African,Woman,,Portrait,And,Heart,Hands,On,Stomach,At,Gym,

The bacteria, fungi, and other gut microbes colonizing an animal’s intestines influence everything from digestion to immunity, yet scientists still know surprisingly little about how everyday foods reshape this inner ecosystem. 



A new investigation shows that switching the dominant source of dietary protein can upend both membership and metabolic duties of the gut microbiome in a single week.



This study, led by <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Carolina State University</a> and published by Alfredo Blakeley-Ruiz and colleagues, may help unravel why modern diets are often linked to chronic gastrointestinal disorders and could point the way toward new therapeutic or preventive strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-gut-s-response-to-protein">The gut's response to protein </h2>



To isolate the effect of protein <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-too-much-protein-greatly-increases-heart-disease-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">source</a> alone, the researchers fed mice a series of highly defined diets that were identical in fat, carbohydrate, fiber and mineral content but differed in a single component: every seven days the sole protein came either from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eggs-may-slow-memory-decline-and-support-brain-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">egg</a> white, brown rice, soy or yeast. 



After each dietary phase, the team harvested intestinal contents and applied an “integrated metagenomics-metaproteomics” pipeline.



This combination of DNA sequencing and high-resolution mass spectrometry simultaneously identifies which microbial species are present and which proteins those microbes are producing - offering a rare window into the community’s actual functions rather than its potential.



“There’s something wrong with what we’re eating today, and we are not close to knowing what that is,” Blakeley-Ruiz noted. “Our lab wanted to know how different diets impact what lives in the gut, and to learn something about what those microbes are doing, functionally, in response to that diet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reshuffling-of-microbial-communities">Reshuffling of microbial communities</h2>



The results revealed striking volatility. Each new protein source triggered a noticeable turnover in microbial membership, but three diets - egg white, brown rice, and yeast - drove the most dramatic transformations.



“The composition of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-have-very-clever-ways-of-supporting-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut microbiome</a> significantly changed every time we changed the protein source,” Blakeley-Ruiz explained. 



Not only did some formerly minor species bloom to dominance, but entire metabolic pathways switched on or off, indicating that the microbes were quickly retooling their biochemical machinery to exploit the new nutrient landscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-amino-acids-and-complex-sugars">Amino acids and complex sugars</h2>



When the scientists compared microbial proteins across diets, two functional categories showed the largest swings. 



The first, amino-acid metabolism, was expected: because proteins are built from amino acids, microbes respond to a fresh influx by either manufacturing more amino-acid-processing enzymes or dialing production down if the amino acids arrive pre-made.



In mice fed egg white or brown rice, the team saw a pronounced increase in enzymes that break down amino acids, suggesting that gut microbes were scavenging these building blocks directly from the diet rather than synthesizing them on their own. 



Blakeley-Ruiz cautioned that such degradation makes intuitive sense but may have hidden consequences, because certain amino-acid by-products can become toxic or influence brain signaling through the gut–brain axis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dramatic-changes-in-the-gut-microbiome">Dramatic changes in the gut microbiome </h2>



The second major change surprised the team: large shifts in enzymes that degrade glycans, the branching chains of sugar molecules that decorate many proteins. Diets rich in soy, rice, yeast and especially egg white boosted the expression of glycan-cutting enzymes, sometimes dramatically.



“This could be really meaningful, health-wise,” Blakeley-Ruiz said. In the egg-white group, a single bacterial species surged and switched on a broad suite of glycan-degradation genes. 



Laboratory tests showed this bacterium expressed a similar enzyme profile when grown in the presence of mucin, the slippery protein-sugar mixture that coats and protects the intestinal lining.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-erosion-of-the-gut-s-protective-barrier">Erosion of the gut’s protective barrier</h2>



Because mucin’s sugars resemble those on dietary proteins, microbes that learn to chew through egg-white glycans might also erode the host’s mucin layer, compromising the gut barrier and allowing inflammation or pathogens to take hold.



“I’m excited to explore this potential connection between the expression of glycan degrading enzymes in the egg white diet and the breakdown of mucin by the gut microbiome in future studies,” Blakeley-Ruiz said.



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



Manuel Kleiner, associate professor of plant and microbial biology and co-corresponding author, emphasized that the purified diets used here are intentionally artificial. Real meals include multiple protein sources and additional nutrients that could buffer or blunt the effects seen in mice. 



