<p>PFAS - short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - are so common that they’ve earned the nickname “forever chemicals.” They’re in rain jackets, dental floss, and even the sticky side of a bandage. Too often, they’re also in drinking water.</p>



<p>For years, U.S. contamination maps showed clusters of problem spots in places like California, Michigan, and New England. But those dots didn’t necessarily reveal where PFAS actually are - they only marked where testing had happened.</p>



<p>Now, researchers at Northeastern University’s <a href="https://pfasproject.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PFAS Project Lab</a> have redrawn the picture. Their new analysis suggests that while roughly 2,200 sites have confirmed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-that-eat-forever-chemicals-discovered-in-contaminated-soil/">contamination</a>, as many as 80,000 more are likely polluted but untested.</p>



<p>The result is what the team calls the most complete snapshot yet - a tool designed to help regulators and communities figure out where to look next.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-presumptive-pfas-sites-fill-the-map">Presumptive PFAS sites fill the map</h2>



<p>Because PFAS testing in the U.S. is spotty and often driven by state programs or local advocacy, the “known” map has always been incomplete. </p>



<p>To bridge that gap, the team built a model that flags “presumptive” contamination sites based on what those facilities do. If a type of place is well documented as a PFAS emitter, similar facilities elsewhere likely pose the same risk.</p>



<p>The approach flips the script: instead of waiting for sampling to reveal bad news one neighborhood at a time, it directs investigators toward the most probable sources before problems spread further.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-groundwater-reveals-contamination">Groundwater reveals contamination</h2>



<p>When the researchers looked closely at the 2,200 verified sites, the picture was grim. Ninety-four percent of the locations with groundwater data had average PFAS concentrations above accepted regulatory levels.</p>



<p>Kimberly Garrett is the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the PFAS Project Lab.</p>



<p>“We did find that, overall, all of the sites that we knew about had elevated PFAS concentrations that were above health-based guidelines,” said Garrett. "Some were associated with really high values, but they were all associated with unacceptable values.”</p>



<p>That matters for more than just the communities adjacent to those dots. PFAS contamination moves - through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reed-beds-a-sustainable-revolution-in-wastewater-management/">industrial waste</a> streams, municipal wastewater systems, biosolids applied to fields, and rivers that cross county and state lines. Knowing where it likely starts is the key to cutting it off.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foam-linked-to-high-pfas">Foam linked to high PFAS</h2>



<p>To make the presumptive map, the team sorted potential sources into categories. These included airports, military installations, industrial facilities, municipal fire activities, and wastewater treatment plants. They then compared how often and how strongly PFAS turned up.</p>



<p>Three stood out again and again: airports, military sites, and municipal fire activities. The common thread is aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a firefighting foam historically loaded with PFAS. Foam used in training and emergency response can soak into soil and groundwater or run off into nearby waterways.</p>



<p>“AFFF was consistently connected to the highest average PFAS concentrations,” Garrett said - a pattern researchers and regulators have suspected for years, now mapped at a national scale.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factories-tied-to-pfas-leaks">Factories tied to PFAS leaks</h2>



<p>Beyond firefighting, the lab’s latest updates begin to tease out which industrial operations are most associated with PFAS releases. Metal manufacturing and electronics manufacturing emerged as frequent suspects.</p>



<p>“Metal manufacturers and electronic manufacturers could use a little more scrutiny in that area, especially as we think about making investments in semiconductor manufacturing and things like that,” Garrett said.</p>



<p>The point isn’t to halt innovation; it’s to ensure new industrial growth doesn’t lock in another generation of contamination.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fixing-pfas-starts-upstream">Fixing PFAS starts upstream</h2>



<p>Public conversation around PFAS often zeroes in on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-100-million-americans-exposed-to-contaminated-drinking-water/">drinking water</a> and wastewater utilities - logical endpoints where contamination becomes visible. But those facilities are downstream. </p>



<p>They inherit what industries and other emitters send them. Treating the problem at the end of the pipe is far harder and more expensive than preventing it in the first place.</p>



<p>“Turning off the tap of PFAS starts at the source,” said Garrett. “We can’t discount the industrial contributions to PFAS contamination.”</p>



<p>Phil Brown, the lab’s co-director, frames it as following the waste stream: identify the treatment plant, then look upstream for likely users and manufacturers.</p>



<p>“We can then tell them that they have to cut down their emissions before it gets into our plants,” he said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-triage-plan-for-limited-budgets"><a></a>A triage plan for limited budgets</h2>



<p>Testing is costly, and agencies and utilities have finite staff and funds. The new map is designed with that reality in mind. </p>



<p>By highlighting presumptive hotspots, it helps decision-makers prioritize where sampling will have the biggest payoff. It also indicates where interim protections might be warranted. In some cases, this could mean providing alternative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pfas-forever-chemicals-in-tap-water-linked-to-33-percent-increase-in-cancer-rates/">water</a> sources while testing ramps up.</p>



<p>“We know that resources for testing bodies and regulatory bodies and municipal utilities are very limited,” said Garrett.</p>



<p>“So we hope that our tools can serve as a guide for if a municipality or a state has so much money for testing and they say, what would be the most impactful way to use this? We think that this paper can contribute to those decisions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-scattered-dots-to-a-strategy"><a></a>From scattered dots to a strategy</h2>



<p>PFAS are called forever chemicals because their carbon-fluorine bonds don’t readily break down. That persistence has made them useful - in nonstick coatings, waterproof gear, and industrial processes - and a nightmare to clean up once they escape into the environment.</p>



<p>The Northeastern team’s work doesn’t solve PFAS pollution, but it does something essential: it replaces a misleading patchwork of test results with a forward-looking map of risk.</p>



<p>The takeaway is not simply that PFAS sites are widespread; it’s that the problem has a pattern. Airports, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preparing-u-s-military-bases-for-sea-level-rise/">military bases</a>, and firefighting sites are likely hotspots. Certain industries deserve closer scrutiny. And the most efficient path to safer water starts upstream, before PFAS reach the taps.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c14474%C3%B9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology</em></a>.</p>



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Toxic ‘forever chemical' sites severely underestimated in the U.S.

PFAS - short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - are so common that they’ve earned the nickname “forever chemicals.” They’re in rain jackets, dental floss, and even the sticky side of a bandage. Too often, they’re also in drinking water. For years, U.S. contamination maps showed clusters of problem spots in places like California, Michigan, and New England. But those dots didn’t necessarily reveal where PFAS actually are - they only marked where testing had happened. Now, researchers at Northeastern University’s PFAS Project Lab have redrawn the...

<p>As the western North American forests, particularly those adapted to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/repeated-fires-reduce-the-ability-of-forests-to-store-carbon/">fires</a>, experience a drastic shift in their fire regimes, the effects on the various species that call these forests home are starting to emerge. This shift, characterized by a deviation from historic norms, has seen an increase in large, high-severity fires.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The impacts of wildfire on some species have been devastating, while the responses of others remain largely unknown, particularly over longer time scales. The mountain quail, a widely distributed species in California's Sierra Nevada, is one such creature whose response to wildfires has been ambiguous, until now.</p>



<p>The mountain quail is not just a unique presence in the Sierra Nevada, but also a recreationally-valued management indicator species. These birds have an elusive nature, largely attributed to their preference for dense habitats, high elevations and steep slopes, which makes them notoriously difficult to study.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A recent study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s42408-023-00180-9"><em>Fire Ecology</em></a>, has investigated the relationship between mountain quail habitats and fire ecology. The research was a collective effort of scientists from the <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>, the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Montana.</p>



<p>In an effort to map the distribution and habitat preferences of the mountain quail, the experts deployed 1,636 autonomous recording units across approximately 22,000 square kilometers of the Sierra Nevada.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The analysis revealed that mountain quail are more common than previously assumed, with their mean occupancy hovering around 50 percent across the study sites. The researchers were surprised to find positive associations between areas that had been subjected to high-severity fires and mountain quail occupancy.</p>



<p>Interestingly, mountain quail seemed most positively associated with areas that had experienced high-severity fire in the last six to ten years. However, positive associations were also found in areas with high-severity fires that had occurred anywhere between one and 35 years prior.</p>



<p>These results come at a time when future fire regimes in the Sierra Nevada are expected to see more frequent and larger high-severity fires. While this has been projected to adversely affect many iconic Sierra Nevada species, it appears the mountain quail may prove to be an exception.</p>



<p>"Our work demonstrates that high-severity fire is strongly and positively related to mountain quail occupancy, which is a markedly different response than previously studied species that are also of management concern in the Sierra Nevada. Taken together, our results suggest that mountain quail may actually be 'winners' in the face of altered fire regimes in the Sierra Nevada," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"Given the forecasted intensification of large, severe wildfires in many fire-adapted forests, understanding the ecology and nuanced fire responses of species beyond those that have been historically considered is an important and time-sensitive effort. The relationship between mountain quail and high-severity fire is a reminder that there will be both winners and losers as the dynamics of wildfire change in the era of climate change."</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-fires-in-the-western-united-states">More about fires in the Western United States</h2>



<p>The Western United States has a long-standing relationship with wildfires, largely due to its climate and vegetation types. Over the last few decades, however, the severity and frequency of these fires have been on the rise, largely attributed to climate change and human activities.</p>



<p>The region's Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, provides the perfect conditions for fires to ignite and spread. This is especially true in areas dominated by fire-prone vegetation such as chaparral and conifer forests.</p>



<p>In recent years, the region has been grappling with prolonged periods of drought, which have been exacerbated by rising global temperatures. These harsh conditions cause vegetation to dry out, making it easier for fires to ignite and spread rapidly.</p>



<p>Human activities have also played a role in the escalating wildfire crisis. Urban expansion into wildland areas, known as the wildland-urban interface, has increased the risk of fire ignitions. Simultaneously, decades of fire suppression policies have resulted in an accumulation of vegetation in many forests, effectively providing more fuel for fires when they do occur.</p>



<p>The impact of these wildfires can be devastating, leading to loss of life, property, and extensive damage to ecosystems. They also contribute to air pollution, which can have far-reaching effects on human health.</p>



<p>However, it's important to note that fire, in its natural state, plays a crucial role in many western ecosystems. It helps recycle nutrients, encourages the growth of certain plant species, and can help control pests and diseases. Some species, such as the lodgepole pine, even require fire for their seeds to germinate.</p>



