Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory </a>&nbsp;features a large smoke plume extending along the U.S. East Coast. The smoke originated thousands of miles away in western Canada, said NASA atmospheric scientist Gary Partyka, who tracked its movement using the GEOS forward processing (GEOS-FP) model developed by NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office.&nbsp;



"Wildland fires burn through Canada’s boreal forests every summer as temperatures rise and lightning ignites blazes. Widespread fire activity typically begins to taper off in late-August and fades away by October as days shorten, temperatures cool, and fall weather patterns take control," said NASA.



"Not in 2023. Fires that had been burning in western Canada for months continued to rage furiously into October, growing at some of the fastest rates they have all year and generating record amounts of emissions. Evidence of their intensity filled North American skies in the last two weeks of September, with expansive smoke plumes swirling across much of Canada."



Partyka described the pattern as “highly indexed meridional flow” that drew smoke in a circuitous route around Canada and into the United States, rather than carrying it generally west to east.



The image was captured on October 1, 2023 by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NOAA-20.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Smoke plume over U.S. East Coast traveled thousands of miles

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

Leaving on a jet

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/09/Earth_from_Space_Southern_Patagonian_Ice_Field">European Space Agency</a> features a massive star-forming nebula known as G35.2-0.7N, which is located around 7,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquila.



According to ESA, G35.2-0.7N is known as a hotbed of high-mass star formation. "The kind of stars that form here are so massive that they will end their lives as destructive supernovae. However, even as they form they greatly impact their surroundings."&nbsp;



"At least one B-type star - the second most massive type - lurks within the region pictured here, and a powerful protostellar jet that it is launching towards us is the source of the spectacular light show."&nbsp;



The image was captured by the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), which is mounted on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.



NASA noted that Hubble observed this particular region as part of a program examining protostellar jets.&nbsp;



"These fast-moving jets, which form as gas collects around newly forming stars and last for only about 100,000 years, are known to play a role in star formation," said NASA.



"Astronomers were interested to learn whether such jets influence the formation of massive stars similar to the way they affect the formation of lower-mass stars. Massive stars are typically rarer, more distant, and more hidden by dust than lower-mass stars, making studies of their jets more challenging."



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, R. Fedriani, J. Tan



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Stellar nursery G35.2-0.7N is a hotbed of massive stars

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

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Saba, a small island in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. Saba is the top of a volcano that became active during the Pleistocene era.



"Located about 140 kilometers east of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the active stratovolcano rises 1,500 meters above the sea floor," says NASA. "Above the water, rainforests cover the steep slopes of the volcano, home to many birds, orchids and reptiles, including an endemic spotted lizard, the Saban anole (Anolus sabensis). Below the water, corals and other species thrive."



"The largest city and the capital city of the island, called The Bottom, lies between the port and the higher elevations of the volcano."&nbsp;



Due to a lack of sandy beaches, Saba is not a major tourist destination like other Caribbean islands. However, it is a popular spot for divers to find corals and sea urchins.



According to NASA, sea urchins in the Caribbean started mysteriously dying off in early 2022. Dive shops in the region began reporting mysterious sea urchin die offs in February, particularly the long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum.&nbsp;



"Saba’s reef was once home to more than 5,000 D. antillarum. But in April 2022, in a section of Saba’s reef called 'Diadema City,' half of the long-spined sea urchins died off in just one week, and only 100 remained in June, according to reporting in ScienceNews."



"The massive loss of sea urchins is reminiscent of a die-off that started in 1983, in which virtually all of the D. antillarum population in the Caribbean was eliminated within a year. Although the exact cause of the 1983 and 2022 die-offs is still a mystery, many researchers agree that the speed and scope of the event in the 1980s indicates the spread of an unknown disease," says NASA.



The image was captured on August 16, 2022 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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

The volcanic island of Saba

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

A sparkling galactic neighbour

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the galaxy ESO 300-16, which is located 28.7 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus



According to ESA, the galaxy is a ghostly assemblage of stars which resembles a sparkling cloud.&nbsp;



"A rogue’s gallery of distant galaxies and foreground stars complete this astronomical portrait, which was captured by the Advanced Camera for Surveys," said ESA.