Nonetheless, the work spotlights egg white as an “extreme” modulator of microbial behavior and sets the stage for follow-up experiments that mix proteins in more realistic proportions.



“Our study shows not only which bacterial species are in the gut microbiome and their abundance, but also what they are actually doing,” Kleiner explained. 



By mapping the enzyme repertoires that microbes deploy for different proteins, the researchers have created a catalog of metabolic responses that future projects can mine to design precision diets or probiotics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nutrition-that-supports-gut-health">Nutrition that supports gut health</h2>



The findings arrive amid a surge of interest in how diet shapes the gut microbiome and, by extension, human health. Gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease afflict millions worldwide, and many patients report symptom flares linked to particular foods. 



However, mechanistic explanations have been elusive. By revealing that protein source alone can rewire microbial communities in days - altering amino-acid breakdown and potentially stripping protective mucus - the NC State team provides new clues to this puzzle.



Further studies in animals and humans could determine whether certain protein-rich <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contamination-crisis-microplastics-found-in-88-of-protein-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a> contribute to disease by nudging the microbiome toward mucus-degrading, toxin-producing pathways, and whether alternative proteins or tailored fiber supplements can steer the gut back to a healthier state.



According to the scientists, there shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to dietary protein. Understanding how specific proteins influence microbial metabolism is a first step toward personalized nutrition that supports, rather than undermines, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-may-be-the-key-to-anxiety-relief/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut health</a>.



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ismej/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ismejo/wraf048/8089909">ISME Journal</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

What protein-packed diets are really doing to your gut

The bacteria, fungi, and other gut microbes colonizing an animal’s intestines influence everything from digestion to immunity, yet scientists still know surprisingly little about how everyday foods reshape this inner ecosystem. A new investigation shows that switching the dominant source of dietary protein can upend both membership and metabolic duties of the gut microbiome in a single week. This study, led by North Carolina State University and published by Alfredo Blakeley-Ruiz and colleagues, may help unravel why modern diets are often linked to chronic gastrointestinal disorders and...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-link-between-air-pollution-and-obesity/">Air pollution</a> is known to be a major public health issue, and is associated with cardio-respiratory disease incidence, hospitalizations and deaths. However, most of the previous studies have focused on adults. It is possible that adolescents, with their rapid growth rates, may be even more susceptible to the long-term effects of air pollution, but few studies involving teens have been conducted.&nbsp;



In a new study led by <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/">King’s College London</a>, researchers have investigated the associations between the blood pressure of 3,284 adolescents living in London, and the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air where they live. The data were collected as part of the Determinants of Adolescent Social Well-Being and Health (DASH) study, which tracks the well-being of thousands of ethnically diverse London schoolchildren over time.&nbsp;



The participants came from 51 different secondary schools in London, and were mostly (80 percent) from ethnic minority backgrounds. The students were recruited during the periods 2003–2004 and 2005–2006, when their blood pressure, height, and weight were measured.



Each participant completed a questionnaire that included details on ethnicity, residential area and socio-economic status. Levels of NO2 and particulate matter were derived from annual models of pollution levels in London for the relevant time periods. The results of the study are published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279719">PLOS ONE</a>.&nbsp;



The analysis showed a link between greater estimated exposure to NO2 and lower systolic blood pressure in the adolescent participants. In addition, the researchers found that increased estimated exposure to PM2.5 was associated with higher systolic blood pressure. No evidence of a relationship was observed between diastolic blood pressure and levels of NO2 or PM2.5.These associations were stronger in girls than in boys.



For example, a 1μg/m3 increase in nitrogen dioxide was associated with a 0.30 mmHg (95% CI 0.18 to 0.40) decrease in systolic blood pressure for girls and a 0.19 mmHg (95% CI 0.07 to 0.31) decrease in systolic blood pressure for boys. Meanwhile, a 1μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 1.34 mmHg (95% CI 0.85 to 1.82) increase in systolic blood pressure for girls and a 0.57 mmHg (95% CI 0.04 to 1.03) increase in systolic blood pressure for boys. The associations between pollutants and blood pressure were consistent regardless of ethnicity, body size, or socioeconomic status.



