The idea that what we eat shapes how we sleep is catching on fast. A new six-month clinical trial puts the humble avocado at the center of that discussion. 



The research, led by Dr. Kristina Petersen of <a href="https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/?cid=CPC39865&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=216632423&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwu7TCBhCYARIsAM_S3Njk18_xKLXHwaS2Zu0LDF2JIvkEKY6cuE1XfwJLezsIvCB_JPOl65kaAiMzEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State University</a>, was focused on 969 adults with larger waistlines. The study revealed that individuals who ate one avocado each day reported about 30 extra minutes of nightly sleep compared with the control group. 



Heart doctors now treat solid sleep health as seriously as blood pressure. According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/sleep-and-heart-health.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, adults who regularly get fewer than seven hours have higher odds of heart attack and stroke. 



The <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a> includes sleep in its Life's Essential 8 checklist, alongside diet, exercise, and nicotine avoidance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-avocado-nutrients-matter-for-sleep-nbsp">Why avocado nutrients matter for sleep&nbsp;</h2>



According to the researchers, one-third of a medium avocado delivers 13 milligrams of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2908021/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tryptophan</a>, the amino acid the body uses to make melatonin. It also brings 45 µg of <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">folate</a> and 15 milligrams of <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnesium</a>, which are both tied to smoother circadian rhythms.&nbsp;



Each serving supplies three grams of fiber and five grams of <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/monounsaturated-fats" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">monounsaturated fat</a>, nutrients that can trim LDL cholesterol and support steady blood sugar, two issues that often disturb sleep.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avocado-improves-sleep-and-diet">Avocado improves sleep and diet</h2>



Volunteers in the Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34496276/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HAT</a>) were randomized to eat either one large Hass avocado <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039130" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">daily</a> or fewer than two avocados per month for twenty-six weeks.



Compliance stayed high, about 88 % of the avocado group reported eating the full fruit on recall days, yet their overall calories barely changed, suggesting people swapped rather than piled on food. 



The avocado group scored three points higher on the diet component of Life’s Essential 8 and showed modest reductions in LDL cholesterol, echoing earlier single-food trials.



“Sleep is emerging as a key lifestyle factor in heart health, and this study invites us to consider how nutrition - and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-diet-shifts-the-hidden-costs-of-what-we-eat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a> like avocado - can play a role in improving it,” said Dr. Petersen. Self-reported sleep increased from an average of 6.4 to nearly 7.0 hours per night.&nbsp;



Heart health depends on a variety of factors. While no one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-methane-in-your-gut-says-about-your-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> can solve everything, avocados provide several nutrients that contribute to different areas of cardiovascular well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-avocado-may-influence-sleep">How avocado may influence sleep</h2>



Magnesium <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39252819/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supplements</a> can deepen slow-wave sleep in adults with insomnia, and similar benefits appear when the mineral comes from food.



Tryptophan-rich evening snacks have been <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2654999/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shown</a> to lift nighttime melatonin and lower restlessness in lab studies. Avocados supply both compounds in a heart-healthy package.



The fruit’s steady stream of potassium may also help keep blood pressure dips that occur during deep sleep within a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-you-eat-can-literally-change-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthy</a> range, though that mechanism still lacks direct trial evidence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avocados-may-influence-hormones">Avocados may influence hormones</h2>



Emerging <a href="https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/FMR-2023-0013" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> also hints that avocados may influence hormonal balance, particularly cortisol and insulin - two key players in sleep and cardiovascular health. 



The monounsaturated fats in avocados have been shown to support insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, both of which can contribute to more restful sleep and improved heart health.



Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, naturally dips at night to prepare us for sleep. Some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326737/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> suggest that nutrient-dense, fat-rich foods like avocados may help regulate the timing and magnitude of these dips, potentially smoothing the transition to deeper sleep cycles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-sleep-and-cardiovascular-links">Diet, sleep, and cardiovascular links</h2>



The study also showed that eating avocados daily improved overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-protein-packed-diets-are-really-doing-to-your-gut/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet</a> quality, which is a foundational pillar in Life’s Essential 8. 



A better diet has cascading effects, not just on cholesterol and glucose, but on how the body regulates stress, hormones, and metabolism, all of which feed back into sleep patterns.



While the exact biological link between avocado nutrients and sleep isn't fully mapped, researchers believe the combination of healthy fats, fiber, and micronutrients may support more stable blood sugar and calm the nervous system, factors that are tied to sleep duration and quality.



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



Because sleep was not the primary endpoint, the researchers relied on questionnaires instead of wearable trackers. 



Future trials that collect objective sleep stages and timing could confirm whether avocado nutrients directly lengthen restorative phases like <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/rem-sleep-what-is-it-why-is-it-important-and-how-can-you-get-more-of-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">REM</a> sleep.



The study group already had elevated waistlines, so the results may not translate to leaner adults or children. Researchers also want to see if pairing avocados with exercise or weight-loss plans produces bigger gains on the full Life’s Essential 8 score.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-tips-for-daily-life">Simple tips for daily life</h2>



Swap the late-night cookie for half an avocado on whole-grain toast sprinkled with pumpkin seeds. The mix pairs healthy fat with extra magnesium and tryptophan. 



Keep ripe avocados on the counter and the rest in the fridge to maintain freshness throughout the week. A squeeze of lemon slows browning when you store the second half.



If you take blood-thinning medication, remember that avocados are high in <a href="https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-k/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vitamin K</a>, and it's important to discuss major diet changes with your clinician first. Adding a single food will not erase poor sleep hygiene, but it can be a good start. 



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039130" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the American Heart Association</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.&nbsp;



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.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Want better sleep? Try eating an avocado daily

The idea that what we eat shapes how we sleep is catching on fast. A new six-month clinical trial puts the humble avocado at the center of that discussion. The research, led by Dr. Kristina Petersen of Penn State University, was focused on 969 adults with larger waistlines. The study revealed that individuals who ate one avocado each day reported about 30 extra minutes of nightly sleep compared with the control group. Heart doctors now treat solid sleep health as seriously as blood pressure. According to the...

Can humans truly adapt to long-term living in deep space? This question has been a topic of debate and speculation for decades. However, a new theory published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2023.1081340">Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences</a>, called the Pancosmorio theory, provides a somewhat tentative answer.&nbsp;



Pancosmorio, a term coined to mean "all world limit," describes the challenges and complexities involved in maintaining gravity and oxygen, obtaining water, developing agriculture, and handling waste far from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-signals-are-aliens-trying-to-contact-earth/">Earth</a>.



Morgan Irons, a doctoral student at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>, co-authored the paper alongside her father, Lee Irons, executive director of the Norfolk Institute. Morgan's research focuses on soil organic carbon persistence under Earth's gravity and varying gravity conditions. She also collaborated with Johannes Lehmann, a professor in Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science.



“For humans to sustain themselves and all of their technology, infrastructure, and society in space, they need a self-restoring, Earth-like, natural ecosystem to back them up,” said Morgan. She further emphasized that without these kinds of systems, any mission to colonize space is bound to fail.



<h2 id="h-solving-the-gravity-problem">Solving the gravity problem</h2>



One of the most significant factors in sustaining human life in space is gravity. Earth life has evolved within the context of 1G of gravity, which is essential for the proper functioning of living organisms.&nbsp;



“Gravity induces a gradient in the fluid pressure within the body of the living thing to which the autonomic functions of the life form are attuned ” explained Lee Irons. He pointed to the negative effect on human eyesight in Earth orbit as an example of gravity imbalance.



