Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory </a>&nbsp;features a massive smoky storm cloud that developed over Northwestern Canada on September 16, 2023.



"For much of summer 2023, fires burned through boreal forests in northern British Columbia and Alberta, and in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories. The blazes triggered evacuations as they approached towns and unleashed plumes of smoke that occasionally dipped south into the United States," said NASA.



"In mid-September, strong winds from a passing cold front interacted with some of the fires to create a vast smoke-infused cloud spiral. The smoky storm, which spanned hundreds of kilometers, is visible in this image captured by the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-20 satellite."



Wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour intensified the fires and created towering “fire clouds” called pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which boosted smoke up into the storm clouds.&nbsp;



“We see dozens of pyrocumulonimbus clouds each year, but this was an impressive event,” said Colin Seftor, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.&nbsp;



Seftor monitors the spread of the airborne aerosols within wildfire smoke using the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite sensor on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite.



“After the smoke was lofted up and entrained within the circulation of a passing low-pressure system, it resulted in the highest aerosol measurements we’ve seen this year,” said Seftor. “We did see two other smoke events in Canada in mid-August and early September, when aerosol index values were nearly as high,” he added.



Atmospheric scientist Hiren Jethva analyzed data collected by a lidar sensor on NASA’s ICESat-2 to measure the height of the smoke plume. “ICESat-2 data show a rising smoke cloud ranging from 6 to 11 kilometers,” he said.&nbsp;



According to NASA, scientists track smoke heights as part of a broader effort to understand how aerosols within wildfire smoke affect the radiation budget and climate when they form smoke layers above clouds.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Smoke-infused storm cloud over the Northwest Territories 

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

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory </a>&nbsp;features the port city of Derna on the northeastern coast of Libya, where heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding that killed thousands of people.&nbsp;



"On September 10 and 11, over 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain fell on Derna. The city lies at the end of a long, narrow valley, called a wadi, which is dry except during the rainy season," explained NASA.



"Floods triggered two dams along the wadi to collapse. The failure of the second dam, located just one kilometer inland of Derna, unleashed 3- to 7-meter-high floodwater that tore through the city. According to news reports, the flash floods destroyed roads and swept entire neighborhoods out to sea."



The image was captured by the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9 on September 18. It shows the eroded banks of Wadi Derna, and muddy water off the coast.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"Preliminary estimates by the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) indicate that 3,100 buildings in Derna were damaged by rushing water. According to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 40,000 people in the country were displaced by the storm, and 30,000 of those were displaced from Derna," said NASA.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Aftermath of catastrophic flooding in Derna, Libya

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory </a>&nbsp;features the western region of Morocco, where a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck on September 8, 2023. The violent earthquake killed thousands of people and many are still missing more than a week later.



"The damage proxy map shown above is a NASA Earth Observatory version of a map created by the Earth Observatory of Singapore - Remote Sensing Lab (EOS-RS). The map uses modified Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data processed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and with software originally developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech," said NASA.



"To map the landscape, including buildings, Sentinel-1’s radar sends pulses of microwaves toward Earth’s surface and 'listens' for reflected echoes of those waves. In the map above, the damage proxy data from EOS-RS was laid over a Landsat 9 image and combined with a digital elevation model based on data collected by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission."



According to NASA, the most severe destruction occurred in small rural villages in the High Atlas Mountains. Near the epicenter, entire communities were destroyed.



A resident of the town of Tinzert, Hakim Idlhousein, told CNN that it took just 10 seconds for his whole village to disappear. The homes have been reduced to rubble, and the survivors are still waiting for government aid. These hardest-hit regions have been difficult to reach after roads were destroyed by the earthquake.&nbsp;



"Help has been slow to come and has so far mostly consisted of food and water brought up into the mountains in private cars by volunteers from across Morocco," reported CNN.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Entire villages destroyed by earthquake in the High Atlas Mountains

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Cook Strait, which separates New Zealand's North and South Islands.



"Named after James Cook, who was the first European to sail through it, the PoipuCook Strait is just 23 km wide at its narrowest point, so on a clear day it is possible to see across the strait. However, it is also renowned as one of the roughest and most unpredictable stretches of water in the world, owing to strong winds, conflicting currents and variable tides," says ESA.



"This dynamic environment is depicted here by the various shades of blue in the water and swirls. Both shores feature steep cliffs which, in the image, result in the white colour caused by the big waves crashing against the rocky coast."



New Zealand is a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, consisting of two main islands, both marked by volcanoes and glaciation. It is known for its stunning and diverse landscapes, which include beaches, mountains, forests, lakes, and farmland. The capital city is Wellington, while the most populous city is Auckland, both located in the North Island.



