Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a false-color photo of the Gila National Forest in southwest New Mexico, where another wildfire erupted on May 13, 2022. The photo shows the area burned by the Black fire, which has now reached more than 130,000 acres.&nbsp;



The fire is now the second largest wildfire burning in the state. More than 600 firefighters are working the blaze, which was eight percent contained at the time this photograph was captured on May 21, 2022.



According to NASA, the state of New Mexico has seen more than half a million acres burned this year in early season wildfires, and forecasters predict that conditions could worsen through the end of May.



"The Black fire began burning in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Area in the Black Range, about 30 miles northwest of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. On May 16, the fire blew up, tripling in size from 18,000 acres to more than 56,000 acres. A blow-up is a sudden increase in fire intensity or rate of spread. The blow-up of the Black fire on May 16 produced a small pyrocumulonimbus cloud as the fire ran east and crossed the Continental Divide," reports NASA.



The Black fire is just one of several large fires burning in New Mexico. The Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire, which has been burning for six weeks, recently became the largest wildfire in New Mexico history after burning more than 310,000 acres.&nbsp;



The southwestern United States is in the midst of a 22-year megadrought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, at least 85 percent of New Mexico was experiencing extreme to exceptional drought as of May 19, 2022.



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



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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

The Black fire has exploded in New Mexico

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

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a phytoplankton bloom off the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States in May 2022



"Phytoplankton are to the ocean what grasses and ground cover are to land: primary producers, a basic food source for other life, and the main carbon recycler for the marine environment. Diatoms, coccolithophores, algae, and other forms of phytoplankton are floating, plant-like organisms that soak up sunshine, sponge up nutrients, and create their own food (energy)," reports NASA.



The image was captured on May 17, 2022 by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite. The bloom was located off the coast of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.&nbsp;



"The 2022 bloom may have been provoked by coastal upwelling, a process by which persistent winds blow surface waters away from the coast, causing cooler, nutrient-rich waters to flow up from the depths," explains NASA. "Persistent westerly or southwesterly breezes can lead to upwelling along the Mid-Atlantic coast."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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

Springtime phytoplankton bloom in the Atlantic Ocean

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a remarkable dust storm over the Arabian Sea. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/atmospheric-river-carries-african-dust-to-western-europe/">dust</a> was streaming from Oman, Pakistan, and Iran, and merged into one large plume over the water. 



According to NASA, plumes of desert dust affected populated areas around the basin, as winds carried the particles over Karachi, Mumbai, and numerous other cities and degraded air quality. In Karachi, Pakistan, visibility fell to about 1,600 feet.



Hiren Jethva, a Morgan State University scientist based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said that both the size of the plume and its unusual were “quite remarkable.”



Jethva explained that winter winds usually blow out from India toward the Arabian Sea, carrying various aerosols from local pollution and biomass burning. “However, the reversal of wind direction has likely occurred, bringing dust from the ocean to the Indian subcontinent."



On January 21, high winds kicked up dust and carried it toward the southeast. On January 22, the dust took a turn toward the east, eventually settling over western India, including the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.



The dust lingered in the air for days. By January 24, the air quality index in Mumbai was “severe,” the highest category in the country’s index.&nbsp;



The Arabian Sea is also known as the Sea of Oman, and was historically known as the Persian Sea, the Erythraean Sea, the Indian Sea, Sindh Sea, and the Akhzar Sea.



The image was on January 22, 2022 by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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

Massive dust storm over the Arabian Sea

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park in the southeastern corner of Spain.



"The park’s semi-arid climate and volcanic features contribute to the peculiar landscape along more than 60 kilometers of the Mediterranean coastline," reports NASA.



The Tabernas Desert, which is considered mainland Europe’s only desert, lies 30 kilometers to the north of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Park.



"Both the desert and the park are part of Spain’s Almería Province, the driest area of Europe. The region receives just 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain per year, though the coastal areas are somewhat more humid," explains NASA. "There is enough moisture to support nearly 1,000 species of plants, such as the European fan palm and a thorny shrub known as jujube."



"When viewed from orbit, the park’s most obvious features are volcanic - that is, the 5 percent of the volcanic complex that rises above the water. The remaining 95 percent is hidden from view below the sea’s surface."



According to NASA, volcanic activity began here about 16 million years ago and ended about 8 million years ago.&nbsp;



"Wind and seawater have eroded some of the lava flows into smooth, strange shapes. Other structures just offshore have partially crumbled away. For instance, the tall, jagged rocks jutting from the water at Arrecife de la Sierena are thought to be remains of an old volcanic structure."



The image was captured on May 17, 2022 by the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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

Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park in Spain

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Capitol Reef National Park, located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country.



"It was named instead for two geologic features: the prominent white domes of Navajo Sandstone, which reminded early settlers of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.; and a formidable ridge of rocky cliffs that presented a barrier to travel," explains NASA.



"The settlers (some likely traveling in prairie schooners) likened it to the maritime navigational hazard of an ocean reef."



