low Earth orbit views of our planet, along with a human crew who support experiments, swap samples, and troubleshoot in real time. Since its launch, researchers have used the space station to conduct hundreds of studies. These range from characterizing fluid behavior in zero gravity to...

TikTok may be an effective tool for farmers to cultivate empathy regarding the pressing issue of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/science-reporting-can-change-climate-change-beliefs/">climate change</a>, according to researchers at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/news/agricultural-sciences/story/tiktok-may-help-farmers-cultivate-empathy-around-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a>.&nbsp;



The team analyzed reactions to climate-focused TikTok videos posted by farmers and found that many viewers reacted with warmth and compassion, indicative of emotional empathy.



However, the videos were less successful in stimulating cognitive empathy, which is marked by viewers actively engaging in discussions, providing insights, or seeking further understanding about the content.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhanced-communication">Enhanced communication</h2>



Ilkay Unay-Gailhard, affiliated with the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies in Germany, noted that platforms like TikTok can enhance the ways farmers communicate with consumers.&nbsp;



“Today’s consumers are increasingly looking for transparency in agri-food systems and want to know who their farmer is and how their food is produced,” said Unay-Gailhard.&nbsp;



“They’re also increasingly willing to ensure a sustainable agri-food sector by supporting farmers involved in decisions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. These trends indicate an opportunity for farmers to engage more directly with citizens, as policymakers, media, scientists and activists already have been doing.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fostering-empathy-nbsp">Fostering empathy&nbsp;</h2>



Study co-author Mark Brennan emphasized that fostering empathy (as opposed to sympathy) can lead to more fruitful understanding and collaboration between farmers and consumers.&nbsp;



“This empathy also shows that farmers and consumers are not that different and want the same things many times," said Brennan. "Connecting with them builds understanding and breaks down the artificial divides that are often propagated in our society. We are better together in the end."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-farmers-use-tiktok">How farmers use TikTok</h2>



According to the researchers, the work was inspired by the dual way that food production both contributes to and is affected by climate change.



For example, food production can create heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions, and the subsequent climate warming has negative impacts on food production.



Unay-Gailhard said this intersection gives farmers a unique perspective, and while conversations about food production and climate change typically happen at the social and political level, the rise of new social media platforms is giving farmers new ways to speak out.



“Today’s young farmers are becoming involved in climate actions in different forms than previous generations,” she said.&nbsp;



“Even though farmers are still in the early stages of using social media to initiate conversations about climate change, some social media platforms like TikTok present an opportunity to use new forms of communication with ‘millennial- or Gen-Z-style’ humor to connect with diverse communities on the topic.”



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



To unravel TikTok's potential for fostering climate change dialogues, the team executed a two-step analysis.



They examined user engagement with farmer-generated TikTok videos from the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in late 2021. Their sample comprised 29 TikTok videos, including almost 3,000 conversations from six countries.



Interviews were conducted with 12 farmers active on TikTok from four countries to gauge their sentiments about climate change discourse on the platform.



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



“When we talked to farmers, they believed that creating entertaining content on TikTok resulted in more engagement more quickly than content on YouTube, where it takes longer to reach viewers,” said Unay-Gailhard.&nbsp;



“They also felt that presenting themselves and their viewpoints in ‘imperfect’ ways promotes engagement on TikTok, compared to Instagram, where pleasing aesthetics are valued, or X - previously known as Twitter - which is highly polarized.”



The interviewed farmers added that, on TikTok, presenting a straightforward argument with playful and humorous tones can promote more constructive dialogues, even when disagreements arise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-about-farmers-on-tiktok">Learning about farmers on TikTok </h2>



“What is notable from the narratives of TikTok farmers is how empathy among farm-interested viewers turns the platform into a learning landscape,” said Unay Gailhard.&nbsp;



“The self-representation of farmers on TikTok with professional identities is not only about having a voice and joy but also reciprocally investing in others in their online community. This reciprocity emerges with gathering and sharing experiences and knowledge within informal educational contexts.”



Going forward, the researchers said additional studies could explore how content could go beyond triggering emotional empathy and foster cognitive empathy, as well.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016723001419" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Rural Studies</a>.



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TikTok can help farmers discuss climate change

TikTok may be an effective tool for farmers to cultivate...

New research from <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado State University</a> (CSU) suggests that the aftermath of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/measuring-the-effect-of-wildfires-on-air-quality/">wildfires</a> may be more dangerous than previously thought, with smoke potentially lingering in homes even after the fire is doused or the winds have shifted. This could extend residents’ exposure and increase the risk of health problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lingering-threats">Lingering threats</h2>



The study, which was recently published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adh8263">Science Advances</a>, highlights that wildfire smoke has a tendency to cling onto surfaces inside homes such as carpets, drapes, and countertops.&nbsp;



This means that even after an initial round of cleaning with air purifiers, residues can remain.&nbsp;



Professor Delphine Farmer of CSU, who played an integral role in the study, noted that simple surface cleaning - like vacuuming, dusting or mopping – can reduce exposure risk.



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



Farmer points to the increasing number of wildfires in the Western U.S. over the past decade as a potential long-term health concern.



“This research shows that events like the Marshall Fire in Colorado, the wildfires in Canada and the recent fires in Hawaii present serious exposure potential – not just when they occur but well after,” said Farmer.&nbsp;



“This paper is a key initial step towards providing actionable and practical information on how to protect yourself and clean your home.”



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



In a quest to understand how smoke penetrates and remains in buildings, the researchers used the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s net zero energy residential testing facility in Maryland.&nbsp;



At this facility, pine wood chips were burned to simulate wildfire smoke, allowing the team to study the behavior of the smoke in real-time.