Eighty percent of the adolescents studied were from ethnic minority groups, and the residential estimates suggest that these adolescents were exposed to higher levels of the pollutants than were their white peers.



The researchers call for further studies to help confirm and clarify these findings, particularly among young people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. They also note that levels of nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 in London remain well above World Health Organization Guidelines, suggesting opportunities to reduce pollution and improve lifelong health for adolescents in the city.



“This longitudinal study provides a unique opportunity to track exposures of adolescents living in deprived neighborhoods," said study co-author Seeromanie Harding. "Given that more than 1 million under 18s live in neighborhoods where air pollution is higher than the recommended health standards, there is an urgent need for more of these studies to gain an in-depth understanding of the threats and opportunities to young people’s development.”



---



By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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.

Blood pressure in teens linked to air pollution

Air pollution is known to be a major public health...

A new study from <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">UC Riverside</a> could help control the infective mosquito by shutting down proteins in its sperm. This would prevent the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-improves-sperm-quality-and-fertility/">sperm</a> from swimming or fertilizing eggs.



The research may ultimately help control the Culex mosquito that transmits brain-swelling encephalitis and West Nile virus. As climate change intensifies, a lot of other mosquitoes, such as those that carry malaria, are moving into the Northern Hemisphere.



“During mating, mosquitoes couple tail to tail, and the males transfer sperm into the female reproductive tract. It can be stored there awhile, but it still has to get from point A to point B to complete fertilization,” said study first author Cathy Thaler.



Specialized proteins activate the sperm flagella, or ‘tails,’ that power their movement. “Without these proteins, the sperm cannot penetrate the eggs. They’ll remain immotile, and will eventually just degrade,” explained study co-author Richard Cardullo.



The researchers isolated 200 male mosquitoes from a larger population and extracted sperm to detect, identify and profile all proteins. Previously, the team determined that sperm needed calcium to power forward.&nbsp;



“Now we can look in the completed protein profile we’ve created, find the calcium channel proteins, and design experiments to target these channels,” said Cardullo.



Protein profiling offers a path toward controlling mosquitoes that is more environmentally friendly than spraying pesticides, which also kills good insects and harms other animals. While this could be an effective population control method,&nbsp; it is not possible or desirable to kill all mosquitoes.



“Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth. But as much as people hate them, most ecologists would oppose a plan to completely eradicate them. They play an important role in the food chain for fish and other animals,”said Cardullo.



Surprisingly, learning more about Culex sperm motility may help to improve fertility in humans. Human fertility rates have been falling for years, in part due to environmental factors. A better understanding of sperm could help overcome some of these factors.



“Many cells have flagella, or tails, including human respiratory cells as well as cells in our guts,” said Cardullo. “What we learn in one system, such as mosquitoes, can translate to others.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280013">PLoS ONE</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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.

Study aims to control mosquitoes by deactivating their sperm

A new study from UC Riverside could help control the...

In a study led by the <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/">University of Alaska Fairbanks</a>, experts have concluded that kelp farms could help reduce coastal marine pollution. While this type of seaweed is known for its ability to take up large amounts of carbon dioxide, the new research suggests that kelp is even better at removing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-nitrogen-oxide-pollution-could-boost-crop-yields/">nitrogen</a> pollution.&nbsp;



The researchers monitored carbon and nitrogen levels at two mixed-species kelp farms in Alaska, where tissue and seawater samples were collected for analysis. The results showed that some seaweed species are better than others at removing nitrogen from the surrounding water.&nbsp;



Study lead author Schery Umanzor is an assistant professor at UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.



“Some seaweeds are literally like sponges - they suck and suck and never saturate,” said Professor Umanzor.&nbsp;



“Although carbon and carbon sequestration by kelp receive most of the attention, kelp is actually much better at mitigating excessive amounts of nitrogen than carbon. I think that’s a story that’s really underlooked.”



Coastal nitrogen pollution has many sources, including agricultural runoff and urban sewage. This pollutant poses some major threats to ocean ecosystems such as harmful algal blooms and depleted oxygen levels that compromise the health of marine life.&nbsp;



In the UAF study, the kelp tissue samples revealed that ribbon kelp was more effective than sugar kelp at absorbing both nitrogen and carbon.&nbsp;



Kelp farming is also emerging as a promising way to improve food security. The researchers noted that kelp grown in polluted waters should not be used for food, but could still be a promising tool for helping to clean up the coastline.



Professor Umanzor cautioned that the study was limited to two sites during a single growing season, and is currently processing a larger collection of samples for further research.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/aquaculture">Aquaculture Journal</a>.



---



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.

Kelp farms could help clean up coastal nitrogen pollution

In a study led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks,...

Since Japan’s flora has already been extensively studied and documented, the discovery of a new plant species is a rare event. However, a team of scientists from <a href="https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/index.html">Kobe University</a> has recently found a stunning new species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evolutionary-history-orchid/">orchid</a> (Spiranthes hachijoensis), with rosy pink petals bearing a striking resemblance to glasswork.&nbsp;



Although the orchid was initially spotted near Hachijo Island in the Tokyo Prefecture, further research has shown that its range is much wider than previously expected, extended to familiar environments such as parks or lawns, and even private gardens and balconies. These findings suggest that many new species could potentially be found “hiding” in common places, thus reducing the need of explorers to venture into remote area, such as tropical rainforests, to discover them.



The genus Spiranthes – which is the most widespread type of orchid in Japan and has been admired for centuries, even appearing in the Manyoshu, the country’s oldest extant poetry anthology - encompasses a fascinating variety of orchids, exhibiting an array of distinctive morphological traits. Since their white or pinkish flowers are usually arranged in a spiral around a central stalk, these orchids are often referred to as “ladies’ tresses.”



For a long time, scientists thought that Spiranthes consists of a single species, Spiranthes australis. Yet, extended field surveys across Japan’s mainland revealed several populations of an unknown taxon with hairless flower stems. Although this previously unknown taxon frequently grows alongside S. australis, it seems to bloom about a month earlier, thus leading to reproductive isolation between the two taxa.&nbsp;



By conducting a comprehensive, ten-year study of specimens collected from various regions in Japan, Taiwan, and Laos, the researchers provided morphological, phylogenetic, and ecological evidence for the recognition of&nbsp;S. hachijoensis as a new species of orchid, exhibiting a high level of molecular divergence from its relatives.



According to the experts, the discovery of this new species concealed in common places, such as parks, lawns, or even private gardens and balconies, highlights the necessity of persistent exploration, even in apparently unremarkable settings.



An in-depth description of the morphology, phenology, phylogeny, and ecology of this new orchid species was recently published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10265-023-01448-6">Journal of Plant Research</a>.



—



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



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.

New orchid found hiding in plain sight in Japan

Since Japan’s flora has already been extensively studied and documented,...

Although <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-water-travel-through-our-solar-system/">water</a> makes up 71 percent of our planet’s surface, scientists are not yet sure where and how this water originated. Many experts have previously argued that water most likely arrived to Earth from meteorites.&nbsp;



However, by analyzing melted meteorites which have been floating around in space since the formation of our solar system (four and a half billion years ago), a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a> has discovered that these meteorites had extremely low water content. These findings rule out such meteorites as the primary source of Earth’s water, and could have major implications for the search for water – and implicitly life – on other planets.



“We wanted to understand how our planet managed to get water because it’s not completely obvious. Getting water and having surface oceans on a planet that is small and relatively near the sun is a challenge,” said study lead author Megan Newcombe, a professor of Geology at Maryland.



The scientists analyzed seven melted, or achondrite, meteorites that crashed into our planet billions of years after splintering from at least five astronomical objects which collided to form planets in our solar systems, known as “planetesimals.” During melting, these planetesimals were heated up by the decay of radioactive elements in the early solar system’s history, causing them to separate into layers with a crust, mantle, and core.



The experts used an electron microprobe to measure these objects’ levels of magnesium, iron, calcium, and silicon, as well as a secondary ion mass spectrometry instrument to measure their water contents. While some of the meteorite samples came from the inner solar system, where conditions are assumed to be warm and dry, others originated form colder and icier outer areas of our solar system.



“We knew that plenty of outer solar system objects were differentiated, but it was sort of implicitly assumed that because they were from the outer solar system, they must also contain a lot of water,” said study co-author Sune Nielsen, a geologist at the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a>. “Our paper shows this is definitely not the case. As soon as meteorites melt, there is no remaining water.”&nbsp;



In fact, the analysis revealed that in these achondrite meteor samples – regardless of their origin – water comprised less than two millionth of their mass, suggesting that the heating and melting of planetesimals causes near-total water loss. However, another type of meteorites called “carbonaceous chondrites” were found to contain up to 20 percent of water, making them the most likely source for the origin of water on Earth. “This finding implies that substantial amounts of water could only have been delivered to Earth by means of unmelted material,” the authors wrote.



Due to the inherent relation between water and life, these findings have important implications beyond Geology, particularly in the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life.&nbsp;



“Water is considered to be an ingredient for life to be able to flourish, so as we’re looking out into the universe and finding all of these exoplanets, we’re starting to work out which of those planetary systems could be potential hosts for life. In order to be able to understand these other solar systems, we want to understand our own,” Newcombe concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05721-5">Nature</a>.



—



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



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.

What are the origins of water on Earth?

Although water makes up 71 percent of our planet’s surface,...

A team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au/">Flinders University</a> in Australia has recently discovered and described the largest bird of prey that ever lived on the Australian continent – an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eagle-fossil-represents-a-unique-branch-of-the-family-tree/">eagle</a> twice the size of the modern-day apex predator the wedge-tailed eagle, named by the experts Dynatoaetus gaffae&nbsp;(Gaff’s powerful eagle).&nbsp;



Closely related to Old World vultures of Asia and Africa, as well as to the critically endangered monkey-eating or Philippine Eagle, this now extinct raptor soared over southern Australia in the late Pleistocene 60,000 years ago. It had a wingspan extending to up to three meters and powerful talons wide enough to easily grab a small kangaroo or koala.&nbsp;



The researchers discovered a variety of large fossil bones scattered across the Flinders Ranges, the Naracoorte and Wellington Caves, and near Cooper Creek in the Lake Eyre Basin.&nbsp;



“We were very excited to find many more bones from much of the skeleton to create a better picture and description of these magnificent long-lost giant extinct birds,”&nbsp;said study lead author Ellen Mather, a paleontologist at Flinders.&nbsp;



“This discovery reveals that this incredible family of birds was once much more diverse in Australia, and that raptors were also impacted by the mass extinction that wiped out most of Australia’s megafauna.”



“It was ‘humongous’ – larger than any other eagle from other continents, and almost as large as the world’s largest eagles once found on the islands of New Zealand and Cuba, including the whopping extinct 13kg Haast’s eagle of New Zealand,” added senior author Trevor Worthy, an associate professor of Vertebrate Paleontology at the same university.



“It had giant talons, spreading up to 30cm, which easily would have been able to dispatch a juvenile giant kangaroo, large flightless bird, or other species of lost megafauna from that era, including the young of the world’s largest marsupial&nbsp;Diprotodon&nbsp;and the giant goanna&nbsp;Varanus priscus.”



According to the researchers, this massive predator most likely coexisted with still living species such as the wedge-tailed eagle. Considering that the Australian birds of prey used to be more diverse, the fact that the wedge-tailed eagle managed to coexist with the giant Dynatoaetus without being outcompeted could mean that its habitat and feeding grounds were more limited in the past.



Dynatoaetus is estimated to have become extinct during the time of the megafaunal mass extinction peaking around 50,000 years ago, which marked a drastic decline in the diversity and function of Australian raptors.



An in-depth description of this eagle is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-023-02055-x">Journal of Ornithology</a>.&nbsp;



—



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



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.

Australia's largest eagle was a massive predator 

A team of researchers led by Flinders University in Australia...

The Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and death among women by 25 percent, according to a new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321930">Heart</a>.



Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than a third of all deaths among women. Despite this overwhelming statistic, most clinical trials include very few women or haven’t reported the results by sex. As a result, current guidelines on how best to lower cardiovascular disease risk don’t differentiate by sex.



To inform sex specific guidance, the researchers gathered studies which had examined the impact of the Mediterranean diet on women’s cardiovascular health.



The Mediterranean diet is rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil. It is moderate in fish and low in red meats, dairy and processed foods.



The researchers analyzed 16 studies between 2003 and 2021 carried out in the US and Europe, involving more than 700,000 women whose cardiovascular health was monitored for an average of 12.5 years.



The results showed that sticking closely to a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 24 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 23 percent lower risk of death from any cause in women.



