Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the spiral galaxy UGC 11397 in the constellation Lyra (The Lyre).



The light captured in this striking image traveled for 250 million years before reaching the NASA/ESA <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/35-years-of-hubble-the-telescope-that-changed-our-view-of-the-universe/">Hubble Space Telescope</a>.



“At first glance, UGC 11397 appears to be an average spiral galaxy: it sports two graceful spiral arms that are illuminated by stars and defined by dark, clumpy clouds of dust,” noted ESA.



“What sets UGC 11397 apart from a typical spiral lies at its center, where a supermassive black hole containing 174 million times the mass of the Sun is growing.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-hidden-powerhouse">A hidden powerhouse</h2>



As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-oldest-black-hole-jet-ever-seen-is-size-of-three-milky-ways-j1601-3102/">black hole</a> consumes gas, dust, and even entire stars from its surroundings, the infalling material heats up dramatically, producing a dazzling display of energy.&nbsp;



These emissions span the electromagnetic spectrum - from gamma rays to radio waves - and can flare or fade unpredictably.&nbsp;



“But in some galaxies, including UGC 11397, thick clouds of dust hide much of this energetic activity from view in optical light,” explained ESA.



“Despite this, UGC 11397's actively growing black hole was revealed through its bright X-ray emission - high-energy light that can pierce the surrounding dust.”&nbsp;



Its distinctive signature has earned UGC 11397 the classification of a Type 2 Seyfert galaxy. This category describes active galaxies whose central regions are obscured in visible light by a doughnut-shaped cloud of dust and gas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-and-black-hole-growth">Galaxy and black hole growth</h2>



“Using Hubble, researchers will study hundreds of galaxies that, like UGC 11397, harbor a supermassive black hole that is gaining mass,” noted ESA.&nbsp;



“The Hubble observations will help researchers weigh nearby supermassive black holes, understand how black holes grew early in the universe’s history, and even study how stars form in the extreme environment found at the very center of a galaxy.”



Studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/">galaxies</a> like UGC 11397 also offers insight into the mysterious relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.&nbsp;



Despite residing at the heart of galaxies, these black holes influence their surroundings on a much larger scale, often regulating the formation of stars and even shaping the structure of the galaxy itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-black-hole-origins">Tracing black hole origins</h2>



One of the key questions astronomers hope to answer is how these black holes grow so massive in the first place.&nbsp;



While some appear to have formed gradually over billions of years, others - especially those in the early universe - seem to have reached enormous sizes much more quickly. 



Observations of galaxies such as UGC 11397 provide crucial data to test different growth scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-clearer-picture-of-cosmic-evolution">A clearer picture of cosmic evolution</h2>



By combining Hubble’s observations with data from other telescopes, including those that detect X-rays and radio waves, researchers can build a more complete picture of how matter behaves around black holes.&nbsp;



This multi-wavelength approach is essential for studying objects obscured by dust, like Type 2 Seyfert galaxies, where optical views alone can be misleading.



Hubble’s sharp vision also allows astronomers to examine the surrounding galactic disk and spiral arms in high detail. 



These structures hold clues about recent star formation, galactic dynamics, and how gas flows toward the center - fueling both star birth and black hole growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-energy-in-active-galaxies">Black hole energy in active galaxies</h2>



In many active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-galaxies-revealed-in-a-single-webb-image/">galaxies</a>, the energy released by the central black hole can blast out powerful winds or jets that affect star formation. These feedback processes can either shut down or stimulate the creation of new stars, depending on the conditions.&nbsp;



Understanding when and how this feedback occurs is another major goal of Hubble’s ongoing studies.



UGC 11397 is just one of many galaxies being surveyed as part of broader efforts to trace the cosmic history of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-turn-into-white-holes-and-blast-out-matter-and-time-runs-backwards/">black hole</a> activity.&nbsp;



Projects such as these are helping scientists map how common active galactic nuclei are, how their properties evolve over time, and how they relate to galaxy mergers and other large-scale events.



The wealth of information gathered from galaxies like UGC 11397 is not only deepening our understanding of black holes but also refining models of galaxy formation and evolution.&nbsp;



With each new observation, astronomers are piecing together the vast and complex puzzle of how galaxies and their central engines co-evolve across cosmic time.



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, M. J. Koss, A. J. Barth



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Hubble reveals a black hole hidden in a distant galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features the Iliamna Volcano, which recently experienced a burst of seismic activity on June 15, 2025.&nbsp;



According to experts, the tremors were not likely to be warning signs of an impending eruption. Instead, the shaking was probably triggered by ice or rock avalanches.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magma-layer-keeps-the-yellowstone-supervolcano-dormant/">volcano</a> is currently considered dormant, with no elevated alert levels or signs of eruptive activity.