Morgan Irons emphasized the importance of solving the gravity problem before investing billions of dollars in space settlements. “Our bodies, our natural ecosystems, all the energy movement, and the way we utilize energy is all fundamentally based upon 1G of gravity being present.”&nbsp;



Morgan noted that no other place in our solar system has 1G of gravity, making this one of the first problems that must be addressed.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-generating-enough-sustainable-oxygen">Generating enough sustainable oxygen</h2>



Another vital factor for sustaining life in space is oxygen. Earth's ecosystem generates oxygen for humans and other life forms.&nbsp;



Lee Irons highlighted the need for a reserve system in case a technologically advanced primary and backup system fail to provide oxygen for a moon base or another outpost. “A reserve exists everywhere in Earth’s nature. Think of the hundreds of thousands of species of plants that generate oxygen. That’s the kind of system reserve we need to replicate to be truly sustainable.”



Creating such an ecological system for a space outpost would require an enormous amount of energy from the sun. However, the more distant planets and moons in our solar system receive decreased amounts of solar energy. Lee Irons emphasizes the need for abundant energy, comparing powering the ecological system of an outpost to running a car or an entire household on a cell phone battery.



In conclusion, the Pancosmorio theory highlights the complexities and challenges involved in maintaining a self-sustaining, Earth-like ecosystem in deep space.&nbsp;



While the answer to whether humans can endure long-term living in space remains a lukewarm maybe, the theory underscores the need for innovative solutions to the problems of gravity, oxygen, and energy to make space colonization a viable possibility.



<h2 id="h-technology-needed-for-humans-to-colonize-space">Technology needed for humans to colonize space</h2>



For humans to successfully colonize space, numerous technological advancements and innovations must be developed to address various challenges. Some key technologies include:



<ol>
<li>Advanced propulsion systems: Developing faster and more efficient propulsion systems is crucial for reducing travel time between Earth and potential space colonies, as well as for exploring more distant regions of our solar system and beyond.</li>



<li>Artificial gravity: As the Pancosmorio theory highlights, gravity is crucial for the proper functioning of living organisms. Therefore, creating artificial gravity systems, such as rotating habitats or centrifugal force-based solutions, will be necessary to mimic Earth-like conditions in space colonies.</li>



<li>Life support systems: Reliable and closed-loop life support systems are essential for providing breathable air, clean water, and waste management. These systems must be highly efficient, regenerative, and capable of handling contingencies.</li>



<li>Space agriculture and food production: Colonists will need a sustainable food supply, which means developing space agriculture and advanced food production methods that can function in microgravity or low-gravity environments.</li>



<li>Radiation protection: Space is filled with harmful radiation, which poses a significant risk to human health. Technologies to shield astronauts and colonists from radiation, both during space travel and while living in space habitats, are vital.</li>



<li>In-situ resource utilization (ISRU): Utilizing local resources, such as water and minerals found on the Moon or Mars, can reduce the cost and logistical challenges of transporting supplies from Earth. Technologies for extracting, processing, and using these resources will be crucial for self-sustaining colonies.</li>



<li>Energy generation and storage: Reliable and efficient energy sources, such as advanced solar panels, nuclear reactors, or other novel energy generation methods, are essential for powering space colonies. Additionally, developing robust energy storage solutions will ensure a stable power supply.</li>



<li>Habitat construction and infrastructure: Technologies for constructing habitats and infrastructure in space, including 3D printing, modular design, and the use of local materials, will be necessary for establishing permanent settlements.</li>



<li>Communication systems: High-speed and reliable communication systems will be needed to maintain contact between Earth and space colonies, as well as among colonists within settlements.</li>



<li>Medical and health technologies: Prolonged exposure to space environments can lead to numerous health issues. Developing advanced medical technologies and countermeasures for diagnosing, treating, and preventing these health problems will be essential for the long-term survival of space colonists.</li>
</ol>



These technologies represent only a portion of what will be required for successful space colonization. As research and development continue, we can expect further innovations to emerge, addressing the myriad challenges associated with human settlement beyond Earth.



-—



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

Earth-like ecosystem necessary for humans to live in deep space

Can humans truly adapt to long-term living in deep space?...

Since dense urban areas usually amplify the impact of high temperatures due to a phenomenon known as the “urban island effect,” cities are more vulnerable to extreme climate events. Now, a team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a> in Sweden has found that large investments in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/harvesting-electricity-with-nature-inspired-techniques/">electricity</a> networks will be necessary to protect us from heatwaves and cold snaps.



“Unless we account for extreme climate events and continued urbanization, the reliability of electricity supply will fall by up to 30 percent. An additional outlay of 20-60 percent will be required during the energy transition in order to guarantee that cities can cope with different kinds of climate,”&nbsp;said co-author Vahid Nik, a professor of Building Physics at Lund.



The experts designed a modeling platform tying together climate, building, and energy system models. The goal was to facilitate the simulation and evaluation of cities’ energy transition in order to secure their resilience against future climate changes while densification of urban areas is increasing.



“Our results show that high density areas give rise to a phenomenon called urban heat islands, which make cities more vulnerable to the effects of extreme climate events, particularly in southern Europe. For example, the outdoor temperature can rise by 17 percent while the wind speed falls by 61 percent. Urban densification – a recommended development strategy in order to reach the UN’s energy and climate goals – could make the electricity network more vulnerable. This must be taken into consideration when designing urban energy systems,” said co-author Kavan Javanroodi, an assistant professor of Building and Urban Physics at Lund.



This new framework relates future climate models to buildings and energy systems at city level, while taking the urban microclimates into account, revealing that peaks in demand in the energy system increase much more than previously thought when extreme microclimates are considered.&nbsp;



“There is a marked deviation between the heat and cooling requirements shown in today’s urban climate models, compared to the outcomes of our calculations when urban morphology, the physical design of the city, is more complex. For example, if we fail to take into account the urban climate in Madrid, we could underestimate the need for cooling by around 28 percent,” Javanroodi explained.



Although an increasing number of countries are currently concerned by the relation between extreme weather events, energy issues, and public health, there are still no accurate methods of quantifying the effects of climate change and devising appropriate adaptation strategies. Future research is needed to investigate the relationship between urban density and climate change in energy forecasts and to develop more innovative methods of increasing energy flexibility and climate resilience in cities.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01232-9">Nature Energy</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 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/">Eric Ralls</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a>.

Cities need resilient electricity networks to cope with climate change

Since dense urban areas usually amplify the impact of high...

A breakthrough study from researchers at <a href="https://carnegiescience.edu/">Carnegie Science</a> and UCLA suggests that the origins of Earth's water may be linked to the interactions between hydrogen-rich atmospheres and magma <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-could-be-devastating-to-all-living-creatures/">oceans</a> of the planetary embryos during Earth's formative years.&nbsp;



The research, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05823-0">Nature</a>, offers new insights into the development of Earth's signature features and has significant implications for our understanding of the planet's evolution.



For many years, the understanding of planet formation was primarily based on observations of our own Solar System. While there are active debates surrounding the formation of gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, it is widely accepted that Earth and other rocky planets accreted from the disk of dust and gas surrounding the Sun during its infancy.



The planetesimals that eventually formed Earth grew larger and hotter as they collided with increasingly larger objects, creating a vast magma ocean due to the heat generated from these impacts and the presence of radioactive elements. Over time, as the planet cooled, the densest material sank inward, separating Earth into three distinct layers: the metallic core, and the rocky, silicate mantle and crust.



Recent advancements in exoplanet research have led to a new approach to modeling Earth's early stages. "Exoplanet discoveries have given us a much greater appreciation of how common it is for just-formed planets to be surrounded by atmospheres that are rich in molecular hydrogen, H2, during their first several million years of growth," explained Anat Shahar, one of the researchers involved in the study. "Eventually these hydrogen envelopes dissipate, but they leave their fingerprints on the young planet’s composition."



