Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features the devastating floods that swept across Pakistan during the summer of 2025.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154781/monsoon-rains-flood-pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">image</a>, captured by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard NOAA’s polar-orbiting satellite, tells a stark story. Depicted in false color to highlight the presence of water, it reveals broad areas of Pakistan’s landscape drowned beneath muddy expanses. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-rivers-split-a-century-old-mystery-has-finally-been-solved/">Rivers</a> are indistinguishable from the surrounding countryside, demonstrating just how much territory has been lost to the flood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-deluge-that-overwhelmed-the-land">A deluge that overwhelmed the land</h2>



What began as a particularly strong monsoon season in late June has turned into one of the worst <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-floods-what-turns-a-rainstorm-into-a-catastrophe/">flood</a> events in living memory, with the eastern Punjab province seeing its most severe inundation in history.&nbsp;



Millions of people have been affected, with entire villages swallowed by rivers and farmland drowned under relentless rainfall.



By mid-August, torrential rains pounded the northern mountains, setting off destructive flash floods and landslides. Water surged downstream with little relief for communities in its path.&nbsp;



By the close of the month, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-atmosphere-has-a-memory-that-affects-the-timing-of-monsoons/">monsoon</a> rain totals across the country measured 21 percent higher than normal, and in Punjab the increase reached 36 percent.&nbsp;



These figures translated into staggering human consequences, with nearly four million people affected in eastern Punjab alone and close to two million forced to evacuate. About 4,000 villages were inundated as rivers overtopped their banks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-toll-of-pakistan-s-floods-nbsp">The human toll of Pakistan’s floods&nbsp;</h2>



In Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, the flooded Ravi River spilled into housing developments and submerged major roads.&nbsp;



To the south along the Chenab, the rising waters engulfed nearby villages and forced authorities to move more than 25,000 people - roughly half the population - from Jalalpur Pirwala by September 8.&nbsp;



In Sindh province, low-lying districts braced for similar outcomes. Evacuations were carried out in anticipation of floodwaters advancing along the Indus River.



The flood’s reach has gone far beyond homes and streets. According to reports, an estimated 75 percent of Pakistan’s farmland has suffered damage. Fields of rice, sugarcane, and cotton - the backbone of agricultural livelihoods - now lie underwater.&nbsp;



These losses will ripple across food security, household income, and the national economy for months, and possibly even years. Farmers who were already struggling with rising input costs now face the prospect of losing entire harvests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monsoon-floods-in-pakistan-nbsp">Monsoon floods in Pakistan&nbsp;</h2>



The numbers highlight how overwhelming this disaster has become. Evacuations on such a scale stretch emergency services to their limits.&nbsp;



Relief agencies have called the flooding in Punjab the worst in the region’s history, a sobering reminder of how vulnerable the densely populated plains are when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-atmosphere-has-a-memory-that-affects-the-timing-of-monsoons/">monsoon</a> intensifies.



The unfolding tragedy recalls the catastrophic monsoon of 2022, when Sindh province bore the brunt of widespread inundation.&nbsp;



Flat, low-lying terrain makes this region particularly susceptible to prolonged flooding, with waters lingering for weeks.&nbsp;



In 2025, once again, Sindh has been hit hard. The difference now is the sheer magnitude of rainfall concentrated over a short span of time, overwhelming embankments and drainage systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovery-resilience-and-responsibility">Recovery, resilience, and responsibility</h2>



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/once-in-a-thousand-years-extreme-storms-are-becoming-much-more-frequent/">floodwaters</a> begin to recede in many regions, Pakistan enters a phase where recovery is urgent but complicated. Rebuilding homes, restoring roads, and clearing debris will take months.&nbsp;



Restoring basic services - clean water, electricity, healthcare - is critical. Farmers must assess ruined fields, decide whether to replant, and find seeds and supplies. Many will need financial help to get back on their feet.



Global climate scientists warn that this kind of extreme monsoon behavior is becoming more likely as the atmosphere warms. Infrastructure built for past rainfall patterns may no longer suffice.&nbsp;



In areas like Punjab and Sindh, better flood defenses, improved drainage systems, and early warning networks will be essential to reduce future devastation.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flood-fatalities-experts-reveal-the-hidden-health-impacts/">human cost</a> of this disaster is not over. Displaced families will need long-term support, including food and shelter. Mental health impacts from loss and upheaval may persist.&nbsp;



The scale of this disaster calls for more than short-term relief. It requires long-term solutions. Governments, aid organizations, and local communities share the responsibility to rebuild in ways that not only replace what was destroyed but also create stronger, safer, and more sustainable systems for the future.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Pakistan’s monsoon floods leave millions displaced

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the Butterfly Nebula, located about 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.&nbsp;



It’s what astronomers call a planetary nebula - the brief phase when a dying star sheds its outer layers into space.