“Towering more than 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) over Cook Inlet, Alaska’s Iliamna Volcano last erupted in 1867. Once every couple of years, however, the mountain still rumbles,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154461/iliamna-volcano-ready-to-rumble">NASA</a>.



“Its murmurs tend not to be signs of volcanic unrest but rather the signature of avalanches large enough to register on nearby seismic and infrasound instruments.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dramatic-landscape-of-iliamna-nbsp">The dramatic landscape of Iliamna&nbsp;</h2>



Iliamna is a glacier-covered volcano about 130 miles southwest of Anchorage and 30 miles southwest of the more active Redoubt Volcano. Both are located in the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.&nbsp;



Glaciers have carved deep, U-shaped valleys that stretch from Iliamna toward the sea. Just south of the peak, Chinitna Bay is a popular spot for seeing brown bears.



The region’s dramatic terrain is the result of a long history of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquake-activity-will-increase-due-to-glacial-retreat/">glacial activity</a>, tectonic uplift, and volcanic shaping. Snow and ice persist year-round at high elevations, feeding creeks and rivers that support wildlife and vegetation at lower altitudes.&nbsp;



The contrast between icy peaks and lush coastal plains makes Iliamna's surroundings both ecologically diverse and visually striking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-flurry-of-seismic-activity-nbsp">A flurry of seismic activity&nbsp;</h2>



The image of Iliamna Volcano was captured on June 10, 2025, by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a flurry of shaking rattled Iliamna a few days later.



“Seismic activity picked up at about 4:30 a.m. local time on June 15 and ramped up to a ‘nearly continuous’ rate, the AVO reported. It slowed to a cadence of about one seismic event per minute and then returned to background levels around 2:30 p.m.,” NASA reported.



“The AVO did not have enough information as of June 16 to determine the size and location of any slide that may have occurred that day. However, the signals they recorded were similar to those caused by the initial slipping between rock and ice that preceded large avalanches on the volcano in the past, they said.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rock-and-ice-avalanches-on-iliamna-nbsp">Rock and ice avalanches on Iliamna&nbsp;</h2>



Glacial ice, heat from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-orbit-may-trigger-massive-volcanic-eruptions/">volcano</a>, and weakened rock come together on Iliamna’s slopes to create the perfect setup for huge landslides, noted NASA.&nbsp;



Researchers say that it's unusual to see so many large ice and rock avalanches in one place, making Iliamna a valuable natural lab for studying how and why these events happen. 



While Iliamna is far from towns or cities, similar conditions in more populated mountain areas could be dangerous for nearby communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glacier-melt-and-slope-stability">Glacier melt and slope stability</h2>



In recent years, scientists have warned that warming temperatures are accelerating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astonishing-glacier-retreat-in-the-arctic-signals-climate-disaster/">glacier melt</a> across Alaska, potentially destabilizing the slopes of glacier-covered volcanoes like Iliamna.&nbsp;



As ice retreats and thins, it can remove the natural support that holds rock in place, increasing the risk of avalanches and landslides.



Climate change may also be influencing the frequency and intensity of these non-eruptive seismic events. As permafrost thaws and glaciers lose mass, the delicate balance between ice, rock, and heat is disrupted, sometimes leading to sudden and dramatic collapses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-indicators-of-environmental-change">Indicators of environmental change</h2>



Volcanoes such as Iliamna serve as critical indicators of broader environmental changes. The patterns of seismic activity and ice loss on their slopes offer researchers valuable insight into how the Earth's cryosphere is responding to global warming.



While Iliamna is a remote volcano that poses no direct threat to people or communities, its behavior raises important questions about the future stability of other glaciated volcanoes worldwide. 



As climate change continues to reshape <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-plants-are-not-safe-from-rapid-climate-change/">mountain environments</a>, understanding the interactions between ice, rock, and volcanic heat will be vital for anticipating hazards in both high-latitude and high-altitude regions.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Iliamna Volcano rumbles as glaciers shift in Alaska

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency showcases the striking beauty of the planetary nebula NGC 2899, which resembles a moth in flight. The photo was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.



“The planetary nebula NGC 2899 is shaped like a single macaroni noodle, with its edges pointed up, but its edge-on central torus is semi-transparent in the middle,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“The top and bottom edges are thick and orange. The center is semi-transparent blue and green. The wider central region looks roughly like a moth, also filled with semi-transparent blue and green.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defining-features-of-the-planetary-nebula">Defining features of the planetary nebula</h2>



According to ESA, the nebula features a bipolar, cylindrical outflow of gas extending diagonally. The gas is driven by intense radiation and stellar winds from a central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-dwarf-planets-are-more-habitable-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white dwarf</a> with a scorching temperature of nearly 22,000 degrees Celsius. 



