Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a blue-green algae bloom on Lake Villarrica in Chile. The image was captured on May 2, 2023 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the Landsat 8 satellite.



According to NASA, ground-based observations and satellite images suggest that cyanobacteria make up the colorful swirls.



"Lake Villarrica, which sits downslope of the volcano of the same name, attracts visitors with its scenic beaches and recreational opportunities. The lake is flanked by small cities and resort areas on its southern shore, with agricultural areas further afield," says NASA.



"Runoff from development and agriculture carries nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous into the lake. When populations of microscopic cyanobacteria spike in response, the blooms often show up in satellite images."



Lien Rodríguez-López is a researcher at San Sebastián University who studies Chilean lakes using remote sensing. She noted that blooms in freshwater lakes are occurring more and more frequently.



In a recent study, Rodríguez-López analyzed Landsat 8 images to estimate the amount of chlorophyll-a in Lake Villarrica from 2014 to 2021. Chlorophyll-a is the primary type of chlorophyll found in algae.



Levels of chlorophyll-a were found to be highest near the cities of Villarrica and Pucón. As a result, Rodríguez-López determined that runoff from urban pollution is the greatest source of nutrients for algae blooms in Lake Villarrica.



According to Rodríguez-López, the urban pollution is significant enough that the lake is transitioning from an oligotrophic state, with low nutrient levels and high clarity, to a mesotrophic one, with intermediate nutrient and biological-productivity levels.&nbsp;



Furthermore, a warming trend in Lake Villarrica and other Chilean mountain lakes has increased the potential for toxic cyanobacterial blooms in recent years.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Colorful algae bloom on Lake Villarrica in Chile

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 Saharan dust over the Bay of Biscay, where a phytoplankton bloom makes the water appear bright green and blue. According to NASA, sediment runoff likely contributes to some of the color, especially in areas closer to the shore.



"For the past few decades, scientists have been observing natural ocean fertilization events - episodes when plumes of volcanic ash, glacial flour, wildfire soot, and desert dust blow out onto the sea surface and spur massive blooms of phytoplankton. But beyond these extreme events, there is a steady, long-distance rain of dust particles onto the ocean that promotes phytoplankton growth just about all year and in nearly every basin," says NASA.



In a recent study, researchers from Oregon State University, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and NASA set out to investigate how mineral dust from land fertilizes the growth of phytoplankton in the ocean. For the research, the team analyzed satellite observations and developed an advanced computer model.



"According to the new study, dust deposition onto the ocean supports about 4.5 percent of yearly global export production - a measure of how much of the carbon phytoplankton take up during photosynthesis sinks into the deep ocean. However, this contribution approaches 20 percent to 40 percent in some ocean regions at middle and higher latitudes," explained NASA.



"Phytoplankton play a large role in Earth’s climate and carbon cycle. Like land plants, they contain chlorophyll and derive energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. They produce oxygen and sequester a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide in the process, potentially on a scale comparable to rainforests. And they are at the bottom of an ocean-wide food pecking order that ranges from tiny zooplankton to fish to whales."



Lorraine Remer, a research professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, noted that dust particles can travel thousands of miles before falling into the ocean, where they nourish phytoplankton long distances from the dust source.



“We knew that atmospheric transport of desert dust is part of what makes the ocean ‘click,’ but we didn’t know how to find it,” said Professor Remer.



The image was captured on April 8, 2011 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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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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Desert dust over the Bay of Biscay

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features shows wildfire smoke from Canada pouring into the northeastern United States.



"Winds typically move smoke from fires in Quebec toward the east and out to sea. But in June 2023, a persistent coastal low centered near Prince Edward Island instead steered smoke south into the United States. This image, from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16 (GOES-16), shows smoke sweeping into New York and Pennsylvania on the morning of June 7, 2023," says NASA.



"Smoke reaching the northeastern United States from Canada in 2023 from fires raging in western Canada has mostly arrived at fairly high altitudes. But since the fires in Quebec are relatively close to the northeast U.S., a much larger proportion of the smoke arrived in surface-level air."



"Around the time of the image, AirNow air quality monitors measured levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) soaring above 400 micrograms per cubic meter of air in Syracuse, New York - the highest on record for the city since routine measurements began in 1999."