The risk of coronary heart disease was 25 percent lower among women who followed the diet the most consistently compared with those who did so the least. The researchers believe these health benefits can be attributed to the diet’s antioxidant and gut microbiome effects on inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors.



Various components of the diet include polyphenols, nitrates, omega-3 fatty acids, increased fiber intake and reduced glycaemic load - which may all contribute to better cardiovascular health.



The sex specific effect of the Mediterranean diet remains unclear, reinforcing the need for more sex specific research in cardiology.



“Female specific cardiovascular risk factors, including premature menopause, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, or female predominant risk factors, such as systemic lupus, can all independently increase [cardiovascular disease] risk,” said the researchers.



“It is possible that preventative measures, such as a Mediterranean diet, that targets inflammation and [cardiovascular disease] risk factors, impose differing effects in women compared with men."



---



By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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.

Women can live longer on the Mediterranean diet 

The Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease...

Hawksbill,Turtle,-,Eretmochelys,Imbricata,Floats,Under,Water.,Maldives,Indian

A recent study led by <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a> highlights the dangers faced by global coral reef systems due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/citizens-should-help-determine-the-future-of-our-oceans/">ocean</a> deoxygenation, which is the decline of oxygen in marine waters.



Although deoxygenation has been extensively researched, hypoxia in coral reefs is not well-studied. The current investigation is unprecedented because it explored hypoxia in 32 coral reef sites across Japan, Hawaii, Panama, Palmyra, and Taiwan.



“This study is unique because our lab worked with a number of collaborators to compile this global oxygen dataset especially focused on coral reefs - no one has really done that on a global scale before with this number of datasets,” said marine scientist Ariel Pezner, a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Florida.



A study of this scale is vital because deoxygenation is a serious threat to coral reefs and will become more relevant as oceans warm due to climate change. The results revealed that coral reef hypoxia is widespread.



The researchers discovered that 84 percent of the reefs in the study experienced “weak to moderate” hypoxia, and 13 percent experienced “severe” hypoxia.



“We were surprised to find that a lot of coral reefs are already experiencing what we would define as hypoxia today under current conditions,” added Pezner.



Due to the biological functions of the reefs, hypoxia is more severe at night, while many ocean creatures are respiring instead of producing oxygen.



“Imagine that you’re a person who is used to sea-level conditions, and then every night you have to go to sleep somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, where the air has less oxygen," said biogeochemist Andreas Andersson.



"This is similar to what these corals are experiencing at nighttime and in the early morning when they experience hypoxia. And in the future, if the duration and intensity of these hypoxic events gets worse, then it might be like sleeping on Mount Everest every night.”



The researchers say that more studies are needed to determine baseline oxygen levels, track other hypoxia events, and to analyze how reefs are affected.



“Baseline oxygen conditions varied widely among our reef habitats, suggesting that a singular definition of ‘hypoxia’ may not be reasonable for all environments,” concluded Pezner. “Determining which thresholds are relevant will be important moving forward in making predictions about how reefs might change under warming and oxygen loss.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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.

Coral reefs are increasingly exposed to low oxygen levels 

A recent study led by UC San Diego highlights the...

Although there are a lot of potentially useful raw materials bound up in used plastic products such as food wrap or grocery bags, until recently it has been much cheaper to continue producing more of these single-use plastics than to recover and recycle them. Now, a team of researchers led by the Department of Energy’s <a href="https://www.pnnl.gov/">Pacific Northwest National Laboratory</a> (PNNL) has managed to crack the code that stymied prior attempts to break down these persistent plastics.



Usually, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recycling-is-not-enough-to-address-the-plastic-crisis/">recycling</a> plastics requires “cracking” or splitting apart the powerful and stable chemical bonds that also make these products so persistent in the environment. This process requires very high temperatures, and is thus expensive and energy intensive.&nbsp;



However, the experts succeeded in combining the cracking step with a second reaction step which immediately completes the conversion to a liquid gasoline-like fuel without unwanted byproducts. This second step deploys what are known as alkylation catalysts, which provide a chemical reaction currently deployed by the petroleum industry to improve the octane rating of gasoline. Crucially, this reaction immediately follows the cracking step in a single reaction vessel, near room temperature&nbsp;(70 degrees Celsius/158 degrees Fahrenheit).