Dustin Poppendieck, an environmental researcher at NIST, praised the capabilities of the facility.&nbsp;



“The NIST Net Zero House allowed the researchers to track the movement and transformation of chemicals in the air and onto surfaces in real time using instruments in ways that don’t interfere with the behavior of the smoke,” said Poppendieck.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-the-home">Changes in the home</h2>



Various measurements were taken post-smoke exposure, including the air quality and surface conditions after cleaning and the utilization of the home's built-in air cleaning systems.



A key observation from the CSU team centered on the gas-phase compounds emerging from the smoke. Comparisons were drawn between different states to determine the actual changes in the home post-burn.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-indoor-smoke">Indoor smoke</h2>



Farmer mentioned previous studies on indoor cigarette smoke. She said that while nicotine reacts on surfaces to produce harmful nitrosamines, wildfire smoke releases a diverse range of organic compounds that adhere to surfaces, gradually emitting over time.



“Nicotine reacts on surfaces to create a particularly nasty set of compounds called nitrosamines, which is where the real concern from thirdhand smoke that is left behind comes from,” said Farmer.&nbsp;



“Whereas with wildfire smoke, we found there was a huge diversity of organic compounds that stick to surfaces, which then slowly bleed off.”



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



Understanding the composition and behavior of these compounds is vital for recommending effective cleaning strategies.&nbsp;



Farmer explained that the amount of smoke residue on surfaces was proportional to the surface area cleaned. This insight underscores the importance of thorough cleaning, particularly in overlooked areas like cabinets and HVAC systems.



“As we continue this research, we would like to know just how effective different cleaning approaches are and when residents should move from relatively simple steps like using commercial cleaning supplies for mopping to more drastic steps like replacing the drywall altogether,” said Farmer.



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Wildfire smoke lingers in homes long after the fire is over

New research from Colorado State University (CSU) suggests that the...

Even as the threat of animal-to-human diseases rises, governments seem to have deprioritized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-global-failures-to-control-the-covid-pandemic/">pandemics</a>. Recognizing this trend, <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet</a> and the <a href="https://www.preventingfuturepandemics.org/the-coalition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coalition for Preventing Pandemics at the Source</a> (PPATS) are taking action by initiating a commission focused on the prevention of viral spillover.



The purpose of this commission, named the Lancet-Preventing Pandemics at the Source Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover, is to dive deep into the policy, practice, research, and legal measures required to handle the looming threat of viral spillovers.&nbsp;



This undertaking is groundbreaking in its scope and ambition, striving to cover an area that has been historically underfunded and understudied.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-alternative-approach-to-pandemic-prevention">An alternative approach to pandemic prevention</h2>



“Most pandemic prevention efforts focus on containing a disease outbreak through personal protective equipment, vaccines, and other measures,” said Sonila Cook, co-founder of&nbsp; PPATS and CEO of <a href="https://www.dalbergcatalyst.org/">Dalberg Catalyst</a>.&nbsp;



“This Commission is instead focused on preventing disease outbreaks from occurring in the first place, which is far more equitable and cost-effective and brings many other benefits for people and our planet. Through the work of this Commission, we will be better positioned to prevent another crisis instead of merely reacting to it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interdisciplinary-collaboration-and-objectives">Interdisciplinary collaboration and objectives</h2>



The Commission’s work hinges on interdisciplinary cooperation, bringing together experts from fields as diverse as health, ecology, veterinary science, and Indigenous knowledge. The end goal is a comprehensive report on how to prevent viral spillover, targeted for release in two to three years.



Existing research has already highlighted the key factors exacerbating pathogen spillovers: livestock practices, wildlife hunting and trade, deforestation, and the broader implications of climate change.&nbsp;



Dr. Raina Plowright, a co-chair of the Commission, has underscored the gravity of the situation: “The basic origins of all the most recent epidemics are clear: They emanate from wildlife. And yet, spillover prevention is a topic that is poorly understood and largely unaddressed by major institutions working in public health."&nbsp;



"Our Commission will improve our understanding of disease threats. We need to shine a bright spotlight on this problem and then provide a strategy to solve it.”



The Commission aims to address the following objectives:



<ul>
<li>Evaluating the causes of viral spillovers.</li>



<li>Identifying prevention strategies.</li>



<li>Recommending research directions.</li>



<li>Assessing the equity and trade-offs involved in prevention.</li>



<li>Overcoming socio-economic and political challenges for implementation.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-equity-nbsp">Global equity&nbsp;</h2>



Highlighting the global nature of the problem, Dr. Latiffah Hassan - Commission Co-chair and a Professor with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the <a href="https://www.upm.edu.my/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universiti Putra Malaysia</a> - argued that “many countries struggle to navigate the often-conflicting demands of generating economic development and maintaining an affordable supply of food for growing populations while safeguarding the health of rural populations."



"It is these communities who face the greatest risk of emerging pandemic threats. Like every other part of our global society, they have a right to decent healthcare. Preventing spillover protects everyone everywhere.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategies-for-preventing-future-pandemics">Strategies for preventing future pandemics</h2>



Potential strategies the Commission is considering include curbing deforestation, strengthening animal healthcare, managing wildlife trade, enhancing healthcare in proximity to wildlife, and intensifying zoonotic virus surveillance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-economic-implications-and-urgency">Economic implications and urgency</h2>



“Preventing pandemics is so much cheaper than responding to pandemics and will save countless lives. Remarkably, it seems like global leaders are already forgetting the terrible lessons we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Commision co-chair Dr. Neil Vora, drawing attention to the cost disparity between prevention and response.&nbsp;



“We urgently need dedicated resources to prevent pathogen spillovers, such as an international financing source dedicated to protecting tropical forests. The stakes are too high for the world to implement more incomplete solutions to pandemics. We need investment in both preventative measures to pandemics alongside response measures.”