Ryan Stauffer, an atmospheric scientist based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, noted that the smoke pollution from New York to the D.C. region is the most significant since at least July 2002, when a similar situation occurred with nearby fires in Quebec. “This event is rivaling, and in some cases will likely surpass the observed 2002 smoke pollution.”



According to Stauffer, the air quality index for PM2.5 in New York City surpassed 175 (code red) on June 6, topping the previous record of 167 from 2002. On June 7, “the D.C. region joined New York City and experienced some of its most smoke-polluted air in the past 25 years,” he said.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Smoke from Canada pours into New York and Pennsylvania

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the largest man-made reservoir in California, Lake Shasta, which filled to nearly 100 percent capacity in May 2023. This is the highest level that Shasta has reached in four years.&nbsp;



"Since 2019, a prolonged period of extreme drought resulted in dwindling reservoir levels. In the early months of 2023, heavy rains and meltwater from an above-average mountain snowpack caused a notable turnaround," said NASA.



"Lake Oroville, the state’s second-largest reservoir, was also near capacity on May 29, at 97 percent full. Both Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake are critical not only for water storage, but also for flood control, recreation, irrigating cropland in the Central Valley, and preventing saltwater intrusion into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta."



NASA noted that full reservoirs do not ensure plentiful water for years into the future, and that the past four years are a testament to how drastically reservoirs can change in a short amount of time.&nbsp;



"The California DWR is collaborating with other agencies to incorporate better forecasting and observation technologies in order to optimize water releases."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Lake Shasta reaches nearly 100 percent capacity

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Quebec, where about 160,000 hectares have burned since the start of the year.



"An unusually intense start to Canada’s wildfire season filled skies with smoke in May 2023. Then, at the beginning of June, scores of new fires raged in the central Canadian province of Quebec, some of which were ignited by lightning," says NASA.



"The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this view of smoke billowing from the fires on June 3. Shortly after the fires started, about 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate near the city of Sept-Îles in the province’s east."&nbsp;



"As the fires grew, evacuations were extended to an additional 9,000 people in surrounding communities and in western Quebec’s Val-d’Or and Normétal municipalities. As of June 5, more than 150 wildfires were active in Quebec."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Forest fires rage in Quebec

A recent exploration into the prehistoric past by a research team from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> has unveiled fascinating aspects about the Rhynchosaur, an ancient reptile that roamed our planet between 250 and 225 million years ago, predating the era of dinosaurs.



Rhynchosaurs are often clouded in mystery. Imagine ancient creatures, roughly the size of modern-day sheep, prevailing during the Triassic Period, an era characterized by its warm climate and hardy vegetation (see image <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ancient-reptile_rhynchosaur-Bentonyx_Credit-Mark-Witton.jpg">here</a>).



<h2 id="h-how-researchers-studied-the-rhynchosaur">How researchers studied the Rhynchosaur&nbsp;</h2>



To pierce this veil of obscurity, the Bristol team embarked on an investigative journey, scrutinizing specimens unearthed in Devon. They utilized cutting-edge CT scanning to examine the wear and tear on the rhynchosaur's teeth as they munched through their meals, and to observe how new teeth were continually added at the back of the dental rows as the creatures grew.



The results, published in the latest edition of <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pala.12654">Palaeontology</a>, reveal an intriguing yet grim aspect of these early plant-eaters' lives. They would most likely starve to death in their old age as a result of the relentless wear on their teeth caused by tough vegetation.



“I was amazed to find that in many cases they dominated their ecosystems. If you found one fossil, you found hundreds. They were the sheep or antelopes of their day, and yet they had specialized dental systems that were apparently adapted for dealing with masses of tough plant food," said Professor Mike Benton, the team leader from Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences.



<h2 id="h-rhynchosaur-fossils-are-a-rare-find">Rhynchosaur fossils are a rare find</h2>



It was Dr. Rob Coram who discovered the fossils in Devon. “The fossils are rare, but occasionally individuals were entombed during river floods. This has made it possible to put together a series of jaw bones of rhynchosaurs that ranged in age from quite young, maybe even babies, through adults, and including one particularly old animal, a Triassic old-timer whose teeth had worn right down and probably struggled to get enough nutrition each day," said Dr. Coram.



Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, who examined the jaws for his MSc in Palaeobiology, explained the wear patterns in more detail: “As the animals aged, the area of the jaws under wear at any time moved backwards relative to the front of the skull, bringing new teeth and new bone into wear. They were clearly eating really tough food such as ferns, that wore the teeth down to the bone of the jaw, meaning that they were basically chopping their meals by a mix of teeth and bone.”



