As we continue to explore the cosmos, we are discovering an increasing number of exoplanets that could potentially <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-finds-17-exoplanets-that-have-oceans-and-possibly-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harbor life</a>. One such world is K2-18 b, an exoplanet that has recently captured the attention of astronomers due to the presence of intriguing DMS gas molecules in its atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-footprints-found-on-k2-18-b">Carbon footprints found on K2-18 b</h2>



In September 2023, Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>, announced a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-exoplanet-k2-18-have-the-right-conditions-to-support-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">very intriguing discovery</a>. 



Using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>), Madhusudhan and his team detected the presence of carbon-bearing molecules, including methane and carbon dioxide, on exoplanet K2-18 b. 



This discovery was added to other <a href="https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2019/news-2019-50" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent studies</a> suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, characterized by a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.



"Our findings underscore the importance of considering diverse habitable environments in the search for life elsewhere," explained Madhusudhan, the lead author of the paper announcing these results. 



"Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-class-of-exoplanets-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hycean worlds</a> are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations," he continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tantalizing-hint-of-dimethyl-sulfide-dms">Tantalizing hint of dimethyl sulfide (DMS)</h2>



The initial Webb observations also provided a possible detection of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). On Earth, this molecule is "only produced by life", primarily by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-tiny-ocean-creatures-overlooked-critical-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton</a> in marine environments. 



The abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, along with the shortage of ammonia, support the hypothesis that K2-18 b may have a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.



"It was a real shock, I had sleepless nights for a week," enthused Dr. Madhusudhan, recalling the moment when the analysis showed a possible hint of DMS in the planet's atmosphere. "That week, I didn't even muster the courage to break it to my own team."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-a-whiff-of-dms-made-astronomers-look-again">Why a whiff of DMS made astronomers look again</h2>



Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is an organic compound with the chemical formula (CH3)2S. This colorless, flammable liquid possesses a characteristic odor often associated with the smell of the ocean. 



DMS plays a crucial role in the Earth's sulfur cycle and has garnered significant attention due to its potential as a biomarker for extraterrestrial life.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biological-significance-of-dms-on-earth">Biological significance of DMS on Earth</h3>



On Earth, dimethyl sulfide is predominantly produced by marine organisms, particularly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-plankton-hold-a-long-record-of-ocean-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton</a>. These tiny, photosynthetic organisms release DMS as a byproduct of their metabolic processes. 



When DMS enters the atmosphere, it undergoes oxidation, contributing to the formation of cloud condensation nuclei. This process influences cloud formation and, consequently, Earth's climate.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">DMS as a biomarker for extraterrestrial life</h3>



Detecting DMS on distant exoplanets presents numerous challenges. The molecule's spectral signature is difficult to distinguish from other compounds, and its presence in an atmosphere may be masked by other gases. 



The detection of DMS in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, such as K2-18 b, has significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial life. 



On Earth, DMS is exclusively produced by biological processes, making it a compelling biomarker. The presence of DMS in an exoplanet's atmosphere suggests the possibility of marine life similar to Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-may-flip-plankton-into-carbon-emitters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-k2-18-b-an-exoplanet-like-no-other">K2-18 b: An exoplanet like no other</h2>



K2-18 b orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-expands-the-habitable-zone-where-we-may-find-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitable zone</a>, approximately 120 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. With a radius 2.6 times that of Earth, K2-18 b is unlike anything in our solar system. 



These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neptune-like-exoplanets-atmospheres-interesting-earth-size-neighbors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sub-Neptune exoplanets</a> are poorly understood, and the nature of their atmospheres is a matter of active debate among astronomers.



"Although this kind of planet does not exist in our solar system, sub-Neptunes are the most common type of planet known so far in the galaxy," explained team member Subhajit Sarkar of <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff University</a>. 



"We have obtained the most detailed spectrum of a habitable-zone <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planetary-migration-model-explains-super-earths-and-sub-neptunes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sub-Neptune</a> to date, and this allowed us to work out the molecules that exist in its atmosphere," Sarkar concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-detective-story-continues">Cosmic detective story continues</h2>



The team is now conducting follow-up research with the JWST's <a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/miri.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIRI</a> (Mid-Infrared Instrument) spectrograph, hoping to further validate their findings and provide new insights into the environmental conditions on K2-18 b. 