“In fact, there may be two companion stars that are interacting and sculpting the nebula, which is pinched in the middle by a fragmented ring or torus - looking like a half-eaten donut,” said ESA.



Streams of gaseous “pillars” extend outward, all pointing back toward the central source of energy. The vibrant colors in the image come from glowing hydrogen and oxygen gases.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-and-significance-of-ngc-2899">Discovery and significance of NGC 2899</h2>



NGC 2899 was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on March 2, 1835, during his survey of the southern skies from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. 



Herschel cataloged many deep-sky objects in the southern hemisphere, contributing significantly to the New General Catalogue (NGC) compiled later by John Louis Emil Dreyer.



NGC 2899 is located approximately 4,500 light-years from Earth in the southern constellation Vela, which is part of the larger Vela-Puppis-Carina region of the Milky Way known for its rich <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star-forming activity</a> and remnants of past stellar explosions.&nbsp;



Vela, whose name means "sails" in Latin, represents the sails of the ancient Greek mythological ship Argo Navis. This region of the sky is particularly abundant in nebulae, star clusters, and other deep-sky objects, making it a focal point for astronomical observations.&nbsp;



The nebula’s distance places it well within our galaxy, offering astronomers a valuable glimpse into the later stages of stellar evolution and the processes that sculpt and illuminate planetary nebulae.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-planetary-nebula">What is a planetary nebula?</h2>



Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust in space, often serving as the birthplaces or remnants of stars.&nbsp;



They come in various types, including emission nebulae that glow due to ionized gases energized by nearby stars, reflection nebulae that shine by scattering starlight, and dark nebulae that obscure light from background <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/runaway-star-may-be-dragging-a-planet-along-with-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>.&nbsp;



Planetary nebulae form when dying stars shed their outer layers, creating colorful, often symmetrical shapes. Nebulae can span light-years across and are key to understanding the life cycles of stars and the structure of galaxies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-fate-of-dying-stars">The fate of dying stars</h2>



Not all dying stars become planetary nebulae. In fact, stars much more massive than the Sun follow a very different and far more violent path.&nbsp;



These massive stars end their lives in dramatic supernova explosions, releasing tremendous energy and scattering heavy elements into space, which enriches the interstellar medium.&nbsp;



What remains after the explosion depends on the star’s mass. The collapsed core can form a neutron star - an incredibly dense object composed mostly of neutrons. Or, if the star was even more massive, it may create a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-confirm-lone-black-hole-wandering-through-our-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>, where gravity is so intense that not even light can escape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examples-of-winged-nebulae-nbsp">Examples of “winged” nebulae&nbsp;</h2>



Several well-known nebulae are noted for their "winged" or symmetrical, wing-like appearances, often earning them evocative nicknames.&nbsp;



One of the most famous is the Butterfly Nebula, located in the constellation Scorpius. This planetary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragons-egg-nebula-is-a-truly-stunning-sight-to-behold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nebula</a> displays two expansive lobes that resemble butterfly wings, shaped by fast stellar winds from a dying star.



The Omega Nebula (also known as the Swan Nebula) in the constellation Sagittarius is a bright star-forming region that has been said to resemble a swan in flight. It has broad, glowing "wings" formed by clouds of ionized hydrogen gas.&nbsp;



Similarly, the Eagle Nebula has an overall shape reminiscent of a bird with outstretched wings, which inspired its name. It is located in the constellation Serpens and home to the iconic "Pillars of Creation."



Image Credit: ESA



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Planetary nebula with ethereal wings captured by Hubble

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the galaxy NGC 2090, located approximately 40 million light-years away in the constellation Columba.



NGC 2090 is a stunning spiral galaxy that is notable for its well-defined structure, featuring a bright central core surrounded by tightly wound spiral arms.&nbsp;



These arms are filled with young, hot stars and interstellar gas, indicating active star formation.&nbsp;



Captured by the Webb Telescope’s MIRI and NIRCam instruments, the image reveals the galaxy's winding spiral arms and the swirling gas and dust of its disc in magnificent and unique detail, noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observations-of-ngc-2090">Observations of NGC 2090</h2>



The galaxy’s spiral pattern is relatively symmetrical, making it a fascinating object of study for astronomers interested in galactic evolution and dynamics.&nbsp;



Observations of NGC 2090, including those conducted by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hubble-helps-solve-the-mystery-of-a-young-eruptive-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble</a> Space Telescope, have provided valuable insights into the properties of its stellar populations, gas content, and the nature of its spiral structure.