Despite the name, planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets. Early astronomers thought these glowing shells looked round, like distant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">worlds</a> seen through primitive telescopes.&nbsp;



The name stuck, even though many nebulae are anything but round. The Butterfly Nebula, with its outstretched “wings” of gas and dust, is a perfect example.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterfly-with-a-hidden-heart">Butterfly with a hidden heart</h2>



At the center of this spectacular cloud lies the remnant of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sun-like-stars-release-massive-superflares-every-100-years/">Sun-like star</a>. It has burned through its fuel and shed most of its mass, leaving behind a blazing hot core.&nbsp;



The star energizes the nebula, making it glow across the spectrum. Yet until recently, the star itself remained hidden.



A dark band of dust and gas cuts through the nebula like the “body” of the butterfly. This band is actually a torus, a doughnut-shaped structure that blocks visible light.&nbsp;



The torus shapes the nebula by forcing gas outward in two opposite directions, creating the iconic bipolar wings. It also conceals the central star from optical view.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-telescope-brings-clarity">Webb telescope brings clarity</h2>



The <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> has now pierced the dust with its Mid-Infrared Instrument, offering the sharpest view yet of the nebula’s core. 



By working in “integral field unit mode,” Webb captured <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_investigates_complex_heart_of_a_cosmic_butterfly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">images</a> and spectra at multiple wavelengths simultaneously. The result is a detailed portrait of how the nebula looks in different slices of light.



The team also added data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile, which revealed colder gas and dust.&nbsp;



Together, these instruments exposed a structure of extraordinary complexity, with nearly 200 spectral lines tracing atoms and molecules woven into layered shells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-central-star-revealed">The central star revealed</h2>



The Webb observations finally pinned down the location of the nebula’s hidden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-stars-shape-planetary-systems-like-ours-with-ultraviolet-radiation/">star</a>. Its surrounding dust cloud glows brightly in mid-infrared light, betraying its position for the first time.&nbsp;



With a scorching temperature of 220,000 Kelvin - around 400,000 degrees Fahrenheit - this is one of the hottest known central stars in a planetary nebula.



That heat drives the nebula’s glow, but its power doesn’t escape evenly. The dense torus channels the outflow, creating the striking wings that stretch across space.&nbsp;



Webb data show that the torus contains crystalline silicates such as quartz, along with irregular grains about a millionth of a meter across. For cosmic dust, that’s relatively large, suggesting the particles have been accumulating for a long time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jets-layers-and-chemical-signatures">Jets, layers, and chemical signatures</h2>



Outside the torus, the nebula displays a multilayered design. Atoms that need the most energy to ionize cluster near the center. Those requiring less energy appear farther out.&nbsp;



Among the highlights are iron and nickel, which mark out two jets blasting away from the star in opposite directions. These fast-moving streams help sculpt the overall shape of the nebula.



The team also found evidence of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.&nbsp;



On Earth, PAHs are common in soot from fires, exhaust fumes, and even burnt toast. In the Butterfly Nebula, they appear to form when bursts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracing-solar-wind-directly-to-its-source-for-the-first-time/">stellar wind</a> collide with the surrounding gas.&nbsp;



This could be the first time PAHs have been spotted forming in an oxygen-rich planetary nebula, offering a rare window into the chemistry of dying stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fleeting-beauty-of-the-butterfly-nebula">Fleeting beauty of the Butterfly Nebula</h2>



The entire spectacle will not last long by cosmic standards. The planetary nebula stage endures only about 20,000 years - a brief flicker compared to a star’s lifetime of billions of years.&nbsp;



The Butterfly Nebula is a reminder of how short-lived and yet astonishingly beautiful the final chapters of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-star-redefines-our-understanding-of-stellar-evolution/">stellar evolution</a> can be.



The results of this study are <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/542/2/1287/8241385" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 



The research shows that even well-studied objects like the Butterfly Nebula can surprise us when viewed with fresh eyes.&nbsp;



Webb’s infrared vision has revealed not only the hidden star at the heart of the butterfly, but also the intricate chemistry that surrounds it - from crystalline dust to unexpected organic molecules.



Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, J. Kastner, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)



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Secrets of the Butterfly Nebula uncovered by Webb

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a stunning reflection nebula known as GN 04.32.8 in the constellation Taurus.



Reflection nebulae are cosmic clouds of fine dust that become visible not by producing their own light, but by reflecting the light of nearby stars.&nbsp;



Unlike emission <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebulae</a>, which glow due to ionized gases radiating light, reflection nebulae shine more subtly.&nbsp;



The light from nearby stars strikes the dust particles within the cloud and scatters in many directions - especially shorter, bluer wavelengths. This scattering effect, similar to the way Earth’s sky appears blue, often gives reflection nebulae their characteristic bluish hue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-taurus-molecular-cloud">The Taurus Molecular Cloud</h2>



“GN 04.32.8 is a small part of the stellar nursery known as the Taurus Molecular Cloud. At only roughly 480 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus, it's one of the best locations for studying newly forming stars,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>.