The inference of DMS on the exoplanet, though incredibly tantalizing, requires further validation. As Madhusudhan explained, "Upcoming Webb observations should be able to confirm if DMS is indeed present in the atmosphere of K2-18 b at significant levels."



"Our ultimate goal is the identification of life on a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-earth-discovered-in-the-habitable-zone-of-its-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitable exoplanet</a>, which would transform our understanding of our place in the universe," concluded Madhusudhan. "Our past findings and future studies are a promising step towards a deeper understanding of Hycean worlds in this quest."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-finding-life-on-k2-18-b">Implications of finding life on K2-18 b</h2>



As we stand on the precipice of a potentially transformational discovery, the tantalizing hint of alien life on K2-18 b reminds us of the boundless possibilities that await us in the vast expanse of the universe. 



The tireless efforts of astronomers like Nikku Madhusudhan and his team, coupled with the unparalleled capabilities of the Webb Telescope, bring us closer than ever to answering one of humanity's most profound questions: Are we alone? 



As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming observations and the revelations they may bring, we find ourselves inspired by the relentless curiosity and unwavering dedication of those who seek to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, pushing the boundaries of our understanding and redefining our place in the universe.



The full study was published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2041-8205" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.



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Webb studies planet K2-18 b again to confirm presence of gas ‘only produced by life’

As we continue to explore the cosmos, we are discovering an increasing number of exoplanets that could potentially harbor life. One such world is K2-18 b, an exoplanet that has recently captured the attention of astronomers due to the presence of intriguing DMS gas molecules in its atmosphere. Carbon footprints found on K2-18 b In September 2023, Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge, announced a very intriguing discovery. Using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Madhusudhan and his team detected the presence of...

By now you’ve probably heard about <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47279253">Flat Earth</a>, the surprisingly growing movement of skeptics that claim the Earth is flat. 

At the core of Flat Earth theory lies a deeply held belief that a simple fact proven through hundreds, if not thousands of years of scientific discovery, is nothing more than a lie fed to society by people in power. 

And the question that stands out, at least by those skeptical of Flat Earth theory, is why? 

Why do people hold so strongly to the concept of Flat Earth? What is so appealing, so plausible in the idea that our spinning globe is a stationary flat disk with a wall of ice at the edges? 

As much as the scientific community and the media would wish it, the Flat Earth theory isn’t sliding off into oblivion any time soon. 

Flat Earthers have formed a massive community, hosting <a href="https://flatearthconference.com/">conferences</a>, cruises, podcasts, a potential TV show, and even planned <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2019/03/16/flat-earth-supporters-now-plan-an-antarctica-expedition-to-the-edge-of-the-world/">scientific expeditions </a>to prove their central hypothesis. 

Behind the Curve, a documentary directed by Daniel J. Clark gets up and personal with Flat Earthers from all over, but in true documentary style, allows the audience an inside look without agenda.

The Flat Earthers that grace the documentary, including self-proclaimed Flat Earth Mayor Mark Sargent and podcast host Patricia Steere, are never portrayed as wacky loons left to the fringes of society but instead are given an opportunity to share their views. 

There is no corner of Flat Earth that isn’t explored in Behind the Curve. 

We meet Matt Boylan through a few brief clips who was an artist for the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">National Aeronautics and Space Administration</a> (NASA) that apparently blew the whole thing wide open, and according to Mark Sargent, was one of the driving reasons he first started exploring Flat Earth in the first place. 

The documentary also features Nathan Thompson, a Flat Earther that had this to say about his Flat Earth journey:

“And then the more I researched it, and then I found it’s actually the biblical cosmology is a geocentric cosmology, then I realized why they’re hiding the truth, it's because they don’t want anyone to know anything. They want people blind, dumb, deaf to the truth…so they can inject you with their vaccines, and public schooling and this heliocentric model which is basically forced sun worship.” 

Thompson also states that dinosaurs are made up and Clark shows footage of Thompson being kicked out of a Starbucks for yelling at a NASA employee. 