However, there was a limit to this system. “Eventually, after a certain age – we’re not sure quite how many years – their growth slowed down and the area of wear was fixed and just got deeper and deeper," said Dr. Coram.



"It’s like elephants today – they have a fixed number of teeth that come into use from the back, and after the age of seventy or so they’re on their last tooth, and then that’s that. We don’t think the rhynchosaurs lived that long, but their plant food was so testing that their jaws simply wore out and presumably they eventually starved to death.”



<h2 id="h-played-a-crucial-role-in-triassic-ecosystems">Played a crucial role in Triassic ecosystems</h2>



Rhynchosaurs served as a significant cog in the Triassic ecosystems as life reemerged from the world’s largest mass extinction that marked the end of the Permian Period. These creatures played a crucial role in this resurrection, setting the stage for new types of ecologies where dinosaurs, and later mammals, would reign supreme, thereby laying the groundwork for the modern world.



Upon comparing earlier rhynchosaurs, like those from Devon, with later ones from Scotland and Argentina, the researchers also unearthed how their dentitions evolved over time, facilitating two spurts of diversification in the Middle and then the Late Triassic. But these evolutionary triumphs ultimately found their terminus as changes in climate and available vegetation paved the way for dinosaurs to replace rhynchosaurs as the dominant species.



<h2 id="h-incredibly-interesting-narrative-emerged-from-the-research-results">Incredibly interesting narrative emerged from the research results</h2>



The findings from this study take us on a deep dive into the life of a creature that has long since vanished from our planet, but whose story remains embedded in the rocks beneath us. It's a narrative of success, adaptation, struggle, and ultimately, extinction - a sobering reminder of nature's impermanence and the constant flux of life on Earth.



Yet, the importance of the rhynchosaurs goes beyond their own species. By studying them, we gain a broader understanding of the Earth's history and the forces that have shaped it.&nbsp;



From the debris of their downfall, a new world rose - a world of dinosaurs, and much later, a world dominated by mammals. The teeth of these ancient herbivores reveal not only the story of their lives and deaths but also the dawn of the world as we know it today.



Professor Benton’s fascination and admiration for these ancient creatures are clear. "I first studied the rhynchosaurs years ago, and I was amazed to find that in many cases they dominated their ecosystems." That domination may be long past, but the legacy of the rhynchosaurs continues to be felt in the ongoing saga of life on Earth.



This research also reminds us that the world is not static. Species rise and fall, climates change, and life adapts. The extinction of the rhynchosaurs paved the way for the rise of the dinosaurs, who themselves would later give way to mammals. It's a cycle that continues today, and by understanding it, we can better prepare for the changes still to come.



So, let us remember the rhynchosaurs - not just as the "sheep of their day," but as crucial players in the grand tapestry of Earth's history, serving a vital role in the ever-evolving narrative of life on our planet.



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-triassic-period">More about the Triassic period</h2>



The Triassic Period, occurring between approximately 252 million and 201 million years ago, marks the beginning of the Mesozoic Era, often referred to as the "Age of Dinosaurs". However, the Triassic itself was a time of transition and recovery, following the end-Permian mass extinction event, the most devastating extinction event in Earth's history.



<h3 id="h-here-s-an-overview-of-what-we-know-about-the-triassic-period">Here's an overview of what we know about the Triassic Period:</h3>



<h4 id="h-life-after-the-mass-extinction">Life After the Mass Extinction</h4>



The Permian-Triassic extinction event killed off an estimated 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species. Life in the Triassic period, therefore, began with relatively few species. However, this allowed for a great deal of diversification and adaptive radiation, as species evolved to fill the ecological niches left vacant by the extinction event.



<h4 id="h-flora">Flora</h4>



The Triassic saw the continued dominance of gymnosperms, a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers. The first true mammals also appeared during this period. Ferns, horsetails, and ginkgo trees were prevalent, and it was during the Triassic that the first types of modern conifer trees emerged.



<h4 id="h-fauna">Fauna</h4>



This period saw the emergence and evolution of many significant groups of organisms. The first true mammals appeared during this period, as did the first dinosaurs. However, dinosaurs weren't the dominant terrestrial vertebrates in the Triassic; this role was instead filled by other reptiles such as the aforementioned rhynchosaurs and various archosaurs. In the seas, fish continued to diversify, and marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and nothosaurs became prevalent. The first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, appeared in the late Triassic.