<p>Going forward, experts suggest that managing this escalating wildfire crisis will require a combination of strategies. These could include forest management practices that reduce the accumulation of vegetation, designing and planning communities to be more fire-resistant, and adapting firefighting strategies to deal with the realities of a changing climate.</p>



<p>The situation underscores the delicate balance that exists between human activities, natural ecosystems, and the changing climate. As we continue to see the effects of climate change, understanding and managing wildfires in the Western United States will remain a significant challenge.</p>



<h2 id="h-the-future-of-wildfires">The future of wildfires</h2>



<p>The future of wildfires, particularly in the context of the Western United States, is a topic that's increasingly gaining attention from scientists, policymakers, and communities alike. As climate change continues to intensify, it's likely that the patterns of wildfire we're seeing today will change, potentially becoming more frequent and severe.</p>



<p>One of the most significant factors influencing the future of wildfires is climate change. Rising global temperatures have already been linked to more prolonged periods of drought and higher rates of evaporation, causing vegetation to dry out and become more susceptible to burning. This trend is expected to continue, making fire seasons longer and potentially more destructive.</p>



<p>Additionally, climate change is influencing weather patterns, leading to more extreme weather events, including high winds and lightning storms, which can quickly ignite and spread wildfires. It's predicted that such weather events will become more frequent and intense in the future, further escalating the risk of wildfires.</p>



<p>Human activities will also continue to shape the future of wildfires. Urban development is encroaching further into wildland areas, creating what's known as the wildland-urban interface, where the risk of wildfires is significantly higher. This interface is expected to expand as population growth and housing demand continue, resulting in more human-started fires.</p>



<p>However, the future of wildfires is not entirely bleak. There's growing recognition of the need to adapt our practices and policies to the new wildfire reality. For instance, forest management practices are evolving to incorporate controlled or "prescribed" burns that reduce the buildup of vegetation and mitigate the risk of larger, uncontrolled fires. These practices are inspired by Indigenous land management techniques that have been used for thousands of years.</p>



<p>Fire-resistant construction and landscaping are also becoming more prevalent, particularly in high-risk areas. Community planning and development regulations are starting to reflect the need to live more safely with fire.</p>



<p>Finally, advancements in technology are providing us with better tools for predicting, detecting, and responding to wildfires. For example, improved climate modeling can help anticipate future fire seasons, satellite technology can quickly detect new fires, and machine learning algorithms can help predict a fire's path.</p>



<p>While the future of wildfires is a significant concern, it's a challenge that we're not facing blindly. By combining our growing understanding of fire behavior, climate change, and forest ecology with advancements in technology and evolving policy, we can hope to mitigate the worst effects of future wildfires.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Severe wildfires could prove beneficial for mountain quail

As the western North American forests, particularly those adapted to...

<p>Over the past few decades, a large number of Germany’s animal populations in agricultural landscapes have experienced sharp declines, both in the number of individuals and species. According to a recent study published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14400"><em>Journal of Applied Ecology</em></a>, fallow land – arable land left without sowing for one or more vegetative cycles – appears to be an effective method for slowing this decline and promoting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-diversity-suffers-in-urban-environments/">bird diversity</a>.</p>



<p>The experts investigated the correlation between the proportion of fallow land and the number and abundance of farmland birds during a period of nine years. They discovered that areas of fallow land have contributed to a significant increase in these birds’ populations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Nevertheless, the benefits of fallow land were found to depend on the complexity of the surrounding landscape, measured by the density of boundary lines between fields, as well as between fields and adjacent woody structures such as hedges or forest edges.</p>



<p>The analysis revealed that establishing areas of fallow land is most effective in agricultural landscapes with a medium level of structural complexity, with an average density of around 65 meters per hectare of agricultural land.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our research enabled us to identify regions where fallow land should preferably be established in order to have the greatest effect,” said study co-author Sebastian Klimek, an expert in the conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes at the <a href="https://www.thuenen.de/en/">Thünen Institute of Biodiversity</a>.</p>



<p>“In order to stop declining populations of farmland birds nationwide, it is necessary to maintain a minimum proportion of fallow land in the agricultural landscape,” added senior author Johannes Kamp, a landscape ecologist and conservation scientist at the <a href="https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1.html">University of Göttingen</a>.</p>



<p>The total area of fallow land in Germany is largely determined by EU’s <a href="https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/cap-overview/cap-glance_en">Common Agricultural Policy</a> (CAP). Due to changes in this policy, the amount of fallow land in Germany has decreased substantially since the early 2000s, leading to a lack of suitable breeding sites and food for a variety of bird species. </p>



<p>Although the “greening” of the last CAP funding period has slightly increased the area of fallow land from 2015, the current amount of such land remains far below the levels observed before 2007.</p>



<p>Fortunately, in the new CAP support period starting this year, farms will be obliged to set aside four percent of their arable land, which could contribute to increases in farmland bird populations. However, in order to restore their pre-2007 levels and thus enhance biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, a further increase would be required.</p>



<p>—</p>



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



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Fallow land can help save farmland birds

Over the past few decades, a large number of Germany’s...

<p>As global temperatures continue to rise, urban areas are facing increased levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/at-what-point-does-heat-stress-become-dangerous/">heat stress</a>. While cities are generally warmer and drier than rural areas, in the Global South, humidity represents another complicating factor. By using observational data and an urban climate model calculation, a team of scientists led by <a href="https://www.yale.edu/">Yale University</a> has recently investigated the combined impact of temperature and humidity on urban heat stress.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The analysis revealed that heat stress is highly dependent on local climate, and humidity can erase the cooling effect that would come from trees and other vegetation.</p>



<p>“A widely held view is that urban residents suffer more heat burden than the general population owing to the urban heat island phenomenon. This view is incomplete because it omits another ubiquitous urban microclimate phenomenon called the urban dry island - that urban land tends to be less humid than the surrounding rural land,” said study senior author Xuhui Lee, a professor of Meteorology at Yale.</p>



<p>“In dry, temperate, and boreal climates, urban residents are actually less heat-stressed than rural residents. But in the humid Global South, the urban heat island is dominant over the urban dry island, resulting in two to six extra dangerous heat stress days per summer.”</p>



<p>Since a large percentage of the population currently lives in urban settings (about 55 percent of the world’s population), and many people do not have access to air conditioning while temperatures continue to rise, clarifying which factors affect urban climates is necessary.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the experts, urban land modifies both air temperature and air humidity, which have equal weight in heat stress as measured by the so-called “wet-bulb temperature index,” which does not weigh temperature more heavily than humidity as other heat indexes.</p>



<p>These findings raise a series of important questions. “Green vegetation can lower air temperature via water evaporation, but it can also increase heat burden because of air humidity. The question then is to what extent this humidifying effect erases the cooling benefit arising from temperature reduction. We hope to answer this question in a follow-up study, where we are comparing observations of the wet-bulb temperature in urban greenspaces (with dense tree cover) and those in built-up neighborhoods,” said Lee.</p>



<p>Further research is needed to find efficient ways of mitigating heat stress in urban settings. “Our diagnostic analysis on the urban wet-bulb island found that enhancing urban convection efficiency (the efficiency in dissipating heat and water) and reducing heat storage at night can reduce daytime and nighttime urban humid heat, respectively. We hope that our work will promote more research on optimizing urban shapes and materials for better thermal comforts,” concluded lead author Keer Zhang, a PhD student in Environmental Sciences at Yale.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05911-1"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



<p>—</p>



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



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

Humidity increases urban heat stress

As global temperatures continue to rise, urban areas are facing...

<p>A recent study from the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/web/ub/">University of Barcelona</a> has revealed new details about the cognitive skills of ungulates, a group of mammals that includes dromedaries, horses, and goats. These creatures are known for walking on the tips of their toes or hooves, and their innovative ability has been largely unexplored compared to more common study subjects like primates.</p>



<p>The researchers, led by Álvaro López Caicoya, found that ungulates who were less integrated into their social groups and exhibited a greater fear of new objects were more adept at solving the challenge of opening a food container.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"These findings are in line with recent scientific literature about wild and captive primates, and they show that less socially integrated individuals are less likely to obtain resources such as food, but they are more likely to overcome neophobia - aversion to new things - to improve their situation," explained Caicoya. "Also, this confirms that ungulates are a promising taxon to test evolutionary theories with a comparative approach."</p>



<p>Caicoya explained that most comparative studies on the evolution of cognitive abilities have focused on birds and primates. However, the evolutionary pressures faced by animals are not always the same. Exploring the cognitive abilities of other species like ungulates is "essential for understanding the limits and the generalization of specific evolutionary hypotheses."</p>



<p>The research, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.2384"><em>Proceedings of the Royal Society B</em></a>, also involved Montserrat Colell of <a href="http://www.neurociencies.ub.edu/">UBneuro</a>, as well as experts from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the University of Leipzig in Germany.</p>



<p>The investigation was focused on 111 animals from 13 different species of ungulates, including goats, dromedaries, Przewalki horses, giraffes, llamas, sheep, and deer, which lived in captivity in zoos. Each group of animals was tasked with opening a container filled with their favorite food, a challenge designed to test their problem-solving abilities.</p>



<p>In the experiment, the researchers found that dromedaries and goats were the most skilled at opening the container, with 86 and 69 percent of individuals succeeding, respectively.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Most of them opened the containers using their nose, muzzle or lips; only nine out of these forty animals used more than one strategy to solve the challenge, such as lifting the cover gently with their lips or throwing the cup to the floor," explained the researchers.</p>



<p>This groundbreaking study is one of the first of its kind to investigate the cognitive abilities of ungulates, and Caicoya emphasizes the importance of conducting more research that includes a wider variety of species, both captive and wild, as well as more complex challenges. "The ungulates are an exceptional model for comparative research, and this study is only a first approach to the cognition of these species," said Caicoya.</p>



<p>As our understanding of animal cognition expands, it is crucial to consider the unique characteristics and cognitive abilities of various species to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary pressures and adaptations that shape animal behavior. This research serves as an important step in broadening the scope of comparative cognitive research and shedding light on the fascinating world of ungulates.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-ungulates">More about ungulates&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Ungulates are a diverse group of large mammals that are most distinguished by their hooves, which are essentially the tips of their toes. The term "ungulate" comes from the Latin word "ungula", which means "hoof". They are spread across several orders and are found all around the world. The group includes several well-known and diverse species such as horses, cattle, pigs, giraffes, camels, deer, and hippopotamuses.</p>