“NGC 2090 was one of many galaxies studied by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to refine the measurement of the Universe’s expansion rate, or ‘Hubble constant,’” said ESA.&nbsp;



“This can be done by observing a special type of variable stars named ‘Cepheids’ in relatively nearby galaxies.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insights-into-ngc-2090">New insights into NGC 2090</h2>



A Cepheid-based measurement from 1998 indicated that NGC 2090 is 37 million light-years away from Earth. However, the latest measurements suggest that the galaxy is 40 million light-years away.



“Already before that Hubble project in 1998, NGC 2090 had been well studied as a very prominent nearby example of star formation,” noted ESA.&nbsp;



“Described as a ‘flocculent’ spiral, this galaxy has a patchy, dusty disc and arms that are flaky or not visible at all. We can see those patterns well in Hubble's visible-light images. However, Webb’s NIRCam near-infrared data reveal the spiral arms with remarkable clarity.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-spiral-galaxies">What are spiral galaxies?</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mesmerizing-beauty-of-spiral-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spiral galaxies</a> are among the most common and visually striking types of galaxies in the universe.&nbsp;



They are characterized by their flat, disk-like shape with a bright central bulge surrounded by sweeping spiral arms.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spiral-arms-and-central-bulge-nbsp">Spiral arms and central bulge&nbsp;</h3>



The arms of a spiral galaxy are regions where stars, gas, and dust are concentrated, often glowing brightly with the light of young, hot stars that form within them.&nbsp;



The central bulge typically contains older stars and can host a supermassive black hole at its core.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-spiral-galaxies-nbsp">Types of spiral galaxies&nbsp;</h3>



Spiral galaxies are classified into different types based on how tightly their arms are wound and the size of their central bulge, ranging from tightly wound "Sa" galaxies to loosely wound "Sc" types.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-nbsp">Star formation&nbsp;</h3>



The structure of spiral galaxies is maintained by the interplay of gravity and angular momentum, with a rotating disk of stars and gas giving rise to their iconic shape.&nbsp;



They are active sites of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-star-redefines-our-understanding-of-stellar-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a> due to the abundance of gas in their arms.&nbsp;



Spiral galaxies often have a halo of older stars and globular clusters surrounding their disks, which provides clues about their formation and evolution.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-barred-spiral-galaxy">Barred spiral galaxy</h3>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-is-surrounded-by-massive-magnetic-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>, the galaxy that contains our Solar System, is a prime example of a barred spiral galaxy, a subtype where a bar-shaped structure of stars extends from the central bulge.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-columba-nbsp">The constellation Columba&nbsp;</h2>



Columba is a small and relatively faint constellation in the southern sky, whose name means "dove" in Latin. It was introduced in the late 16th century by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius and first appeared in a celestial atlas by Johann Bayer in 1603.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-jupiter-discovered-in-the-great-bear-constellation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">constellation</a> is said to represent the dove sent out by Noah during the biblical flood, tying it to themes of hope and peace.



Columba lies near the larger constellation Canis Major and is bordered by others such as Lepus and Puppis.&nbsp;



Although it lacks particularly bright stars, its most notable star, Alpha Columbae (also called Phact), shines at a magnitude of approximately 2.6 and is a hot blue-white star. Beta Columbae, another prominent star in the constellation, is a slightly cooler, yellow-white star.



The constellation is best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere during the summer months, though it can also be seen from lower latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope&nbsp;



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Webb unveils a spiral galaxy in magnificent detail

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features active wildfires and scorched landscapes in New Mexico, where the Trout and Buck fires continue to burn across the Gila National Forest and nearby counties.



“As extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-has-caused-crisis-levels-of-food-and-water-scarcity/">drought</a> gripped parts of New Mexico in June 2025, firefighters battled large wildland fires in the southwestern part of the state,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154454/new-mexico-battles-wildfires">NASA</a>.



“The two largest were the Buck and Trout fires, which, as of June 18, had together burned more than 80,000 acres since igniting on June 11 and 12, respectively. High winds, low humidity, and dry tinder - grass, brush, and timber - have fueled their rapid spread.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fires-captured-from-space">Fires captured from space</h2>



The image was captured on June 14, 2025 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. It is a false-color image, which shows shortwave infrared, near-infrared, and visible light.



According to NASA, this band combination makes it easier to identify unburned vegetated areas (green) and the recently burned landscape (brown).&nbsp;



“Bright orange indicates the infrared signature of actively burning fires,” noted NASA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-progression-of-new-mexico-s-fires">Progression of New Mexico's fires</h2>



NASA’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-seasons-are-now-overlapping-worldwide/">fire monitoring</a> tools revealed that the Trout Fire expanded rapidly in the days following the Landsat satellite imagery.&nbsp;



By June 18, the blaze had reached the edge of Lake Roberts and was threatening communities along Sapillo Creek. News reports indicated that evacuation orders had been issued for around 2,000 homes in the affected zones.&nbsp;



In contrast, the Buck Fire showed less growth and was reported to be 25 percent contained as of June 18.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emergency-fire-declaration-in-new-mexico">Emergency fire declaration in New Mexico</h2>



“On June 17, New Mexico's governor issued an emergency declaration in response to the Trout fire, which allowed emergency responders to request additional support from federal or other entities,” said NASA.