<h4 id="h-climate">Climate</h4>



The Triassic Period began in the aftermath of the greatest ice age known. The period was mostly hot and dry, and it had no ice caps at the poles. The interior of the supercontinent Pangaea was likely arid, with great seasonal fluctuations between hot and cold, given the vast distance from the interior of the supercontinent to the ocean.



<h4 id="h-geology">Geology</h4>



The Triassic was a time of significant tectonic activity. The supercontinent Pangaea was still assembled, but the first signs of stress that would eventually lead to its breakup in the Jurassic started to appear. This included the rifting of the supercontinent along what is now the eastern coast of North America and the western coast of Europe and Africa.



<h4 id="h-extinction">Extinction</h4>



The Triassic period ended with another mass extinction event, the causes of which are still a matter of scientific debate. Climate change, asteroid impact, and volcanic activity have all been suggested as potential culprits. This extinction led to the dominance of dinosaurs in the ensuing Jurassic Period.



This is a brief overview and, as with all areas of paleontology, our understanding of the Triassic period continues to evolve as new discoveries are made and existing data is reinterpreted. By examining the fossil record, scientists can piece together a picture of what life might have been like during this important period in Earth's history.



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Ancient reptile Rhynchosaur died off before the dinosaurs due to weak teeth

A recent exploration into the prehistoric past by a research...

Northern,Light,,Aurora,Borealis,At,Kirkjufell,In,Iceland.,Kirkjufell,Mountains

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, on its journey to the Sun, has revealed previously unseen structures of the solar wind, right where it is formed. The way the probe perceives it, the solar wind emanates from the Sun's surface much like water jets from a showerhead.



A paper published in the journal Nature this week, led by scientists Stuart D. Bale from the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Berkeley</a>, and James Drake of the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland-College Park</a>, illustrates how the Parker Solar Probe has detected streams of high-energy particles. These particles mirror the supergranulation flows within coronal holes, suggesting these regions as the birthplace of the "fast" solar wind.



Coronal holes are unique areas where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magnetic-field-solar-radiation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic field</a> lines radiate from the Sun's surface without looping back inward, consequently forming open field lines that encompass most of the space surrounding the Sun.



During quiet periods of the Sun, these holes are primarily located at the poles, preventing the fast solar wind they produce from reaching Earth. However, every 11 years, the Sun's activity peaks, its magnetic field flips, and these holes can be seen all over the Sun's surface, leading to bursts of solar wind aimed directly at Earth.



<h2 id="h-origins-of-the-solar-wind">Origins of the solar wind</h2>



The process of how and where the solar wind originates is crucial for predicting solar storms. These storms, while responsible for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/catch-the-aurora-borealis-in-iceland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's breathtaking auroras</a>, can also disrupt satellites and the electrical grid. As Drake puts it, "Winds carry lots of information from the Sun to Earth, so understanding the mechanism behind the Sun's wind is important for practical reasons on Earth."



The scientists describe the coronal holes like showerheads. From the bright spots where magnetic field lines dive into and out of the Sun's surface, evenly spaced jets burst forth. These jets of charged particles are flung out of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/measures-suns-energy-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun</a> when the oppositely directed magnetic fields in these funnels collide and reconnect.



Bale explains, "The photosphere is covered by convection cells, like in a boiling pot of water, and the larger scale convection flow is called supergranulation." He goes on to illustrate how these supergranulation cells pull the magnetic field down with them into a funnel, intensifying the magnetic field. "The spatial separation of those little drains, those funnels, is what we're seeing now with solar probe data," he said.



The Parker Solar Probe's detection of some exceptionally high-energy particles - ones traveling at speeds 10 to 100 times faster than the solar wind average - led the researchers to believe that this process, known as magnetic reconnection, must be the source of the wind. The primary purpose of launching the probe in 2018 was to establish the origin of these high-energy particles: were they caused by magnetic reconnection or acceleration by plasma or Alfvén waves?



"The big conclusion is that it’s magnetic reconnection within these funnel structures that’s providing the energy source of the fast solar wind," Bale concluded. The research strongly suggests that it's reconnection that's responsible for the high-energy particles detected.