<p>Historically, ungulates were divided into two groups: the odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla), which include horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs, and the even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla), which include cattle, pigs, giraffes, camels, deer, and hippopotamuses.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, modern taxonomic understandings based on genetics rather than physical characteristics have reorganized these groups. For instance, whales and dolphins are now classified as even-toed ungulates due to genetic similarities with this group.</p>



<p>Ungulates play vital roles in their ecosystems. Many are herbivores and are key in controlling vegetation and shaping landscapes. Some are prey for large predators, and their movements and population dynamics can influence predator populations. Many ungulates are also significant to humans economically and culturally, as sources of meat, milk, leather, and as beasts of burden.</p>



<p>Despite the diversity within this group, there are some common traits that many ungulates share. They tend to be large-bodied and have barrel-shaped bodies adapted to processing large amounts of food, particularly plant matter. They often have long legs, which allow them to outrun predators, and they have well-developed senses to detect threats. Many ungulates also have complex social structures and can exhibit a wide range of behaviors.</p>



<h2 id="h-animals-and-innovation">Animals and innovation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Innovation is often associated with human endeavors, particularly in technology and business. However, animals also display innovative behaviors, primarily as adaptations for survival, foraging, and social interactions. These innovations are often triggered by changes in the environment, competition for resources, or changes in social structure.</p>



<h3 id="h-animal-innovation-can-take-many-forms">Animal innovation can take many forms:</h3>



<h4 id="h-tool-use">Tool Use</h4>



<p>Certain animals use tools innovatively to acquire food and other resources. The most famous example is probably the New Caledonian crow, which can shape plant matter into hooks to extract insects from tree bark. Similarly, chimpanzees use sticks to extract termites from mounds and rocks to crack open nuts. Dolphins have been observed using sponges to protect their noses while foraging on the sea floor.</p>



<h4 id="h-foraging-strategies">Foraging Strategies</h4>



<p>Animals often develop new foraging strategies in response to changes in their environment or the availability of food. For example, urban foxes and raccoons have adapted to life in human cities, developing new strategies to find and exploit food resources. Another example is humpback whales, who use a technique known as bubble-net feeding, which involves blowing a ring of bubbles around a school of fish to trap them.</p>



<h4 id="h-social-interactions">Social Interactions</h4>



<p>In social species, innovative behaviors can also occur in the context of social interactions. For example, in meerkat societies, older siblings have been observed teaching younger ones how to handle dangerous prey like scorpions. This teaching behavior is not innate but learned, showing a kind of cultural innovation.</p>



<h4 id="h-problem-solving">Problem Solving</h4>



<p>Many animals are capable of innovative problem-solving. A famous example is Alex, the African Grey Parrot, who was trained by animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg. Alex could understand and use human language to an extent, and he was capable of solving relatively complex problems. Cephalopods like octopuses also show significant problem-solving abilities, such as escaping from closed containers or manipulating objects to obtain food.</p>



<h4 id="h-adaptation-to-human-environments">Adaptation to Human Environments</h4>



<p>Many animals have shown the ability to adapt to human-made environments, often in innovative ways. For example, pigeons in urban areas often use human traffic to help them crack open nuts, while some birds have been known to use cigarette butts in their nests as a form of pest control.</p>



<p>Studying animal innovation can provide insights into animal cognition, the evolution of intelligence, and the adaptability of species to changing environments. It also raises interesting questions about the nature of culture and invention beyond the human species.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Animals that are the least social may be the most innovative 

A recent study from the University of Barcelona has revealed...

<p>The global decline of insect populations has become increasingly evident in recent years, with not just a decrease in individual insect numbers but also a collapse in insect diversity. A special issue of the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2023.0007"><em>Biology Letters</em></a> has been published to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of this alarming trend.</p>



<p>The special issue was edited by Dr. Florian Menzel from the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), Professor Martin Gossner of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), and Dr. Nadja Simons of TU Darmstadt.</p>



<p>The experts concluded that the primary drivers of the worldwide insect decline are land-use intensification, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-affects-ground-squirrels-in-unexpected-ways/">climate change</a>, and the spread of invasive animal species due to human trade.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Our aim was not to document insect population declines but to better understand their causes and consequences," said Dr. Menzel. The researchers also aimed to prompt new studies on the subject by collaborating with international researchers to gather information on insect declines.</p>



<p>The results suggest that not only do land-use intensification, global warming, and the dispersal of invasive species contribute individually to the disappearance of insects, but they also interact with one another.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Ecosystems deteriorated by humans are more susceptible to climate change and so are their insect communities," explained Dr. Menzel.</p>



<p>Additionally, invasive species can more easily establish themselves in habitats damaged by human activity, displacing native species. As a result, while many insect species decline or become extinct, a few others, including invasive species, thrive and increase. This decreases diversity among insect communities across habitats.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Specialized insect species suffer the most from these changes, while more generalized species tend to survive. "This is why we are now finding more insects capable of living nearly anywhere while those species that need specific habitats are on the wane," said Dr. Menzel.</p>



<p>The consequences of this development are far-reaching and generally detrimental for ecosystems. A decline in insect diversity threatens the stability of ecosystems, as fewer species are available to pollinate plants and control pests. This, in turn, means there is less food available for insect-eating birds and other animals, placing their continued existence at risk due to the decline in insect numbers.</p>



<p>To address this issue, Menzel, Gossner, and Simons propose standardized techniques to monitor insect diversity across multiple habitats and countries, particularly in regions where little is known about insect populations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts also advocate for the creation of a network of interconnected nature reserves to allow species to move from one habitat to another. This would enable less heat-tolerant insects to migrate from areas affected by global warming to higher elevations or cooler regions in the north.</p>



<p>Moreover, the researchers emphasize the importance of implementing measures to reduce the dispersal of invasive animal and plant species through globalized trade and tourism.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"This is another problem that has become extremely serious in the last decades," concluded Dr. Menzel. The special issue highlights the invasion of non-native insectivorous fishes in Brazil as an example, which has led to a significant decline in freshwater insects.</p>



<h2 id="h-which-insects-are-disappearing">Which insects are disappearing?</h2>



<p>As of September 2021, the most rapidly declining insects include bees, butterflies, and moths, largely due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change.</p>



<h3 id="h-bees">Bees</h3>



<p>Bees, particularly honeybees and bumblebees, are facing significant declines across the globe. These pollinators are essential for many ecosystems and for agricultural production. Reasons for their decline include loss of flower-rich habitats, exposure to harmful pesticides (neonicotinoids, in particular), diseases, parasites, and climate change.</p>



<h3 id="h-butterflies-and-moths">Butterflies and Moths</h3>



<p>These are also experiencing rapid declines, with many species becoming increasingly rare. Habitat loss, intensive agriculture, pesticides, light pollution, and climate change all contribute to their dwindling numbers.</p>



<h3 id="h-beetles">Beetles</h3>



<p>Some species of beetles, such as certain types of dung beetles, are also facing significant declines. These insects play a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient recycling, and their loss can have profound effects on ecosystem functioning.</p>



<h3 id="h-aquatic-insects">Aquatic insects</h3>



<p>Freshwater ecosystems are under great pressure from pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change. This has led to declines in many species of aquatic insects, such as dragonflies and mayflies.</p>



<h3 id="h-insectivorous-insects">Insectivorous insects</h3>



<p>Certain species that rely on other insects for food, like certain types of ants and ladybugs, are also seeing their numbers decline as their food sources become less abundant.</p>



<p>It's important to note that while some insect species are declining, others may be increasing, potentially leading to a shift in community composition and ecosystem function. Also, data on insect declines is much stronger for some regions (like Europe and North America) compared to others, so global patterns may vary.</p>



<h2 id="h-climate-change-and-global-insect-decline">Climate change and global insect decline </h2>



<p>Climate change affects insects in several ways, primarily through alterations in temperature, precipitation patterns, and the timing of seasonal events. Here are some key impacts:</p>



<h3 id="h-temperature-changes">Temperature Changes</h3>



<p>Many insects are ectotherms, meaning their body temperature and metabolic rates are directly influenced by the environment. Warmer temperatures can accelerate their life cycles, but extreme heat can also be lethal. Conversely, some insects may expand their range into previously cooler regions as those areas warm up.</p>



<h3 id="h-altered-seasonal-timing">Altered Seasonal Timing</h3>



<p>Many insects synchronize their life cycles with specific seasonal events, like the blooming of certain plants or the availability of prey. Changes in the timing of these events due to climate change, a phenomenon known as phenological mismatch, can have detrimental effects. For example, if insects hatch after their primary food sources are available, it can lead to high mortality rates.</p>



<h3 id="h-habitat-loss">Habitat Loss</h3>



<p>Climate change can lead to habitat loss for certain insects. For example, insects adapted to cold mountain environments may "run out of mountain" as their habitable zones shift upward with warming temperatures. Similarly, insects living in coastal areas may lose habitat due to sea-level rise.</p>



<h3 id="h-drought-and-precipitation-changes">Drought and Precipitation Changes</h3>



<p>Changes in rainfall patterns can affect insect populations. Drought can reduce food availability and breeding sites, while increased rainfall can drown insects or lead to disease outbreaks.</p>



<h3 id="h-changes-in-plant-communities">Changes in Plant Communities</h3>



<p>Climate change can lead to shifts in plant communities, which can affect plant-dependent insects. For example, changes in plant nutritional quality due to elevated CO2 levels can impact herbivorous insects.</p>



<h3 id="h-increased-extreme-events">Increased Extreme Events</h3>



<p>More frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as storms, floods, and heatwaves, can directly kill insects or destroy their habitats.</p>



<h3 id="h-interactions-with-other-stressors">Interactions with Other Stressors</h3>



<p>Climate change can exacerbate the impacts of other stressors like habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species, leading to additive or multiplicative effects on insect populations.</p>



<p>The specific impacts of climate change on insects can vary widely depending on the species and its particular ecology, life history, and geographical location.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Global insect decline: What are the causes and consequences?

The global decline of insect populations has become increasingly evident...