These brief interludes show the audience that even in a conspiracy, there is no one unifying belief or theory, and that there can be different kinds of conspiracies within the conspiracy. 

You have angry extremists who say Hollywood faked the 2017 Flat Earth Conference and you have well-meaning citizen scientists like Jeran Campanella and Bob Knodel who discuss several experiments in progress they hope will help prove the Earth is flat. 

Interestingly, both Knodel and Campanella appear to prove the Earth is round through two in-depth experiments. In one experiment, Knodel, a consultant with an impressive resume discusses an experiment he is working on with a team using a $20,000 laser gyroscope. 

Knodel and his team know that if the Earth is round, then theoretically you would be able to register a spinning movement or drift with a high-tech gyroscope.  

“What we found is, is when we turned on that gyroscope we found that we were picking up a drift,” Knodel says in the documentary. “A 15 degree per hour drift.” 

Not able to accept this, Knodel goes on to explain how the team will disprove the gyroscope’s initial readings.

“Now, obviously we were taken aback by that. ‘Wow, that’s kind of a problem,’” said Knodel. “We obviously were not willing to accept that, and so we started looking for ways to disprove it was actually registering the motion of the Earth.”

It’s Camapenella’s experiment, though, that gets the last word, as it’s one of the final scenes of the film. To prove the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/volcanoes-earths-largest-mass-extinction/">Earth</a> is flat, Campanella came up with an experiment using a laser that would show once and for all that the Earth has no curvature. 

The first attempt with the laser experiment doesn’t work because the laser beam isn’t focused enough to measure accurately. 

At the end of the film, Campanella walks the audience through his second attempt, where two styrofoam sheets have been placed at either end across a four-mile distance, with holes cut out at the same height. 

The theory was that by shining a light through one sheet, the light would travel and be visible by Campanella. If the Earth is round, the light wouldn’t hit the right marks. 

At the end of the documentary, Campanella orders one of his colleagues to turn on their light which is not visible by Campanella, thereby confirming the Earth’s curvature. And yet, seemingly undaunted by these experiments, the two are steadfast as ever in their belief that the Earth is flat. 

Clark doesn’t focus on these experiments too much because at the end of the day, Behind the Curve isn’t setting out to prove or disprove Flat Earth theory. 

Instead, we get an inside glimpse of what motivates and drives the Flat Earth theory. Clark provides a little context to the meme-worthy headlines and balances out Flat Earth theory with interviews from expert psychologists, physicists, science writers, and even astronaut Scott Kelly. 

Some of the more notable parts of the documentary examine the dangers of dismissing Flat Earthers outright. 

In multiple interviews, Clark says that his goal was not put Flat Earthers in a bad light and that he specifically chose not to reach out to Neil DeGrasse Tyson or Bill Nye because of their “antagonistic views” toward Flat Earthers. 

By including interviews with psychologists and psychiatrists, Clark goes into the why and how of conspiracies and why people might be swayed into believing the Earth is flat. 

When we lump all Flat Earthers under the dismissive term “crazy,” not only are we further isolating people but also just reinforcing the deep seeded “us-against-them” ideologies that help fuel so many conspiracies. 

“I hope people stop putting flat earthers into this huge group and just say they’re idiots, that they’re dumb and we should just throw them off the edge,” Clark told GQ.  “If you don’t have a conversation with them, and call them stupid, that only entrenches them in their belief. You want a society that can accept and trust science, but science needs to do a better job of communicating, and people need to be a little more accepting of other people’s beliefs, and not be so black and white about right and wrong.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Behind the Curve: Netflix doc examines why some insist the Earth is flat

By now you’ve probably heard about Flat Earth, the surprisingly...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/naturally-occurring-hormone-memory-loss/">Memory decline</a> is an unfortunate but natural part of the aging process and not always indicative of a more serious condition like Alzheimer's or dementia. 

Still, memory decline can still certainly make day to day life difficult. But researchers from the <a href="https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine</a> may have found a potential treatment for reversing age-related memory decline in a new study published in the journal Neurology.