The ridge, which is known as Waterpocket Fold, runs north to south for 90 miles. Waterpocket Fold is a monocline, a a step-like fold in rock layers that have been folded up or down on one side.&nbsp;



"Between 75 million and 35 million years ago, the tectonic forces that uplifted the Rocky Mountains also buckled older rocks below Capitol Reef," reports NASA. "The rock layers above did not break, but bent, like a tablecloth draped over a table edge. The bend in this drape forms the Waterpocket Fold. More recently, rains, flash floods, and freeze-thaw cycles have eroded and sculpted the cliffs, canyons, bridges, and domes into what we see today."



"Capitol Reef tells a geologic story of hundreds of millions of years of deposition, uplift, and erosion - punctuated by episodes of volcanism and glaciation. The park boasts a nearly complete series of rock layers spanning from the late Permian Period (about 290 million years ago) to the end of the Mesozoic Era (66 million years ago). Deposited along and in a shallow sea and ancient delta, these rocks hold a nearly continuous record of life and environments here from before the rise of the dinosaurs through their demise."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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

Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah

As the beginning of a phase 1 human clinical trial, scientists from biotechnology company <a href="http://www.imugene.com/">Imugene Ltd</a> and cancer research and treatment center <a href="https://www.cityofhope.org/">City of Hope</a> have recently injected the first human patient with a cancer-killing virus called CF33-hNIS VAXINIA, which has been shown to shrink solid cancerous tumors in animals. This oncolytic virus has been genetically engineered to infect, replicate within, and kill <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-plant-virus-could-help-cure-cancer/">cancer</a> cells, while sparing the healthy ones. Clinical trials on animals have shown that this treatment can significantly reduce the size of colon, lung, breast, pancreatic, and ovarian cancer tumors.



“The dosing of the first patient in our VAXINIA study is a significant milestone for Imugene and clinicians faced with the challenge of treatment for metastatic advanced solid tumors,” said Dr. Leslie Chong, MD, the CEO of Imugene.



“Our previous research demonstrated that oncolytic viruses can stimulate the immune system to respond to and kill cancer, as well as stimulate the immune system to be more responsive to other immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors,” added Dr. Daneng Li, an assistant professor in the City of Hope’s Department of Medical Oncology &amp; Therapeutics.



VAXINIA is a type of “oncolytic virus” – a virus found in nature which has been genetically engineered to infect and kill cancer cells, while sparing healthy ones. Although other immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors have proven effective in containing the spread of certain cancers, patients often relapse and eventually develop resistance to this type of treatment. Researchers believe that VAXINIA can better prime patients’ immune systems by increasing the levels of a protein called PD-L1 in tumors, thus making immunotherapy more effective against a variety of cancers.



“Interestingly, the same characteristics that eventually make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy or radiation treatment actually enhance the success of oncolytic viruses, such as CF33-hNIS,”&nbsp;said Dr. Yuman Fong, a surgical oncologist at City of Hope and one of the main developers of this innovative treatment. “We are hoping to harness the promise of virology and immunotherapy for the treatment of a wide variety of deadly cancers.”



The first phase of human clinical trials will begin by delivering low doses of this virus to cancer patients with metastatic or advanced solid tumors. If the trial demonstrates safety at low levels, new participants will receive the experimental oncolytic virus in combination with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, an engineered antibody which boosts the immune system’s ability to fight cancer cells.&nbsp;



“Now is the time to further enhance the power of immunotherapy, and we believe CF33-hNIS has the potential to improve outcomes for our patients in their battle with cancer,” concluded Dr. Li.



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

First human injected with groundbreaking cancer-killing virus

As the beginning of a phase 1 human clinical trial,...

Invasive, long-nosed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reconstructing-300-million-years-of-beetle-evolution/">beetles</a> known as palm weevils are destroying palm trees across California. In San Diego County alone, palm weevils have killed more than 20,000 palm trees since they were first detected in 2016.



Now, scientists at <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">UC Riverside</a> are testing the effectiveness of a pheromone to attract and kill weevils. By seducing the beetles with the chemicals, experts may be able to save palm trees without harming bees.



According to study co-author Mark Hoddle, the weevils’ ability to produce very large populations is currently unchecked as there are no native natural predators that control this pest.



“Near Chula Vista there’s a road called Palm Avenue, but it’s all stumps and dead trees now, and the weevils are transforming the visual appeal of Old Town San Diego as well,” said Hoddle.



Currently, the only way to control palm weevils is with the application of insecticides. These treatments are expensive, and are applied several times a year.



“A weevil infestation is a death sentence for the palm. These insects have 100% kill rate in three to six months, unless the tree is treated very aggressively. Even treatment may not be enough to save an infected palm,” explained Hoddle.



The pheromone strategy represents a much more environmentally friendly way to reduce weevil populations compared to insecticides.



“One of the only ways we’re currently able to kill them is by spraying 60-foot palm trees. It’s literally raining insecticide from high-pressure hoses,” said Hoddle.



Some city managers are injecting the surrounding soil with insecticides, but this can have unintended negative effects on bees. “The insecticide they’re using belongs to a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids, which has been implicated in bee decline,” explained Hoddle.&nbsp;



The pheromone is specific to the South American palm weevil, and is attractive to both male and female weevils.&nbsp;



“The weevil flies to it, walks over it several times, realizes there’s nothing in it to mate with and flies off. But by the time it’s gone, it’s gotten a lethal dose of insecticide,” said Hoddle.