“Cracking just to break the bonds results in them forming another one in an uncontrolled way, and that’s a problem in other approaches,” said&nbsp;study co-author Oliver Y. Gutiérrez, a chemist at PNNL. “The secret formula here is that when you break a bond in our system, you immediately make another one in a targeted way that gives you the end product you want. That is also the secret that enables this conversion at low temperature.”



“The fact that [the petroleum] industry has successfully deployed these emerging alkylation catalysts demonstrates their stable, robust nature,” added senior author&nbsp;Johannes Lercher, the director of PNNL’s<a href="https://www.pnnl.gov/projects/institute-integrated-catalysis">&nbsp;Institute for Integrated Catalysis</a>. “This study points to a practical new solution to close the carbon cycle for waste plastic that is closer to implementation than many others being proposed.”



The scientists found that this process functions only for low-density polyethylene products (LDPE), such as plastic films and squeezable bottles, and polypropylene products (PP), which are not usually collected in recycling programs in the U.S. By contrast, high-density polyethylene (HPDE) would require a pretreatment in order to allow the catalyst access to the bonds that it needs to crack.



“To solve the problem of persistent waste plastic, we need to reach a critical point where it makes more sense to collect it and return it to use than to treat it as disposable. We’ve shown here that we can make that conversion quickly, at mild conditions, which provides one of the incentives to move forward to that tipping point,” Lercher concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.ade7485">Science</a>.



—-



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



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.

Scientists find cheaper method of recycling plastics

Although there are a lot of potentially useful raw materials...

Multicoloured,Asian,Ladybird,/,Ladybug,(harmonia,Axyridis),Walks,On,A

Some animal species use bright <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-animals-got-their-complex-color-patterns/">color patterns</a> to keep predators away – a phenomenon known as “aposematism.” Scientists have long pondered how aposematic animals can survive long enough for this warning signal coloration to evolve before predators learn to avoid them.&nbsp;



Now, a team of scientists from <a href="https://carleton.ca/">Carleton University</a> in Canada and <a href="https://en.snu.ac.kr/">Seoul National University</a> in South Korea has found that, during evolution, aposematism emerged through intermediate steps. Initially, coloration was only visible when an animal was fleeing or intentionally displaying color patterns that are normally hidden.



Evolutionary adaptations to avoid being tracked by predators have led to a considerable variation in the diversity of animal color patterns. While some species developed camouflage coloration, enabling them to blend into the background in order to avoid detection, others evolved to exhibit bright colors as conspicuous warning signals that advertise defense mechanisms such as venom, toxicity, or aggression.



The researchers performed a large-scale phylogenetic analysis of over 1,400 amphibian species with known warning coloration along nine different evolutionary models. They discovered that the evolutionary transition from camouflage coloration to aposematism was rarely direct and most likely emerged through a series of intermediary steps in which warning coloration was first hidden and only selectively visible.



According to the scientists, predators encountering such hidden warning signals probably continued to treat permanently aposematic mutants with caution, a phenomenon providing selective pressure for warning coloration to become a permanent adaptation.&nbsp;



“Macroevolutionary studies on animal coloration should take into account these underappreciated hidden signals, which are both common and widespread across the animal kingdom, to advance our understanding of the evolution of antipredator defenses," wrote the researchers.



"Indeed, many animal taxa such as snakes, fishes, and a variety of arthropods include species that are cryptic, aposematic, and have hidden conspicuous signals. We therefore encourage follow-up studies in other taxa to evaluate the generality of the steppingstone hypothesis as a route to aposematism."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.ade5156">Science</a>.



—



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



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 did warning coloration evolve in animals?

Some animal species use bright color patterns to keep predators...

Spring is arriving earlier as a result of global warming, and this phenomenon threatens to disrupt plant and pollinator interactions. In a new study led by the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a>, researchers have discovered that some plants are not just flowering earlier, but are also producing bigger flowers to attract pollinators.



The experts found that between 2003 and 2012, the common morning glory in the southeastern United States increased the size of its flowers. This change was most pronounced at northern latitudes. Previously, scientists have reported finding more dramatic evolutionary responses to climate change in the northern part of a plant's range.



According to the researchers, increased flower size suggests a greater investment by the plants in pollinator attraction. The morning glories had also invested more energy in nectar and pollen to attract more of the bees, syrphid flies, and wasps that pollinate them.&nbsp;



"There is a major gap in our understanding of how traits that are crucial for plant-pollinator interactions may be evolving over time as a response to a changing climate," said study lead author Sasha Bishop.