The team found that stimulating the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory decline, of older adults improved memory to such a degree that older adults scored the same as younger groups in memory tests. 

“Older people's memory got better up to the level that we could no longer tell them apart from younger people,” said Joel Voss, a lead investigator of the study. “They got substantially better.”

16 participants, aged 64 to 80, took part in the study and the researchers used Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to target the hippocampus.

The hippocampus is where connections are made and form a memory, according to the researchers.

“It's the part of the brain that links two unrelated things together into a memory, like the place you left your keys or your new neighbor's name,” said Voss. “Older adults often complain about having trouble with this.”

In older adults, the hippocampus is smaller, and the researchers applied the magnetic stimulation to a spot above the left ear by the parietal lobe which communicates directly with the hippocampus.

“We stimulated where brain activity is synchronized to the hippocampus, suggesting that these regions talk to each other,” said Aneesha Nilakantan, the first author of the study.

Before going through the TMS therapy, participants both young and old were asked to complete memory tasks to assess memory ability. The participants had to learn relationships between paired items and later recall these pairings.

Older adults remembered less than 40 percent of the correct pairings.

Next, the older adults had repetitive high-frequency stimulation applied to the same spot for 20 minutes a day, five days in a row.

After the five days of treatment, the participants were tasked with a new memory test, and scores were the same regardless of age.

Next, the researchers want to test how TMS impacts the memory of participants in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Brain stimulation could help improve memory for older adults, study finds

Memory decline is an unfortunate but natural part of the...

Researchers have found what they believe is the strongest evidence yet that volcanoes caused the biggest mass extinction in Earth’s history. Paleontologists at the <a href="https://www.uc.edu/">University of Cincinnati</a> and the <a href="https://en.cug.edu.cn/">China University of Geosciences</a> discovered a spike in mercury buried in ancient rock at nearly a dozen sites around the world.

The findings suggest that volcanic eruptions were to blame for the mass extinction event that is also known as “the Great Dying.” Around 252 million years ago, catastrophic environmental conditions wiped out 95 percent of all life on the planet over the course of hundreds of thousands of years.

The results of the new analysis suggest that the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/volcanic-eruptions-dinosaur-extinction/">eruptions</a> ignited massive coal deposits, releasing mercury vapor high into the atmosphere. Eventually, it rained back down into marine sediment and created a lasting elemental signature.

“Volcanic activities, including emissions of volcanic gases and combustion of organic matter, released abundant mercury to the surface of the Earth,” said study lead author Jun Shen.

The powerful eruptions took place within a volcanic system called the Siberian Traps in what is now central Russia. Many of the frequent and long-lasting eruptions exploded through gaping fissures in the ground. 

“Typically, when you have large, explosive volcanic eruptions, a lot of mercury is released into the atmosphere,” explained Professor Thomas Algeo. “Mercury is a relatively new indicator for researchers. It has become a hot topic for investigating volcanic influences on major events in Earth's history.”

The eruptions released as much as three million cubic kilometers of ash high into the air over the years of the extinction event. To put this in perspective, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington spewed only one cubic kilometer of ash, yet ash could be seen as far away as Oklahoma.

According to Professor Algeo, the Siberian Traps eruptions emitted so much material and gas into the sky that it warmed the planet by an average of about 10 degrees. He explained that this abrupt climate change would have likely been one of the biggest culprits in the mass extinction.

Shen said that understanding this catastrophic event could shed light on how global warming may lead to another mass extinction today. 

“The release of carbon into the atmosphere by human beings is similar to the situation in the Late Permian, where abundant carbon was released by the Siberian eruptions,” he said.

“A majority of biologists believe we're at the cusp of another mass extinction - the sixth big one. I share that view, too,” said Professor Algeo. “What we should learn is this will be serious business that will harm human interests so we should work to minimize the damage.”

“We're likely to see more famine and mass migration in the hardest hit places. It's a global issue and one we should recognize and proactively deal with. It's much easier to address these problems before they reach a crisis.”