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



Armed with this new perspective, Shahar and her colleagues at Carnegie Science and UCLA developed a model to simulate Earth's formation and evolution, examining whether the planet's unique chemical traits could be reproduced.&nbsp;



Their findings reveal that early interactions between Earth's magma ocean and a molecular hydrogen proto-atmosphere could have led to the formation of its abundance of water and its overall oxidized state.



The research team utilized mathematical modeling to explore the exchange of materials between molecular hydrogen atmospheres and magma oceans, considering 25 different compounds and 18 different types of reactions.



The results from these simulations revealed that the interactions between the magma ocean and the atmosphere caused large masses of hydrogen to move into the metallic core, oxidized the mantle, and produced significant amounts of water.



The study suggests that even if all the rocky material that combined to form Earth was completely dry, the interactions between the molecular hydrogen atmosphere and the magma ocean would still generate substantial amounts of water. While other water sources may exist, they are not necessary to explain the current state of our planet.



Shahar emphasizes that this is just one possible explanation for Earth's evolution, but one that could establish an important connection between Earth's formation history and the most common exoplanets discovered orbiting distant stars, known as Super-Earths and sub-Neptunes.



This research was conducted as part of the multi-institution, interdisciplinary AEThER project, led by Shahar, which aims to understand the chemical makeup of the Milky Way galaxy's most common planets and develop a framework for detecting signs of life on distant worlds.&nbsp;



Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the project seeks to understand how the formation and evolution of these planets shape their atmospheres, which could, in turn, help scientists differentiate true biosignatures from atmospheric molecules of non-biological origin.



"Increasingly powerful telescopes are enabling astronomers to understand the compositions of exoplanet atmospheres in never-before-seen detail," Shahar said. "AEThER’s work will inform their observations with experimental and modeling data that, we hope, will lead to a foolproof method for detecting signs of life on other worlds."



<h2 id="h-prevalence-of-water-in-the-universe">Prevalence of water in the universe</h2>



Water is indeed quite common throughout the universe. It is primarily composed of two of the most abundant elements in the cosmos: hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making up about 75% of its elemental mass, while oxygen is the third most abundant element.



Water has been detected in various forms in our Solar System, such as ice on planets and moons, as well as in the form of water vapor in the atmosphere of some planets. Additionally, water has been found in the form of ice in comets and asteroids, which are remnants from the early Solar System.



Beyond our Solar System, water has been detected in interstellar clouds and the disks around young stars, where new planets are forming. Observations of exoplanets, planets orbiting stars outside our Solar System, have also revealed the presence of water vapor in the atmospheres of some of these distant worlds.



Although water is common throughout the universe, it is important to note that the conditions required for liquid water to exist, which is essential for life as we know it, are more specific and depend on factors such as temperature, pressure, and the presence of a suitable atmosphere.&nbsp;



The search for planets within the "habitable zone" around their host stars, where conditions might allow for liquid water to exist, is a key aspect of the ongoing quest to find potentially habitable worlds and evidence of extraterrestrial life.



<h2 id="h-liquid-water-in-our-solar-system">Liquid water in our solar system</h2>



Apart from Earth, where liquid water is abundant, there is evidence of liquid water on other celestial bodies as well, although it is often hidden beneath the surface or mixed with other materials. Some examples include:



<ol>
<li>Mars: There is evidence of liquid water beneath the surface of Mars, with several underground lakes discovered through radar data from the Mars Express orbiter. Additionally, scientists believe that water may exist as transient, thin layers of briny (salty) water on the Martian surface due to the presence of hydrated salts.</li>



<li>Europa: Europa, one of Jupiter's largest moons, is believed to have a subsurface liquid water ocean beneath its icy crust. This ocean might contain more than twice the amount of water found on Earth. The presence of this subsurface ocean is inferred from observations made by the Galileo spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope, such as evidence of geysers and surface features indicating a liquid layer below the ice.</li>



<li>Enceladus: Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, is also believed to have a subsurface ocean of liquid water beneath its icy shell. This has been supported by data from the Cassini spacecraft, which observed geysers spouting water vapor and ice particles from the moon's south polar region. These geysers are believed to be connected to the subsurface ocean, which could contain hydrothermal vents, making Enceladus a potential target in the search for extraterrestrial life.</li>



<li>Ganymede: Ganymede, another of Jupiter's large moons, is also suspected to have a subsurface ocean of liquid water beneath its icy surface. Evidence from the Galileo and Hubble missions, as well as from Earth-based telescopes, suggests the existence of this subsurface ocean.</li>
</ol>



These examples show that liquid water exists in our Solar System beyond Earth, primarily in the form of subsurface oceans on icy moons. This has led to increased interest in these celestial bodies as potential habitats for life, as water is a crucial ingredient for life as we know it.



-—



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

Scientists may have learned how Earth got its water

A breakthrough study from researchers at Carnegie Science and UCLA...

Arctic rivers play a crucial role in transporting fallen trees from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-are-forest-gardeners-that-help-reduce-global-warming/">forests</a> to oceans, inadvertently contributing to long-term carbon storage as logs accumulate along the waterways' twists and turns.&nbsp;



Recently, a groundbreaking study has mapped the largest known woody deposit in the Mackenzie River Delta, Nunavut, Canada, spanning 51 square kilometers (20 square miles) and storing an estimated 3.4 million tons (3.1 million metric tons) of carbon.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Low-Res_DJI_0058.JPG.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1916737"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists have mapped the world’s biggest cumulative logjam that we know of, as reported in a new study in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters. Image Credit: Alicia Sendrowski</figcaption></figure>



According to Alicia Sendrowski, the research engineer who led the study at <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a>, this staggering quantity of carbon is equivalent to the emissions produced by approximately two and a half million cars in a year.&nbsp;



Despite its significance, our understanding of this "large carbon" in the form of wood remains limited compared to other forms of carbon, such as dissolved or particulate organic carbon. However, recent developments in research are beginning to address this gap in knowledge.



For many years, scientists have been aware of the mobility of driftwood in the Arctic, but only recently have they started to quantify the amount of wood and the potential loss of carbon storage due to climate change.&nbsp;



The region's cold, often dry or icy conditions allow trees to remain preserved for tens of thousands of years. As Sendrowski explained, a tree that fell a thousand years ago might appear just as fresh as one that fell the previous winter.



Virginia Ruiz-Villanueva, a fluvial geomorphologist at the University of Lausanne who was not involved in the study, highlights the importance of this emerging research area: "There's been a lot of work on fluxes of carbon from water and sediment, but we simply didn't pay attention to the wood until very recently. This is a very young field of research that is developing quite fast."&nbsp;



Ruiz-Villanueva further emphasizes the significance of studying these woody deposits, not only in the context of the carbon cycle but also to better understand the functioning of natural fluvial systems and the mobilization and distribution of wood by rivers.



<h2 id="h-how-scientists-measured-this-giant-logjam">How scientists measured this giant logjam</h2>



The research team sought to map and quantify woody deposits in the Arctic. They focused on the Mackenzie River, which boasts exceptionally high-resolution imagery and is known for its sizable wood deposits. The river's delta, the third-largest in the world by land area, drains approximately 20% of Canada. The team examined around 13,000 square kilometers (5,000 square miles) of delta in the largest attempt to map woody deposits to date.



Over a three-week period, Sendrowski and her colleagues from Colorado State University measured river driftwood, mapped logjams, and sampled wood for radiocarbon dating. Utilizing remote imagery, Sendrowski identified wood on the river's surface and estimated the areal extent of the logjam. She then calculated the volume of wood within the logjam and the amount of carbon it stored based on her field measurements.



The deposit, which comprises over 400,000 miniature caches of wood, stores approximately 3.4 million tons (3.1 million metric tons) of carbon. The largest single deposit, covering an area equivalent to around 20 American football fields, holds 7,385 tons (6,700 metric tons) of carbon.&nbsp;



However, Sendrowski believes that the actual amount of carbon stored in the delta's wood could be roughly twice as large, considering the logs buried in soil, submerged underwater, and hidden under vegetation from aerial imagery.