"We show that - in addition to well-documented shifts to earlier flowering - floral architecture and rewards can also play significant roles in the evolutionary response to contemporary environmental change."&nbsp;



In collaboration with Shu-Mei Chang of the University of Georgia, the experts used a "resurrection approach" for the study. They germinated morning glory seeds that were collected from the edges of agricultural fields in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina in 2003 and 2012.&nbsp;



Over these years, the region had experienced rising temperatures, an increase in the number of extreme rainfall events, and more extreme drought.



The researchers planted the seeds from both years in a greenhouse at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens.&nbsp;



The results showed that morning glory corollas became wider over the course of nine years, jumping from 4.5 centimeters in diameter in 2003 to 4.8 centimeters in 2012. In addition, the study revealed that the morning glories from 2012 started flowering four days earlier.



"This is the first article to use the resurrection approach to examine the potential that traits responsible for plant-pollinator interactions may be evolving over time, concomitant to decreases in pollinator abundance and dramatic environmental changes due to changing climate and land-use regimes," said Bishop.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://phys.org/news/2023-03-bigger-greater-rewards-climate-disruptions.html">Evolution Letters</a>.



---



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.

Morning glories make bigger flowers to entice pollinators

Spring is arriving earlier as a result of global warming,...

The correct timing of an exercise session may influence the extent of fat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/">metabolism</a> that takes place, as the body strives to keep glucose and energy levels in balance. This is what scientists have discovered in laboratory mice.&nbsp; A new study from researchers at the <a href="https://ki.se/en">Karolinska Institutet</a> in Sweden, and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, shows that mice that did exercise in an early active phase, which corresponds to morning exercise in humans, increased their metabolism more than mice that did exercise at a time in the day when they usually rest.&nbsp;



Physiological processes in the bodies of animals are affected by circadian rhythms, the natural 24-hour cycles that respond primarily to input of light and darkness. These changes are mediated by molecular clocks that switch specific genes on or off in cells. A variety of factors including hormones, temperature, food-intake, and exercise can act on tissue-specific molecular clocks to alter the expression of genes that influence metabolism, all in a way that relates to the time of day. This system helps to anticipate and adapt an organism’s physiology and behavior to the activities that take place during different phases of the day.&nbsp;



In order to find out whether the timing of exercise affects the metabolism of fat, the researchers studied the adipose tissue of mice after a session of high-intensity exercise performed at two different points of the daily cycle – when mice began to get active, and when they were in the early stages of resting. These times correspond to a late morning and a late evening exercise session, respectively, in humans. The researchers studied various markers of fat metabolism and analyzed which genes were active in adipose tissue after exercise.



The results, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2218510120">PNAS</a>, showed that certain fatty acids, which are the breakdown products of stored fats, were present at higher concentrations in the mice’s blood after early active phase exercise, but this was not the case after exercise during the early rest phase. This indicates that fat is metabolized as a source of energy more actively when exercise takes place during the early active phase, and that the metabolic response to exercise is dependent on the time of day that exercise takes place.&nbsp;



The researchers also found that physical activity at an early active phase increased the expression of genes involved in the breakdown of adipose tissue, in thermogenesis (heat production) and in the proliferation of mitochondria (where energy for the exercise is generated) in the adipose tissue, all of which indicate a higher metabolic rate. These effects were observed only in mice that exercised in the early active phase and were independent of their food intake.



”Our results suggest that late morning exercise could be more effective than late evening exercise in terms of boosting the metabolism and the burning of fat, and if this is the case, they could prove of value to people who are overweight,” said Professor Juleen Zierath from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institutet.



Although experimental results derived from mice may not always be directly applicable to humans, the two species do share many basic physiological functions, and mice are a well-established model for human physiology and metabolism. However, there are also important differences, such as the fact that mice are nocturnal.



“The right timing seems to be important to the body’s energy balance and to improving the health benefits of exercise, but more studies are needed to draw any reliable conclusions about the relevance of our findings to humans,” said Professor Zierath.



---



By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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.

Late morning exercise may burn more fat

The correct timing of an exercise session may influence the...

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.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

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

News coming your way