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

New evidence shows volcanoes did cause Earth’s largest mass extinction

Researchers have found what they believe is the strongest evidence...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.earth.columbia.edu/">Earth Institute at Columbia University</a> have turned to ancient urine to work out the details of the transition from hunting to herding during the Neolithic Revolution, which occurred around 10,000 BC. The urine salts, the scientists claim, can help them map out the pace of change when humans first began domesticating animals in ancient Turkey.

“This is the first time, to our knowledge, that people have picked up on salts in archaeological materials, and used them in a way to look at the development of animal management," said lead author Jordan Abell, a graduate student at the <a href="https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/">University of Columbia Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory</a>.

Prior to using urine salts, researchers relied on bone fragments and fossilized dung to estimate population size in ancient settlements, however, this process can be difficult. 

"We thought, well, humans and animals pee, and when they pee, they release a bunch of salt," Abell said. "At a dry place like this, we didn't think salts would be washed away and redistributed."

Using the salts, scientists were able to calculate the density of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-humans-swapping-genes/">humans</a> and animals at the Turkey settlement at any specific time. Around 10,000 years ago, they found a jump in the number of animals and people at the settlement — from about zero to approximately one person per one animal for every 10 square meters. This finding suggests that domestication may have happened quicker than previously thought, perhaps within just 1,000 years.

The team looked at over 113 samples from the site in question, calculating sodium, nitrate, and chlorine salt levels along the way. They watched as the amount of urine salts increased over time, with the largest spike occurring between 10,000 and 9,700 years ago. Abell says that these findings support the theory that the ancient humans began as hunters of sheep and goats, then they corralled a few and then corralled a larger number, finally keeping domesticated goats and sheep on the periphery of the settlement.

The findings appear in <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

The researchers hope to eventually be able to discern human urine from livestock urine. However, even without being able to do so, using urine salts as a method for tracking population have been proven useful in arid areas where dung and bone fragments may be lacking.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Güne Duru

Transition from hunting to herding discovered in ancient urine

Researchers from the Earth Institute at Columbia University have turned...

A study into one of the world’s oldest types of fish is giving experts new clues about how lobe-finned fishes and land animals evolved. The analysis of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, is also answering questions about the skull and brain development of vertebrates.

The coelacanth was thought to have vanished with the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-flourishing-killed-off/">dinosaurs</a> over 65 million years ago, until a living specimen was found off the coast of South Africa in 1938. The discovery prompted debate about how this fish fits into our understanding of the evolution of land animals.

The skull of this rare fish was found to be completely split in half a by special “intracranial joint,” and its brain is only one percent the size of the skull. An international team of researchers led by Dr. Hugo Dutel at the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> has looked into the biology of this unique skull at different stages of development to determine when it divides and forms a hinge.

“We think that formation of this special joint is probably caused by the unique development of the notochord (a tube extending below the brain and the spinal cord in the early stages of life),” explained study co-author Professor John Long.

“It usually degenerates into a small rod below the brain in some fishes. However, the notochord for Coelacanth expands dramatically to become 50 times bigger than the brain in the adult fish.”

“This process of brain growth is very unusual, especially compared to primates like us in which the brain expands dramatically. A mismatch between the brain and its cavity also exists in some other living and fossil fishes, but what is observed here is totally unequalled among vertebrates.”


Today, the two species of coelacanth that remain are referred to as “living fossils” because they are physically unchanged. To visualize the internal anatomy of the fish, the scientists used advanced imaging techniques. The data was used to create detailed 3D models, which allowed the team to analyze how the shape of the skull, the brain. and the notochord changes from a fetus to an adult.

“Coelacanths are iconic animals thought to be on the line to the first land animals or tetrapods, because of their strange hinged head,” said Professor Long. “This new research shows the peculiar hinge in the skull was caused by persistence of the large cartilaginous rod, or notochord, preventing the skull form ossifying as one solid unit.”

The team noted how these structures are positioned relative to each other throughout development, and compared the observations to the formation of the skull in other vertebrates.


“There are still more questions than answers! Latimeria still holds many clues for our understanding of vertebrate evolution, and it is important to protect this threatened species and its environment,” said Dr. Hutel.


The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Laurent Ballista, Gombessa expeditions, Andromede Oceanology Ltd

‘Living fossils’ reveal how skulls evolved in vertebrates

A study into one of the world’s oldest types of...