The country is renowned for its strong commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability. It has a diverse economy with key sectors including tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. New Zealand is famous for its dairy industry, especially the export of products like milk and cheese.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Cook Strait, New Zealand

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 Mendenhall Glacier - a stunning glacier located about 13 miles from downtown Juneau in Southeast Alaska. Mendenhall is easily accessible and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year.&nbsp;



The photograph was captured on July 28, 2023 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. When compared to a previous image captured in 1985 by Landsat 5, scientists found that Mendenhall had retreated by about one mile.



According to NASA, thinning has also taken a toll on the glacier during the past four decades, causing it to narrow by about 2,000 feet at the bend closest to its front.



"Mendenhall Glacier started retreating in the mid-1700s following a period of glaciation that began 3,000 years ago. But in recent decades, Alaska has been warming twice as fast as the rest of the United States, helping to push the region’s glaciers into an especially steep decline," said NASA.



"The Juneau Icefield, of which Mendenhall Glacier is a part, lost 63 out of 1,050 small glaciers inventoried between 2005 and 2019. During that same period, the icefield lost 10 percent of its glacier area."



The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center provides excellent views of the glacier and offers interpretive programs about the natural history of the glacier. The center is a popular destination for tourists visiting Juneau.



There are several activities available for tourists including guided walks, boat tours, and even ice cave explorations. The glacier and its surroundings also offer opportunities for wildlife viewing.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Mendenhall Glacier in Southeast Alaska

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

Recent research suggests that prehistoric societies might have modified human bones for ritualistic uses. 



This discovery was made during an international study led by Zita Laffranchi and Marco Milella from the University of Bern, in collaboration with Rafael Martínez Sánchez of the <a href="https://www.uco.es/internacional/extranjeros/en/about-uco">University of Cordoba</a>.&nbsp;



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



Historically, cuts and marks found on ancient bone remains often led the scientific community to attribute their use to human consumption.&nbsp;



However, the research's analysis of over 400 remains, both adults and adolescents, from the Cueva de los Mármoles in Priego de Córdoba has presented a different narrative. These remains are housed in the local Archaeological Museum.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bones-used-as-tools">Bones used as tools</h2>



The team used high-resolution molds and electron microscopes to study the bones. Their observations indicate that many marks on these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-pterosaur-bones-found-in-australia-date-back-107-million-years/">bones</a> are consistent with a cleaning process, suggesting the bones were likely used as tools rather than for consumption.



Martínez Sánchez highlights the challenge of distinguishing the purpose behind the bone marks, especially since these bones were found on the cave's surface and could have undergone various taphonomic changes, such as animal activity or trampling.&nbsp;



However, the study leans away from the hypothesis of consumption. Instead, it finds evidence for a meticulous cleaning process suitable for tool use, such as a fibula with a pointed end, a modified tibia, and a skull.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-burial-practices-nbsp">Burial practices&nbsp;</h2>



Carbon-14 dating unveiled three distinct funerary periods within the cave, with the earliest dating back to 3800 BC during the Neolithic. This period saw a surge in the use of dolmens, or stone tombs, for collective burials. Such burial practices signify a society deeply connected with its ancestors.



This research aligns with the Megalithic era, a time when the marks on the bones, believed to be inconsistent with consumption, support the theory that human remains were repurposed as instruments. Martínez Sánchez proposes that these remains might have been used in rituals inside the cave.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ritualistic-practices">Ritualistic practices</h2>



The team's findings challenge pre-existing beliefs, suggesting that human remains, from the late Neolithic to the Bronze Age, were used for cultural and ritualistic practices long after their deposition.&nbsp;



"It seems that there was the idea of grouping the dead in the same place, cleaning the remains, and using the bones as instruments, perhaps related to some type of ritual performed inside the cavity," said Martínez Sánchez.



These rituals apparently spanned a great period of time, from the end of the Neolithic to the Bronze Age - a time "in which we did not expect to find that bodies were still deposited in this cavity," said Martínez Sánchez.



The study not only uncovers the practices of ancient societies but also emphasizes the complexities and intricacies of our ancestors' relationship with the deceased.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLoS One</a>.



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New study sheds light on Neolithic rituals involving human bones

Recent research suggests that prehistoric societies might have modified human...

Farmer,Plantation,Checking,Quality,By,Tablet,Agriculture,Modern,Technology,Concept.

The Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (<a href="https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SLCU</a>) has ushered in a new era in plant science by creating a technology that brings the once-fictitious idea of human-plant communication to reality. This recently developed technology enables humans to ‘talk’ to plants and receive communication back from them, using light-based messaging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-initiating-plant-defense-mechanisms">Initiating plant defense mechanisms</h2>



The experiments conducted by Alexander Jones’ research team at the university involved using light as a messenger to talk to plants. The light activates the natural defense mechanisms in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tobacco-and-zinnia-can-thrive-in-polluted-land/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tobacco plants</a> (Nicotiana benthamiana), showcasing that light can be a stimulus triggering plants’ immune responses. 