Although the Mackenzie River Delta is a "hotspot" of carbon storage due to its highly carbon-rich soils, the logs' carbon storage represents a relatively small fraction of the delta's total carbon storage - around 3 quadrillion grams of carbon.&nbsp;



"But we think it's still important because as changes in the basin occur, like logging or damming, and as climate change alters precipitation patterns and warming, wood preservation will decrease. It's a significant amount of carbon, so there's a potentially significant loss of carbon storage," said Sendrowski.



The study reveals that the Mackenzie logjam is only one of many such basins in the Arctic. With at least a dozen deltas larger than 500 square kilometers, the combined large woody deposits throughout the region could constitute a significant carbon storage pool - one that remains largely unexplored.



The researchers also investigated the lifespan of trees in the Arctic, a crucial factor when modeling how "active" a carbon pool is, meaning how quickly material is moved around. Carbon dating revealed that while many sampled trees started growing around or after 1950, some were much older, dating back to around 700 CE. One study from the 1960s even carbon-dated wood from a tree preserved in an icy mound to approximately 33,000 years ago.



According to Sendrowski, the Mackenzie River Delta proved an ideal starting point for the study. "The exciting aspect for me isn't just the scale, but also the potential to apply this to other places where large wood hasn't been focused on," she said.&nbsp;



As a burgeoning field, there is still much to be learned about the role of large woody deposits in carbon storage and the Arctic environment.



This groundbreaking study, which sheds new light on the role of Arctic rivers in carbon storage, was published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100913">Geophysical Research Letters</a>, a journal known for high-impact, short-format reports with immediate implications across all Earth and space sciences.



<h2 id="h-more-about-logjams-around-the-world">More about logjams around the world</h2>



It is difficult to determine the exact number of massive logjams around the world, as they can form and dissipate in various river systems over time. Logjams, also known as wood jams or driftwood accumulations, are naturally occurring phenomena that result from the transport and deposition of large woody debris by rivers and streams. The size and location of logjams can change due to factors such as river flow, precipitation, vegetation, and human intervention.



Massive logjams have been documented in several major river systems worldwide, such as the Mackenzie River Delta in Canada, the Amazon River in South America, and the Lena River in Siberia. However, without comprehensive studies and monitoring, it is challenging to provide an accurate count of massive logjams across the globe.



Research on large woody deposits and their role in carbon storage and ecosystem functioning is still a burgeoning field. As more studies are conducted, scientists will likely gain a better understanding of the distribution, dynamics, and impact of massive logjams worldwide.



-—



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

Dead trees in the Arctic store massive amount of carbon

Arctic rivers play a crucial role in transporting fallen trees...

Scientist have long known that the motivation to feed – structured by hunger and feelings of fullness – is regulated by hormones and small proteins called neuropeptides, which are found in a diversity of organisms, including fruit flies, mice, and humans. 



Since such a widespread occurrence suggests a common evolutionary origin, a team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/">University of Tokyo</a> has investigated how they function in simpler animals such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jellyfish-kill-toxin-genes/">jellyfish</a> and fruit flies.



Jellyfish shared a common ancestor with mammals more than 600 million years ago. Yet, they are simpler organisms, possessing diffused nervous systems called nerve nets instead of localized structures such as the brain or ganglia found in mammals. 



Nonetheless, they posses a rich behavioral repertoire, including complex foraging strategies, mating rituals, and even learning capacities for hunger regulation, among many other things. Despite their complexity and importance, their feeding behavior has not yet been comprehensively studied.



The researchers focused on Cladonema, a small species of jellyfish with branched tentacles that regulate how much they eat based on how hungry they are. “First, to understand mechanisms underlying feeding regulation, we compared the gene expression profiles in hungry and fed jellyfish,” said senior author Hiromu Tanimoto, a professor of Neurobiology at Tokyo. “The feeding state changed the expression levels of many genes, including some that encode neuropeptides. By synthesizing and testing these neuropeptides, we found five that reduced feeding in hungry jellyfish.”



The experts found that one such neuropeptide – called GLWamide – inhibited tentacle shortening, which is a crucial step for transferring captured prey to the mouth, suggesting that it acts as a satiety signal indicating that the body has had enough food.



To clarify whether similar neuropeptides are found in other species, the researchers analyzed fruit flies, and discovered that their feeding patterns and hunger regulation are ruled by the neuropeptide myoinhibitory peptide (MIP), with fruit flies lacking this peptide tending to eat more and eventually becoming obese. Since MIP and GLWamide share structural similarities, they are likely related through evolution.



“Since the functions of GLWamide and MIP have been conserved despite 600 million years of divergence, this led us to ponder whether it was possible to exchange the two,” said lead author Vladimiros Thoma, an assistant professor of Neuroethology at <a href="http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/">Tohoku University</a> in Japan. “And we did exactly that, first giving MIP to jellyfish and then expressing GLWamide in flies that had no MIP.”



The results were striking: MIP inhibited jellyfish feeding behavior, just like GLWamide did, while GLWamide in fruit flies stopped their abnormal over-eating behavior, suggesting that the GLWamide/MIP system in jellyfish and insects has been functionally conserved during evolution, and highlighting the deep evolutionary origins of a satiety signal in a variety of organisms.



“We hope that our comparative approach will inspire focused investigation of the role of molecules, neurons, and circuits in regulating behavior within a wider evolutionary context,” Tanimoto concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2221493120">PNAS Neuroscience</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.

Jellyfish shed light on the origins of hunger regulation

Scientist have long known that the motivation to feed –...

In a recent study, an international team of researchers uncovered new evidence suggesting that dairy farming on the Tibetan Plateau began much earlier than previously believed, approximately 3500 years ago.&nbsp;



This finding not only highlights the importance of dairy pastoralism in the long-term settlement of the region but also provides new insights into how prehistoric populations adapted to the harsh conditions of the plateau.



The Tibetan Plateau, often referred to as the "third pole," is one of the world's largest and highest plateaus. It presents significant challenges to human survival due to its extreme environment and agriculturally poor highlands.&nbsp;



To understand how early populations were able to adapt to this inhospitable landscape, Professor Michael Petraglia, Director of Griffith's <a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/australian-research-centre-human-evolution">Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution</a>, joined forces with researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, the Tibetan Cultural Relics Conservation Institute, and the Center for Archaeological Science at Sichuan University. Their findings were published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf0345">Science Advances</a>.



Led by PhD candidate Li Tang, the research team included Professor Nicole Boivin of the Max Planck Institute, Professor Shargan Wangdue from the Tibetan Cultural Relics Conservation Institute, and Professor Hongliang Lu from Sichuan University. The team's investigation focused on the role of dairy pastoralism in the early settlement of the Tibetan Plateau, as the contribution of pastoralism, particularly dairy pastoralism, to the region's colonization remains poorly understood.



“The extreme environments of the Tibetan Plateau – one of the world’s largest and highest and commonly referred to as the ‘third pole’ – offer significant challenges to human survival and demanded novel adaptations,” Professor Petraglia said.&nbsp;



While biological and agricultural adaptations that enabled early human colonization of the plateau have been widely discussed.&nbsp;



“These included genetic adaptations that allowed Tibetans to use smaller amounts of oxygen more efficiently,” Li Tang said.&nbsp; “But the contribution of pastoralism to the settlement of Tibet is less well understood, especially the dairy pastoralism that has historically been central to Tibetan diets.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Through their research, the team discovered that dairy farming was a crucial cultural adaptation that supported the expansion of early livestock farming into the non-arable highlands of the Tibetan Plateau. This adaptation, in turn, enabled widespread, long-term human occupation of the region.