According to the researchers, this new approach could provide weevil control at much lower costs, as well as reducing the amount and types of insecticides applied. The treatment may ultimately prevent the migration of palm weevils to Coachella Valley, which is home to a $100 million date palm industry.&nbsp;



Just a few “super flyers” could enable such an infestation of Coachella Valley, Hoddle said. “The date growers in Coachella could really use this. If it works in San Diego, we’ll have a tool ready for them.”



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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

Pheromones could help control deadly palm weevils

Invasive, long-nosed beetles known as palm weevils are destroying palm...

Since May 13, 2022, more than 100 cases of confirmed or suspected monkeypox have been detected in countries where this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-with-pet-dogs-have-a-lower-risk-of-crohns-disease/">disease</a> does not usually occur, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The disease is endemic to Central and West Africa, and was first discovered in 1958.



While there is no proven, safe treatment for monkeypox, experts claim that smallpox vaccines, antiviral drugs, and contact tracing will be sufficient to contain the multi-country outbreak of this mildly contagious disease.



Monkeypox is caused by a zoonotic virus - the orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family - which is related to the smallpox virus, but causes milder disease. Although it was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958, rodents appear to be the main carriers of monkeypox in the wild. Humans can catch it by coming into close contact with infected animals – through bites, scratches, bodily fluids, feces, or consuming meat that is not sufficiently cooked.&nbsp;



The virus has an incubation period of six to 21 days, after which infected individuals develop flu-like symptoms (fever, body aches), followed by a rash gradually covering their entire body. These symptoms usually last between two to four weeks, and usually resolve by themselves. Although it is considered a relatively mild disease, it can cause severe cases in children, pregnant women, or immunosuppressed individuals.&nbsp;



Monkeypox is significantly less contagious than Covid-19, so sustained human-to-human transmission leading to another <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-world-is-still-unprepared-for-the-next-pandemic/">pandemic</a> is unlikely. “Transmission is really happening from close physical contact, skin-to-skin contact. So it’s quite different from Covid in that sense,” explained Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a> (WHO).



According to Dr. David Heymann, a professor of Infectious Diseases at the <a href="https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/">London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine</a> and advisor for the WHO, the current outbreak in developed countries appears to have been caused by sexual activity at two <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/expert-monkeypox-likely-spread-by-sex-at-2-raves-in-europe/2022/05/23/fdef8d88-da79-11ec-bc35-a91d0a94923b_story.html">raves</a> in Europe, including a Gay Pride event in the Canary Islands, which drew over 80,000 participants.&nbsp;



“It’s very possible there was somebody who got infected, developed lesions on the genitals, hands or somewhere else, and then spread it to others when there was sexual or close, physical contact,” Dr. Heymann hypothesized. “And then there were these international events that seeded the outbreak around the world, into the U.S. and other European countries.”&nbsp;



Although the majority of the recent identified cases are linked to gay males, experts warn that monkeypox can be easily transmitted through any type of sexual contact (or non-sexual physical contact), so minorities should not be discriminated.&nbsp;



“This is not a gay disease, as some people in social media have attempted to label it,” said WHO advisor Dr. Andy Seale. “Anybody can contract monkeypox through close contact.”



While the current outbreak is highly unusual and probably more cases will be discovered soon, the disease is unlikely to trigger widespread community transmission. “This is not COVID. We need to slow it down, but it does not spread in the air and we have vaccines to protect against it,” concluded Dr. Heymann.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



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

Monkeypox is spreading, but unlikely to cause a pandemic

Since May 13, 2022, more than 100 cases of confirmed...

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The Electronic Field Book will revolutionize research expeditions Today&#8217;s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> introduces a new tool called the Electronic Field Book, software that was designed to help scientists overcome the challenge of poor connections in remote locations. 

The device integrates data sharing, voice chat, and real-world positioning with inputs from external tools such as microscopes and spectrometers. The Electronic Field Book will revolutionize research expeditions as shown above in the video will also show the way the device works and the revolutionary difference it makes. Together, they will revolutionize the study of the most distant objects in the Universe.  

This innovative tool can record every step of a scientific research expedition while documenting all communication. Technology has forever changed the way billions travel either for pleasure or business.  

An upgraded version of the Electronic Field Book was used for the first time during the Pangaea 2018 campaign in Lanzarote, Spain. By making an electronic version of the book freely down-loadable on the net, comments have been only received from fellow Internet physicists around the world and from WWW ‘hit’ statistics it seems that the book serves as a frequently used Internet resource. 

Also the electronic revolution was a global phenomenon that required recordkeepers to undertake global approaches and cooperation. And finally, recordkeeping specialists had essential knowledge and skill, but it was misapplied and they were so professionally diffuse that no-one understood what they had to offer. The recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-highlights-desperate-need-for-electronic-waste-management/">electronic</a> revolution has been based on semiconductors. However, the first electronic revolution was made possible by the invention of the vacuum tubes.
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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 

Video Credit: European Space Agency