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, over 800 million tons of dairy products are made from cow’s milk every year. For the very first time, a study published by the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> has produced a comprehensive database of all the known compounds in bovine milk.

For more than 10,000 years, dairy milk has driven both economic and agricultural developments worldwide. Although previous studies have identified thousands of components in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-milk-dairy-products-9000-years/">milk</a>, the data are not organized. Furthermore, the composition of milk varies by breed of cow, type of feed, and other factors.

There have been targeted chemical analyses that provided scientists with large amounts of data on milk compounds in the past. However, none of these studies have fully identified and quantified the makeup of bovine milk. To investigate, a research team at the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/">University of Alberta</a> led by David Wishart conducted research that has produced the most clear information to date.


The researchers used an approach that combined both experimental technologies and literature text-mining. The team examined commercially purchased skim, one percent, two percent, and whole milk with four different types of spectrometry. During this phase of the study, the experts identified and measured substances in milk such as metal ions, vitamins, organic acids, and amino acids. 

For the computer analysis phase, the researchers used a series of digital tools to find published information on dairy compounds. Ultimately, the team created the <a href="http://www.mcdb.ca/downloads">Milk Composition Database</a>, which has more than 2,300 metabolite entries. Notably, over 160 of these substances were reported for the first time in cow's milk. 

The study is published in the <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

What exactly is in cow’s milk?

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, over...

Creating technology to desalinate salt water could help provide <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/socioeconomic-groups-unsafe-drinking-water/">safe drinking water</a> to the billion people around the world who lack access to it. However, traditional desalination systems are too expensive to set up and operate, particularly in low-income countries and remote areas.

In a groundbreaking new study, researchers at the University of Maryland's <a href="https://eng.umd.edu/">A. James Clark School of Engineering</a> have developed a critical component that may lead to affordable small-scale desalination. They have successfully demonstrated the use of an inexpensive solar evaporator that is made of wood. 

According to study senior author Liangbing Hu, an associate professor of Materials Science and Engineering, the evaporator generates steam with high efficiency and with a minimal need for maintenance. 

Professor Hu said that the technique used by the device, known as interfacial evaporation, “shows great potential in response to global water scarcity because of its high solar-to-vapor efficiency, low environmental impact, and portable device design with low cost. These features make it suitable for off-grid water generation and purification, especially for low-income countries.”

Interfacial evaporators made of thin materials are able to float on saline water and absorb solar heat on top. The evaporators continuously pull up the saline water from below and convert it to steam on the top surface, leaving behind the salt, explained Professor Hu. On the other hand,  he said that salt can build up on the evaporative surface over time and negatively affect performance until it is removed. 

Professor Hu and his team minimized the need for this maintenance with a device made out of basswood that exploits the wood's natural ability to carry water and nutrients up the tree.

Study lead author Yudi Kuang said the wood’s natural channels are supplemented by drilling millimeter-wide channels through a thin cross-section of the wood. The top surface is then briefly exposed to high heat, which carbonizes the surface for greater solar absorption.

While operating, the device draws up salty water through the wood's natural micron-wide channels as it absorbs solar energy. Salt is spontaneously exchanged from these tiny channels through natural openings along their sides to the vastly wider drilled channels, and then dissolves back into the water below.

“In the lab, we have successfully demonstrated excellent anti-fouling in a wide range of salt concentrations, with stable steam generation with about 75% efficiency,” said Kuang.

“Wood is an intriguing material scaffold, with its unique hierarchically porous structure, and it is a renewable, abundant and cost-effective resource,” said Professor Hu. “In our lab, the fundamental understanding of biomaterials (especially wood) leads us to achieve extraordinary performance that is competitive with widely used but non-sustainable materials.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15214095">Advanced Materials</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: John T. Consoli/University of Maryland

Solar evaporator could help provide drinking water to remote areas

Creating technology to desalinate salt water could help provide safe...

Researchers from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/">Tel Aviv University</a> have created the world’s first 3D-printed heart made from human tissue and blood vessels. 