“More than 875 firefighting personnel were responding to the fire on June 18, including hotshot crews, hand crews, dozers, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft, according to InciWeb.”&nbsp;



“As of that date, the blaze was zero percent contained, though no infrastructure had been reported as damaged or destroyed. Several communities downwind of the Trout fire faced hazardous air quality.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-drought-in-new-mexico-nbsp">Extreme drought in New Mexico&nbsp;</h2>



New Mexico is facing an exceptionally severe drought in 2025 that is ranked among the worst in recent decades.&nbsp;



According to the U.S. Drought Monitor in mid-May, roughly 84 percent of the state was experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, with southern and central New Mexico hit the hardest.



This drought has the fingerprints of a warm, dry spring. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-driven-climate-change-is-to-blame-for-sharp-snowpack-declines-since-1980/">Snowpacks</a> melted early and fast across mountain basins, pushing streamflows and reservoir levels far below average.&nbsp;



For instance, the Elephant Butte Reservoir sank to just 13 percent of its capacity, while many key watersheds recorded only 25 to 50 percent of median snow water equivalent.&nbsp;



Forecasts warn that flows in southern New Mexico river systems could fall to less than 25 percent of normal through the summer



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-elevated-fire-risks-and-other-hazards-nbsp">Elevated fire risks and other hazards&nbsp;</h2>



The repercussions are widespread: from parched reservoir and stream networks to stressed agricultural and ranching sectors.&nbsp;



Farms and livestock operations now face growing water shortages, and ranchers are already being urged to ration water and reduce herd sizes.



The dry, warm conditions have also created tinderbox-like environments. This year’s drought is fueling an elevated wildfire risk with active burn restrictions and existing large fires already stressing firefighting resources.



Meteorologists warn these drought conditions are unlikely to ease before the summer monsoon arrives (typically July), so residents and local authorities are bracing for months of heightened water scarcity and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/">fire danger</a>.



The Hermits Peak–Calf Canyon Fire of 2022 remains New Mexico’s largest recorded wildfire. The devastating fire, which burned from April into late June 2022, scorched approximately 341,000 acres, destroyed over 900 structures, and ranked as the most destructive fire in the state's history.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Fires spread in New Mexico amid extreme drought

Gold,Nugget,Isolated,On,A,Black,Background.,Gold,Ore,As

The average mine pulled an estimated 3,661 tons of gold from Earth’s crust in 2024, stretching veins ever deeper in search of the yellow metal. Yet even the biggest operations struggle to explain how house‑sized gold nuggets form inside hard rock.



<a href="https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/chris-voisey" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr Christopher Voisey</a>, a geochemist at <a href="https://research.monash.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash University</a> in Melbourne, leads the team that now points to earthquakes as the missing link. 



Most gold nuggets sit inside quartz fractures that account for roughly three‑quarters of all gold ever mined. 



Until now, geologists couldn't reconcile such hefty masses with the trickle of metal dissolved in subterranean water - hydrothermal fluids that carry gold in amounts rarely exceeding a few parts per billion.



“This mechanism can help explain the creation of large nuggets and the commonly observed highly interconnected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/couple-finds-a-gold-nugget-measuring-7-inches-across-weighing-more-than-9-pounds/">gold</a> networks within quartz vein fractures,” Voisey said.



The team's study pushes the idea that earthquakes play a role in creating large nuggets, solving the long‑standing “gold‑nugget paradox."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earthquakes-electricity-and-gold-nuggets">Earthquakes, electricity, and gold nuggets</h2>



Quartz dominates continental crust and, importantly, it is the only abundant <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/piezoelectric-material" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">piezoelectric</a> mineral, meaning its crystal lattice separates charge when squeezed. 



This research shows that each seismic pulse can turn a quartz vein into a tiny natural battery whose field attracts positively charged gold complexes, stripping them from surrounding fluids almost instantly.



A moderate fault rupture produces pressures exceeding 15,000 pounds per square inch, more than enough to bend quartz crystals and raise electric potentials of several hundred volts across microscopic distances.



Although the voltage appears and disappears in less than a second, the charged surface persists long enough for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanic-gold-precious-metals-discovered-hawaii-may-have-come-from-earths-core/">gold</a> ions to settle out and nucleate. 