The Taurus Molecular Cloud is one of the closest and most extensively studied regions for low-mass star formation.&nbsp;



Unlike larger star-forming regions like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-nebula-destroys-an-oceans-worth-of-water-every-month/">Orion</a> that produce many high-mass stars, the Taurus Molecular Cloud is dominated by the formation of Sun-like and smaller stars, making it a prime analog for understanding the conditions that led to the birth of our own solar system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energetic-stars-in-the-constellation-taurus-nbsp">Energetic stars in the constellation Taurus&nbsp;</h2>



“This reflection nebula is illuminated by the system of three bright stars in the center of this image, mainly the variable star V1025 Tauri in the very center," ESA noted. 



“One of those stars overlaps with part of the nebula: this is another variable star that is named HP Tauri, but is classified as a T Tauri star, for its similarity to yet another variable star elsewhere in the Taurus Molecular Complex.”&nbsp;



T Tauri stars are young, energetic stars in the earliest stages of stellar evolution, just beginning their journey toward becoming stable main sequence stars like our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-sun-like-stars-with-secret-companions/">Sun</a>.&nbsp;



These stars are highly variable, often exhibiting strong stellar winds and flares as they settle into equilibrium. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-dynamic-star-system">A dynamic star system</h2>



In this case, the trio of T Tauri stars - named HP Tau, HP Tau G2, and HP Tau G3 - are believed to be gravitationally bound, forming a dynamic triple star system.



“Eagle-eyed viewers might notice the small, squashed, orange spot, just left of center below the clouds of the nebula, that’s crossed by a dark line. This is a newly-formed protostar, hidden in a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">protoplanetary disc</a> that obstructs some of its light,” explained ESA.



“Because the disc is edge-on to us, it’s an ideal candidate for study. Astronomers are using Hubble here to examine it closely, seeking to learn about the kinds of exoplanets that might be formed in discs like it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-light-of-hot-young-stars">The light of hot, young stars</h2>



Reflection nebulae are usually found in regions where new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/10-billion-white-dwarf-stars-in-milky-way-galaxy-might-have-habitable-planets/">stars</a> are forming, often near or within dense molecular clouds.&nbsp;



Some reflection nebulae can span light-years across and serve as markers of stellar nurseries - places where future generations of stars are taking shape.



Reflection nebulae offer astronomers a valuable glimpse into the structure and composition of the interstellar medium and help trace the life cycles of stars from birth to maturity.



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



One well-known example is the reflection nebula surrounding the Pleiades star cluster, also called the Seven Sisters.&nbsp;



The Iris Nebula, located in the constellation Cepheus about 1,300 light-years from Earth, is a striking reflection nebula illuminated by the young star SAO 19158.



This nebula is a popular target for astrophotographers due to its vivid colors and intricate structure.



Found about 1,600 light-years away, M78 is the brightest reflection nebula in the Orion constellation and one of the easiest to observe with amateur telescopes. It’s illuminated by two young stars, HD 38563A and HD 38563B.&nbsp;



M78 is part of a larger complex of gas and dust that includes many other star-forming regions within the Orion Molecular Cloud.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Radiant young stars illuminate the constellation Taurus 

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a dazzling view of the globular cluster NGC 1786, which was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.&nbsp;



Unlike open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trio-of-star-clusters-may-be-the-same-system-at-different-ages/">clusters</a>, which are younger and more loosely arranged, globular clusters are tightly concentrated and typically located in a galaxy’s halo.



The globular cluster NGC 1786 is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) - a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way about 160,000 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;



“NGC 1786 itself is in the constellation Dorado. It was discovered in the year 1835 by John Herschel,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-globular-clusters-nbsp">Observing globular clusters&nbsp;</h2>



Globular clusters are densely packed, spherical groups of stars that orbit the cores of galaxies like satellites.&nbsp;



Each cluster can contain tens of thousands to millions of stars, all bound tightly together by gravity. These stars are generally very old - often over 10 billion years - making globular clusters some of the oldest known structures in the universe.



The image of NGC 1786 is part of a broader observing program aimed at comparing old globular clusters in nearby dwarf galaxies with those found in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-may-be-inside-a-giant-void-in-the-universe-explains-hubble-tension/">Milky Way</a>.&nbsp;



“Our galaxy contains over 150 of these old, spherical collections of tightly-bound stars, which have been studied in depth - especially with Hubble Space Telescope images like this one, which show them in previously-unattainable detail,” said ESA.