<h2 id="h-how-scientists-found-evidence-of-early-dairy-farming">How scientists found evidence of early dairy farming</h2>



The researchers used palaeo proteomic techniques to analyze ancient milk proteins preserved in dental calculus has shed new light on the dietary habits of early human populations in Tibet and western Qinghai.&nbsp;



Dental calculus provides a unique and direct source of ancient dietary information, as food proteins and other substances become trapped in the calcified matrix during its formation. This matrix helps to stave off decay, allowing for the long-term preservation of ancient biomolecules from specific foods like milk. By investigating the amino acid sequences of milk proteins, the researchers discovered that ancient humans in the region sourced their dairy from sheep, goat, and possibly cattle and yak.



The study, conducted by an international team of researchers, examined dental calculus from 40 human individuals across 15 ecologically diverse sites in Tibet and western Qinghai. The patterns of milk protein recovery highlighted the importance of dairy for individuals living in agriculturally poor regions higher than 3,700 meters above sea level.



“Previous research has suggested that crop cultivation based on frost-tolerant barley was one of the critical adaptative strategies that enabled more sustained habitation of the Tibetan Plateau, facilitating its permanent occupation by around 3600 years ago,” Professor Boivin said.&nbsp;&nbsp;



But this finding reflects data collected only from arable regions of the plateau situated below 3500 meters above sea level.&nbsp;



“Our findings indicate that dairying was introduced onto the interior Tibetan Plateau by at least 3500 years ago, more than 2000 years earlier than recorded in historical sources.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



The chronology aligns with the discovery of the oldest domesticated ruminant bones in the inland plateau, suggesting that the practice of dairying was likely embraced promptly following the expansion of pastoralism in that area.&nbsp;



“Understanding how ancient populations obtained sufficient food to survive in these agriculturally marginal highlands is key to understanding the long-term economic and demographic, as well as land-use development of the Tibetan Plateau,” Li Tang said.



Discovering how ancient populations obtained sufficient food to survive in agriculturally marginal highlands is essential for unraveling the long-term economic, demographic, and land-use development of the Tibetan Plateau.&nbsp;



The discovery of early dairy farming in the region not only provides new insights into the dietary habits of ancient populations but also underscores the importance of dairy resources in enabling long-term human occupation and adaptation in these extreme environments.



<h2 id="h-early-human-activity-on-the-tibetan-plateau">Early human activity on the Tibetan Plateau</h2>



Aside from the domestication of animals for dairy purposes, early humans on the Tibetan Plateau also domesticated several other animals for various purposes, such as food, transportation, and clothing. Some of the commonly domesticated animals in the region include:



<ol>
<li>Yaks: Yaks have been essential to the livelihood of Tibetan people for centuries. They were domesticated primarily for their meat, milk, and transportation capabilities. Yak hair and hides are also used for clothing and tent materials.</li>



<li>Horses: Horses were domesticated on the Tibetan Plateau for transportation, labor, and military purposes. The Tibetan people have a long history of horse riding, and horses have played a vital role in the region's trade and communication.</li>



<li>Sheep: Apart from dairy production, sheep were also domesticated for their meat, wool, and hides. Wool from sheep is a critical resource for making clothing and textiles to protect against the harsh climate of the plateau.</li>



<li>Goats: Like sheep, goats were domesticated for their milk, meat, and hides. The hair from goats, such as the Tibetan cashmere goat, is used to produce high-quality textiles.</li>



<li>Pigs: Although less common than other domesticated animals on the Tibetan Plateau, pigs were also kept for their meat and fat.</li>



<li>Chickens: Chickens were domesticated for their meat and eggs, providing a valuable source of protein for the people living on the plateau.</li>
</ol>



These domesticated animals played a crucial role in early human settlements on the Tibetan Plateau, providing essential resources, food, and transportation necessary for survival in the region's harsh environment.



-—



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

Humans began dairy farming much earlier than previously believed

In a recent study, an international team of researchers uncovered...

The fascinating world of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-make-it-harder-for-male-bees-to-attract-mates/">bees</a> just got more intriguing, as new research reveals that some males have a secret weapon to woo their mates - a self-crafted "perfume" that increases their attractiveness.&nbsp;



A recent study on a particular type of bee found in countries such as Costa Rica and Brazil shows that these insects gather a mixture of scents from various sources to create a unique fragrance, which they then store in special pockets on their hind legs. When the time comes to entice a mate, the male bee releases this alluring perfume to boost its chances of success.



A team of researchers from the <a href="http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/">Ruhr-Universitat Bochum</a> in Germany conducted an experiment to further explore this intriguing behavior. They provided male orchid bees with scents from different flowers, while leaving others untreated.&nbsp;



The results, published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>, found that "perfumed" bees mated with more females and produced more offspring than their untreated counterparts.&nbsp;



"Our results demonstrate that male-acquired perfumes are sexual signals that stimulate females for mating. These results constitute the first direct evidence that male perfume affects the mating preference of female orchid bees," wrote the researchers.



Past observations have indicated that scent may play a significant role in the mating rituals of bees, as females have been seen approaching males from downwind, allowing them to detect the male's scent before making their advances.&nbsp;



During the study, the experts observed an instance where a female bee flew back and forth between two bees before finally choosing to mate with the one that had a perfume.



The process of creating these fragrances is not an easy one for the male orchid bees, as the researchers pointed out: "With perfume being scarce and unpredictable in natural habitats, the process of concocting perfume is certainly costly to male orchid bees."&nbsp;



This costly process, however, might offer an evolutionary advantage, as it provides "an opportunity for perfumes to evolve as honest indicators of survival, foraging success, cognitive skills, or competitive strength."



By responding to the perfume, female bees are effectively selecting males that demonstrate their overall fitness. The researchers added that, in the wild, male bees collect volatile compounds - the building blocks of perfumes - from a range of sources, including flowers, fruit, resin, sap, mushrooms, and even feces.&nbsp;



After storing these compounds in pouches on their hind legs, they release the fragrance by repetitively crossing their legs and spraying it into the air using vibrations from their wings.



This fascinating discovery sheds new light on the complex mating rituals of bees and underscores the importance of scent in the world of these remarkable insects.



<h2 id="h-the-importance-of-bees-to-earth-s-ecosystems">The importance of bees to Earth’s ecosystems</h2>



Bees play a critical role in maintaining Earth's ecosystems, primarily through their work as pollinators. As they visit flowers to feed on nectar, they transfer pollen from one flower to another, facilitating the process of fertilization.&nbsp;



This allows plants to produce fruits, seeds, and new plants, which in turn provides food and habitat for various species, including humans. The importance of bees to Earth's ecosystems can be highlighted in several ways:



<ol>
<li>Biodiversity: Bees contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity by pollinating various plant species, which in turn provide food and shelter for a wide range of animals. The more diverse an ecosystem, the more resilient it is to environmental stressors and change.</li>



<li>Food production: Bees are vital for the pollination of many crops that make up a significant portion of the human diet. Without bees, crop yields would be severely affected, leading to potential food shortages and increased food prices. Some estimates suggest that around one-third of the food we consume relies on pollinators like bees.</li>



<li>Economic impact: The pollination services provided by bees are crucial to the agricultural industry. The economic value of pollinators, including bees, is estimated to be in the billions of dollars globally. Without bees, the cost of hand-pollination or other alternative methods would significantly increase, affecting both producers and consumers.</li>



<li>Ecosystem stability: Bees help maintain the balance within ecosystems by supporting the growth and reproduction of various plant species. This promotes the stability and health of ecosystems, enabling them to continue providing essential services such as water filtration, carbon sequestration, and erosion control.</li>



<li>Medicinal resources: Many plant species that rely on pollinators, including bees, are used for medicinal purposes. The preservation of these plants is essential for the development of new pharmaceuticals and maintaining traditional medicine practices.</li>
</ol>



In conclusion, bees are indispensable to Earth's ecosystems. Their work as pollinators supports biodiversity, food production, and ecosystem stability, making them essential for the health of both natural environments and human societies. Efforts to protect and conserve bee populations are crucial to ensure the continued functioning of ecosystems and the services they provide.