At the nanoscale, those first atoms become conductive seeds, so every subsequent quake preferentially plates fresh metal onto existing grains, accelerating growth.



Voisey’s models suggest that after a few thousand seismic events, a realistic tally for a million‑year fault, ten‑kilogram nuggets can accrete without needing Olympic‑size volumes of water. 



Independent structural geologist <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/1576/dr-taija-torvela" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr Taija Torvela</a>, <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a>, calls the work “thought‑provoking” and adds that it explains why early quartz veins are often barren until stress cycles build up over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sparking-gold-nuggets-in-the-lab">Sparking gold nuggets in the lab</h2>



To prove the concept, the team immersed centimeter‑scale quartz blocks in gold‑bearing fluid and fired mechanical shocks that mimicked the strain spectrum of <a href="https://www.sci.news/geology/gold-nugget-formation-13225.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnitude‑5 earthquakes</a>. 



Within minutes, transmission electron microscopy revealed nanoparticles of elemental gold clustering on crystal faces, confirming that the electric field alone was strong enough to reduce ionic gold.



By scaling the experiment with numerical simulations of crustal fault networks, the authors calculated that real veins experience comparable fields every time a seismic wave passes. 



Because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tech-melts-steel-concrete-1800-degrees-heat-solar-power-energy/">quartz</a> is an insulator while gold is a conductor, once the first specks form the system becomes a self‑focusing electrode, future pulses route charge through the metal, thickening the nugget like electroplating on an industrial cathode. 



The process also leaves no chemical halo, clarifying why many nuggets appear to “float” in open fractures with no obvious precipitate zone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-map-for-modern-prospectors">A map for modern prospectors</h2>



If volts grow gold, then the richest deposits should cluster where brittle crust holds both quartz and an active history of small‑to‑moderate quakes. 



That insight may refine exploration models that currently rely on geochemical sampling and magnetic surveys, often missing blind veins buried beneath cover rock. 



Geophysicists are already <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040195124003330" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing</a> passive seismic arrays to locate faults that slip frequently enough to generate repeated piezoelectric bursts.



Meanwhile, mining engineers wonder whether controlled acoustic stimulation, essentially shaking rock in situ, could coax residual gold from low‑grade veins into recoverable clusters. 



Any commercial leap will require evidence that the electric discharges leave a measurable surface marker, such as charge‑induced alteration halos or distinct crystal textures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-left-on-the-fault-line">Questions left on the fault line</h2>



Field teams now plan to drill cores through seismically active gold camps in Victoria, Australia, and compare grain‐growth patterns to modeled discharge histories. 



They also hope to measure transient electric signals during natural earthquakes, a test that would link lab data to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-dangerous-part-of-this-west-coast-earthquake-fault-cascadia-subduction-zone/">real‑world faults</a> and perhaps aid early‑warning systems.



Whether other precious metals behave the same way is another open question; silver and platinum ions share chemistry with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supergiant-gold-deposit-find-claims-to-be-the-worlds-largest-discovery-ever/">gold</a> and might follow similar electro‑accumulation pathways under stress. 



Finally, the work underscores how intimately Earth’s mechanical and chemical engines connect, turning violent motion into quiet mineral wealth just inches apart inside dark fractures.



If this process shaped gold formation today, it may have played a critical role in Earth's early mineral evolution. 



Billions of years ago, when tectonic activity was far more intense, piezoelectric effects could have generated vast gold systems deep in the crust.



The same mechanism might even extend beyond Earth. Planets or moons with quartz-like minerals and seismic activity, such as Mars or Europa, may have developed similar metal deposits, offering new targets for future space missions.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01514-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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Geologists discover that earthquakes play a role in what's called the 'gold nugget paradox'

The average mine pulled an estimated 3,661 tons of gold from...

Mammals usually avoid sour flavors, but a robin can devour berries so tart they would make most of us pucker in pain. How do birds pull off this dietary feat?



A new study answers the riddle by showing that evolution has rewired birds' sour-taste machinery. 



The discovery not only reveals why avian diners relish fruits with pH values as low as lemon juice, it also hints that a molecular tweak in taste may have opened new ecological doors during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-evolution-timeline-pushed-back-20-million-years-by-baminornis-zhenghensis-discovery/">bird evolution</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-sour-switch-in-birds">The sour switch in birds</h2>



To decode avian acid tolerance, scientists at the <a href="http://english.kiz.cas.cn/">Kunming Institute of Zoology</a>, the <a href="https://english.cas.cn/">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, and the <a href="https://www.bi.mpg.de/en">Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence</a> focused on OTOP1. It is the only known vertebrate receptor that detects <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-surprising-amount-of-adults-like-intensely-sour-flavors/">sour flavors</a>.