As a concluding note, Dr. Nigel Sizer, a member of the commission and executive director of PPATS warns against complacency: “So many people are behaving as if the COVID-19 pandemic never happened — and in doing so, they fail to apply the lessons from COVID-19. This Commission will help protect everyone from pandemics by evaluating the science, designing interventions, and presenting policymakers with a roadmap to guide future actions.”



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New commission aims to prevent future pandemics

Even as the threat of animal-to-human diseases rises, governments seem...

Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful Geyser is more than just a natural wonder. It's also a thriving ecosystem for extremophiles - microscopic organisms that flourish in extreme environments, according to research published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/3/pgad066/7069836?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>, 



Old Faithful is one of the most iconic and well-known geysers in the world. Its predictable eruptions and impressive force have made it a top attraction for millions of visitors each year.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extremophiles-nbsp">Extremophiles&nbsp;</h2>



The geyser propels boiling hot water and steam up to 180 feet in the air every 90 minutes. While Old Faithful would hardly seem hospitable to any form of life, the new study shows that it's a thriving ecosystem for extremophiles - microscopic organisms that flourish in extreme environments.



The research, conducted by Lisa M. Keller, revealed that two microorganisms - Thermocrinis ruber and Thermus aquaticus - have mastered the art of survival in this challenging environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thermocrinis-ruber">Thermocrinis ruber</h2>



Thermocrinis ruber, the dominant bacteria in Old Faithful, accounts for over 60% of its microbial population. This chemoautotroph is essential not just for its own survival but also supports other microbial species in the geyser.&nbsp;



Without the aid of sunlight for photosynthesis, Thermocrinis ruber harnesses CO2 emissions from the geyser, converting it into carbon forms. These can then potentially support heterotrophs, such as Thermus aquaticus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resilient-bacteria">Resilient bacteria</h2>



The resilience of these bacteria is a testament to nature's ability to adapt and thrive. From hypersaline pools and oxygen-deprived zones to boiling waters, these microbes prove life's uncanny ability to endure and flourish.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genomic-diversity-nbsp">Genomic diversity&nbsp;</h2>



The geyser's volatile nature, with its sporadic eruptions and variable steam and water temperatures, might seem disruptive, but it's these very conditions that have nurtured a greater diversity of Thermocrinis strains in Old Faithful than any other non-geysing hot spring in Yellowstone.&nbsp;



“We think that the highly dynamic geyser environment creates many different ecological niches that Thermocrinis can occupy, causing increased sub-species level diversity,” said Keller. These findings show that the dynamic environment of Old Faithful promotes genomic diversity.



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



For the investigation, Keller gathered water samples from the geyser during eruptions using weighted sterile bins. Along with a National Park Service escort, she retrieved the samples 10 minutes post-eruption.&nbsp;



In her lab, Keller subjected the samples to varying temperatures, replicating geyser and pool conditions. The results were astounding. The bacteria exhibited immediate signs of activity, confirming the hypothesis of active microbial life in Old Faithful.



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



This research has implications for our understanding of potential extraterrestrial life. Geysers on moons like Enceladus and Europa have caught the attention of the planetary community.&nbsp;



“Everybody gets excited about sampling Enceladus plumes, but prior to this work we didn’t even have terrestrial geysers microbial samples. I thought, let’s take a step back and figure it out on our own planet first," said Keller.



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Life in the extreme: Microbial activity discovered in Old Faithful

Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful Geyser is more than just...

While many animals do not inherently display altruistic tendencies, a recent study led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-are-very-loyal-to-their-flower-patches/">honey bees</a> are an important exception.&nbsp;



Moreover, the experts revealed a fascinating evolutionary contest of genetics that determines from which parent they inherit this trait.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inherited-genes">Inherited genes</h2>



In their research, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Ecology</a>, the team delved deep into the genetic origins of the “retinue” behavior seen in female worker honey bees.&nbsp;



“People often think about different phenotypes being the result of differences in gene sequences or the environment,” said study lead author Sean Bresnahan, a doctoral student in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences at Penn State.&nbsp;



“But what this study shows is it’s not just differences in the gene itself - it’s which parent the gene is inherited from. By the very nature of the insect getting the gene from its mom, regardless of what the gene sequence is, it’s possibly going to behave differently than the copy of the gene from the dad.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-altruistic-behavior-nbsp">Altruistic behavior&nbsp;</h2>



Upon encountering the pheromone of the queen bee, these worker bees switch off their own reproductive capabilities. They also propagate the pheromone amongst fellow workers and ardently care for the queen and her subsequent brood.&nbsp;



This behavior, altruistic in nature, ensures the queen’s optimal reproductive success, while the worker bee remains without offspring. Given the hive structure, the queen is usually the matriarch of most, if not all, bees.



The researchers discovered that worker bees inherit genes that heighten their sensitivity to this pheromone from both parental lines. However, only when these genes come from the mother do they lead to altruistic behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-control">Genetic control</h2>



“Honey bees are one of the few animal species that display altruistic behavior, where some individuals give up their own reproduction to help others,” said senior author Christina Grozinger, a professor of Entomology at Penn State.&nbsp;



“This study reveals a very subtle and unexpected form of genetic control of those behaviors. With our system, we see that genes from the mother - the queen - are supporting altruistic behavior in her offspring, which leads to more copies of her genes in the population."&nbsp;



"Instead of producing their own eggs, the worker bees support the queen’s reproduction. This complements our previous studies, which showed that the fathers’ genes support selfish behavior in worker bees, where the bees will stop helping their queen mother and focus on their own reproduction.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reproductive-strategy-nbsp">Reproductive strategy&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, the queen mates with numerous males. This results in worker bees having the same mother but different fathers.&nbsp;



Breshnahan shed light on the implications of this unique reproductive strategy: “This is why the Kinship Theory of Intragenomic Conflict predicts that genes inherited from the mother will support altruistic behavior in honey bees."



"A worker bee benefits more from helping, rather than competing with, her mother and sisters - who carry more copies of the worker’s genes than she could ever reproduce on her own. In contrast, in species where the female mates only once, it is instead the father’s genes that are predicted to support altruistic behavior.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cross-breeding-nbsp">Cross-breeding&nbsp;</h2>



The study required cross-breeding of six distinct honey bee lineages. This, according to Bresnahan, is an easier endeavor with mammals or plants but is particularly challenging with insects.&nbsp;



After ensuring the crossbreeding was successful and monitoring the offspring’s maturity, the scientists evaluated how these worker bees responded to the queen’s pheromone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rna-sequencing-nbsp">RNA sequencing&nbsp;</h2>



“Finally, we used RNA sequencing to look at genome-wide gene expression in the workers, but importantly, we also sequenced the genomes of the parents of those crosses,” Bresnahan said.&nbsp;



“So, we could develop personalized genomes for the parents, and then map back the workers’ gene expression to each parent and find out which parent’s copy of that gene is being expressed.”



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



Their analysis, which combined traditional techniques and cutting-edge machine learning, provided a unique lens into the genomic battles underway, by helping them identify and map out genes affected by this intragenomic conflict.



“Observing intragenomic conflict is very difficult, and so there are very few studies examining the role it plays in creating variation in behavior and other traits,” Grozinger said, pointing to the experts’ prior research which revealed ovary activation and aggression in worker bees, both of which signify selfish behavior.&nbsp;



“The fact that this is the third behavior where we have found evidence that intragenomic conflict contributes to variation in honey bees suggests that intragenomic conflict might shape many types of traits in bees and other species. Hopefully, our research will provide a framework and inspiration for other scientists to examine intragenomic conflict in their plant and animal species,” she concluded.



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Honey bees inherit altruistic traits from their mother

While many animals do not inherently display altruistic tendencies, a...

In an effort to map the entire human brain at a cellular level, researchers have discovered that we possess more than 3,000 different types of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-computers-may-be-powered-by-brain-cells/">brain cells</a>. The study is shedding light on the profound question: What really makes us human?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cells-inside-our-brains">The cells inside our brains</h2>



Published today in a series of 21 papers across several journals, a global team of researchers has unveiled these new insights about the cells that make up our brains and those of other primates.&nbsp;



This research marks a significant advancement in our understanding of the nervous system's cellular components and highlights what makes the human brain unique.



For the study, which was facilitated by the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health</a>’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative, hundreds of scientists collaborated to explore the cellular architecture of primate brains.&nbsp;



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



The goal was to develop innovative techniques that would allow for studying the human brain's organization with unparalleled precision.



A profound understanding of the brain at the cellular scale is not just a quest for knowledge. Recognizing the cellular basis of brain disorders and diseases could pave the way for improved treatments and interventions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-single-cell-transcriptomics">Single-cell transcriptomics</h2>



A notable institution involved in this endeavor is the <a href="https://alleninstitute.org/">Allen Institute for Brain Science</a>. This team led five studies and made significant contributions to three others.&nbsp;



One such study, undertaken jointly by scientists at the <a href="https://ki.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karolinska Institute</a> and the Allen Institute, employed a method called single-cell transcriptomics. The results were staggering. They revealed that the human brain boasts more than 3,000 distinct cell types.



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



“I view this as a pivotal moment in neuroscience, where new technologies are now allowing us to understand the very detailed cellular organization of the human brain and of other primate brains,” said Dr. Ed Lein, who led several of the newly published studies.&nbsp;



“At its core, this body of work is a triumph of molecular biology: Differential gene usage can be used to define cell types, and the tools of genomics could be used to create the first drafts of high-resolution, annotated maps of the cells that make up the entire human brain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fundamental-questions-nbsp">Fundamental questions&nbsp;</h2>



Among the studies' queries were fundamental questions regarding the distinction between individual human brains at the cellular level, the differences between human and ape brains, the range of brain cell types, and the evolution and maturation of these cells.



Initial studies focusing on single regions of the human cortex identified over 100 different brain cell types. The new findings, however, expand this data across the entire brain, revealing many more distinct cell types - including some types that had never been characterized before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complexity-of-the-human-brain-nbsp">Complexity of the human brain&nbsp;</h2>



These investigations are affiliated with the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN), launched in 2017 with the aim of cataloging brain cell types. The results highlight the scalability of innovative cellular and molecular methodologies to address the vastness and complexity of the human brain.&nbsp;



“The present suite of studies represents a landmark achievement that continues to build an important bridge toward illuminating the complexity of the human brain at the cellular level,” said Dr. John Ngai, Director of the NIH BRAIN Initiative.&nbsp;



“The scientific collaborations forged through BICCN, and continuing in the next phase in BICAN, are propelling the field forward at an exponential pace; the progress – and possibilities – have been simply breathtaking.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-cell-atlas-nbsp">Human Cell Atlas&nbsp;</h2>



For these studies, the experts used postmortem brain tissues from donors and healthy living tissues from surgical patients.&nbsp;



The information from the research will be integrated into the Human Cell Atlas, a global project, which is aimed at creating a detailed reference atlas of cells across the entire human body.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adl0913">Science</a>.