-—



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

Male bees create perfume from flowers to attract females

The fascinating world of bees just got more intriguing, as...

As the world grapples with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-affects-ground-squirrels-in-unexpected-ways/">climate change</a> and its consequences, an often-overlooked aspect of the carbon cycle may hold a key to mitigating some of its effects: soil microbes. Soil stores more carbon than plants and the atmosphere combined, with these microscopic organisms playing a crucial role in the process.&nbsp;



However, the increasing frequency and severity of droughts, such as those impacting California, could disrupt this delicate ecosystem and have far-reaching consequences for soil health and future greenhouse gas levels.



In a perspective published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2023.03.002">Trends in Microbiology</a>, microbial ecologist Steven Allison of <a href="https://uci.edu/">UC Irvine</a> warns that if soil microbes adapt to drought more rapidly than plants do, we could face significant consequences. To better manage the situation in both agricultural and natural settings, it is crucial to understand how microbes respond to drought.



“Soil microbes are beneficial, and we couldn’t live without their cycling of carbon and nutrients, but climate change and drought can tweak that balance, and we have to be aware of how it’s changing,” says Allison.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-how-soil-microbes-store-carbon">How soil microbes store carbon</h2>



Some soil microbes help store carbon from decomposing plants in the soil, while others release plant carbon back into the atmosphere. The carbon-rich soil has numerous benefits, including improved nutrient retention, increased plant productivity, and erosion prevention.



However, the changing weather patterns in California, characterized by more intense droughts followed by heavier rainfall, can lead to erosion, landslides, mudslides, and sedimentation.&nbsp;



“From a climate mitigation standpoint, what we want is for more carbon to be in plants and soils and less carbon to be in the atmosphere,” says Allison. Understanding the balance of incoming and outflowing carbon and how it changes with drought, warming, or other climate factors is crucial for managing climate change.



While plants and microbes are both impacted by drought, Allison believes that microbes are more adaptable and can recover faster. Microbes can change their physiology, abundance, and even evolve, which allows them to resist or bounce back from drought more rapidly than plants.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-potential-repercussions-if-soil-balance-isn-t-restored">Potential repercussions if soil balance isn’t restored</h2>



However, if more carbon-releasing microbes survive than carbon-sequestering ones, the result could be carbon-depleted soils with negative implications for plant productivity and future greenhouse gas levels.



To nudge the balance in the right direction, Allison emphasizes that more research is needed. “Right now, we have data that suggests that when we have drought, something changes that results in carbon loss, but we don't understand exactly how or why that's happening,” says Allison.&nbsp;



Identifying the microbes most beneficial to plants and most likely to retain carbon in soil could help us tip the balance in their favor.



There is potential to manage or engineer soil microbes to mitigate the effects of drought. In agricultural systems, soil manipulation or the addition of beneficial microbes could be explored.&nbsp;



In more natural systems, managing plants could indirectly benefit the microbial part of the ecosystem. Furthermore, Allison suggests that more measurements are needed to understand how drought affects soil carbon change in different ecosystems, from the Arctic tundra to deserts.



As climate change continues to threaten ecosystems worldwide, understanding the complex interplay between soil microbes, plants, and carbon could provide valuable insights and solutions for mitigating its impacts.



<h2 id="h-earth-s-other-natural-carbon-storage-mechanisms">Earth’s other natural carbon storage mechanisms</h2>



Natural carbon storage mechanisms, also known as carbon sinks, play a vital role in the Earth's carbon cycle by capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. These mechanisms help maintain a balance of carbon on our planet and mitigate the impacts of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Here are some of the major natural carbon storage mechanisms on Earth:



<ol>
<li>Oceans: Oceans are the largest carbon sinks on the planet, absorbing approximately 25% of CO2 emissions generated by human activities. The carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, forming carbonic acid and bicarbonate and carbonate ions, which are used by marine organisms to build shells and other structures.</li>



<li>Forests: Trees and plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. They convert the carbon dioxide into glucose, which they use for energy and growth. As plants die and decompose, some of the carbon is transferred to the soil, while some is released back into the atmosphere through the process of respiration.</li>



<li>Soil: Soil is the second-largest carbon sink on Earth, storing more carbon than plants and the atmosphere combined. Carbon is stored in soil as organic matter, which is derived from decomposing plant and animal material. Soil microbes also play a crucial role in transferring carbon from plants to the soil and releasing it back into the atmosphere.</li>



<li>Wetlands: Wetlands, including peatlands, swamps, and marshes, store significant amounts of carbon in the form of plant material and soil organic matter. The waterlogged conditions in wetlands slow down the decomposition of organic matter, resulting in the accumulation of carbon over time.</li>



<li>Permafrost: Permafrost is the permanently frozen ground found in polar regions and high mountain areas. It contains large amounts of carbon in the form of frozen organic matter. As the climate warms and permafrost thaws, this stored carbon may be released as CO2 or methane, which can exacerbate climate change.</li>



<li>Carbonate rocks: Carbonate rocks, such as limestone and dolomite, are formed by the accumulation of carbonate minerals from the shells and skeletal remains of marine organisms. These rocks represent a long-term storage of carbon and can sequester carbon over geological timescales.</li>
</ol>



These natural carbon storage mechanisms help regulate the Earth's climate by capturing and storing carbon dioxide. However, human activities, such as deforestation, fossil fuel combustion, and land-use changes, have disrupted the balance of the carbon cycle, leading to increased greenhouse gas concentrations and global warming.



-—



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

Droughts are disrupting Earth’s largest carbon storage source

As the world grapples with climate change and its consequences,...

As the Colorado River continues to shrink due to overuse and the worsening 23-year-long drought, the Biden administration has proposed a controversial and unprecedented solution.&nbsp;



According to a recent report in the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/">New York Times</a>, in an attempt to save the river and prevent an imminent water and power catastrophe across the West, the administration suggests evenly cutting water allotments to California, Arizona, and Nevada by as much as one-quarter. This reduction in water delivery to the states has never occurred in American history.



The Colorado River supplies <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunlight-may-provide-millions-with-safe-drinking-water/">drinking water</a> to 40 million Americans, irrigates 5.5 million agricultural acres, and generates electricity for millions of homes and businesses. The river's flows have recently fallen by one-third compared to historical averages, and its two main reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are facing critically low water levels.&nbsp;



If these levels continue to drop, the turbines that generate electricity may fail, and the water may no longer reach intake valves controlling its flow out of the reservoirs, causing the river to come to a standstill.



The Biden administration is determined to prevent this scenario, known as deadpool, but faces a political and ethical dilemma on how to distribute the required cuts.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-preventing-deadpool-on-the-colorado-river-reservoirs">Preventing "deadpool" on the Colorado River reservoirs</h2>



On Tuesday, the <a href="https://www.doi.gov/">Interior Department</a>, which manages the river, released a draft analysis considering three options: taking no action, which would risk deadpool; making reductions based on the most senior water rights; or evenly distributing the cuts across Arizona, California, and Nevada.



According to Christopher Flavelle’s reporting in the New York Times, if the reductions were based on seniority of water rights, California would be largely spared, causing disastrous consequences for Nevada and Arizona. Deputy Secretary for the Interior Department, Tommy Beaudreau, stated that these consequences would not be allowed to happen.&nbsp;



Reducing water deliveries evenly would impact Arizona's Native American tribes and Southern California's agriculture industry, potentially inviting lawsuits. However, Beaudreau expressed confidence that evenly allocating cuts would help achieve the department's goals while protecting health and safety.