In mammals - including people - OTOP1 channels fire vigorously when acidity rises, sending a sharp warning to the brain. 



In many birds, however, OTOP1 does the opposite: as the surrounding fluid turns more acidic, the channel shuts down. With the bitter alarm silenced, beaks keep munching.



The team began by cataloging bird feeding habits across Asia, Europe, and South America. The data confirmed that many songbirds, pigeons, and parrots thrive on fruits whose pH dips below 3 - a level similar to vinegar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-that-change-taste">Genes that change taste</h2>



Genetic sequencing of their taste receptors revealed a cluster of four amino acid changes - H239, L306, H314, and G378 - that alter how the OTOP1 protein behaves under acid stress.



Functional tests delivered the clincher. When researchers used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crispr-used-to-remove-extra-chromosomes-in-down-syndrome-and-restore-cell-function/">CRISPR</a> to edit these mutations into the OTOP1 gene of laboratory mice, the rodents’ brain cells fired far less in response to sour liquids.



Conversely, when they blocked OTOP1 in pigeons and canaries with a targeted inhibitor, the birds promptly abandoned their usual acidic fare. The receptor is therefore both necessary and sufficient for avian acid tolerance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sour-and-sweet-together">Sour and sweet together</h2>



Tracing the family tree of OTOP1 revealed another twist. The last of the four mutations - G378 - arose only in songbirds, a lineage that today accounts for nearly half of all living bird species.



The timing is suggestive. Earlier work had shown that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/songbirds-benefit-from-social-networks-during-migration/">songbirds</a> also gained a sweet-taste receptor not found in most other birds. 



The new study raises the possibility that upgrades in both sour suppression and sweet perception co-evolved, enabling ancestral songbirds to exploit nectar and acidic fruit simultaneously. That ecological flexibility might help explain the group’s modern success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-impacts-from-taste">Big impacts from taste</h2>



Why should anyone beyond ornithology circles care about a bird’s taste tolerance? For one, the findings illuminate how sensory systems evolve under dietary pressures.



Sour taste originally signaled unsafe or unripe food. Turning that alarm off required a molecular workaround - achieved with just a handful of amino acid swaps. This shows how rapidly chemosensory genes can reshape animal behavior and niche use.



There are broader ecosystem implications too. Birds that devour harshly acidic fruits are pivotal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-play-a-much-bigger-role-in-seed-dispersal-than-we-thought/">seed dispersers</a> in many tropical forests. Birds ability to stomach such fare ensures that plant species with defensive sour pulp still find willing couriers.



Understanding the molecular roots of that partnership refines predictions about how changing climates or fruit chemistry could cascade through food webs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-blueprint-for-taste">A blueprint for taste</h2>



The study also provides a roadmap for probing taste evolution in other animals. Similar OTOP1 edits might help explain why some primates relish citrus while others avoid it, or why certain fish tolerate acidic streams. 



Meanwhile, the CRISPR-mouse model offers a living platform to test how sour aversion shapes diet, metabolism, and health.



For agricultural science, the insights could guide breeding of poultry or songbird populations used in pest control, tailoring feed formulations to their altered taste sensitivities. 



Plant biologists might likewise engineer fruit acidity to attract or deter specific avian consumers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taste-and-bird-evolution">Taste and bird evolution</h2>



Birds captivated biologists with their songs, colors, and aerial exploits. Now, thanks to a little proton-gated channel in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-tongue-could-revolutionize-food-safety/">tongue</a>, they have added another evolutionary marvel: an internal dial that mutes the sting of acid.



Researchers found that tweaks to sour taste may have co-evolved with sweetness, reshaping how birds sense and seek food. Together, these changes helped propel birds into ecological niches overflowing with nectar and tangy fruit.



The work highlights a recurring theme in evolutionary biology: subtle molecular changes can yield sweeping macro-scale outcomes. 



A quartet of amino acid substitutions may sound trivial, yet it probably influenced what early songbirds ate, where they migrated, and how they diversified.



The next time you watch a thrush gulp down a crabapple or a tanager feast on still-green berries, remember their dauntless palate is the legacy of eons of microscopic tinkering. That subtle adaptation continues to shape forests and fields around the globe.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr7946">Science</a>.



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Why birds have an unusual appetite for sour foods

Mammals usually avoid sour flavors, but a robin can devour...

Worldwide, about 2.5 billion adults now carry extra pounds, and nearly 890 million meet the medical definition of obesity, according to the latest <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> fact sheet. 



A fresh analysis from Spain offers a surprisingly straightforward message about meal timing: when you eat may matter as much as what you eat.