"This observation is one of a series which aims to get to know our galactic neighbors; around three quarters of the known galaxies suspected to lie within 10 megaparsecs of Earth have been observed by Hubble in enough detail to resolve their brightest stars and establish the distances to these galaxies."



"A team of astronomers proposed using small gaps in Hubble’s observing schedule to acquaint ourselves with the remaining quarter of the nearby galaxies."



ESO 300-16 is a relatively small and remote dwarf galaxy. It is sometimes known as a "compact blue dwarf galaxy" because of its size and the intense blue colors indicating active star formation.&nbsp;



These galaxies are typically small, but they have high star-forming rates for their size. This kind of galaxy can provide insights into the process of star formation as well as galaxy evolution in general.



Dwarf galaxies are of particular interest to astronomers because they can help to provide understanding about the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early universe. They're also thought to play a role in the assembly of larger galaxies over cosmic time.



By studying galaxies like ESO 300-16, astronomers can hope to better understand how galaxies grow, evolve, and interact over time.&nbsp;



Image Credit: ESA



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A ghostly assemblage of stars make up the galaxy ESO 300-16

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut view of the Tunupa Volcano, a dormant volcano in southwestern Bolivia. The volcano is located on a peninsula between two of Bolivia’s largest salt flats - Salar de Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa.



"Tunupa Volcano is located at the center of the Southern Altiplano, or the Andean Plateau, and rises as high as 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles) in elevation," says NASA. "The volcano is a composite cone - a large, complex volcano that is often covered by lava flows, pyroclastic and mudflow deposits, and domes. Last active about 1.4 million years ago, Tunupa is now considered dormant."



"The flanks of the volcano’s cone are incised by valleys that were eroded by ancient glaciers and stream flows. Domes and lava flows appear on the eastern side of Tunupa, and the volcano is adjacent to other eroded volcanic fields and craters, including Jayu Khota and Titivilla."



According to NASA. the salt flats are typically a bright white color when viewed from orbit - but during Bolivia’s rainy season, rivers can carry sediment rich in microbes and dark-colored volcanic minerals onto the flats.&nbsp;



The image was captured on February 5, 2022 by a member of the Expedition 66 crew.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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



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Tunupa Volcano in southwestern Bolivia

Portrait,Of,A,Young,Cheerful,Woman,Eating,Salad,At,The

The global trend of reducing meat consumption has been picking up pace, as initiatives such as "Meatless Mondays" gain popularity. Yet, the decision to go vegetarian might not just be a matter of personal or ethical choice, it may be genetic.



A fascinating study from <a href="https://www.nm.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern Medicine</a> posits that a person's genetic composition might significantly influence their ability to commit to a strict vegetarian diet.



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



While vegetarianism is lauded for its potential health benefits and ethical considerations, there's a conundrum that has puzzled many. Why do a significant number of self-proclaimed vegetarians continue to consume fish, poultry, or red meat? 



<a href="https://www.pathology.northwestern.edu/faculty/profile.html?xid=14114" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Nabeel Yaseen</a> is professor emeritus of pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He stated that nearly 48 to 64% of vegetarians admit to occasionally consuming meat. This stat implies that external environmental factors or internal biological constraints might be at play.



"It seems there are more people who would like to be vegetarian than actually are, and we think it’s because there is something hard-wired here that people may be missing,” Dr. Yaseen noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-and-vegetarians">Genetics and vegetarians</h2>



To delve into the genetic underpinnings of vegetarianism, researchers at Northwestern Medicine undertook a comprehensive study. They analyzed UK Biobank genetic data, comparing 5,324 strict vegetarians with 329,455 control subjects. 



Notably, all participants were of white Caucasian descent to ensure a uniform sample and eliminate potential ethnic biases.



The findings were illuminating. Three genes were found to have a significant correlation with vegetarianism, with an additional 31 genes showing potential association. Intriguingly, two of the three primary genes identified, namely NPC1 and RMC1, play roles in lipid metabolism and brain function.



Dr. Yaseen hypothesized that certain lipids, present in meat but not in plant products, might be essential for some people. "Maybe people whose genetics favor vegetarianism can naturally produce these lipid components," he speculated, though he emphasized that this remains a theory, and further studies are required..