Beaudreau defended the government's willingness to depart from the longstanding seniority rules regarding water rights, arguing that the impacts of climate change could not have been predicted when these rights were established decades ago.&nbsp;



Until now, the federal government has primarily responded to drought by paying farmers, cities, and Native tribes to voluntarily use less water, but it seems that this approach may no longer be sufficient.



While the Interior Department would prefer states to reach an agreement among themselves, recent attempts to do so have failed. Last summer, states were given two months to agree on a plan for reducing their use of Colorado River water, but failed to reach a consensus.&nbsp;



In January, six states proposed that the bulk of the cuts should come from California, which in turn suggested that Arizona should bear the brunt of the reductions. Negotiations have continued without reaching a deal.



However, two factors may increase the odds of states reaching an agreement, according to Sharon Megdal, director of the University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center. First, an unusually wet winter has temporarily reduced the scale of the cuts required to avoid deadpool. Second, the federal government's readiness to act may push the states to come up with a better alternative solution.



As the final analysis is expected this summer, it remains to be seen how the states and the federal government will navigate the complex challenges posed by the shrinking Colorado River and the ever-present threat of climate change.



<h2 id="h-the-root-cause-of-the-colorado-river-crisis">The root cause of the Colorado River crisis</h2>



The Colorado River crisis is primarily caused by a combination of factors:



<ol>
<li>Overuse: The river supplies water to about 40 million people, irrigates millions of acres of farmland, and provides electricity to millions of homes and businesses. As the population in the region grows, the demand for water has increased, putting a strain on the river's resources.</li>



<li>Prolonged drought: The Colorado River basin has been experiencing a drought for over 23 years, which has significantly reduced the river's flow. The drought is linked to climate change and natural climate variability, which leads to lower precipitation and higher evaporation rates in the region.</li>



<li>Climate change: Climate change has exacerbated the drought by causing warmer temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier snowmelt in the river basin. These factors have intensified the water crisis by reducing the amount of water available for human use and increasing water loss through evaporation.</li>
</ol>



Together, these factors have led to the Colorado River crisis, characterized by shrinking water resources, falling water levels in reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell, and increasing risks of water and power shortages in the region.&nbsp;



The crisis has prompted federal and state governments to consider difficult choices regarding water allocation and management, as they grapple with the challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and competing water needs.



<h2 id="h-the-logistics-of-managing-water-allotments">The logistics of managing water allotments</h2>



Managing water allotments on the Colorado River is a complex task, given the competing demands for water resources and the challenges posed by climate change and population growth. Here are some strategies the government can adopt to better manage water allotments:



<ol>
<li>Negotiate interstate agreements: Encourage cooperation and negotiation among the states that rely on the Colorado River, aiming for a fair and equitable distribution of water resources that takes into account each state's unique needs and priorities.</li>



<li>Implement water conservation measures: Encourage and incentivize water conservation practices among agricultural, industrial, and residential users. This could include funding and supporting water-efficient irrigation systems, promoting the use of water-saving appliances and fixtures, and implementing public awareness campaigns on the importance of water conservation.</li>



<li>Develop alternative water sources: Invest in the development of alternative water sources, such as water recycling and reuse, desalination, and stormwater capture, to reduce dependence on the Colorado River.</li>



<li>Optimize water storage and infrastructure: Improve the management of existing water storage facilities, such as reservoirs and dams, to maximize their efficiency and minimize water loss. This may also involve investing in new infrastructure projects to enhance water storage and distribution capabilities.</li>



<li>Protect and restore ecosystems: Preserve and rehabilitate ecosystems within the Colorado River basin to maintain their natural functions, such as water filtration, groundwater recharge, and habitat provision, which contribute to the overall health of the river system.</li>



<li>Adapt to climate change: Incorporate climate change projections and risk assessments into water management plans to better anticipate and adapt to future changes in water availability and demand.</li>



<li>Support research and innovation: Invest in research and development to advance new technologies and strategies for water management, conservation, and efficiency, and facilitate their adoption by water users.</li>



<li>Improve monitoring and data collection: Enhance the monitoring of water resources, including river flows, groundwater levels, and water use, to provide accurate and timely data for decision-making and long-term planning.</li>
</ol>



By adopting a combination of these strategies, the government can better manage water allotments on the Colorado River, ensuring the sustainable and equitable use of this critical resource for current and future generations.



—



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

Biden administration proposes water rationing to save the Colorado River

As the Colorado River continues to shrink due to overuse...

Since the dawn of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-making-the-ocean-more-acidic/">plastic</a> era in the 1950s, humanity has manufactured a staggering 8.3 billion tons of plastic, with an additional 380 million tons produced annually. Despite recycling efforts, only 9% of this plastic is repurposed, leaving the remainder to infiltrate our environment.&nbsp;



Plastic pollution has pervaded every corner of the earth, from the deepest ocean trenches to the peak of Mount Everest, and alarmingly, it has made its way into the tissues of humans and other organisms.



The long-term effects of ingested plastic on human health remain uncertain. However, studies on rodents have demonstrated that ingested microplastics can adversely affect the liver, intestines, exocrine and reproductive organs.&nbsp;



Among the wildlife most vulnerable to plastic ingestion are scavenging birds, particularly New World vultures. These creatures frequently forage at landfills and have been observed to consume synthetic materials like boat seats, rubber seals, and roofs.



In a groundbreaking study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1158453">Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution</a>, a team of researchers from the United States has discovered a correlation between the amount of plastic ingested by black and turkey vultures (Coragyps atratus and Cathartes aura) and their location on suburban and exurban maps.&nbsp;



According to the study, the amount of plastic ingested by these vultures is not simply a matter of urban versus rural habitats; rather, it is influenced by the local density of human commerce within urbanized landscapes.



Hannah Partridge, a doctoral student at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the study's first author, elaborated on the findings: “Here we show that black vultures and turkey vultures in areas with more urban development and a greater density of commercial food providers ingest more plastic.”&nbsp;



Partridge also proposed a surprising hypothesis: “It’s possible that they eat some of this plastic on purpose rather than exclusively by accident, as is typically believed.”



<h2 id="h-plastic-consumption-analyzed-from-vulture-pellets">Plastic consumption analyzed from vulture pellets</h2>



Between 2021 and 2022, Partridge et al. examined eight communal roosts shared by black and turkey vultures in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, a region with a growing human population of 2.8 million. These roosts typically host between 20 and 500 vultures. To better understand the vultures' plastic consumption, the researchers collected a total of 1,087 pellets of undigested material, which the birds had regurgitated.



Upon analysis, it was discovered that a staggering 60% of these pellets contained plastic, which accounted for an average of 2.7% of the total mass. In addition to plastic, the pellets also contained various other materials such as vegetation, dirt, rocks, animal remains, metal, fabric, paper, wood, and glass.&nbsp;



The researchers utilized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to identify the specific types of plastic material present in the samples. The most common plastics found were silicone rubber (7.5% of samples analyzed), high-density polyethylene (7.0%), polyethylene (6.4%), and silicate bio-polyethylene (5.3%).



To further investigate the relationship between plastic consumption and human development, the researchers assessed the amount of plastic within the pellets in relation to four measures of human development. These measures were analyzed within increasing distances, ranging from 400 meters to 20 kilometers as the vulture flies, from the roost.&nbsp;



The four measures included the density of commercial food providers (encompassing everything from small stores and food trucks to large supermarkets and restaurants), the density of livestock and game producers, the extent of developed land cover, and the proximity to the nearest landfill.



<h2 id="h-grocery-stores-restaurants-and-curious-birds">Grocery stores, restaurants, and curious birds</h2>



Exploratory statistical analyses demonstrated a strong correlation between the proportion of pellet mass composed of plastic and increasing urban land cover, as well as the density of food providers within a 20-kilometer radius. The authors concluded that black vultures in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, in particular, may primarily ingest plastics directly from dumpsters belonging to food providers.