“Being very stable and long-lived, they act as galactic time capsules, preserving stars from the earliest stages of a galaxy’s formation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stars-in-globular-clusters">Stars in globular clusters</h2>



For many years, astronomers believed that the stars in globular clusters all formed at roughly the same time. However, studies of Milky Way clusters have revealed multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zhulong-spiral-galaxy-like-milky-way-discovered-at-edge-of-universe-should-not-exist/">stellar populations</a> of different ages.&nbsp;



To better understand how globular clusters form - and how they can be used to trace galactic evolution - researchers are now investigating whether clusters like NGC 1786 in external galaxies also show signs of multiple stellar generations.&nbsp;



This research sheds light on the origins and development of the Large Magellanic Cloud. It also helps scientists study the formation history of the Milky Way itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-magellanic-cloud-nbsp">Large Magellanic Cloud&nbsp;</h2>



The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of the most prominent and intriguing galaxies in our cosmic neighborhood. It is the largest satellite galaxy of the Milky Way and is visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dozens-of-ghost-galaxies-may-be-orbiting-the-milky-way/">satellite galaxy</a> is a smaller galaxy that orbits a larger one due to gravitational attraction. Just as the Moon orbits the Earth, satellite galaxies are bound to larger galaxies and can slowly orbit them over billions of years. 



These satellites can range in size from relatively massive dwarf galaxies to tiny, faint collections of stars.



Though classified as a dwarf galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud spans roughly 14,000 light-years across and contains billions of stars, nebulae, and star clusters.&nbsp;



One of its most famous features is the Tarantula Nebula - the most active star-forming region in the entire Local Group of galaxies. This stellar nursery is so intense that it's forming some of the most massive stars ever observed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-interaction-with-the-milky-way-nbsp">Dynamic interaction with the Milky Way&nbsp;</h2>



The Large Magellanic Cloud is also of great interest to astronomers because of its dynamic relationship with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-solar-systems-journey-through-the-milky-way-may-have-altered-earths-climate/">Milky Way</a>. It’s not just a passive companion - it’s interacting gravitationally with both the Milky Way and the Small Magellanic Cloud, another nearby dwarf galaxy.&nbsp;



These interactions have created long streams of gas, such as the Magellanic Stream, that arc across the sky. In fact, recent studies suggest the Large Magellanic Cloud may be on its first infall into the Milky Way’s halo, rather than orbiting it for billions of years as once thought.&nbsp;



This motion could have significant effects on the structure of our galaxy, possibly even perturbing the Milky Way’s dark matter halo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-research">Significance of the research </h2>



The detailed observations of NGC 1786 not only showcase the stunning capabilities of the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/">Hubble Space Telescope</a> but also deepen our understanding of how galaxies like the Milky Way and the LMC evolve over time.&nbsp;



By examining ancient globular clusters in both the Milky Way and its neighboring galaxies, astronomers are uncovering vital clues about star formation and the processes that shaped our universe.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Glittering time capsule: Hubble peers into a galaxy's past

Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features an incredible phenomenon that was captured on the far outskirts of the Milky Way.



A young, massive star has announced its arrival with a dramatic display. It has fired off twin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-a-young-stars-jet-colliding-with-space-dust/">jets</a> of gas so powerful they stretch across eight light-years - about twice the distance from our Sun to the Alpha Centauri system.&nbsp;



These streams are confined to narrow beams by the star’s magnetic fields and launched along its spin axis.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-jets-of-a-young-star">The jets of a young star</h2>



The James Webb Space Telescope captured the event in exquisite infrared detail, showing the jets carving their way through interstellar gas and dust.



The stellar outburst belongs to a rare class of cosmic displays known as Herbig-Haro objects. They form when material falling onto a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-star-wsb-52-fires-an-explosive-jet-that-crashed-back-into-its-own-planetary-disk/">newborn star</a> is shot back out into space at incredible speeds.&nbsp;



The star at the heart of this spectacle lies in a cluster about 15,000 light-years away. The star has a mass that is already ten times greater than the Sun’s.&nbsp;



The outflow is hurtling through space at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour, leaving behind a trail that astronomers can now study as a record of the star’s growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unexpected-discovery">An unexpected discovery</h2>



The discovery took astronomers by surprise, including Yu Cheng of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (<a href="https://www.nao.ac.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NAOJ</a>). 



“We didn’t really know there was a massive star with this kind of super-jet out there before the observation. Such a spectacular outflow of molecular hydrogen from a massive star is rare in other regions of our galaxy,” said Cheng.&nbsp;



More than 300 Herbig-Haro objects are known, but most of them come from stars much smaller than this one. Webb’s sharp images reveal not just the scale but also the delicate structure of this jet, including knots, shocks, and filaments where the stream slams into surrounding material.