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-trends-and-implications">Global trends and implications</h2>



Despite the burgeoning interest in plant-based diets, the majority of the global population continues to consume meat. In the U.S., vegetarians constitute only 3 to 4% of the populace. Similarly, the U.K. reports that only <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-results-from-years-1-to-4-combined-of-the-rolling-programme-for-2008-and-2009-to-2011-and-2012" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2.3% of adults and 1.9% of children</a> identify as vegetarians. 



This prevalent preference for meat prompts further investigation into its underlying reasons. Dr. Yaseen posits that, akin to one's initial reaction and subsequent acclimatization to alcohol or coffee, there might be a component in meat, possibly a lipid, that individuals might inherently crave or need.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-and-religious-beliefs">More and religious beliefs</h2>



Furthermore, if genetics is a determinant in one's vegetarian inclinations, what implications does it hold for individuals abstaining from meat due to religious or moral beliefs? 



Dr. Yaseen explains, "While religious and moral considerations certainly play a major role in the motivation to adopt a vegetarian diet, our data suggest that the ability to adhere to such a diet is constrained by genetics.”



Concluding his thoughts, Dr. Yaseen expressed hope that future research would shed more light on the physiological differences between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. This knowledge, he believes, can pave the way for more tailored dietary recommendations and better meat alternatives. His ultimate goal is to cater to the genetic predispositions of both vegetarians and meat eaters.



This pivotal study has the distinction of being the first peer-reviewed study examining the relationship between genetics and strict vegetarianism.



This full study, titled “<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291305" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genetics of Vegetarianism: A Genome-Wide Association Study</a>,” was published in the journal PLOS ONE.



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Being a vegetarian is genetic and could explain why some people can’t give up meat

The global trend of reducing meat consumption has been picking...

Honeybees are more discerning in their nutritional choices than previously believed, according to a new study led by the University of Helsinki. This revelation could have profound implications for both bee health and human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/agriculture-could-play-a-key-role-in-limiting-global-warming/">agriculture</a>.



"Honeybees are the most widespread managed pollinators of our food crops, and a crucial part of their well-being is a suitable diet," wrote the study authors.&nbsp; "Yet, we do not know how they choose flowers to collect nectar or pollen from."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprisingly-selective">Surprisingly selective</h2>



Historically, honeybees were regarded as generalists when it came to selecting flowering plants, implying they could adapt to a variety of plant species.&nbsp;



However, the current study has challenged this assumption, indicating that these insects display a high degree of selectivity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-honeybees-use-a-fraction-of-available-plants-nbsp">Honeybees use a fraction of available plants&nbsp;</h2>



"Honeybees choose certain plants as their food resources, and these choices differ among time points and, within a time point, even among bee colonies within the same apiary," explained study co-author Helena Wirta.



"As an example, at a time point, a colony would collect nectar and pollen mainly from different plants."



"Based on our results, honeybees are more selective than assumed, using only a fraction of available plants. Thus, to fulfil its nutritional needs, it is likely to need a wide selection of plants from which to select suitable ones."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



For the study, honey and pollen samples were collected from beehives. DNA was then extracted from the samples to investigate the nutritional contents of the plants that the bees had visited. 



"Here we studied forty-three honeybee colonies in six apiaries over a summer, identifying the floral origins of honey and hive-stored pollen samples by DNA-metabarcoding," explained the study authors.



"We recorded the available flowering plants and analyzed the specialized metabolites in honey."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The results revealed that plant species vary in the protein content, amino and fatty acid composition of pollen, and the quantity and composition of sugars in the nectar.&nbsp;



In line with these variations, bees would, for instance, favor raspberries particularly in mid- and late summer for nectar. During early summer, they would opt for nectar and pollen from blueberry and cow parsley.



"Overall, we find that honeybees use mostly the same plants for both nectar and pollen, yet per colony less than half of the plant genera are used for both nectar and pollen at a time," wrote the researchers.



"Across samples, on average fewer plant genera were used for pollen, but the composition was more variable among samples, suggesting higher selectivity for pollen sources. Of the available flowering plants, honeybees used only a fraction for either nectar or pollen foraging."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



These revelations hold significance, especially in light of the declining pollinator numbers reported in recent years.&nbsp;



Honeybees play a pivotal role as pollinators for not just crop plants but also for wild flora. It is important to know which plants meet honeybee nutritional requirements.



"We studied managed honeybees, so our results apply especially to crop species pollination, which impacts both the quality and quantity of yields," said Wirta.