Hannah Partridge offered her observations, stating, “Black vultures will often roost overnight on a transmission tower next to a fast-food restaurant and fly straight to the dumpster first thing in the morning.”&nbsp;



Conversely, turkey vultures display this behavior less frequently, as they tend to prefer more rural areas and natural food sources.



The researchers sought to understand whether vultures consume plastic intentionally or accidentally. They hypothesized that vultures might frequently mistake plastic for nutritious bone fragments, which are typically found in carrion.&nbsp;



Partridge commented, “Vultures are curious and always looking for new food sources, so they may ingest plastic thinking it’s food. But they may also sometimes ingest plastic intentionally, to collect bulk to help vomit up indigestible parts of carrion like hair.”



To address the issue of plastic ingestion by vultures and other vulnerable animals, the study's senior author, Dr. Sara Gagné, an associate professor in the same department, provided some recommendations. “Food providers such as restaurants and grocery stores can ensure that their garbage is properly bagged, that trash makes it to the dumpster, and that the dumpster is closed and secured. We can also work towards banning single-use plastics to protect vultures and other species from harm,” Dr. Gagné advised.



This research highlights the urgent need to address plastic pollution and its far-reaching impacts on both wildlife and human populations. As the extent of plastic ingestion by animals becomes more evident, further investigation is required to understand the full scope of its consequences on ecosystems and public health. The study's findings underscore the importance of mitigating plastic waste and developing more sustainable waste management strategies, particularly in densely populated urban areas.



<h2 id="h-impact-of-plastic-on-global-wildlife">Impact of plastic on global wildlife</h2>



Plastic pollution has become a global environmental crisis, with a profound impact on wildlife around the world. The production, use, and improper disposal of plastic products have led to large-scale contamination of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, affecting numerous species in various ways:



<ol>
<li>Entanglement: Animals, particularly marine life, can become entangled in plastic debris such as discarded fishing nets, plastic bags, and packaging materials. This can lead to injury, restricted movement, and even death from suffocation, drowning, or inability to escape predators.</li>



<li>Ingestion: Many animals mistake plastic for food and consume it, which can lead to severe health problems. Ingested plastic can cause blockages in the digestive system, internal injuries, malnutrition, or starvation as the plastic takes up space in the stomach, creating a false sense of fullness.</li>



<li>Toxin exposure: Plastics can contain toxic chemicals that leach into the environment over time. Additionally, plastics can act as sponges, absorbing harmful pollutants from the surroundings. When ingested by animals, these toxins can accumulate in their tissues, leading to a range of health issues, including reproductive problems, organ damage, and hormone disruption.</li>



<li>Habitat destruction: The accumulation of plastic debris in ecosystems can degrade habitats and negatively impact the natural behavior of wildlife. For example, microplastics in the ocean can alter the composition of plankton communities, disrupting the food web and affecting larger organisms that rely on these tiny creatures for sustenance.</li>



<li>Threat to biodiversity: Plastic pollution affects a wide range of species, from microscopic organisms to large mammals. As plastic makes its way up the food chain, it can contribute to the decline of vulnerable species and disrupt delicate ecological balances.</li>



<li>Genetic impacts: Emerging research suggests that plastic pollution may even have genetic consequences for wildlife. Exposure to plastic-derived chemicals has been linked to genetic mutations and epigenetic changes, potentially affecting the health, behavior, and reproductive success of exposed animals and their offspring.</li>
</ol>



Addressing plastic pollution and its impacts on wildlife requires a comprehensive approach, including reducing plastic production and consumption, improving waste management practices, promoting recycling and reusable alternatives, and raising public awareness about the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and its inhabitants.



Image Credit: Hannah Partridge



—-



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

Vultures consume enormous amount of plastic waste

Since the dawn of the plastic era in the 1950s,...

A team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/">University of Tokyo</a> has found that the living <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-and-birds-became-warm-blooded-after-surviving-a-mass-extinction/">warm-blooded</a> descendants of theropod dinosaurs have evolved a more efficient nasal cooling system aided by larger nasal cavities than their cold-blooded counterparts in order to cool off their heat-sensitive brains.&nbsp;



While cold-blooded animals such as reptiles (ectotherms) use external heat sources to keep warm, warm-blooded animals such as birds and mammals (endotherms) are able to maintain their high body temperature through internal heat sources. However, scientists have long pondered how endotherms manage to prevent overheating.&nbsp;



By analyzing the head specimens of 51 modern endotherms and ectotherms, as well as the skull of a theropod dinosaur called&nbsp;Velociraptor mongoliensis&nbsp;using computer tomography, the researchers discovered that endotherms’ noses are not only used for olfaction, but also contribute to heat exchange due to small undulating scroll-shaped structures called respiratory turbinates. These structures consist of bone and cartilage tissue and help moisten the inhaled air, and exchange heat from the circulating blood, thus cooling their brains.



Compared to ectotherms, endotherms have well-developed turbinates and a relatively larger nasal cavity compared to their head size. By contrast, V. mongoliensis had a smaller nasal cavity and most probably could not regulate temperature as efficiently as its modern-day descendants, suggesting that it had a less developed brain which did not need such efficient cooling. According to the experts, living endotherms’ nasal cooling system has likely co-evolved with changes in their skull structure.



“Our findings highlight the importance of the nose in inferring the physiology of fossil forms such as dinosaurs and enable us to study the evolution of drastic skull modification from the nonflying theropod dinosaurs to modern birds from a new angle,” concluded lead author Seishiro Tada, a doctoral student in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Tokyo.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220997">Royal Society Open 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 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/">Eric Ralls</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a>.

Warm-blooded animals use their nose to cool their brain

A team of researchers led by the University of Tokyo...

By using high resolution microscopes and 3D technology, a team of scientists from <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> and the <a href="https://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> has managed to capture an unprecedented view of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-feathers-hair-teeth/">feathers</a> of sandgrouse – a type of desert-dwelling birds that can gather water and carry it to their nest for distances of over 20 miles. These birds’ uncanny ability to hold water while flying with a speed of nearly 40 mph was found to be possible due to the singular architecture of their feathers, and could inspire the design of more efficient absorbent materials.



“It’s super fascinating to see how nature managed to create structures so perfectly efficient to take in and hold water,” said study co-author Jochen Mueller, an assistant professor of Smart Materials and Design at Johns Hopkins. “From an engineering perspective, we think the findings could lead to new bio-inspired creations.”



The experts examined the microstructure of sandgrouse’s belly feathers through a combination of scanning electron microscopy, microcomputed tomography, light microscopy, and 3D videography.&nbsp;



The investigation revealed that the feathers’ components are optimized in several ways to hold and retain water, including how they bend, how the barbules (tiny filaments projecting from feathers) form protective tentlike clusters when wet, and how minuscule tubular structures within each barbule capture water. Moreover, each feather was found to hold water through a forest of barbules near the shaft, while working together with the curled barbules near the tip that act almost like caps.



These findings could underpin future engineering designs that require controlled absorption, secure retention, and easy release of liquids, such as netting for collecting and retaining water from fog and dew in desert regions, or water bottles that would prevent annoying swishing and sloshing. Such bottles could include an inner feather-like system keeping the water from swinging around while someone moves with it, a design which would be particularly appreciated by runners.&nbsp;



Finally, these discoveries could inspire the development of next-level medical swabs that can efficiently soak up liquid, while making it much easier to release than in the case of currently available swabs.



The study is published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2022.0878">Journal of the Royal Society Interface</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 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/">Eric Ralls</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a>.

Sandgrouse feathers have an uncanny ability to retain water

By using high resolution microscopes and 3D technology, a team...

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