“I was really surprised at the order, symmetry, and size of the jet when we first looked at it,” said Jonathan Tan of the <a href="https://www.virginia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Virginia</a>.



The perfect alignment of the opposite streams suggests the process fueling this star’s growth has been steady for more than 100,000 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-massive-star-formation-nbsp">Mystery of massive star formation&nbsp;</h2>



The new <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/09/Immense_stellar_jet_in_Milky_Way_outskirts#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=0ad1e29a-3bb6-4b03-99c0-1f5c2ba20000" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">observation</a> has reopened one of the longest-running debates in astronomy: how do massive stars form? For decades, scientists have been split between two main ideas. 



One theory suggests that stars this large form through a steady process called core accretion, where gas builds up in a stable disk and launches outflows in predictable directions.&nbsp;



The other theory, known as competitive accretion, involves a chaotic tug-of-war in which streams of gas fall in from all sides, twisting the orientation of the jets.



The Webb data now tilt the balance toward the first explanation. The opposing jets are nearly 180 degrees apart, showing that the central disk has remained steady throughout the star’s lifetime.&nbsp;



“What we’ve seen here, because we’ve got the whole history - a tapestry of the story - is that the opposite sides of the jets are nearly 180 degrees apart from each other. That tells us that this central disc is held steady and validates a prediction of the core accretion theory,” said Tan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conditions-of-the-early-universe-nbsp">Conditions of the early universe&nbsp;</h2>



The star’s home lies in a cluster called Sharpless 2-284, a relatively pristine region on the galaxy’s periphery. Because it is far from the Milky Way’s busy center, its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-universes-first-molecule-helped-ignite-the-stars/">stars formed</a> in an environment low in heavy elements.&nbsp;



Astronomers call this property metallicity, and it mirrors the conditions of the early universe, before multiple generations of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-discovery-twin-stars-with-parallel-disks-and-jets/">stars</a> had enriched space with the products of nuclear fusion.



“Webb’s exquisite data have also shown us that relatively more stars seem to form at lower masses in Sh2-284 than in closer, more metal-rich clusters. This cluster is an excellent region to help us understand star formation throughout the Universe,” said Morten Andersen of the <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Southern Observatory</a>.



Image Credit: ESA



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Young star lights up the Milky Way with colossal jets

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

Some cats in central Finland show a rare coat that fades from dark at the base of each hair to white at the tip. Locals noticed it in 2007, and the look later picked up the nickname salmiak, a nod to a salty licorice candy popular there.



Scientists set out to learn whether this look was just a quirky fluke or a trait tied to a specific change in DNA. They ended up finding a clear genetic sign and a story that connects pet cats to basic biology.



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



In 2024, a peer reviewed study traced the salmiak pattern to a missing stretch of DNA about 95,000 bases long located roughly 65,000 bases beyond the <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/kit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KIT</a> gene. 



The work was led by <a href="https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-us/blog/contributor/heidi-anderson-phd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Heidi Anderson</a> of <a href="https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wisdom Panel</a> in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Helsinki</a>.



The pattern does not behave like the common tuxedo or white spotting most people know. Each hair in colored areas starts pigmented at the base and becomes unpigmented at the tip, and the tail often ends in near white.



It shows up on several background colors, including black, blue, brown tabby, and tortoiseshell. The look is present at birth and stays consistent as the cat grows.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-the-gene-clue-points">Where the gene clue points</h2>



KIT helps guide the development and survival of pigment cells called melanocytes, which supply melanin to hair and skin. Changes that alter KIT activity can change where melanocytes end up or how well they function.



In many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-are-some-cats-orange-scientists-have-finally-found-the-answer/">cats</a>, white or spotted coats are linked to insertions from a feline endogenous retrovirus (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4199695/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FERV1</a>) that sits inside KIT and disrupts normal pigment distribution. 



Those insertions help explain both dominant white coats and the classic white spotting pattern.



The white paws seen in <a href="https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/gloves-birman" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Birman</a> cats come from a different change in the KIT gene that breeders can identify with a genetic test. 



Salmiak cats do not have any of those known changes, which is why the pattern remained a mystery to researchers for so long.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmiak-cats-and-genetics">Salmiak cats and genetics</h2>



The team first genotyped salmiak cats for all known coat variants and saw nothing that explained the unusual white tipping. 



They then sequenced the whole genomes of two salmiak cats and spotted the 95 kb deletion downstream of KIT described above.



To check the match, they genotyped 183 Finnish domestic cats.



The team found the deletion was present in all five salmiak cats as two copies, present as a single copy in three non-salmiak cats, and absent in the other 175. 



That tight match points to a strong association between the deletion and the salmiak look.