<p>A recent study led by <a href="https://www.vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a> has found that sections of the Chesapeake Bay are sinking at a rate of nearly seven millimeters per year. Unfortunately, up-to-date knowledge of where the ground is sinking and by how much is currently not included in the official planning maps which authorities use to assess the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-flood-risks-plague-the-us-housing-market/">flooding risk</a> from rising sea levels.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This phenomenon poses a significant challenge to present and future management efforts, which are likely to either underestimate or overestimate flooding risk to coastal communities from the Virginia shoreline.</p>



<p>The scientists used interferometric imaging with synthetic aperture radar from the Earth’s orbit to measure how much the land along the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/ice-in-the-chesapeake-bay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chesapeake Bay’s shoreline</a> had sunk between 2007 and 2020. By using this data, they estimated potential flooding through the 21<sup>st</sup> century caused by land elevation changes, sea level rise, and storm surges.</p>



<p>“Although we found that most of the bay is sinking by less than 2 millimeters a year, in several areas we discovered subsidence rates of 4 to 5 millimeters per year and more,” said study lead author Sonam Futi Sherpa, a doctoral student in Geosciences at Virginia Tech.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some hotspots of land subsidence occurring at a relatively higher rate and further exacerbating the effects of sea level rise and storm surges include Norfolk, Newport News, and Virginia Beach (parts of Chesapeake Bay's Hampton Roads). While many of these hotspots are sites of intense anthropogenic activity, such as groundwater pumping causing the compaction of aquifer systems, some of them are areas where land is lost due to erosion.</p>



<p>When examining various sea-level rise scenarios compounded with the effects of land subsidence, the scientists found that, by the end of the century, between 454 and 600 square kilometers will face a significant risk of flooding. In addition, massive storm surges such as 2003’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hurricane-isabel-north-atlantic-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hurricane Isabel</a> could increase the flooded area from 849 to 1,117 square kilometers under a very high greenhouse emissions scenario.</p>



<p>“There are many estimates and models for sea-level rise, but they all fall short because they don’t take into account land elevation changes,” said co-author Manoochcher Shirzaei, an associate professor of Radar Remote Sensing Engineering and Environmental Security at Virginia Tech.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“When formerly dry land becomes flooded, it causes saltwater contamination of surface and underground water, and it accelerates coastal erosion and wetland losses. The flooding hazards maps of the Chesapeake Bay area need to be updated with the measurements of land elevation changes and updated projections of sea level rise.”</p>



<p>According to the researchers, sinking ground along the shoreline significantly magnifies the effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-rise-will-cause-widespread-impacts-sooner-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea level rise</a>: as the ground goes down and the sea level comes up, flood waters will go much further inland. However, since various locations face different rates of land subsidence, long-term solutions to mitigate emergent problems should be tailored to each individual situation.</p>



<p>“Adaptation to relative sea level rises comprises three main categories of defense: protection, accommodation, and retreat. And coastal communities can choose and pick from a long list of options, such as upgrading protection facilities (e.g. dams), raising lands, maintaining and restoring wetlands protection, controlling subsidence, improving flood resiliency, selective relocation of important infrastructure, and installing flood warning systems,” Shirzaei concluded.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-sea-level-rise">More about sea level rise</h2>



<p>Sea level rise refers to the increase in the average global sea level, primarily driven by the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, as well as the expansion of seawater due to rising temperatures. This phenomenon is a significant consequence of climate change and poses substantial challenges to both human societies and the environment.</p>



<h3>Impacts on humanity</h3>



<h4>Coastal flooding</h4>



<p>As sea levels rise, the frequency and intensity of coastal flooding events increase, threatening the lives and properties of millions of people living in low-lying coastal areas.</p>



<h4>Erosion and loss of land</h4>



<p>Shorelines recede due to increased erosion, leading to the loss of valuable land, including agricultural fields, residential areas, and infrastructure.</p>



<h4>Displacement of populations</h4>



<p>Rising sea levels can lead to the permanent inundation of coastal areas, forcing millions of people to relocate. Climate refugees may face social, economic, and political challenges as they seek new homes.</p>



<h4>Damage to infrastructure</h4>



<p>Critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and power plants, can be damaged or destroyed by rising sea levels and the resulting increased flooding.</p>



<h4>Economic impact</h4>



<p>The loss of land, displacement of populations, and damage to infrastructure can significantly impact regional and global economies, disrupting trade, tourism, and other economic activities.</p>



<h3>Impacts on the environment</h3>



<h4>Loss of coastal ecosystems</h4>



<p>Rising sea levels can lead to the loss of critical coastal habitats such as wetlands, mangroves, and salt marshes. These ecosystems serve important ecological functions, including providing habitat for numerous species, filtering pollutants, and acting as natural buffers against storms and flooding.</p>



<h4>Saltwater intrusion</h4>



<p>As sea levels rise, saltwater can infiltrate freshwater aquifers and estuaries, affecting the quality and availability of drinking water and harming freshwater ecosystems.</p>



<h4>Changes in ocean chemistry</h4>



<p>Rising sea levels can lead to changes in the distribution and concentration of nutrients and pollutants in the ocean, which can impact marine life and ecosystems.</p>



<h4>Altered species distribution</h4>



<p>Sea level rise can affect the distribution of marine species by altering their habitats, potentially leading to shifts in the composition and structure of ecosystems.</p>



<h4>Impacts on coral reefs</h4>



<p>Coral reefs, which are essential for the survival of many marine species, can be negatively affected by sea level rise, as increased water depth can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the reefs, hindering the growth of the coral-building algae.</p>



<p>Mitigation and adaptation strategies are essential to minimize the impacts of sea level rise on humanity and the environment. These can include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in renewable energy, improving coastal infrastructure, implementing managed retreat strategies, and restoring and preserving critical coastal ecosystems.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB025993"><em>Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>—</p>



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



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

Sinking ground amplifies flood risk from sea level rise

A recent study led by Virginia Tech has found that...

<p>Fungi communicate in a way that is still a bit of a mystery to scientists, yet incredibly important to ecosystems. Several species of fungi play an important role in the ecological sustenance of forest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/non-native-trees-have-enormous-value-in-urban-areas/">trees</a>. </p>



<p>For instance, ectomycorrhizal fungi – commonly found on oak, pine, and birch trees – form a sheath around the outside regions of tree roots, while their mycelial body develops into vast underground networks absorbing crucial nutrients from the soil and transferring them to the trees.</p>



<p>Various studies have examined the possibility of electrical signal transfer between fungi and across trees via these mycelial networks, and hypothesized that fungi generate electrical signals in response to external stimuli to communicate with each other and coordinate growth and other behaviors. Some scientists have argued that these signals can even be used to help transfer nutrients to plants and trees.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the current scientific evidence for these hypotheses remains sparse, and most of the previous studies have been limited to the laboratory, thus failing to properly recreate what happens in the wild.</p>



<p>To address these shortcomings, a team of researchers led by <a href="http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/">Tohoku University</a> in Japan has conducted a field study in which they examined the behavior of small, tan-colored ectomycorrhizal fungi known as&nbsp;<em>Laccaria bicolor</em> in the wild. By attaching electrodes to six fungi in a cluster, they discovered that the electrical signals emitted by these fungi increased after rainfall.</p>



<p>“In the beginning, the mushrooms exhibited less electrical potential, and we boiled this down to the lack of precipitation,” said study lead author Yu Fukasawa, an assistant professor of Forest Microbial Ecology at Tohoku. “However, the electrical potential began to fluctuate after raining, sometimes going over 100 mV.”</p>



<p>The scientists managed to correlate the way fungi communicate through these electrical fluctuations with precipitation and temperature, and causality analysis revealed that the post-rain electric potential showed signal transport among fungi, which was particularly strong between spatially close mushrooms and exhibited clear directionality.</p>



<p>“Our preliminary results bring a call for studies on fungal electrical potentials in a more ecological context under field conditions,” the authors concluded.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-how-fungi-communicate">More about how fungi communicate</h2>



<p>Fungi, being an incredibly diverse group of organisms, have evolved various methods of communication with each other. Some of the main ways they communicate include chemical signaling, electrical signaling, and through physical connections called mycelial networks.</p>



<h3>Chemical signaling</h3>



<p>Fungi communicate by releasing chemical signals called pheromones and extracellular signaling molecules. These molecules are used to communicate with other fungi and organisms in their environment. In response to these signals, fungi can change their growth patterns, initiate sexual reproduction, or activate defense mechanisms. Quorum sensing is a common chemical communication strategy used by fungi, where they release and detect signaling molecules to monitor their population density and coordinate collective behaviors.</p>



<h3>Fungi communicate through electrical signaling</h3>



<p>Recent research has shown that some fungi can generate and transmit electrical signals similar to those found in animal nerve cells. This type of communication is not yet fully understood, but it's believed to help fungi coordinate their growth, respond to environmental changes, and interact with other organisms.</p>



<h3>Mycelial networks</h3>



<p>The mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of thread-like structures called hyphae. Mycelial networks can connect individual fungi and act as a communication and resource-sharing system. Through these networks, fungi communicate, exchange nutrients, water, and signaling molecules, allowing them to coordinate their growth, reproduction, and defense strategies.</p>



<p>Mycorrhizal associations, which are symbiotic relationships between fungi and plant roots, provide another example of fungal communication. In these associations, fungi help plants absorb nutrients and water, while plants provide fungi with sugars produced during photosynthesis. </p>



<p>This exchange of resources and signaling molecules helps both organisms to thrive and adapt to their environment.</p>



<p>While research into fungal communication is still in its early stages, the discoveries made so far provide fascinating insights into the complex interactions that govern fungal behavior and ecology.</p>



<h2>More about Fungi</h2>



<p>Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. They are distinct from plants, animals, and bacteria, and form their own kingdom, the Fungi kingdom. </p>



<p>Fungi play essential roles in various ecosystems as decomposers, symbionts, and even pathogens. Fungi communicate through a network of chemical and electrical signals. Here are some key features and aspects of fungi:</p>



<h3>Structure</h3>



<p>Fungal cells have a rigid cell wall made of chitin, a polysaccharide also found in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans. Most fungi grow as filamentous structures called hyphae, which together form a larger network called mycelium. Some fungi, like yeasts, grow as single-celled organisms.</p>