The same funnel structures, as Nour Raouafi of the <a href="https://www.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University</a> suggests, probably align with the bright jetlets that can be seen from Earth within coronal holes. "Solving the mystery of the solar wind has been a six-decade dream of many generations of scientists. Now, we are grasping at the physical phenomenon that drives the solar wind at its source — the corona,” Raouafi said.



<h2>Sampling the solar wind</h2>



The solar wind evolves into a homogeneous, turbulent flow as it traverses the 93 million miles to Earth. The charged particles and entangled magnetic fields interact with Earth's magnetic field, dumping electrical energy into the upper atmosphere, which excites atoms and produces vivid auroras. Understanding and predicting intense solar winds, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-storms-earths-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar storms</a>, and their effects near Earth are some of the key goals of NASA's Living With a Star program, which funded the Parker Solar Probe.



The probe's main task is to determine the structure and acceleration of the solar wind near its birthplace, the Sun's surface or photosphere. The probe must approach the Sun closer than ever before - within 13 million miles, or about 25 to 30 solar radii.



According to Bale, once the probe dives below that altitude, the solar wind undergoes minimal evolution and displays more of its initial structure. This allows scientists to see the imprints of the Sun on the wind.



In 2021, the probe's instruments identified magnetic field switchbacks in Alfvén waves, closely associated with the regions generating the solar wind. As the probe neared the Sun, it became clear that the probe was moving through structured jets of material, rather than mere turbulence. Bale, Drake, and their colleagues traced these jets back to the supergranulation cells in the photosphere, where the magnetic fields accumulate and funnel into the Sun.



<h2>Mysteries and questions remain</h2>



The question that loomed was, what accelerates the charged particles in these funnels? Is it magnetic reconnection, which would catapult the particles outward, or hot plasma waves streaming out of the Sun, which would allow particles to ride a wave?



The detection of extremely high-energy particles within these jets suggested to Bale that magnetic reconnection must be responsible for particle acceleration and the generation of Alfvén waves, which could give the particles an additional thrust.



Bale further explained, "Our interpretation is that these jets of reconnection outflow excite Alfvén waves as they propagate out. That's an observation that's well known from Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-lights-linked-to-electrons-traveling-at-millions-of-miles-per-hour/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetotail</a>, as well, where you have similar kind of processes. I don't understand how wave damping can produce these hot particles up to hundreds of keV, whereas it comes naturally out of the reconnection process."



The Parker Solar Probe can approach the Sun no closer than 4 million miles, or about 8.8 solar radii above the surface, without risking damage to its instruments. Bale anticipates that data collected from this altitude will confirm their conclusions, despite the Sun's heightened activity during its solar maximum. This increased activity might obscure the processes that scientists aim to observe.



"We're lucky that we launched it in the solar minimum," Bale commented, reflecting on the Parker Solar Probe's journey. He implied that the quieter solar activity during the probe's launch allowed them to make discoveries that would have been impossible during more chaotic solar conditions.



<h2>More about NASA’s Parker Solar Probe</h2>



<a href="http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Parker Solar Probe</a> is a pioneering mission that has set its sights on our very own star, the Sun. The probe's main goal is to uncover the mysteries of the corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere, and to learn more about the highly energetic particles present in the solar wind.



Named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, the probe was launched on August 12, 2018. It's the first spacecraft to be named after a living individual. <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/eugene-parker-legendary-figure-solar-science-and-namesake-parker-solar-probe-1927-2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eugene Parker</a> is the scientist who first theorized the existence of the solar wind back in 1958.



The Parker Solar Probe is unique because it ventures closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. It's designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and conditions near the Sun. The probe is shielded by a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-composite shield, which can withstand temperatures up to about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.



The probe is equipped with four major instrument suites that are designed to measure magnetic fields, plasma and energetic particles, and capture images of the solar wind. These suites include the Fields Experiment (FIELDS), the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS), the Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR), and the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) investigation.



Over the course of its seven-year mission, the probe will complete 24 orbits of the Sun, coming within 4 million miles of the Sun's surface. This is about seven times closer than any previous mission.



The Parker Solar Probe has several primary science objectives. One is to trace the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind. Another is to determine the structure and dynamics of the plasma and magnetic fields at the sources of the solar wind. The probe also aims to explore the mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles.



By achieving these objectives, scientists hope to improve their ability to forecast <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-weather-forecast-data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space weather</a> events that impact life on Earth, as well as satellites and astronauts in space. The mission encapsulates the essence of exploration, as it journeys into a region of space never before explored by human-made objects.