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Mind-blowing discovery: Humans possess over 3,000 different types of brain cells

In an effort to map the entire human brain at...

For over a decade, scientists have captured mysterious radio signals traveling through space, unsure of their origin. Some experts think aliens might be emitting these fast radio bursts (FRBs) to contact Earth, while others believe black holes produce them.



Fast radio bursts (FRBs) were first detected in 2007. They are considered to be one of the biggest astronomical mysteries. We do not know their exact origins, only that they emanate from far outside of our galaxy.



Now, thanks to new research, we may finally have some information about what produces fast radio bursts. Findings from a recent study suggests they are caused by "starquakes" on spinning <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/echo-of-gravitational-waves-heard-for-the-first-time-finally-confirming-their-existence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neutron stars</a>, which possess the most powerful magnetic fields in the universe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-starquake-is-born">A starquake is born</h2>



The two-person research team from the <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tokyo</a>, led by Professor Tomonori Totani, analyzed the time and energy of about 7,000 FRBs previously reported in the literature. They identified similarities between fast radio bursts (FRBs) and earthquakes.



The goal of the research was to compare three phenomena –- earthquakes, solar flares, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-bursts-are-even-more-mysterious-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FRB</a>s. The experts performed a correlation function analysis of repeating FRBs in the 2D space of time and energy on these bursts, which covers the three known most active sources of FRBs.



They also applied the same approach in assessing the time-energy correlation of solar flares and earthquakes (using Japanese data).



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



The properties of the bursts observed were quantitatively similar to those of earthquakes, but different from those of solar flares in several aspects.



"By examining the correlation functions in time-energy space, we found remarkable similarities between the statistical properties of FRBs and earthquakes, especially the laws on aftershock occurrence," said the researchers.



They also found that the correlation functions for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-largest-ever-solar-storm-discovered-through-tree-rings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar flares</a> differ significantly from those of FRBs and earthquakes.



According to Professor Totani, "this strongly suggests the existence of a solid crust on the surface of neutron stars, and that starquakes suddenly occurring on these crusts releases huge amounts of energy which we see as FRBs."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starquakes-need-further-study">Starquakes need further study</h2>



The team plans to further analyze the new data obtained on FRBs. The goal is to establish that the observed similarities are universal.



“By studying starquakes on distant ultra-dense stars, which are completely different environments from Earth, we may gain new insights into earthquakes,” said Totani.



“The interior of a neutron star is the densest place in the universe, comparable to that of the interior of an atomic nucleus. Starquakes in neutron stars have opened up the possibility of gaining new insights into very high-density matter and the fundamental laws of nuclear physics."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-fast-radio-bursts">Understanding fast radio bursts&nbsp;</h2>



Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are super intense, millisecond-long bursts of radiowaves. They were discovered by Duncan Lorimer and his student David Narkevic in 2007 during their analysis of the archival pulsar survey data.



FRBs appear like flickering stars but are not stars. They are primarily extragalactic, but the<a href="https://chime-experiment.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> CHIME radio telescope</a> detected the first Milky Way FRB in April 2020. Since then, several FRNs have been recorded by astronomers.



Thanks to the findings of this study, we are a step closer to understanding the physical origin of FRBs. The discovery could improve our knowledge of earthquakes, the behavior of high-density matter, and other important aspects of nuclear physics.



The study is published in the journal<a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/526/2/2795/7295484?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</a>.



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Mysterious alien radio signals may be caused by "starquakes"

For over a decade, scientists have captured mysterious radio signals...

An incredibly discovery from a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid sample has brought great excitement and valuable insights to the scientific community. The sample, which was <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-safely-delivers-rock-samples-from-asteroid-bennu-back-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brought to Earth</a> by NASA from the asteroid Bennu, displays evidence of a high-carbon content and water. These findings suggest that the building blocks of life on Earth might be traced back to such celestial bodies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroid-bennu-sample-revelations">Asteroid Bennu sample revelations</h2>



NASA announced these exciting findings on Wednesday from its <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnson Space Center</a> in Houston. Here, for the first time since its arrival in September, the scientific leadership presented the asteroid material to the world.



Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, remarked on the significance of this discovery, stating, “The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-delving-into-the-osiris-rex-mission">Delving into the OSIRIS-REx mission</h2>



The samples were collected as part of NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSIRIS-REx</a> (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer) mission. This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-is-bringing-an-asteroid-sample-back-to-earth-this-month-worrying-many-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mission</a>, according to Nelson, not only helps us understand potential threats from asteroids but also allows us a glimpse into the beyond. 



The true nature of the carbon compounds discovered still needs extensive analysis, but the preliminary findings are promising for future studies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-insights-to-come">Decades of insights to come</h2>



These samples from Bennu are not just about the present; they carry within them secrets that will be explored for decades. They will shed light on the formation of our solar system, how life's precursors might have landed on Earth, and the necessary precautions to avert potential asteroid collisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unpacking-the-asteroid-bennu-sample">Unpacking the asteroid Bennu sample</h2>



NASA’s initial aim with the OSIRIS-REx sample collection was to obtain 60 grams of the asteroid material. However, when the sample return hardware was being disassembled, the team found an abundance of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-black-dust-found-on-bennu-asteroid-samples/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bonus asteroid material</a> covering the collector head, canister lid, and base. This surplus of material temporarily slowed down the meticulous process of gathering the main sample.