The variant follows <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/genetics-dictionary/def/autosomal-recessive-inheritance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">autosomal recessive inheritance</a>, so a kitten must receive the salmiak allele from both parents to show the coat. Cats with just one copy are carriers and usually look normal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-inheritance-means-for-owners">What inheritance means for owners</h2>



A recessive trait can persist quietly in a population because carriers are hard to spot. That makes the salmiak allele rare, and the study did not find it outside the Finnish domestic cat sample tested.



White spotting in other settings can be linked to hearing issues, especially when large areas lack pigment in the inner ear. 



A comprehensive review notes that pigment related deafness is most common in animals with solid white coats and blue eyes, and it is confirmed with a <a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/baer-brainstem-auditory-evoked-response" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BAER</a> test that measures brain responses to sound.



The salmiak <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-prefer-sleeping-on-their-left-side-for-faster-threat-response/">cats</a> in the study did not show signs of deafness, but the authors recommended BAER testing to be sure. That is a sensible step any time a new white pattern is involved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmiak-cats-vs-other-patterns">Salmiak cats vs. other patterns</h2>



Two cats from Romania and the United Kingdom showed a similar coat pattern known as karpati, but genetic testing confirmed it was not linked to the salmiak gene. 



The karpati look has since been used to create the Transylvanian breed, though the exact genetic cause of the pattern is still unknown.



Salmiak and karpati both look similar to roan coloring seen in other animals, where white and colored hairs are mixed together. 



In farm animals like goats, changes near the KIT gene are also known to influence these kinds of patterns, with one <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1008536" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> linking them to solid white coats in one breed and white spotting in another.



That cross species echo matters because it points to a regulatory neighborhood near KIT that controls when and where pigment forms. Salmiak adds a feline example to that shared genetic map.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-beyond-cats">Why this matters beyond cats</h2>



Patterns like salmiak help biologists see how small changes in noncoding DNA can shift gene expression without altering the protein itself. 



Here, the deletion sits outside the coding part of KIT, yet the effect on hair pigmentation is obvious in the mirror.



They also help vets and breeders make informed choices. As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cat-declawing-causes-permanent-nerve-damage/">cats</a> with salmiak are noticed and documented, testing can confirm carriers and avoid accidental loss of a rare variant.



“The discovery of the salmiak variant enriches our understanding of feline coat color genetics. This knowledge could also be valuable for breeding efforts, potentially contributing to the preservation of this trait in our feline companions in existing cat breeds,” Dr. Anderson concluded. 



The study is published in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/age.13438" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Genetics</a>.



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Genetic mutation in cats has given rise to a new coat color similar to salted licorice

Some cats in central Finland show a rare coat that...

Portrait,Of,A,Wild,Octopus,Under,Water.

The octopus is a creature that continues to surprise scientists and inspire engineers. With eight arms that move in ways no human limb can, it demonstrates flexibility and control that seem almost otherworldly. 



Each arm bends, twists, elongates, and shortens with unmatched precision, enabling these animals to hunt, hide, and explore with ease. 



Researchers hope that unlocking the secrets of these movements may guide the design of flexible robotic arms capable of lifesaving missions.



Imagine a robotic arm slipping through rubble after a building collapse, delivering food or medicine to someone trapped below. 



This vision has motivated scientists to study octopus arms in detail - both in the laboratory and in their natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-dumbo-octopus-species-carnarvon-flapjack-discovered-in-very-deep-ocean-waters/">environment</a>.



Until recently, most studies were limited to tanks, where behaviors may not reflect the complexity of life in the wild. That gap is now being addressed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-octopus-intelligence">Understanding octopus intelligence</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-could-dominate-earth-if-humans-vanish/">Octopuses</a> are some of the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth. Unlike most animals without backbones, they can solve puzzles, open jars, and even escape from aquariums by remembering routes back to the ocean. 



Their brains are incredibly complex, with about 500 million neurons - similar to a dog. What makes them even more fascinating is that two-thirds of those neurons are in their arms. 



This means each arm can sense, move, and even make decisions on its own while still communicating with the central brain. It’s like having eight mini-brains working together with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-are-tricked-by-the-rubber-hand-illusion-like-humans-suggesting-self-awareness/">one big brain</a>.



Their intelligence also shows up in how they hunt and survive. Octopuses use tools, like carrying coconut shells to hide inside when threatened, and they can change color and texture in an instant to camouflage perfectly against rocks or coral. 



They’ve been observed watching other animals and learning from them, which is rare in the animal kingdom.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flexible-octopus-arms-inspire-robotics">Flexible octopus arms inspire robotics</h2>



A new study from the <a href="https://www.mbl.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Biological Laboratory</a> in Woods Hole and Florida Atlantic University has provided the most comprehensive analysis of octopus arm movements in natural habitats. 



Researchers recorded 25 wild octopuses in six locations, ranging from the Caribbean to Spain. The footage captured thousands of arm movements across a variety of behaviors, including foraging, locomotion, and even defense.