The solar wind, which creates beautiful auroras on Earth, is now less mysterious

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, on its journey to the Sun,...

How do the lifestyle and environment of our four-legged companions impact their health and aging? Professor Noah Snyder-Mackler from the <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">ASU</a> School of Life Sciences poses this question, underlining the fact that the shorter lifespan of dogs and the intensive care they receive from their owners make them perfect models for studying the effects of social and physical environment on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flat-faced-dogs-remain-wildly-popular-despite-severe-health-risks/">health</a>, aging, and survival.



Now, an enormous survey and data collection effort involving over 21,000 dog owners has shed light on key social determinants that influence the health and aging of our beloved canines.



<h2 id="h-dogs-need-other-dogs">Dogs need other dogs</h2>



The findings indicate that a dog's social support network has the most substantial impact on their health outcomes. In fact, social support is found to be five times more influential than financial factors, household stability, or the owner's age.



Under the guidance of Professor Snyder-Mackler, PhD student Bri McCoy, and MSc student Layla Brassington, the team embarked on an extensive analysis of the collected data, which represented a staggering 21,410 dogs.&nbsp;



The researchers aimed to identify the vital social factors for a healthy lifestyle, a significant stride in the Dog Aging Project's community-science endeavor.



<h2 id="h-the-dog-aging-project">The Dog Aging Project</h2>



For those unfamiliar, the Dog Aging Project is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the University of Washington and Texas A&amp;M School of Medicine.&nbsp;



The initiative includes over a dozen institutions around the country, including ASU. It aims to understand how genes, lifestyle, and the environment influence aging and disease outcomes. So far, more than 45,000 dogs from across the U.S. are enrolled in the project.



Daniel Promislow, the co-director and principal investigator, proudly describes the study's broad reach. He notes that the data gathered through the Dog Aging Project will allow follow-up studies to explore how and why environmental factors affect dogs' health.



The ASU team used a large survey that posed a variety of questions to dog owners about themselves and their pets. The inquiries spanned numerous areas, including physical activity, environment, dog behavior, diet, medications and preventatives, health status, and owner demographics.



<h2 id="h-five-key-factors-that-influence-a-dog-s-wellbeing">Five key factors that influence a dog’s wellbeing</h2>



From these responses, the team identified five key factors - neighborhood stability, total household income, social time with children, social time with animals, and owner age - that combined to shape a dog's social environment and were associated with canine wellbeing.



The analysis revealed that the environment in which a dog lives significantly impacts their health, disease diagnoses, and physical mobility, even after accounting for the dog's age and weight. Specifically, financial and household adversity correlated with poorer health and reduced physical mobility.&nbsp;



Conversely, more social companionship, such as living with other dogs, was associated with better health. The influence of social support was five times stronger than financial factors.



McCoy emphasizes the importance of social companionship for a dog's health, mirroring the importance of social connections among humans and other animals.



<h2 id="h-study-finds-a-few-unexpected-results">Study finds a few unexpected results</h2>



Two unexpected findings emerged from the study, which is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoad011/7161464">Evolution Medicine and Public Health</a>. First, an inverse relationship was found between the number of children in the household and dog health. Brassington explains that dedicating more time to children likely results in less time spent with the "furry" children. McCoy frames this as a "resource allocation" issue, rather than children being harmful to dogs.



The second counterintuitive finding highlighted the role of finance in disease diagnoses. Dogs from wealthier households tend to have more diseases diagnosed, likely due to more frequent veterinary care and the financial ability to afford additional tests.



The study's results were consistent across both pure and mixed breed dogs, as well as specific breeds. However, as the data was obtained through owner-reported surveys, there may be errors, biases, or misinterpretations.



<h2 id="h-next-steps-for-the-research-team">Next steps for the research team</h2>



The research team's next steps involve exploring potential links between survey data and underlying physiology. Professor Snyder-Mackler is interested in understanding how these external factors are translating into tangible health effects on dogs.&nbsp;



"We now want to understand how these external factors are getting under the skin to affect the dog's health - how is the environment altering their bodies and cells?" he noted.



The researchers are keeping a close eye on a subgroup of around 1,000 dogs from the larger study. These animals are part of a focused cohort where blood and other biological samples are being collected over several years to uncover these environmental impacts.



"In future research, we will look at electronic veterinary medical records, molecular and immunological measures, and at-home physical tests to generate more accurate measures of health and frailty in the companion dog," said Professor Snyder-Mackler.



<h2 id="h-study-s-conclusions-are-very-clear">Study’s conclusions are very clear</h2>



Still, the central takeaway from the study is clear. "Having a good network, having good social connectedness is good for the dogs that are living with us, said McCoy. "But the structure and equities that are in our society also have a detrimental effect on our companion animals as well. And they are not the ones thinking about their next paycheck or their health care.”



In conclusion, the findings could serve as a prescription for people to lead healthier lives. After all, what is good for our dogs may also be good for us.



“Overall, our study provides further evidence for the strong link between the social environment and health outcomes that reflects what is known for humans," said Professor Snyder-Mackler.&nbsp;



"We need to focus more attention to the role of the social environment on health and disease, and continued investigation of how each environmental factor can contribute to more years of healthy living (i.e., 'healthspan') in both companion dogs and humans."



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-bond-between-dogs-and-humans">More about the bond between dogs and humans</h2>



The bond between dogs and humans is an enduring relationship that dates back thousands of years. Dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated, and this long-shared history has resulted in a deep emotional and social bond between the two species.



<h3 id="h-companionship">Companionship&nbsp;</h3>



At the heart of this bond is the notion of companionship. Dogs, often referred to as "man's best friend," are cherished members of many families worldwide. They provide their owners with emotional support, companionship, and often contribute to their sense of safety and security.



This connection goes beyond simple companionship. Numerous studies have shown that having a dog can provide a range of health benefits. For example, dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and are less likely to experience heart attacks.&nbsp;



Dogs also promote a more active lifestyle, as they require regular exercise. This increased physical activity can benefit the cardiovascular system and help maintain a healthy weight.



<h3 id="h-psychological">Psychological&nbsp;</h3>



Psychologically, the bond between dogs and humans can also have profound impacts. Interacting with dogs can lead to lower stress levels and can even help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. The simple act of petting a dog can increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease the production of the stress hormone cortisol.



<h3 id="h-emotional">Emotional</h3>



Furthermore, dogs have been shown to offer significant social and emotional benefits. For children, growing up with a dog can aid in their emotional development and boost their self-esteem.&nbsp;



Dogs can also teach children about responsibility, empathy, and compassion. For older adults, dogs can provide companionship and a sense of purpose, which can help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.



It's also important to note that dogs have evolved to understand human emotions and to respond in ways that provide comfort and companionship. They are attuned to human emotions and often react empathetically to their owners' feelings. This emotional intelligence, combined with their unconditional love and loyalty, makes the bond between humans and dogs truly special.



<h3 id="h-two-way-street">Two-way street&nbsp;</h3>



However, this bond is not a one-way street. Just as humans derive emotional and health benefits from their dogs, the dogs also thrive on the love, care, and companionship provided by their human partners. As the study we discussed earlier suggests, dogs' health and well-being can be greatly affected by their social environment, which underscores the importance of this mutual bond.



Ultimately, the bond between dogs and humans is a symbiotic relationship characterized by mutual affection, emotional connection, and shared benefits. It's a relationship that is treasured by many and continues to be a subject of fascinating scientific study.



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Dogs live longer and happier lives when they get to socialize often

How do the lifestyle and environment of our four-legged companions...

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The rise and fall of Yellowstone National Park Today&#8217;s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">USGS</a> features Mike Poland, Scientist-in-Charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, who describes the history of land deformation in Yellowstone National Park. 
In this region, forces of heat and pressure cause the Earth&#8217;s surface to periodically rise and fall. The hydrothermal system &#8211; all the hot water that powers the geysers &#8211; has an influence on deformation as well. 
Using various techniques such as leveling, satellite imagery, and radar imagery, experts are able to measure the extent to which the land deforms. The rise and fall of Yellowstone National Park as shown above in the video shows the ups and downs of what the park has been through.
Also the  history of the park began at least 11,000 years ago when Native Americans began to hunt and fish in the region. During the construction of the post office in Gardiner, Montana, in the 1950s, an obsidian point of Clovis origin was found that dated from approximately 11,000 years ago. These Paleo-Indians, of the Clovis culture, used the significant amounts of obsidian found in the park to make cutting tools and weapons.
Video Credit: USGS
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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