Vanessa Wyche, the director at NASA Johnson, emphasized their preparedness, noting that their labs had anticipated various outcomes from Bennu. A combination of scientists and engineers had been working together for years, designing special tools to maintain the asteroid material's integrity and purity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-glimpses-and-analyses">First glimpses and analyses</h2>



Within the initial fortnight, the team embarked on "quick-look" <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/asteroid-bennu_return-capsule_exam_3medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">examinations of the collected material</a>. They employed tools such as a scanning electron microscope, infrared measurements, and X-ray diffraction. Additionally, X-ray computed tomography provided a 3D computer model of one of the particles, revealing the prevalent carbon and water content.



Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator from the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a>, Tucson, shared his enthusiasm, “As we peer into the ancient secrets preserved within the dust and rocks of asteroid Bennu, we are unlocking a time capsule that offers us profound insights into the origins of our solar system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead">The road ahead</h2>



Over the next couple of years, the mission's science team will focus on further characterizing the samples. At least 70% of the sample will be preserved at Johnson for research by a global scientific community, ensuring that even future generations can benefit from this discovery.



As part of the OSIRIS-REx's wider science program, a global cohort of over 200 scientists will explore the regolith's properties. This includes researchers from various U.S. institutions, international partners like JAXA, CSA, and numerous other global scientists. 



Later this autumn, parts of the samples will also be on display at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston, and the University of Arizona.



NASA’s recent findings from the Bennu asteroid sample have opened new avenues in our understanding of life and the universe. These discoveries not only emphasize the importance of space exploration but also promise a deeper comprehension of our very existence and origins.



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NASA finds the building blocks of life in sample returned from asteroid Bennu

An incredibly discovery from a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid sample has brought...

Scientists have confirmed that over 40% of the ice shelves in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-levels-in-antarctica-have-reached-an-unprecedented-low/">Antarctica</a> have seen a reduction in volume over the past 25 years. This equates to a net loss of 7.5 trillion tons of meltwater entering the oceans between 1997 and 2021.



Ice shelves play a pivotal role in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happens-to-antarctic-seals-when-sea-ice-vanishes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic ecosystem</a>. Floating on the seas, they act as buffers, controlling the rate at which ice drains into the oceans. As they diminish, the rate of ice loss from the glaciers accelerates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-patterns-of-ice-loss">Disturbing patterns of ice loss</h2>



The ice shelves on the western side of Antarctica were found to be the most affected. Nearly all of these shelves had experienced significant ice loss.&nbsp;



By contrast, many of the eastern ice shelves either remained consistent or experienced an increase in volume. The total ice exported to the ocean during this period was around 67 trillion tons - offset by 59 trillion tons of ice added to the shelves.



“There is a mixed picture of ice-shelf deterioration, and this is to do with the ocean temperature and ocean currents around Antarctica," said Dr. Benjamin Davison, a research fellow at the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a> who led the study.



“The western half is exposed to warm water, which can rapidly erode the ice shelves from below, whereas much of East Antarctica is currently protected from nearby warm water by a band of cold water at the coast.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-influence-on-antarctica-s-ice-shelves">Human influence on Antarctica's ice shelves</h2>



Dr. Davison believes that human-induced global warming is a significant contributor to the dwindling ice. Without human influence, signs of regrowth would have been observed in the western region.



"We expected most ice shelves to go through cycles of rapid, but short-lived shrinking, then to regrow slowly. Instead, we see that almost half of them are shrinking with no sign of recovery," said Dr. Davison.



The Getz Ice Shelf reported a loss of 1.9 trillion tons of ice over 25 years, with a mere 5% resulting from calving. The Pine Island Ice Shelf wasn’t far behind, losing 1.3 trillion tons. By comparison, the Amery Ice Shelf, situated in colder waters, gained 1.2 trillion tons.



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



The study was focused on the analysis of over 100,000 radar images from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/CryoSat-2_operations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CryoSat-2</a> and <a href="https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sentinel-1</a> satellites.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="DNy7iog6g0-3069374-12187" type="single"]</div>



Launched in 2010, CryoSat-2 was dedicated to observing polar ice sheets and glaciers. The precision of these satellite sensors has enabled year-by-year tracking of Antarctic changes.



Dr. Mark Drinkwater of the European Space Agency emphasized the role of the European Copernicus Programme’s Sentinel-1 satellite mission in revolutionizing our ability to take stock of floating ice shelves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-shelves-and-implications-for-antarctica">Ice shelves and implications for Antarctica</h2>



The melted freshwater entering the oceans could disrupt global ocean circulation. The Southern Ocean, in particular, plays a role in the global ocean conveyor belt, which circulates nutrients, heat, and carbon. An influx of freshwater could weaken this system.&nbsp;



“The study has generated important findings. We tend to think of ice shelves as going through cyclical advances and retreats. Instead, we are seeing a steady attrition due to melting and calving," said study co-author Professor Anna Hogg.



“Many of the ice shelves have deteriorated a lot: 48 lost more than 30% of their initial mass over just 25 years. This is further evidence that Antarctica is changing because the climate is warming."&nbsp;



“The study provides a baseline measure from which we can see further changes that may emerge as the climate gets warmer.”



Video Credit: European Space Agency 



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Antarctica’s ice shelves are dwindling at a startling pace

Scientists have confirmed that over 40% of the ice shelves...