“I’ve been trying for a long time to work out the natural behavior of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-octopus-footage-could-revolutionize-flexible-robot-design-eyeris/">cephalopods</a> in their natural habitat,” said MBL Senior Scientist Roger Hanlon, who led the project. 



“Studying and recording octopus behavior from wild octopuses in the field gave us the opportunity to analyze a larger behavioral repertoire and further understand how they use their arms to achieve such complex behaviors,” added Chelsea Bennice, research fellow at <a href="https://www.fau.eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAU</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guided-by-touch-not-sight">Guided by touch, not sight</h2>



Octopuses rely heavily on touch, guided by sensory organs in their arm suckers. “The octopus is a very tactile animal - it’s more tactile than visual,” said Hanlon. 



Each of their nearly 100 suckers per arm contains chemosensory-tactile receptors, combining functions similar to the human nose, lips, and tongue.



Finding octopuses to observe was not simple. Their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-squid-power-their-amazing-camouflage-abilities/">camouflage</a> skills make them almost invisible in coral reefs or sandy seabeds. Divers often relied on clues like discarded shells and food debris near their dens.



Once located, octopuses emerged briefly from hiding, offering precious opportunities to record their natural actions.



These moments revealed unique hunting strategies, arm movements, and subtle interactions with their environment otherwise impossible to witness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-arm-mechanics-of-octopuses">Complex arm mechanics of octopuses</h2>



The researchers identified 12 distinct arm actions across 15 behaviors, built from four fundamental deformations: shortening, elongating, bending, and torsion. They discovered a pattern of specialization within each arm. 



For instance, elongation and shortening were most common near the base, while bending occurred more at the tips. 



This functional partitioning allows octopuses to combine motions across arms for tasks like crawling, probing reef crevices, or launching sudden prey attacks.



“These are the actions that make up the whole complex of octopus <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-and-squids-defy-the-slow-pace-of-evolution/">behaviors</a>,” said study co-author Kendra Buresch. 



In the wild, researchers observed octopuses using different combinations of arm actions - sometimes relying on a single arm for tasks like grabbing food, and other times coordinating multiple arms for behaviors such as crawling or launching a parachute attack.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-that-guides-technology">Behavior that guides technology</h2>



The findings go beyond understanding animal behavior. With nearly 7,000 observed arm deformations, the study highlights an extraordinary degree of control and flexibility. 



This knowledge may inform robotics research, where engineers seek to design soft, adaptable arms capable of both precise and exploratory tasks.



“Understanding these natural behaviors not only deepens our knowledge of octopus biology but also opens exciting new avenues in fields like neuroscience, animal behavior, and even soft robotics inspired by these remarkable creatures,” Bennice said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-in-flexibility-and-change">Lessons in flexibility and change</h2>



From the ocean floor to robotics labs, octopuses continue to inspire, offering lessons in both biology and technology. 



Their flexible arms not only influence the design of machines that could navigate disaster zones or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/">deep-sea environments</a>, but also remind us how problem-solving in nature often leads to solutions with real-world applications.



Beyond robotics, their adaptability symbolizes the broader principle that survival depends on innovation and change, a message equally relevant to ecosystems, human health, and future technologies.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-10674-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Octopus arms are probably the most complex and flexible structures in nature

The octopus is a creature that continues to surprise scientists...

In 2019, a Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) dive turned up something no one recognized: a small, bubblegum–pink snailfish cruising just above the seafloor more than two miles down.



A research team led by the <a href="https://www.geneseo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State University of New York at Geneseo</a> has confirmed that the mystery fish is a new species to science and has given it a name as memorable as its look: the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi).



<a href="https://www.mbari.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MBARI</a> Senior Scientist Steven Haddock, who led the expedition that filmed and collected the fish, sees this as exactly why sharing deep-sea data matters.



“We welcomed the opportunity to expand our understanding of life in the deep ocean, especially since documenting deep-sea <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-ocean-day-a-unified-approach-to-protect-biodiversity/">biodiversity</a> is critical to detecting any changes that may be occurring in this environment,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adapted-to-the-deep-sea">Adapted to the deep sea</h2>



Snailfishes (family Liparidae) are shape-shifters of the oceans, with more than 400 known species living everywhere from tidepools to trenches.



Many carry a suction disk on their bellies - handy for clinging to rocks, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-seaweed-day-2025-saving-the-oceans-sustainable-powerhouse/">seaweed</a>, or even hitching rides on larger animals. At depth, their bodies tend toward jelly-soft and loosely skinned, an anatomy built for cold, crushing pressure and perpetual night. A snailfish, in fact, holds the record for the deepest-dwelling fish ever seen.