<a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en/-/overnight-fast-and-early-breakfast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luciana Pons‑Muzzo</a> of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health <a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(ISGlobal)</a> led the five‑year project that tracked more than 7,000 middle‑aged volunteers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meal-timing-matters">Meal timing matters</h2>



The study belongs to the rising field of <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1516940/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chrononutrition</a>, the science of meal timing and its effects on metabolism. Researchers looked beyond calories and food groups to see whether shifting the clock could shift the scale.



They focused on <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">body mass index (BMI)</a>, a ratio of weight to height that clinicians use as a quick screening tool for weight‑related risk. 



Volunteers who regularly ate breakfast before 8:30 a.m. and waited at least twelve hours before the next day’s first bite logged the lowest long‑term BMI.



“Our results … suggest that extending the overnight fast could help maintain a healthy weight,” said Pons‑Muzzo in the team’s summary.



Earlier work agrees. A 2024 systematic <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39485353/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> of 54 trials found that meal‑timing strategies, especially eating earlier in the day, were consistently linked to modest weight loss and better blood‑sugar control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-spanish-cohort-revealed">What the Spanish cohort revealed</h2>



Participants logged typical meal times, sleep habits, physical activity and medical history, then repeated the drill five years later. 



The pattern was clear: every hour that breakfast crept later added about 0.3 kg/m² to BMI, while every extra hour of overnight fasting shaved off roughly the same amount.



Women generally scored lower BMIs than men but showed the same timing trend. A small cluster of men who skipped breakfast until after 2 p.m., and often smoked, drank and exercised little, had the highest average BMI.



Importantly, researchers adjusted for diet quality using a Mediterranean‑<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-diets-offer-health-benefits-and-lower-carbon-footprint/">diet</a> score, so the timing effect stood apart from food choice. That finding hints that the body’s internal clocks, not just its calorie ledger, guide weight gain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-meal-timing-syncs-with-body-clocks">How meal timing syncs with body clocks</h2>



Human <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">circadian rhythms</a> prime our organs to burn and store energy at specific times. Morning light boosts insulin sensitivity and revs metabolism, while late‑night eating collides with hormonal signals that favor fat storage.



Clinical data back that up. In a 12‑week Chinese <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35443107/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trial</a>, adults on an eight‑hour early eating window lost as much weight as peers on standard calorie restriction, but they did so without counting calories.



Harvard’s Nutrition Source <a href="https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/intermittent-fasting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">notes</a> that time‑restricted plans typically trim 7–11 lb over ten weeks, largely because shortening the eating window curbs unplanned snacking. 



When breakfast moves earlier, dinner often follows. That shift stretches the natural overnight fast, letting glucose and insulin settle before sleep and aligning digestion with daylight activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-fasting-fits-in-everyday-life">Where fasting fits in everyday life</h2>



The Spanish team examined one flavor of <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/intermittent-fasting-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intermittent fasting</a>: simply lengthening the no‑food stretch between dinner and breakfast. Volunteers who hit at least 12 hours did best; many managed 13–14 without noticing.



That routine meshes with typical workdays and family meals, unlike alternate‑day fasts or 24‑hour fasts that some find extreme. It also skirts the nutrient gaps that can arise when entire days are skipped.



“This practice has no effect on body weight,” noted <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Camille-Lassale" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Camille Lassale</a>, a senior co‑author, echoing controlled trials showing that later, compressed eating windows can backfire in the long run. She cautioned that skipping breakfast altogether did not help.&nbsp;



For most people, the simplest tactic is to push dinner a bit earlier, say, 6 p.m., and aim for breakfast around 7 a.m. The 13‑hour fast that results is long enough to trigger metabolic benefits yet short enough to fit social life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-meal-timing-habits">Changing meal timing habits</h2>



Meal timing is easy to adjust, but it is not a magic shield. The review found weight loss from timing strategies averaged only 3–4 percent of starting weight, meaningful but modest.



Shift‑workers, parents of infants, and those with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-a-cellular-switch-mitochondria-that-could-reverse-type-2-diabetes/">diabetes</a> should talk with a clinician before stretching fasts, because irregular schedules or medications might require tailored plans.



Scientists still debate how much of the benefit comes from biology versus simple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spicy-foods-can-slow-down-eating-and-cut-calorie-intake/">calorie</a> trimming. Large U.S. trials are under way to test whether early‑time‑restricted eating keeps pounds off for several years and whether it protects the heart.



As Pons‑Muzzo pointed out, firm guidelines must wait for “more robust evidence.” For now, eating breakfast soon after sunrise and closing the kitchen early remain low‑risk steps that line up with how our bodies tick.



The study is published in the <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-024-01639-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity</a>.



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Scientists identify two simple routines that will help you lose weight without dieting

Worldwide, about 2.5 billion adults now carry extra pounds, and nearly...

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