Tropical crops including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-coffee-trade-is-increasingly-threatened-by-climate-change/">coffee</a>, cocoa, watermelon, and mango, face a potential crisis due to the dwindling number of insect pollinators, according to a new study.&nbsp;



The research, led by experts from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> and the Natural History Museum, investigated the complex relationship between climate change, alterations in land use, and the consequential effects on pollinator diversity.&nbsp;



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



Drawing upon data from 1,507 crop growing sites worldwide and an extensive cataloguing of 3,080 insect pollinator species, the study has revealed an alarming threat to global crop pollination.



According to the analysis, the collective pressures of climate change and farming activities have resulted in significant declines in both the quantity and variety of insect pollinators.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coffee-is-losing-pollinators">Coffee is losing pollinators</h2>



With nearly three-quarters of all crops being somewhat reliant on animal-driven pollination, the research team devised a model to identify which of these crops face the gravest threats up to the year 2050.&nbsp;



“Our research indicates that the tropics are likely most at risk when it comes to crop production from pollinator losses, primarily due to the interaction of climate change and land use," said study lead author Dr. Joe Millard.



"While localized risks are highest in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, northern South America, and south-east Asia, the implications of this extend globally via the trade in pollination dependent crops.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-regions">Tropical regions</h2>



The study identifies tropical regions as particularly vulnerable due to the combined effects of climate change and land use changes.&nbsp;



Consequently, pivotal crops like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-coffee-trade-is-increasingly-threatened-by-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coffee</a>, cocoa, mango, and watermelon, all heavily reliant on insect pollination, face the most significant peril. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-threat">Increasing threat</h2>



The potential decline of these crops could drastically affect local economies and the global trade sector, posing an increased threat of income instability for countless small-scale farmers.



“As insects decline, due to being unable to cope with the interacting effects of climate change and land use, so too will the crops that rely on them as pollinators," said Dr. Millard.



"In some cases, these crops could be pollinated by hand but this would require more labor and more cost.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-coffee-and-its-pollinators">Implications for coffee and its pollinators</h2>



Highlighting the critical role of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinator-populations-have-experienced-dramatic-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinator abundance</a> and diversity in ensuring effective pollination, the study authors advocate for proactive measures to mitigate climate change in order to secure future crop yields. 



“Climate change poses grave threats not only to the natural environment and biodiversity, but also to human well-being, as the loss of pollinators can threaten the livelihoods of people across the globe who depend on crops that depend on animal pollination," said study senior author Dr. Tim Newbold.



“Our findings underscore the urgent need to take global action to mitigate climate change, alongside efforts to slow down land use changes and protect natural habitats to avoid harming insect pollinators."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adh0756">Science Advances</a>.



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Coffee production threatened by loss of pollinators

Tropical crops including coffee, cocoa, watermelon, and mango, face a...

A new study shows that gray whales in the eastern North Pacific, which once flourished before commercial whaling nearly drove them to extinction, have faced significant population drops due to the changing conditions in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/additional-heat-is-being-transferred-to-the-arctic-ocean-as-the-climate-warms/">Arctic Ocean</a>.&nbsp;



According to the study, there have been three major mortality events since the 1980s, one of which started in 2019 and is still ongoing. These events reduced the gray whale population by an astonishing 25% within a short span.



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



Joshua Stewart, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s <a href="https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Mammal Institute</a>, expressed concern over these findings.&nbsp;



“These are extreme population swings that we did not expect to see in a large, long-lived species like gray whales,” Stewart said.&nbsp;



“When the availability of their prey in the Arctic is low, and the whales cannot reach their feeding areas because of sea ice, the gray whale population experiences rapid and major shocks.”



“Even highly mobile, long-lived species such as gray whales are sensitive to climate change impacts. When there are sudden declines in the quality of prey, the population of gray whales is significantly affected.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovering-populations-nbsp">Recovering populations&nbsp;</h2>



Surprisingly, these die-offs weren't permanent. After the die-offs in the 1980s and 1990s, the gray whale population quickly rebounded as the Arctic conditions improved. However, this recovery brought with it its own set of challenges.&nbsp;



As the population has approached levels close to what their Arctic feeding areas can support, they have likely become more sensitive to environmental conditions due to competition for limited resources, explained Stewart.



“It turns out we didn’t really know what a healthy baleen whale population looks like when it isn’t heavily depleted by human impacts,” he said.&nbsp;



“Our assumption has generally been that these recovering populations would hit their environmental carrying capacities and remain more or less steady there. But what we’re seeing is much more of a bumpy ride in response to highly variable and rapidly changing ocean conditions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gray-whales-and-population-dynamics">Gray whales and population dynamics&nbsp;</h2>



The eastern North Pacific gray whale population, currently estimated at around 14,500 individuals, embarks on a massive migration each year. Traveling over 12,000 miles, they move from the warm waters of Baja California, Mexico, during the winter to the chilly, nutrient-rich waters of the Arctic in the summer.