Those extremes are what fascinate SUNY Geneseo biologist Mackenzie Gerringer, who studies how deep-sea fishes make a living under conditions that would crush almost anything else.



“The deep sea is home to an incredible diversity of organisms and a truly beautiful array of adaptations,” she said. “Our discovery of not one, but three, new species of snailfishes is a reminder of how much we have yet to learn about life on Earth and of the power of curiosity and exploration.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-dive-three-new-snailfish-species">One dive, three new snailfish species</h2>



Haddock and colleagues spotted the bumpy snailfish during a cruise aboard MBARI’s retired research vessel Western Flyer. They used the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts to explore the outer reaches of Monterey Canyon about 62 miles off central California.



At 10,722 feet, a small pink fish swept past the cameras. The team collected the adult female - 3.6 inches long - for careful study back on shore.



That specimen joined two other puzzling finds from 2019. Researchers collected a pair of unusual snailfishes using the submersible Alvin. The dive took place near Station M, MBARI’s long-running abyssal study site around 13,100 feet down.



Together, the trio became the centerpiece of a taxonomic investigation by scientists from SUNY Geneseo, the <a href="https://www.umt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Montana</a>, and the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa</a>.



The result is a three-for-one. Alongside Careproctus colliculi, the team formally describes the dark snailfish (Careproctus yanceyi) and the sleek snailfish (Paraliparis em). Each carries a distinct set of traits.



The bumpy snailfish is unmistakably pink, with a rounded head and prominent eyes. It also has broad <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bizarre-fish-can-walk-and-thrive-on-land/">pectoral fins</a> with elongated upper rays and textured skin that inspired its common name.



The dark snailfish is, as advertised, jet black, with a rounded head and horizontal mouth. The sleek snailfish lacks a suction disk. Its body tapers into a long, laterally compressed, black form capped by a sharply angled jaw.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-naming-life-from-the-deep">Naming life from the deep</h2>



Proving a species is new takes more than a striking color. The team combined high-resolution imaging and genetics to make its case. They used microscopy and micro-CT (micro–computed tomography) scans to map bones and soft tissues, and DNA sequencing to place each fish on the Liparidae family tree.



Subtle measurements - fin ray counts, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-jaws-twist-to-feed-more-effectively-on-coral-reefs/">jaw</a> angles, body proportions - stacked up with genetic differences to separate the newcomers from lookalikes.



In a nod to place, the species name Paraliparis em honors Station M and the community of programs and people behind it. Their 30-year record has reshaped how scientists understand abyssal ecosystems and their links to climate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-a-deep-sea-snailfish-mystery">Tracking a deep-sea snailfish mystery</h2>



So far, Haddock’s 2019 encounter remains the only confirmed sighting of the bumpy snailfish, leaving its true range a mystery. But MBARI’s vast video archive may hold more clues.



A 2009 dive off Oregon shows a pink snailfish that could be C. colliculi - a clip previously logged as the related bigtail snailfish (Osteodiscus cascadiae). Re-examining older footage with fresh eyes is a quiet superpower of long-term ocean observatories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-naming-species-matters">Why naming species matters</h2>



New species descriptions can sound esoteric, but they are the scaffolding of conservation and climate science. 



Without a name and a diagnostic description, a species effectively doesn’t exist on paper. This absence makes it difficult to track shifts in distribution or declines in abundance. It also hinders recognition of changes in life history as deep-sea environments warm and acidify.



They also spotlight the tools that make discovery possible. ROVs like Doc Ricketts, deep-diving submersibles like Alvin, and time-series sites like Station M give researchers the repeated, close-up looks that the deep sea has long resisted.



The bumpy snailfish exists in the literature because a camera happened to be rolling in the right place at the right time. A specimen was also collected gently enough to survive the trip to the lab.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-partnership-fuels-ocean-science">Partnership fuels ocean science</h2>



MBARI’s approach - openly sharing dives, specimens, and know-how - helped turn a curious pink <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-are-quietly-battling-climate-change-on-the-seabed/">fish</a> into a formal snailfish species. 



That pipeline, from video archive to taxonomic paper, is becoming more important as interest grows in activities like deep-sea mining. Knowing who lives on the abyssal plain is the first step toward protecting it.



This encounter is the only confirmed observation of the bumpy snailfish. It’s a reminder that even in well-studied waters, one pass of an ROV can change what we think we know. 



With every dive and every partnership, the map of deep-sea life gains another dot - and another story worth telling.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/hwsl-ebVVoU?si=Ns9onwl4yAMksJzv
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MBARI's advanced underwater robot reveals a new species of deep-sea snailfish</figcaption></figure>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://asih.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/cope/113/3/article-p487.xml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ichthyology &amp; Herpetology</a>.



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Three new species of snailfish discovered in the deep Pacific Ocean

In 2019, a Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) dive...

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