The heart is only about the size of a cherry, and can contract like a muscle but is currently unable to pump blood. However, this breakthrough will allow scientists to begin experimenting with 3D-printed hearts in the coming year or so.

“'People have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or with blood vessels,” said Professor Tal Dvir. He noted that this is “the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart replete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers.”

The scientists were able to print the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/heart-attacks-less-deadly/">heart</a> using samples of fatty tissue harvested from a human patient. 

The team believes that they can eventually construct the entire heart by multiplying the cells to make small patches of heart tissue. How to do so is still a challenge they face.

“Maybe, in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world, and these procedures will be conducted routinely,” Professor Dvir said.

The team says that experimenting printing and transplanting with less life-threatening organs would be much safer than jumping straight to the heart. 

However, the researchers still plan to figure out how to make the 3D-printed heart beat and then transplant their prototypes into animals to test them out perhaps as soon as next year.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: AFP

Scientists 3D print the first heart made from human tissue

Researchers from Tel Aviv University have created the world’s first...

In 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor exploded on impact with Earth's atmosphere. Despite its relatively small size of just under 20 meters across, the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/meteor-explosion-bering-sea/">meteor</a> caused extensive ground damage and numerous injuries.

Amy Mainzer, the principal investigator of NASA's asteroid hunting mission at the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a>, is working with other scientists to prevent another such impact. The experts are using a creative and simple way of spotting tiny near-Earth objects (NEOs) as they tumble toward the planet. 

“If we find an object only a few days from impact, it greatly limits our choices, so in our search efforts we've focused on finding NEOs when they are further away from Earth, providing the maximum amount of time and opening up a wider range of mitigation possibilities,” said Mainzer.

She explained that it is not an easy task, but like spotting a lump of coal in the night sky. “NEOs are intrinsically faint because they are mostly really small and far away from us in space. Add to this the fact that some of them are as dark as printer toner, and trying to spot them against the black of space is very hard.”


[caption id="attachment_1871337" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/asteroid-king.png"><img class="wp-image-1871337" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/asteroid-king.png" alt="" width="650" height="475" /></a> A collection of images from the WISE spacecraft of the asteroid 2305 King, which appears as a string of orange dots. Image Credit: NASA[/caption]

Asteroids and comets are warmed by the sun, which means they glow brightly at thermal wavelengths. The team will exploit this heat signature to make space rocks easier to detect with the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) telescope.

“With the NEOWISE mission we can spot objects regardless of their surface color, and use it to measure their sizes and other surface properties,” said Mainzer.

By identifying NEO surface properties, the scientists can get a better idea of what the objects are made of and how big they are. These details are critical for mounting a defensive strategy against approaching NEOs.

For example, one defensive strategy is to physically “nudge” an NEO away from an Earth impact trajectory. Details of NEO mass, size, and composition are needed to calculate the energy required for a successful nudge. Understanding the composition of asteroids may also provide new insight into how the solar system was formed.

“These objects are intrinsically interesting because some are thought to be as old as the original material that made up the solar system,” said Mainzer. “One of the things that we have been finding is that NEOs are pretty diverse in composition.”

“We are proposing to NASA a new telescope, the Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOCam), to do a much more comprehensive job of mapping asteroid locations and measuring their sizes.”

The research will be presented this week at the <a href="https://www.aps.org/">American Physical Society</a> April Meeting in Denver.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New strategy could help NASA scientists protect Earth from asteroids

In 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor exploded on impact with Earth's...

If multiple males are competing for a mate, it impacts the quality performance of sperm. 

Rival males have better-performing sperm that’s faster and more efficient but also more susceptible to DNA damage, according to a new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zebrafish-spinal-cord-injuries/">zebrafish</a> study conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.ua.es/en/">University of Alicante</a> and the <a href="https://www.uu.se/en">University of Uppsala</a> in Sweden. 

In the study, published in the journal Evolutionary Biology, the researchers compared the sperm of two male zebrafish in the presence of a single female to the sperm of a single male in a tank with two females. 

The fish were observed and monitored for two weeks, and the researchers used geometric morphometry to analyze and compare differences in sperm shape, size, quality, and performance. 

The two rival males developed competitive spermatozoa that were faster, had smaller heads, and were more efficient compared to the single male fish with no competition. 