The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southwest-fisheries-science-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest Fisheries Science Center</a> in California has been closely monitoring this population since the 1960s. This extensive data provides a profound insight into the species' population dynamics.&nbsp;



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



Dave Weller, the director of the center's Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, highlighted the significance of these long-term studies.&nbsp;



“This research demonstrates the value of long-term data in understanding not only the species under study but also the environment it depends on,” said Weller.&nbsp;



“When we began collecting data on gray whales in 1967, little did we realize the important role they would play in understanding the effects of climate change on an iconic sentinel species in the Pacific. This research would not have been possible without our reliable long-term record.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mortality-events">Mortality events</h2>



Based on long-term data, Stewart, discovered a correlation between the two “Unusual Mortality Events” declared by NOAA in 1999 and 2019 and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/additional-heat-is-being-transferred-to-the-arctic-ocean-as-the-climate-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice levels in the Arctic</a>.&nbsp;



In addition, these events were closely tied to the biomass of crustaceans on the seafloor, which gray whales mainly feed on.&nbsp;



Interestingly, Stewart identified another die-off event in the 1980s, not associated with increased strandings, possibly due to lesser reporting of stranded whales back then.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decreased-sea-ice">Decreased sea ice</h2>



Lesser summer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-will-soon-vanish-during-the-summer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice</a> in the gray whales' Arctic feeding zones initially benefits the whale population by providing more foraging opportunities. However, in the grander scheme of things, decreased sea ice, a direct result of rapid climate change, might be detrimental.&nbsp;



Benthic amphipods, the primary prey of gray whales, rely on algae that grow beneath the sea ice. Fewer ice means less algae sinking to the seafloor, leading to warmer waters that favor smaller crustaceans and faster currents. These conditions reduce the habitat for the gray whales' preferred prey.



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



“We are in uncharted territory now. The two previous events, despite being significant and dramatic, only lasted a couple of years,” said Stewart.&nbsp;



“The most recent mortality event has slowed and there are signs things are turning around, but the population has continued to decline. One reason it may be dragging on is the climate change component, which is contributing to a long-term trend of lower-quality prey.”



While gray whales have survived environmental changes over hundreds of thousands of years, the ongoing conditions have raised concerns.



“I wouldn’t say there is a risk of losing gray whales due to climate change,” he said. “But we need to think critically about what these changes might mean in the future. An Arctic Ocean that has warmed significantly may not be able to support 25,000 gray whales like it has in the recent past.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adi1847">Science</a>.



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Gray whales reveal alarming effects of Arctic warming 

A new study shows that gray whales in the eastern...

Beer,Glass,On,Dark,Background

The long list of issues associated with climate change is about to get longer. Researchers have linked an impending beer shortage to rising temperatures. Scientists predict a sharp decline in the production of hops over the next few decades. 



More specifically, we could see up to a 19 percent drop in the harvested hops in Europe by 2050. Coupled with this decline is the possibility of having less of the most important active substances (alpha acids) in the harvested hops.



The special flavor of any given beer can be primarily attributed to hops. The alpha acids in hops give beers that distinctive bitter taste and quality that make it so popular.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bad-news-for-hop-production">Bad news for hop production</h2>



The scientists collected and analyzed data on hop production from 1971 to 1994 and 1995 to 2018. The data covers some of the biggest European hop-growing regions, including Slovenia, Czechia, and Germany.



According to the results, there has been a decline in the average annual hop yield between 1995 and now. The extent of the decrease differed across the regions, ranging from 9.5% in Tettnang to 19.4% in Celje.



The researchers also identified a considerable drop in the alpha acid content in all of the study regions. They observed a reduction of 34.8% in Celje, 15.6% in Hallertau, 15% in Tettnang, 11.5% in Spalt, and 10.5% in Zatec.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-is-the-culprit">Climate change is the culprit</h2>



The team attributed this to a shift in the start of the hop growing season, which has increased by 13 days from 1970 to 2018. This, in turn, shifted the critical ripening period of hops towards the warmer part of the season. The gradual change in the lifecycle of hops over the years is directly attributed to climate change.



Martin Monzy is a researcher at the <a href="https://www.czechglobe.cz/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Change Research Institute</a> of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the study's lead author. He stated, "The increasingly frequent droughts and heat waves are negatively affecting yields and alpha content in all hop-growing regions of the EU."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grim-outlook-for-hop-production">Grim outlook for hop production</h2>



Expanding the scope of their research, the scientists simulated future crops and climate conditions to predict hop harvests. The findings do not look any better.



The experts predict a decline in hop yields by up to 35% between now and 2050. This is expected to cut across European hop production powerhouses, including Spain, Portugal, and Slovenia. The prediction of the alpha content follows a similar pattern.



"Moderate decreases in yield and alpha content were predicted for Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland, while the strongest declines in hop productivity were predicted for Portugal, Slovenia, and Croatia," wrote the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poor-taste-and-higher-cost-for-beer-lovers">Poor taste and higher cost for beer lovers</h2>



Many popular beer styles rely on hops from the affected regions, including Bitters, California Blonde Ale, Red Ale, Pilsner, Lager, American Amber Ale, and Pale Ale.



Low alpha content in hops means more will be required to maintain taste. This, in turn, translates to higher costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-doom-and-gloom">Not all doom and gloom</h2>



U.S. beer producers have been working on resilient hop varieties for some time.  Similar efforts are underway in Europe, particularly at the <a href="https://www.hopfenforschung.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hop Research Center</a> in Hull, Germany.



Asian brewers are not sitting still. Speaking to the Financial Times last month, Atsushi Katsuki, president and CEO of <a href="https://www.asahigroup-holdings.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asahi Groups Holdings</a>, predicted a drop in the quality of hop and barley crops due to global warming. Asahi Group Holdings are the makers of Asahi, Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell, Fuller's, and Peroni beers.



In a similar development, Fortune has reported a significant investment in drought-resistant barley strains from Africa by Carlsberg and Anheuser-Busch InBev. The former is the biggest beer maker in Denmark, and the former is the maker of Bud Light and Budweiser.



These collective efforts underscore the need to address the broader impact of climate change on beer production. Fortunately, the brewing world is responding by working hard to ensure our glasses stay full.



This study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41474-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Trouble brewing for beer: Decline in hop production causes beer shortages and bad taste

The long list of issues associated with climate change is...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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