This implies that light, a universal medium of communication for humans, can now serve as a bridge for interspecies interaction between humans and plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-highlighter-created-to-talk-to-plants">Highlighter: Created to talk to plants</h2>



Before this discovery, the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> team engineered fluorescent light-based biosensors that could visually communicate real-time cellular activities in plants, revealing dynamics of critical plant hormones and how plants react to environmental stresses, effectively allowing plants to ‘talk’ to humans.



The latest development, Highlighter, is a tool documented in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002303" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Biology</a> that uses specific light conditions to activate the expression of a target gene in plants, allowing humans to trigger defense mechanisms in plants. 



Dr. Jones explains, “If we could warn plants of an impending disease outbreak or pest attack, plants could then activate their natural defense mechanisms to prevent widespread damage.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-agricultural-challenges">Addressing agricultural challenges</h2>



This innovation holds promise for revolutionizing agricultural practices and humanity's relationship with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-pass-down-memories-to-help-offspring-survive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a>. It could allow warning plants about approaching extreme weather events or pest attacks, enabling them to adjust growth patterns, conserve water, or activate defense mechanisms. 



This advanced communication with plants can lead to more sustainable and efficient farming practices, reducing dependency on chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-of-optogenetics">Science of optogenetics</h2>



Bo Larsen, the engineer behind Highlighter, has incorporated a light-controlled gene expression system or optogenetics system from a prokaryotic system into a eukaryotic system tailored for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fibonacci-spirals-an-unexpected-twist-in-plant-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a>. 



Optogenetics uses light stimuli to control specific processes, enabling scientists to control biomolecular processes at a cellular level. It has revolutionized several fields, including neuroscience, by isolating the functions of individual neurons. 



However, applying optogenetics to plants has been challenging due to plants' inherent abundance of photoreceptors and their need for a wide spectrum of light for growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-development-of-highlighter">Development of Highlighter</h2>



In the creation of Highlighter, collaboration with experts like J. Clark Lagarias from <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Davis</a> and others from the <a href="https://www.npl.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Physical Laboratory</a> was crucial to overcome challenges and to refine the technology. The system developed is minimally invasive, using light signals for activation and inactivation, unaffected by the usual light-dark cycling in growth chambers.



This technology has already demonstrated control over plant immunity, pigment production, and a yellow fluorescent protein. Dr. Jones emphasized that “Highlighter is an important step forward in the development of optogenetics tools in plants,” and it opens new avenues for crop improvement and research in plant biology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-implications">Future implications</h2>



The ramifications of this development are profound. A growing toolbox for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-distribute-enormous-amounts-of-co2-to-mycorrhizal-fungi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a>, with diverse optical properties, not only answers fundamental plant biology questions but also unlocks potential opportunities for crop improvement. 



Dr. Jones visualizes a future where different light conditions could trigger various responses, such as immune response or precise timing of specific traits like flowering or ripening, in plants.



The innovations emerging from the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University are propelling us into a future where humans and plants coexist in a symbiotic relationship of mutual communication and understanding, optimizing agricultural practices and revealing unexplored facets of plant biology. 



This breakthrough in human-plant communication signifies a monumental leap in our quest for harmonious coexistence with the plant kingdom, pointing towards a future where sustainable and efficient farming becomes a global reality.



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Scientists ‘talk’ to plants using light-based messaging

The Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) has ushered in a...

The outlook for the endangered purple cauliflower soft coral, Dendronephthya australis, endemic to southeastern Australia, has been bleak. Over the past three years, there has been a concerning loss of coral aggregations in the Port Stephens estuary, historically its largest habitat.&nbsp;



This species is not only vital in its own right, as one of the Federal Government's 100 priority species on the Threatened Species Strategy, but also serves as an essential habitat for other species, most notably the Endangered White’s seahorse and baby snapper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-hope-for-the-corals">New hope for the corals</h2>



A study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04298-x">Marine Biology</a> offers a glimmer of hope for the endangered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/corals-have-a-vegetarian-side-that-keeps-them-alive-in-nutrient-poor-areas/">corals</a>. The research reveals new insights into the reproductive life of this coral species, offering hope for its future survival.