<h3>Reproduction</h3>



<p>Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction occurs through spore formation, budding, or fragmentation of the mycelium. Sexual reproduction typically involves the fusion of specialized cells called gametes, which can result in the production of genetically diverse spores.</p>



<h3>Nutrition</h3>



<p>Fungi are heterotrophic organisms, meaning they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic compounds from other organisms. Most fungi are saprophytic decomposers, breaking down dead organic material and recycling nutrients in the ecosystem. Some form symbiotic relationships with other organisms, such as mycorrhizal associations with plant roots or lichens formed between fungi and algae. There are also parasitic fungi that can infect plants, animals, and even humans.</p>



<h3>Ecological roles</h3>



<p>Fungi are crucial in maintaining ecosystem balance as decomposers, nutrient cyclers, and mutualistic symbionts. They help break down complex organic materials like cellulose and lignin in plant matter, making nutrients available for other organisms. Fungi also form symbiotic relationships with plants, enhancing their nutrient uptake and providing protection from pathogens.</p>



<h3>Economic and medical importance</h3>



<p>Fungi have numerous applications in food production, medicine, and biotechnology. They are used in the production of bread, beer, cheese, and various fermented foods. Some fungi, like the Penicillium species, produce antibiotics that are critical in treating bacterial infections. However, fungi can also cause diseases in plants, animals, and humans, and spoil food and other products.</p>



<h3>Biodiversity</h3>



<p>There are an estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million fungal species, but only about 120,000 have been formally described. Fungi can be found in diverse habitats, from terrestrial ecosystems like forests and grasslands to aquatic environments and even extreme environments like deserts and polar regions.</p>



<p>Our understanding of the fungal world is still growing, with new species and their ecological roles being discovered regularly. As research continues, the importance of fungi in maintaining the health and balance of ecosystems becomes increasingly apparent.</p>



<p>The research findings are published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2023.101229"><em>Fungal Ecology</em></a>.</p>



<p>—</p>



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



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

Fungi communicate and engage in more “conversations” after rainfall

Fungi communicate in a way that is still a bit...

<p>In&nbsp;a new book published by Routledge called <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Empathic-Leadership-Lessons-from-Elite-Sport/Sear/p/book/9781032349459"><em>Empathic Leadership: Lessons From Elite Sport</em></a>, psychologist and consultant Peter Sear argues that the time of dictatorial leaders in sports, screaming from the side-lines and insulting their players, has ended. He says we are currently witnessing the emergence of emotionally intelligent and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-humans-empathize-more-with-people-or-other-animals/">empathic</a> coaches who, by proving a deeper understanding of their players, manage to get efficient results.</p>



<p>By carrying in-depth interviews with coaches of nine different elite sports across the globe, and backing them up with the latest research, Sear has found that empathic leadership motivates teams, encourages loyalty, and significantly improves changes of success.</p>



<p>“The head coaches who are leading with empathy are getting more out of athletes. The consensus is that to have success as a leader in elite sport in the modern era, you must have an empathic approach,” he explained.</p>



<p>Elite sports are frequently a setting for turbulent emotions, and factors such as performance, fans’ reactions, and media interpretations can place significant pressure on athletes, who are also required to remain physically and mentally fit, injury-free, and at a certain weight to perform properly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to Sear, in order for athletes to manage to cope with all these stressors and maximize their changes of success, empathic leadership – characterized by relationship management, building trust, and establishing strong lines of communication – is essential.</p>



<p>“There is no advantage to ruling with fear – you are just losing out on powerful knowledge of your team and your athletes. Success as a leader<strong>&nbsp;</strong>depends on your knowledge and understanding of people, their emotions, perspectives, and intentions, as well as the relationships you have with them. It is in these vital areas that empathy will give you an advantage,” he argued.</p>



<p>“Understanding what motivates your players and what hinders them will improve the quality of your decision-making as a leader. If you can understand when to push your players and when to support them, and identify who has potential and who is no longer emotionally invested, you’ll make better decisions. Understanding the unique character of each athlete allows you to develop them effectively according to their needs, and get the best from them.”</p>



<p>Thus, necessary skills for a successful leader should include effective communication, understanding body language, having clear boundaries to be able to make difficult decisions such as when to bench players, as well as a strong sense of self-empathy, or understanding of one’s own emotions and how they may impact others. However, Sear stresses that empathy should not always be equated with being soft and gentle. “Sometimes you need to recognize that one person might need to be pushed while that other player might need a friendly ear,” he explained.</p>



<p>Finally, Sear argues that humans are innately more prone to respond to empathic leaders. “This way of leading suits humans better psychologically. Through empathic communication and empathic relationships, emotions can be managed and needs met. The experience of work is valued, with high levels of wellbeing, which manifests in confidence and peak performance,” he concluded.</p>



<p>—</p>



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



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

Sports coaches are more effective when they lead with empathy

In&nbsp;a new book published by Routledge called Empathic Leadership: Lessons...

Arbor Day: A celebration of trees and their unrivaled importance to the Earth

Hey there, tree-huggers and nature lovers! Today we're going to...

<p>A new mammalian tree of life has been created by a pioneering new study led by scientists from the <a href="https://vetmed.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences</a>. It provides a definitive answer to the long-standing question of the evolutionary timeline of mammals throughout the last 100 million years.</p>



<p>The research, published in Science, was conducted as part of the <a href="https://zoonomiaproject.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoonomia Project</a>. This is a global consortium of scientists working to understand the evolutionary history of the human genome within the context of mammalian evolutionary history by analyzing the largest mammalian genomic dataset ever assembled.</p>



<p>The team, led by Dr. William J. Murphy, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, and Dr. Nicole Foley, an associate research scientist in Murphy’s lab, focused on the field of phylogeny, which examines the evolutionary relationships and diversification of living and extinct organisms.</p>



<p>“The central argument is about whether placental mammals (mammals that develop within placentas) diverged before or after the Cretaceous-Paleogene (or K-Pg) extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs,” said Foley.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



<p>To create the new mammalian tree of life, the researchers performed new types of analyses made possible by the massive scope of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genomes-from-240-mammals-show-what-makes-humans-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoonomia Project</a>, which allowed them to determine when and where mammals diversified and evolved in relation to the K-Pg mass extinction.</p>



<p>Collaborating with researchers at the University of California, Davis; University of California, Riverside; and the American Museum of Natural History, the team concluded that mammals began diversifying before the K-Pg extinction due to continental drifting. This caused the Earth's land masses to drift apart and come back together over millions of years.</p>



<p>Another pulse of diversification occurred immediately after the extinction event, when mammals had more room, resources, and stability, leading to the rich diversity of mammal lineages we see today.</p>



<p>The research conducted by Murphy and Foley, which was funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a>, is part of the larger Zoonomia Project led by Elinor Karlsson and Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, of the Broad Institute.</p>



<p>The project also compares mammal genomes to understand the basis of remarkable phenotypes – the expression of certain genes such as brown vs. blue eyes – and the origins of disease.</p>



<p>Foley elaborated on the diversity among placental mammals, stating, “Mammals today represent enormous evolutionary diversity — from the whizzing flight of the tiny bumblebee bat to the languid glide of the enormous Blue Whale as it swims through Earth’s vast oceans. Multiple species have evolved to echolocate, some produce venom, while others have evolved cancer resistance and viral tolerance.”</p>



<h2>Shared differences across species</h2>



<p>She went on to explain that examining shared differences and similarities across mammalian species at a genetic level can help researchers determine the parts of the genome that are critical to regulating the expression of genes.</p>



<p>Murphy emphasized the significance of Foley’s resolved phylogeny of mammals for the goals of the Zoonomia Project. It seeks to harness the power of comparative genomics as a tool for human medicine and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-land-conservation-stop-the-biodiversity-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity conservation</a>.</p>



<p>“The Zoonomia Project is really impactful because it's the first analysis to align 241 diverse mammalian genomes at one time and use that information to better understand the human genome,” he said. “The major impetus for putting together this big data set was to be able to compare all of these genomes to the human genome and then determine which parts of the human genome have changed over the course of mammalian evolutionary history.”</p>



<h2>How the mammalian tree of life helps human health</h2>



<p>The ability to determine which parts of genes can be manipulated without causing harm to their function is crucial for human medicine. This is another big benefit of the new mammalian tree of life.</p>



<p>A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine, led by Texas A&amp;M geneticist Dr. Scott Dindot, utilized the comparative genomics approach to develop a molecular therapy for Angelman syndrome, a rare and devastating neurogenetic disorder caused by the loss of function of the maternal UBE3A gene in the brain.</p>



<p>This breakthrough was made possible by the groundwork laid by Dr. William J. Murphy and Dr. Nicole Foley's research on mammalian genomes as part of the Zoonomia Project.</p>



<p>Dindot's team harnessed the measures of evolutionary constraint identified by the Zoonomia Project to pinpoint a crucial but previously unknown genetic target. This can be used to restore the expression of UBE3A in human neurons.</p>



<p>Murphy explained that expanding the ability to compare mammalian genomes using the largest dataset in history will help develop more cures and treatments for ailments rooted in genetics, not just for humans but also for other species such as cats and dogs.</p>



<p>“For example, cats have physiological adaptations rooted in unique mutations that allow them to consume an exclusively high-fat, high-protein diet that is extremely unhealthy for humans,” Murphy said.</p>



<p>“One of the beautiful aspects of Zoonomia’s 241-species alignment is that we can pick any species (not just human) as the reference and determine which parts of that species’ genome are free to change and which ones cannot tolerate change. In the case of cats, for example, we may be able to help identify genetic adaptations in those species that could lead to therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease in people.”</p>



<h2>Incredible Contribution of the Zoonomia Project</h2>



<p>Murphy and Foley's phylogeny has played an instrumental role in several subsequent papers that are part of the Zoonomia Project. “It’s trickle-down genomics,” Foley explained.</p>



<p>“One of the most gratifying things for me in working as part of the wider project was seeing how many different research projects were enhanced by including our phylogeny in their analyses. This includes studies on conservation genomics of endangered species to those that looked at the evolution of different complex human traits.”</p>



<p>Foley expressed the significance of definitively answering the heavily debated question about the timing of mammal origins. Producing an expanded phylogeny through the mammalian tree of life lays the foundation for future generations of researchers.</p>



<p>“Going forward, this massive genome alignment and its historical record of mammalian genome evolution will be the basis of everything that everyone's going to do when they're asking comparative questions in mammals,” she said. “That is pretty cool.”</p>



<h2>More about the the Zoonomia Project</h2>



<p>The Zoonomia Project is a groundbreaking international collaborative effort that brings together scientists from around the globe to study the evolutionary history of the human genome within the context of mammalian evolutionary history. By utilizing the largest mammalian genomic dataset ever assembled, the project aims to better understand the genetic basis for traits and diseases in humans and other species.</p>



<p>The project's name, "Zoonomia," is derived from the term "zoonomy," which refers to the scientific arrangement or classification of animals. The Zoonomia Project has two main objectives:</p>



<h3>Comparative Cenomics in the mammalian tree of life</h3>



<p>The project compares the genomes of various mammalian species to identify shared differences and similarities. By analyzing these genomic patterns, scientists can gain insights into the parts of the genome that are critical to regulating gene expression. This knowledge can then be applied to understand the genetic basis of remarkable phenotypes. These include specific physical traits or the origins of diseases.</p>



<h3>Human medicine and biodiversity conservation</h3>



<p>The Zoonomia Project aims to harness the power of comparative genomics as a tool for human medicine and biodiversity conservation. By understanding the evolutionary history of different mammalian genomes, researchers can develop targeted therapies and treatments for various genetic ailments in humans and other species.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the project contributes to conservation efforts by studying the genomics of endangered species and identifying potential genetic factors contributing to their decline. The new mammalian tree of life is a key contributor.</p>



<p>The Zoonomia Project has already made significant advancements, with researchers like Dr. William J. Murphy and Dr. Nicole Foley resolving long-standing debates about the evolutionary timeline of mammals in relation to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.</p>



<p>Moreover, the project has played a crucial role in various research studies, including those focused on conservation genomics of endangered species and the evolution of complex human traits.</p>



<p>The Zoonomia Project's expansive dataset, which includes alignments of 241 diverse mammalian genomes, is expected to serve as the foundation for countless future studies in the field of comparative genomics and mammalian evolution.</p>

Mammalian tree of life traces evolution of mammals back 100 million years

A new mammalian tree of life has been created by...

<p>In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a> have introduced a novel mining technique that employs microbes to extract metals and store <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kelp-forests-are-losing-their-capacity-to-trap-carbon/">carbon</a> in the waste generated by mining activities. This innovative method of reusing mining waste, known as tailings, has the potential to revolutionize the mining industry by paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.</p>



<p>Tailings are a by-product of the mining process, consisting of fine-grained waste materials left after extracting the target ore mineral. These residual materials are then accumulated and stored using a technique called dry-stack tailing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As mining practices have evolved over time, they have become more efficient; however, the escalating climate crisis and the growing demand for critical minerals necessitate the development of new ore extraction and processing technologies.</p>



<p>Old tailings tend to contain higher amounts of critical minerals that can be extracted with the assistance of microbes through a process known as bioleaching. In this eco-friendly process, microbes break down the ore, releasing valuable metals that were not fully recovered, at a rate that is significantly faster than natural biogeochemical weathering processes.</p>



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



<p>Dr. Jenine McCutcheon, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, explained: “We can take tailings that were produced in the past and recover more resources from those waste materials and, in doing so, also reduce the risk of residual metals entering into local waterways or groundwater.”</p>



<p>Beyond enhancing resource recovery, the microbes also capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it within the mine tailings as new minerals. This process aids in counterbalancing some of the emissions released during the mine's active period and assists in stabilizing the tailings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If applied to an entire mine, microbial mineral carbonation could offset over 30% of a mine site's annual greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, this microbial-driven technique adds value to historical mine tailings that are otherwise classified as industrial waste.</p>



<p>“This technique makes better use of current and past mine sites. Rethinking how future mine sites are designed in order to integrate this process could result in mines that are carbon neutral from the get-go rather than thinking about carbon storage as an add-on at the end," said McCutcheon.</p>



<p>“This technology is a potential game-changer in the fight against climate change, and the mining industry has a unique opportunity to play a significant role in the future of green energy.”</p>



<p>McCutcheon explained that the microbial-driven processes could propel the industry towards carbon-neutral or carbon-negative mining. However, to transition this technology towards large-scale deployment, active engagement from the industry is crucial.</p>



<p>Dr. McCutcheon published this research alongside co-author and associate Professor Ian Power of Trent University in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/"><em>PLOS Biology</em></a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-environmental-impact-of-mining">More about the environmental impact of mining</h2>



<p>Mine tailings are the waste materials generated during the extraction and processing of valuable minerals from ores. They typically consist of finely ground rock particles, water, and various chemicals used in the mineral separation process.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These waste materials are stored in tailings storage facilities (TSFs) or tailings dams, which can occupy vast tracts of land and pose significant environmental risks.</p>



<h3 id="h-the-environmental-impact-of-mining-and-mine-tailings-can-be-considerable-and-includes-the-following">The environmental impact of mining and mine tailings can be considerable and includes the following:</h3>



<h4 id="h-water-pollution">Water pollution</h4>



<p>The chemicals and heavy metals in tailings can leach into groundwater and surface water, contaminating water sources and causing harm to aquatic ecosystems. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a common problem, which occurs when sulfide minerals in the tailings react with air and water, forming sulfuric acid that dissolves heavy metals. This can lead to waterways becoming highly acidic and toxic to aquatic life.</p>



<h4 id="h-soil-contamination">Soil contamination</h4>



<p>Tailings can also contaminate soil with heavy metals and chemicals, which can adversely affect plant growth and the health of soil-dwelling organisms. This may result in the degradation of local ecosystems and reduced agricultural productivity.</p>



<h4 id="h-air-pollution">Air pollution</h4>



<p>Dust from tailings storage facilities can become airborne, contributing to air pollution and posing health risks to nearby communities. Moreover, the extraction and processing of minerals often involve the release of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.</p>



<h4 id="h-habitat-destruction">Habitat destruction</h4>



<p>Mining operations often require the clearing of large areas of land, leading to the destruction of habitats and the displacement or loss of plant and animal species. This can also result in the fragmentation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.</p>



<h4 id="h-tailings-dam-failures">Tailings dam failures</h4>



<p>The structural failure of tailings dams can lead to catastrophic environmental disasters, as large volumes of toxic waste are released into the environment. This can cause widespread devastation to ecosystems, farmland, and nearby communities.</p>



<h4 id="h-long-term-environmental-risks">Long-term environmental risks:</h4>



<p>Mine tailings can pose long-term environmental risks due to their potential to leach contaminants and generate AMD even after mining operations have ceased. This necessitates ongoing monitoring and remediation efforts to prevent environmental damage.</p>



<p>Given these environmental impacts, there is a growing need for more sustainable and responsible mining practices. Techniques such as bioleaching, as mentioned in the previous answer, can help minimize the environmental footprint of mining activities by extracting valuable metals from tailings in an eco-friendly manner, reducing the need for new mines, and mitigating the risk of pollution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the use of microbes to capture carbon dioxide and store it as minerals within the tailings can help offset some of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Microbes can be used to store carbon and reuse mining waste

In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the University of Waterloo...

<p>Using hydrophones to “eavesdrop” on a reef off the coast of Goa, India, a team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.nio.org/"><em>National Institute of Oceanography</em></a> (NIO) in Goa has recently recorded the duration and timing of mating and feeding sounds produced by 21 marine species. The recordings revealed that, while some species were early risers, making sounds from 3am onwards, others were more active later in the day, starting to create a ruckus from around 2pm.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Better understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-warming-is-transforming-the-underwater-soundscape/">underwater soundscapes</a> could shed new light on the behaviors of a variety of marine creatures, as well as on the impact human activities have on ocean life, including the effects of anthropogenic climate change on aquatic ecosystems.</p>



<p>“Acoustic monitoring of underwater environments will enable us to know more about the climate and its related long-term changes in the physical and biological condition of the underwater environment,” said co-author Bishwajit Chakraborty, a former chief scientist at NIO. “For example, as coral reefs are the hub of underwater biodiversity, conducting acoustic studies here is extremely essential to know the state and health of the reef and its inhabitants.”</p>



<p>This study – published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0017248"><em>Journal of the Acoustical Society of America</em></a> - will contribute to a larger project aiming to create a <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.810156/full">Global Library of Underwater Biological Sounds</a> (GLUBS). This project represents a major legacy of the decade-long <a href="https://www.iqoe.org/">International Quiet Ocean Experiment</a> (IQOE), a scientific program running until 2025 and promoting research, observations, and modelling to improve our understanding of ocean soundscapes and the effects of sound on marine species.</p>



<p>GLUBS will be designed as an open-access online platform aiming to collect global information about underwater soundscapes in order to broaden and standardize scientific and community knowledge of these phenomena. Among its many applications, this platform will help improve scientists’ ability to detect in hard-to-access underwater environment how the distribution and behavior of marine life responds to various pressures, such as climate change, fishing, resource development, plastic pollution, or anthropogenic noise.</p>



<p>“Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is an effective technique for sampling aquatic systems that is particularly useful in deep, dark, turbid, and rapidly changing or remote locations,” explained GLUBS leader Miles Parsons.</p>



<p>According to Parsons and his colleagues, GLUBS will not only create and maintain a database of all aquatic species confirmed or anticipated to produce sounds, but also help reveal currently unknown species and contribute to their eventual identification and classification.</p>



<p>“Unidentified sounds can provide valuable information on the richness of the soundscape, the acoustic communities that contribute to it, and behavioral interactions among acoustic groups. However, unknown, cryptic, and rare sounds are rarely target signals for research and monitoring projects and are, therefore, largely unreported,” Parsons said.</p>



<p>In addition, GLUBS will also help delineate essential fish habitats, estimate the biomass of spawning aggregations of commercially or recreationally important soniferous species, help evaluate the degradation and recovery of coral reefs, and identify the possible impact of oil and gas, wind power, and other offshore industries on marine ecosystems.</p>



<p>“We need to listen more in the blue symphony halls.&nbsp;Animal sounds are behavior, and we need to record and understand the sounds, if we want to know the status of ocean life,”&nbsp;concluded Jesse Ausubel, an environmental scientist at the Rockefeller University and one of IQOE’s originators.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Monitoring ocean life through underwater soundscapes

Using hydrophones to “eavesdrop” on a reef off the coast...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air"><strong>Invisible threat in urban air</strong></h2>



<p>City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-connections-emerge"><strong>Disturbing connections emerge</strong></h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-matters"><strong>Timing matters</strong></h2>



<p>The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-vulnerability-patterns"><strong>Genetic vulnerability patterns</strong></h2>



<p>Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications"><strong>Public health implications</strong></h2>



<p>These findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a></em>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.</p>



<p>As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



<p>Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



<p>The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



<p>At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.</p>



<p>"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



<p>The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



<p>Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.</p>



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



<p>Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.</p>



<p>Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-combination-of-climate-factors">The combination of climate factors</h2>



<p>The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.</p>



<p>Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-implications">Modern climate implications</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a></em>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.</p>



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<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-monitoring-networks">Scientific monitoring networks</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



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<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-people-s-reactions-influence-children-s-eating-habits">Other people's reactions influence children's eating habits</h2>



<p>Many children are finicky eaters, but research explains how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-learned-why-so-many-kids-dislike-vegetables/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watching others eat and social modeling</a> influence the eating habits of children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Study Methodology Demonstrates Social Learning Impact</h2>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston University School of Psychology</a> have published findings in Frontiers in Psychology that illuminate the neurobiological foundations of food preference development through observational learning. The investigation employed controlled video stimuli featuring adults consuming raw broccoli while displaying systematically varied facial expressions to measure participant responses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Asymmetrical Response Patterns Identified</h2>



<p>The research, conducted with 204 female participants, revealed a pronounced asymmetry in social modeling effects. Negative facial expressions during vegetable consumption significantly diminished observer food preference ratings, while positive expressions failed to produce corresponding increases in vegetable appeal. This finding challenges conventional assumptions about the bidirectional nature of social influence in dietary behavior formation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evolutionary Psychology Framework Applied</h2>



<p>Dr. Katie Edwards and her research team propose that these results reflect adaptive mechanisms developed through evolutionary processes. The heightened sensitivity to disgust expressions likely functions as a protective system, enabling individuals to identify potentially harmful foods through social cues without direct risk exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clinical and Educational Implications</h2>



<p>These findings carry substantial implications for pediatric nutrition interventions and family meal dynamics. The research suggests that parental expressions of distaste during vegetable consumption may inadvertently reinforce children's existing food aversions through unconscious social transmission pathways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Research Directions</h2>



<p>The study establishes a foundation for expanded investigation into real-time social modeling effects and cross-demographic applicability. Researchers emphasize the necessity for longitudinal studies examining actual consumption behaviors rather than preference ratings alone, particularly within family contexts where social learning occurs most frequently.</p>



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<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc Some children read facial expressions when making food choices....

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-causing-protein-bound-and-blocked">Cancer-causing protein bound and blocked</h2>



<p>In a discovery that can one day revolutionize cancer treatment, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a> have successfully developed a means of controlling MYC, a notoriously slippery protein that causes approximately <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chaotic-protein-that-fuels-75-of-cancers-can-be-controlled/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">75% of all cancers in humans</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-myc-different">What makes MYC different</h2>



<p>MYC presents a unique challenge when studying cancer. Normally, this protein plays a vital role in healthy cells. It carefully controls transcription - the process that converts genetic information from DNA and RNA into proteins.</p>



<p>However, cancer changes everything. In cancer cells, MYC becomes a destructive force. It operates in overdrive mode with no regulation whatsoever.</p>



<p>Professor Min Xue, who led the research team, explains it simply: "MYC is less like food for cancer cells and more like a steroid. It drives cancer's aggressive growth." This superactive behavior makes MYC involved in three out of every four cancer cases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-myc-is-hard-to-target">Why MYC is hard to target</h2>



<p>Despite its clear role in cancer, targeting MYC has been one of medicine's biggest challenges. The main problem lies in MYC's unusual structure - or rather, its complete lack of structure.</p>



<p>Professor Xue describes the protein as "basically a glob of randomness." This means conventional drug discovery methods don't work. These traditional approaches rely on sharply defined protein structures. MYC simply doesn't have one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Approach to Fighting MYC</h2>



<p>The UCR research team developed a clever solution. They designed a special peptide molecule that could selectively bind to MYC. More importantly, this peptide could block MYC's destructive activity.</p>



<p>The key was fine-tuning two specific features: the peptide's stiffness and its shape. Through careful adjustments, researchers achieved something remarkable. They reached "sub-micro-molar affinity" - meaning their peptide binds as strongly as antibodies do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-results">Breakthrough results</h2>



<p>This accomplishment represents a major leap beyond previous attempts. The researchers enhanced their peptide's binding strength by two orders of magnitude. This dramatic improvement brings the work significantly closer to practical drug development goals.</p>



<p>The research opens new possibilities for treating the vast majority of cancers where MYC plays a destructive role.</p>



<p>The researchers are presently optimizing peptide-delivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver the peptide effectively into cancer cells. The<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> National Institutes of Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Defense</a> funded the study, which appeared in the Journal of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>.<br>This research offers renewed hope against cancer, and it can potentially open a door to more effective cancer therapies for most cancer patients worldwide.</p>



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The protein that fuels 3 out of 4 cancers has been controlled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



<p>On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.</p>



<p>This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.</p>



<p>Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.</p>



<p>The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators.  Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas.  These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.</p>



<p>Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.</p>



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



<p>Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.</p>



<p>Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



<p>385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.</p>



<p>The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.</p>



<p>Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



<p>The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."</p>



<p>This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a></em> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.</p>



<p>Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet <em>Archaeopteris</em>: the first modern tree</h2>



<p>The star of this ancient forest is <em>Archaeopteris</em> – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur <em>Archaeopteryx</em>. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.</p>



<p>William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.</p>



<p>Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



<p>These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.</p>



<p>This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



<p>The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified <em>Eospermatopteris</em>, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.</p>



<p>All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



<p>Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.</p>



<p>Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."</p>



<p>The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



<p>In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.</p>



<p>Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



<p>Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.</p>



<p>Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.</p>



<p>These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.</p>



<p>The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em>.</p>



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-map-exact-ages-when-your-body-rapidly-ages">Scientists Map Exact Ages When Your Body Rapidly Ages</h2>



<p>Scientists have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-two-very-precise-ages/#google_vignette">discovered that aging</a> isn't the gradual, steady process many assume it to be. Instead, researchers from Stanford Medicine have found that our bodies undergo dramatic molecular changes at two specific ages: 44 and 60. This research, published in Nature Aging, reveals that aging happens in sudden bursts rather than smooth transitions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-waves-of-rapid-aging">Two waves of rapid aging</h2>



<p>The Stanford study tracked over 135,000 different molecules and microbes in 108 participants aged 25 to 75 over several years. Results showed that 81% of all molecules studied exhibited non-linear changes, meaning they shifted dramatically at certain ages rather than changing gradually over time.</p>



<p>Michael Snyder, chair of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine and the study's senior author, noted significant findings. "We're not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes. It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that's true no matter what class of molecules you look at."</p>



<p>The first wave of changes occurs around age 44, affecting molecules related to alcohol metabolism, caffeine processing, lipid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>, and skin and muscle function. The second wave hits around age 60, involving changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, and again cardiovascular and muscle health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-during-these-aging-bursts">What happens during these aging bursts</h2>



<p>During the mid-40s transformation, researchers observed significant changes in how the body processes alcohol and fats. This period often coincides with increased stress levels in many people's lives, potentially contributing to lifestyle factors that accelerate these molecular shifts.</p>



<p>"It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, rather than being driven by biological factors," Snyder explained. For instance, alcohol metabolism dysfunction might result from increased consumption during the typically stressful mid-40s period.</p>



<p>The changes at age 60 are perhaps less surprising, as this is when many age-related diseases begin to manifest more prominently. The molecular shifts affect immune function and kidney health, both critical for maintaining overall wellness as we enter our senior years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-latest-research-confirms-aging-patterns">Latest research confirms aging patterns</h2>



<p>Recent 2025 studies have validated these findings. Research examining tissue samples from 76 people found similar aging patterns, noting an "inflection point" between ages 45 and 55.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered that blood vessels, particularly the aorta, age fastest among all body tissues. This vascular aging may drive aging in other body parts, highlighting cardiovascular health's central role in the aging process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cellular-changes-and-microbiome-shifts">Cellular changes and microbiome shifts</h2>



<p>The Stanford research revealed that these aging bursts affect our microbiome – the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and on our bodies. These microbial communities undergo substantial shifts during both aging periods, potentially affecting everything from digestion to immune function.</p>



<p>Additionally, researchers found that protein production and gene expression begin to fall out of sync as we age. This breakdown in cellular communication becomes especially pronounced during the two aging waves, contributing to the accumulation of damaged proteins associated with diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-brain-disorder-important-data-was-fabricated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-implications-and-longevity-considerations">Health implications and longevity considerations</h2>



<p>Understanding these aging patterns has important implications for healthcare strategies. Research suggests that people should pay particular attention to their health during their 40s and 60s, when these dramatic molecular changes occur.</p>



<p>Snyder emphasized the importance of proactive health measures. "I'm a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we're still healthy," he noted. This might include increasing exercise to protect heart health and maintain muscle mass, or reducing alcohol consumption in the 40s as the body's ability to metabolize it declines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-approaches-to-anti-aging-treatment">New approaches to anti-aging treatment</h2>



<p>Aging research has seen notable advances in 2025. Harvard Medical School scientists developed chemical cocktails that reverse cellular aging without genetic modification. These six combinations restored aged cells to youthfulness in under a week, offering safer alternatives to gene therapy.</p>



<p>Researchers identified new biomarkers like "InflammAge," a saliva-based test measuring chronic inflammation associated with aging. This non-invasive approach could change how we monitor aging and intervention.</p>



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



<p>Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cellular reprogramming, and senolytic therapies, are opening new possibilities for extending healthspan. Companies develop treatments targeting aging's fundamental mechanisms rather than just managing age-related diseases.</p>



<p>The Stanford findings provide a roadmap for implementing preventive measures. Rather than waiting for symptoms, people can prepare for and potentially mitigate these predictable aging waves.</p>



<p>As aging understanding evolves, one thing becomes clear: aging isn't inevitable decline, but specific biological events we may learn to prevent or reverse. The key is recognizing when these transitions occur and taking proactive health steps during vulnerable periods.</p>



<p>The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/nataging" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Aging</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages....

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-discover-the-brain-s-tickling-command-center">Scientists discover the brain's 'tickling command center'</h2>



<p>Researchers have finally solved one of humanity's most enduring mysteries: why we can't <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-centuries-of-debate-we-still-dont-know-how-tickling-works/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickle</a> ourselves and what makes some people incredibly ticklish while others barely react? Recent scientific discoveries are revolutionizing our understanding of this peculiar human behavior.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-discovery-in-the-brain">Breakthrough discovery in the brain</h2>



<p>In 2023, Dr. Michael Brecht's team at <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humboldt University</a>-<a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berlin</a> made a major discovery published in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)01991-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal <em>Neuron</em></a>. They identified the brain's actual "tickling command center" – specific neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray that control both tickling responses and play behavior.</p>



<p>When researchers used cutting-edge optogenetic technology to shut down these neurons in laboratory rats, something remarkable happened. The animals completely lost their ability to be tickled or engage in playful behavior.</p>



<p>"We found that global blockade of the rat periaqueductal gray with either muscimol or lidocaine interfered with ticklishness and play," the research team reported in their study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-types-of-tickling-revealed">Two types of tickling revealed</h2>



<p>What we call "tickling" is two completely different phenomena, according to the latest research. Light tickling – that feathery sensation that makes you want to scratch – is essentially your body's sophisticated bug detection system. This alerts you to potential insects or parasites on your skin.</p>



<p>Deep tickling – the kind that makes you laugh uncontrollably – involves complex brain circuits and is fundamentally social. You literally cannot tickle yourself with this type of stimulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-self-tickling-is-impossible">Why self-tickling is impossible</h2>



<p>Your cerebellum acts like a prediction machine, recent findings show. When you move your own hand to touch yourself, your brain generates precise predictions about what you will feel and then cancels out the tickling sensation through neural inhibition.</p>



<p>When someone else tickles you, your brain can't predict their movements, so the full tickling response activates. It's like your brain's way of distinguishing between self and others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual-differences-explained">Individual differences explained</h2>



<p>Individual differences in ticklishness depend on genetics, psychology, and even trust. Dr. Xinzhong Dong at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> notes that people with denser nerve endings tend to be more sensitive.</p>



<p>Psychological factors matter just as much. You respond more strongly when tickled by people you trust, and anxiety completely shuts down tickling responses. This explains why the same physical stimulus can produce completely different reactions depending on who's doing the tickling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-your-ticklishness">Controlling your ticklishness</h2>



<p>Science offers answers for controlling your ticklishness. You can reduce tickling sensitivity through systematic desensitization – gradual exposure in controlled settings.</p>



<p>Dr. Konstantina Kilteni's 2025 research, published in <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt0350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>, reveals another technique: place your hand on the tickler's hand. This allows your brain to partially predict the sensations, reducing the tickling response by up to 90 percent.</p>



<p>"Your brain is essentially learning to override its own reflexes," Kilteni explained in her review of tickling research.</p>



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



<p>From an evolutionary perspective, tickling serves vital functions according to <a href="https://www.umd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> researcher Dr. Robert Provine's extensive studies. It trains our defense reflexes for vulnerable body areas and facilitates social bonding between family members.</p>



<p>Tickling-induced laughter is actually one of the first forms of communication between infants and caregivers. "Tickle involves a neurological self/nonself discrimination, providing the most primitive social scenario," Provine noted in his research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-applications-emerge">Clinical applications emerge</h2>



<p>Research shows people with autism spectrum disorder perceive touches as more ticklish than people without the condition. Investigating this difference could provide insight into brain differences and help advance autism research.</p>



<p>People with schizophrenia tend to experience self-touches similarly to external tickles, allowing them to essentially tickle themselves. This suggests altered sensory prediction mechanisms in the condition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-research-reveals-universal-nature">Animal research reveals universal nature</h2>



<p>Scientists have discovered that many species beyond humans are ticklish. Rats emit ultrasonic "laughs" when tickled, while chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans all respond to tickling stimulation.</p>



<p>This widespread occurrence across species suggests that tickling serves fundamental biological and social functions that evolved long before humans developed complex language and culture.</p>



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



<p>Dr. Kilteni argues that tickling research deserves more scientific attention. "It is a complex interplay of motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects," she stated in her recent review.</p>



<p>New haptic technologies and advanced research methodologies now permit scientists to investigate tickle sensation with unprecedented precision. Standardized experimental methods using mechanical tickling devices ensure consistent results across studies.</p>



<p>Recent findings published in <em>Science Advances</em> show that tickling research is opening new doors in neuroscience, potentially leading to a better understanding of social behavior, sensory processing, and neurological conditions.</p>



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4 The hidden science behind tickling. Scientists discover the brain's...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals secret mission to create working time travel device.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-an-equation-truly-bend-time-a-physicist-s-decades-long-quest-to-rewrite-reality">Could an equation truly bend time? A physicist's decades-long quest to rewrite reality</h2>



<p>Imagine the impossible: stepping back through time in a time machine, not in fantasy, but through a scientific endeavor driven by profound personal loss. For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrophysicist-says-hes-cracked-the-equation-for-time-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Ronald Mallett</a>, a distinguished astrophysicist and professor emeritus at the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut</a>, this deeply human longing has fueled a lifelong mission. He claims to have discovered the equation that could unlock temporal displacement, pushing boundaries once deemed purely science fiction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-profound-grief-that-forged-a-vision">A profound grief that forged a vision</h2>



<p>Mallett's extraordinary pursuit began with devastating tragedy in 1955. At merely 10 years old, he endured his father Boyd's sudden death—a television repairman whose passion for science had ignited a similar spark in his young son. Boyd Mallett, only 33, succumbed to a heart attack, leaving behind a grief-stricken child searching for solace.</p>



<p>That solace came through H.G. Wells' <em>The Time Machine</em>. Within its pages, Mallett found a captivating concept: "Time is only a kind of Space." These words transformed from a literary phrase into a guiding principle, becoming the driving force behind his unwavering commitment to unraveling time's fundamental mysteries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-humble-beginnings-to-academic-heights">From humble beginnings to academic heights</h2>



<p>Mallett's journey was far from straightforward. After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era, he utilized the GI Bill for higher education, earning his Ph.D. in physics from Pennsylvania State University in 1973 at the age of 28.</p>



<p>In 1975, he made history as the first African American professor in the University of Connecticut's physics department, achieving full professorship in 1987 before retiring in 2024 as professor emeritus.</p>



<p>Throughout these successful academic years, Mallett harbored his radical ambition as a closely guarded secret. "I kept my time travel goal a secret," he confessed. "I worried people would think I was nuts." His public research centered on black holes, serving as a "cover story" while he quietly developed his revolutionary time travel theory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-breakthrough-moment">The breakthrough moment</h2>



<p>His pivotal insight arrived while hospitalized for a heart condition—a profound irony given his father's heart attack started this journey. The breakthrough was elegantly simple yet revolutionary: "If gravity can bend time, and light can create gravity, then light can bend time."</p>



<p>"It turns out that black holes can create a gravitational field that could lead to the creation of time loops that could allow us to go back in time," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-blueprint-for-a-temporal-vortex">The blueprint for a temporal vortex</h2>



<p>Mallett's vision for a functioning time machine replicates spacetime-warping phenomena around black holes. He offers a compelling analogy: "Picture a cup of coffee. Stir it with a spoon, and the coffee swirls. A spinning black hole does the same to spacetime."</p>



<p>In Einstein's general relativity, the universe is a dynamic fabric woven from space and time. Massive objects like black holes warp this fabric—an effect we perceive as gravity. Mallett theorizes that an intense, continuous, circulating beam of light from a ring of powerful lasers could replicate this gravitational torsion, effectively twisting time into a loop.</p>



<p>This "time loop" would theoretically allow information—or perhaps matter—to travel backward in time. He detailed this mathematical concept in his 2006 autobiography, <em>Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-published-research-and-recognition">Published research and recognition</h2>



<p>His work, published in respected journals including <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/physics-letters-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics Letters A</a></em> and <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations of Physics</a></em>, suggests circulating laser light could generate gravitational fields potent enough to create closed timelike curves, enabling time travel for data.</p>



<p>Mallett's research has gained worldwide media attention, featured on <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio's <em>This American Life</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.history.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">History Channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC's <em>Today Show</em></a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galactic-hurdles-and-persistent-skepticism">The galactic hurdles and persistent skepticism</h2>



<p>While Mallett's equations captivate imagination, the path to reality faces immense obstacles. The energy requirement is staggering—Mallett acknowledges needing "galactic amounts of energy," far beyond current technological capabilities.</p>



<p>There's also a poignant limitation: even if realized, his machine could only send information back to when it was first activated, meaning it couldn't transport him to 1955 to prevent his father's death.</p>



<p>The scientific community remains skeptical. Physicists Ken Olum and Allen Everett argue that Mallett's proposed laser ring would need to be larger than the observable universe to achieve the necessary spacetime distortion. They invoke Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture, suggesting physics may prevent macroscopic time travel.</p>



<p>Astrophysicist Paul Sutter has voiced doubts about Mallett's underlying mathematics, while science writer Brian Clegg finds the concept intriguing enough to warrant experimental investigation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-that-transcends-time">A legacy that transcends time</h2>



<p>Now approaching 80, Dr. Mallett remains steadfast. "I believe my work will show time travel is possible," he asserts. "Future generations will build on it in ways we can't yet imagine."</p>



<p>His equations, though yet to physically bend time, have bent our collective imagination. Ongoing public interest, evidenced by his continued media appearances and Spike Lee's film adaptation of his memoir, underscores his ideas' profound impact.</p>



<p>More than a scientific pursuit, Mallett's story testifies to human resilience, intellectual courage, and hope's enduring power. Whether his theoretical time machine ever materializes, his legacy is immeasurable—inspiring countless individuals to challenge conventional limits and perceive time not as an unyielding barrier, but as a boundless frontier awaiting exploration.</p>



<p></p>



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



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Retired professor claims he solved time travel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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