"To ensure food security, including a variety of plants with high nutritional value, we should take these new findings into consideration."



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42102-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>. 



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Honeybees are very selective about their nutritional choices

Honeybees are more discerning in their nutritional choices than previously...

While several studies have highlighted the ramifications of livestock farming for human consumption, a new study brings attention to a less-discussed realm. What are the environmental implications of meat-based foods that we feed our beloved pets, and how would the Earth benefit if our dogs and cats switched to vegan diets?



As the urgency for sustainability grows, consumers are becoming more conscious of their dietary choices and the environmental footprints they leave behind. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cowspiracy-film-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">livestock industry</a>, notoriously linked with large-scale land usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and overconsumption of freshwater, has long been scrutinized for its adverse environmental impact. New research brings attention to this issue, but from a slightly different perspective.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eye-opening-findings">Eye-opening findings</h2>



The study, led by Andrew Knight from <a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Griffith University</a>, Australia, breaks new ground in the sustainability discourse. Knight’s analysis suggests that converting all cats and dogs, either in the US or globally, to a vegan diet – one without meat, dairy, or eggs – could have profound positive environmental outcomes.



The immediate question that arises is whether vegan diets are safe for pets. Recent research affirms that nutritionally sound vegan diets for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-on-vegan-diets-are-equally-healthy-as-those-that-eat-meat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cats</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-with-vegan-diets-may-have-better-health-outcomes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> not only are safe, but may also be healthier when compared to conventional meat-based diets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-positive-impact-by-the-numbers">Potential positive impact: By the numbers</h2>



Using pet population data from 2020 (for the US) and 2018 (for global estimates), along with insights from a myriad of prior studies and governmental databases, Knight painted a hypothetical yet illuminating picture:



<ol type="1" start="1">
<li>The livestock consumed by US dogs and cats stands at about one fifth of the consumption by humans. Globally, this figure drops to one tenth. </li>



<li>The hypothetical adoption of vegan diets by all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vegan-diet-for-dogs-given-the-thumbs-up-by-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US dogs</a> and cats could prevent the slaughter of close to 2 billion land-based livestock animals every year. On a global scale, this number could shoot up to almost 7 billion. Furthermore, billions of aquatic animals could also be spared. </li>



<li>Significant conservation of resources could be achieved. For example, the global shift of all dogs to vegan diets might free up land equivalent to the size of Saudi Arabia. Cats, if they were to follow suit, could save a land area as vast as Germany. For context, if humanity at large adopted veganism, land larger than Russia and India combined could potentially be conserved. </li>



<li>The shift could also yield drastic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-diets-are-proven-better-for-human-and-environmental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reductions in greenhouse gas</a> emissions. To draw a parallel, a global shift in dog diets could reduce emissions equivalent to the total emissions of the UK. For cats, the equivalent is that of Israel.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-assumptions-and-caveats">Assumptions and caveats</h2>



As promising as these numbers seem, Knight brings a balanced perspective by pointing out potential underestimations and assumptions. The pet population and energy requirements used in the study may actually be conservative. This implies that the real-world environmental benefits could be even more substantial.



However, the study does ride on certain assumptions. For one, the global calculations were predominantly based on US dietary ingredient data, neglecting potential variations in ingredients between nations. 



Moreover, the environmental impact data hails from between 2009 to 2011. More recent data might paint a different (possibly more accurate) picture. Knight also highlighted the need for future research to focus on the specific energy density of various animal-sourced ingredients. He used the broad averages in this study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-switching-your-dogs-and-cats-to-vegan-diets">Switching your dogs and cats to vegan diets</h2>



While Knight's research unequivocally underlines the environmental merits of vegan diets, he cautions pet owners about the health implications. For those considering this route, he stresses the importance of choosing vegan pet food that is labeled as nutritionally complete. It should also be sourced from trustworthy companies with high standards.



In an era where sustainability is not just a buzzword but a dire necessity, such studies carve pathways for more conscious living. The ripple effect of our dietary choices, whether for us or our pets, is vast. Knight’s analysis offers food for thought in our collective journey towards a greener planet.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291791" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS ONE</a>.



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Switching dogs and cats to vegan diets would help the Earth tremendously

While several studies have highlighted the ramifications of livestock farming...