The competing spermatozoa showed higher rates of DNA damage and the researchers say this could impact not only fertilization but also future offspring. 

A potential explanation for the higher rates of damage in the competing males is that sexual rivalry increases stress levels. 

Sexual rivalry and sperm design are not well understood, and studies like this can help shed insight on how competition among males impacts evolution and species diversification. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Competing for a mate impacts sperm quality and performance

If multiple males are competing for a mate, it impacts...

In response to the worrying rise in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/coastal-communities-sea-level-flooding/">sea level</a> within in the past two years, the <a href="http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Getting_ready_to_chart_sea_level">European Space Agency (ESA)</a> prepares to launch its Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission to keep track of sea surface height within the next decade.

Copernicus Sentinel-6 is a set of two identical satellites (6A and 6B) that will be launched sequentially and step into the role of  the French–US Topex-Poseidon and Jason missions, which have been measuring sea-surface heights prior to the Copernicus mission. This latest satellite mission has been brought to life by <a href="https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en">the European Union</a>, ESA, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>, <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">NOAA</a>, and <a href="https://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/index.html">Eumetsat</a>.

According to ESA, each Copernicus satellite will carry a radar altimeter, which measures the time it takes for radar pulses to travel to Earth’s surface and back. Combined with satellite location data, these radar altimeter measurements will accurately yield sea surface height.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6A is currently in the measuring equipment-installation phase. Along with the radar altimeter, each satellite will also get a microwave radiometer, which measures the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere — an important measurement that affects the speed of the altimeter radar pulses.

“The advanced microwave radiometer has been designed to make sure that the measurements from Copernicus Sentinel-6 will be of the highest quality to monitor changes in global sea level and ensure a complete record of sea level for the coming decades,” said Craig Donlon, an ESA Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission scientist.

“We are very happy with progress so far and, in fact, both satellites are being built in parallel,” added Pierrik Vuilleumeir, the ESA Copernicus Sentinel-6 project manager. “We are now looking forward to the next step, which will be to complete the satellite with the altimeter and the precise orbit determination instruments. The satellite will then be put through testing, which includes simulating the vibrations and temperature during liftoff and also the environment of space for its life in orbit around Earth.”

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Satellites can accurately track sea level rise and water surface heights

In response to the worrying rise in sea level within...

Researchers from the <a href="http://english.kiz.cas.cn/">Kunming Institute of Zoology</a> injected rhesus monkeys with human genes creating transgenic monkeys in a controversial new study. 

The study, published in the Beijing journal National Science Review, was meant to help shed light on the evolution of human intelligence.

Human intelligence is a mystery and researchers are unsure how the human brain evolved so quickly. By comparing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bonobos-early-human-evolution/">chimpanzee or bonobo brains to human brains,</a> researchers can get a better idea of what genes might be behind human intelligence.

The researchers saw a unique opportunity to examine how the human gene MCPH1 influences intelligence in 11 rhesus monkeys.

The transgenic monkeys had slower brain development comparable to human brain development and performed better on short-term memory tests involving colors and shapes.

The researchers say there was no difference in brain size though, and the study does little to identify the driving mechanisms behind human intelligence.

Only five of the monkeys survived the tests which have led to questions about lab conditions and how the monkeys were cared for. 

The study has made waves among researchers who are concerned about the ethical ramifications of such experiments. 

“The use of transgenic monkeys to study human genes linked to brain evolution is a very risky road to take,” James Sikela, a researcher from the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado</a>, told<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613277/chinese-scientists-have-put-human-brain-genes-in-monkeysand-yes-they-may-be-smarter/"> MIT Technology Review</a>. “It is a classic slippery slope issue, and one that we can expect to recur as this type of research is pursued.” 

This is not the first time that Chinese scientists have raised ethical concerns when it comes to genetically modified monkeys. 

Earlier in January researchers cloned five macaques from a single genetically engineered monkey that had a sleep disorder. All five of the clones developed mental problems as a result. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists inject monkeys with human brain genes in controversial study

Researchers from the Kunming Institute of Zoology injected rhesus monkeys...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...