The lead researcher, <a href="https://www.scu.edu.au/">Southern Cross University</a> PhD candidate Meryl Larkin, said the paper was a welcome turnaround from her earlier work, which showed how badly the species had been decimated by shifts in sediment and La Niña flood events.&nbsp;



“Our discoveries open new doors for conservation strategies, including potential restoration efforts,” she said. “It has given us real hope we can keep this coral off the extinction list.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-reproduction-of-corals-nbsp">Understanding the reproduction of corals&nbsp;</h2>



Corals can reproduce both sexually and asexually, with some being hermaphroditic or distinctly male and female. Before this study, the reproductive dynamics of Dendronephthya australis remained a mystery.



Larkin utilized diverse methods, from histological analyses of fresh specimens to lab-based studies. She was conducting lab work at the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute when she observed, for the first time, eggs and sperm within coral fragments from different colonies, indicating the existence of separate male and female colonies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-in-the-lab">Breakthrough in the lab</h2>



Larkin then achieved a pioneering feat - successfully developing IVF methods for the coral, achieving larval settlement in a lab, and reintroducing coral babies back into the wild where they continue to thrive.



“This was a major step forward in the prospect of recovery by the species because, from just a few remaining colonies, we were able to produce hundreds of new individual corals,” said Larkin.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



She noted that the findings could be used to support the growth of wild populations and create new coral colonies to repopulate areas of habitat where they previously flourished.&nbsp;



Larkin’s research, sponsored by Southern Cross University and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, highlights the vital importance of understanding reproductive processes and early life stages to grasp the dynamics of a species.



“Reproduction and early life stages are fundamental for understanding the dynamics of any species, particularly marine invertebrates,” said Larkin. “These stages are essential for population establishment and growth, and understanding them helps us identify threats and extinction risks.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-the-purple-cauliflower-soft-coral">More about the purple cauliflower soft coral</h2>



The purple cauliflower soft coral is aptly named for its distinctive appearance, resembling the branching, clustered look of cauliflower, tinged with a purple hue.&nbsp;



Unlike hard corals that build reefs with their calcium carbonate skeletons, soft corals possess a more flexible structure, which often gives them a more fluid, tree-like appearance underwater.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat">Habitat</h3>



Endemic to south-eastern Australia, the largest populations of the purple cauliflower soft coral have been historically found in the Port Stephens estuary in New South Wales. Here, they thrive in estuarine environments, preferring areas with strong tidal flows that bring in ample nutrients.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-importance">Ecological Importance</h3>



The soft coral plays a pivotal role in its ecosystem. Not only does it contribute to the biodiversity of its marine habitat, but it also offers shelter and a breeding ground for various marine species. In such roles, it supports the larger marine food web and helps maintain ecological balance.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-status">Conservation status</h3>



Dendronephthya australis is one of the 100 priority species listed on the Federal Government’s Threatened Species Strategy. Over recent years, the coral has experienced a significant decline, especially in the Port Stephens estuary where there has been a complete loss of aggregations (clusters of colonies).&nbsp;



Factors contributing to its decline include shifts in sediment, La Niña flood events, and potentially other human-induced stressors like pollution and habitat destruction.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reproductive-strategies">Reproductive strategies</h3>



Coral reproduction is a fascinating and complex subject. The recent groundbreaking research led by Meryl Larkin has unveiled some mysteries of the Dendronephthya australis's reproductive life.&nbsp;



The study revealed that these corals have distinct male and female colonies - a fact unknown before this research. Understanding the reproductive strategies of such corals is crucial for their conservation, as it opens doors to potential restoration efforts.



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Understanding the sex lives of endangered soft corals could save them

The outlook for the endangered purple cauliflower soft coral, Dendronephthya...

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The Galápagos Islands in the eastern Pacific Today&#8217;s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. This region is one of the most famous places on the planet for viewing wildlife.
The Galápagos Islands are home to many native plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, including giant tortoises and sea lions. 
When Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835, his wildlife observations inspired the theory of evolution by natural selection. In 1959, the Ecuadorian government made the entire archipelago a national park to protect its unique diversity. 
The archipelago is made up of 13 major islands and several smaller islands and islets across 60,000 square kilometers of ocean. According to ESA, repeated volcanic eruptions and ongoing seismic activity have helped form the rugged mountain landscape of the islands. The older names remained in use in English-language publications, including Herman Melville&#8217;s The Encantadas of 1854.  Therefore Galapagos owns one of the provinces of Ecuador, made up of three cantons that consist  the names of its most populated islands, which are San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz and Isabela. 
The largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabela, was formed when multiple Volcanism has been continuous on the Galápagos Islands for at least 20 million years, and possibly  even longer. The mantle plume beneath the east side of volcanoes merged into one single land mass. The Galápagos Archipelago is characterized by large contemporaneous volcanoes, some with plume magma sources, others from the <a title="Asthenosphere" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthenosphere">asthenosphere</a>, 
Video Credit: European Space Agency 
&#8211;&#8212;
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer