Sanjana Gajbhiye is an experienced science writer and researcher. She holds a Master of Technology degree in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur.

Read more about Sanjana Gajbhiye <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/sanjana-gajbhiye/">here</a>.

Sanjana Gajbhiye

Rory Arnold is the Editor of Earth.com and contributes a wide variety of content for the site. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Media, Culture, &amp; Communication. He loves dogs and giraffes.

Rory Arnold

Rodielon Putol is a seasoned technology enthusiast and writer with a fervent interest in exploring the intersection of innovation and society.

Read more about Rodielon Putol <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/rodielonputol/">here</a>.

Rodielon Putol

Kyla is based out of California and serves as the Earth.com weekend editor. Kyla has written for numerous news outlets and has been a key contributor to the growth and development of Earth.com.

Kyla Cathey

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Kay Vandette is a freelance writer and has written everything from film and food reviews to travel and lifestyle articles.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">She has been featured in national publications and blogs and runs a website dedicated to providing tips for beginner freelance writers.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Kay is passionate about living a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle and loves writing for Earth.com.</span></p>

Kay Vandette

Katherine has a background in environmental policy and believes in information sharing and education to address the challenge of climate change. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her cat and husband and enjoys nature, yoga and cooking.

Katherine Bucko

As a serial entrepreneur, Eric Ralls has long aspired to merge technology with a love for nature and our planet. Founder at Earth.com, EarthSnap, PlantSnap, redOrbit.  "My goal has always been to bring people back to nature, to help them realize that humanity is a part of nature, not 'apart' from nature," says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="xn-person">Eric Ralls</span></a>, Founder and CEO of EarthSnap. "Homosapiens are only one species out of over 8 million species of life with whom we share this planet. Yet humanity treats the earth like it is ours alone to do with as we please, even though we've only been here for a few hundred thousand years out of the 3.5 billion years that this beautiful blue marble has been zipping through the universe."
Read more about Eric Ralls <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/">here</a>.

Eric Ralls

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Connor Ertz lives in Boston and works as the Marketing Writer for Boston Children's Hospital's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center. He holds degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Gettysburg College, and has been writing for science and news outlets for the last three years. </span></p>
&nbsp;

Connor Ertz

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In my role as Chief News Editor, I strive to publish studies that are not only fascinating, but also informative. I am grateful for the opportunity to share urgent climate news with Earth.com readers all over the world. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In order to address the greatest environmental challenge of our lifetime, we must first understand what we are up against. </span>

Read more about Chrissy Sexton <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/chrissy-sexton/">here</a>.

Chrissy Sexton

<p style="text-align: left;">Andrei Ionescu is a Staff Writer at Earth.com, covering the latest scientific discoveries in fields including health &amp; medicine, climate science, biology &amp; evolution, paleontology, astrophysics, chemistry, and geology. He holds a PhD from the University of Padua, Italy, and conducted extensive interdisciplinary research at the intersection of the sciences and the humanities at universities in various countries, which resulted in publications at Bloomsbury, Johns Hopkins University Press, and Taylor &amp; Francis.</p>
Read more about Andrei Ionescu <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/aionescu/">here</a>.

Andrei Ionescu

<span style="font-weight: 400;">I am a biologist at heart, and interested in all aspects of the natural world. I studied a BSc in Zoology and Botany at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and then received my PhD in Zoology at the same institution. I have subsequently spent much of my life teaching others about the fascinating natural world we have inherited. I am lucky enough to live in South Africa, where wildlife and wild places still abound. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Writing for Earth.com is a privilege as it enables me to keep in touch with the latest research trends while also being able to inform others about the amazing science currently being done in the various fields of biology.</span>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>

Alison Bosman

<p>A recent capture by the powerful European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (ESO’s VLTI) has enabled researchers to view the scene of a lifetime - a first-ever close-up image of a dying star.</p>



<p>This celestial spectacle details the dramatic death throes of a giant star, named WOH G64, that is situated in a galaxy beyond our Milky Way. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dying-star-s-last-breath">Dying star's last breath</h2>



<p>Keiichi Ohnaka, an astrophysicist at <a href="https://www.unab.cl/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universidad Andrés Bello</a> in Chile, shared the exciting news.</p>



<p>Ohnaka and his team found an egg-shaped shell of dust and gas surrounding WOH G64 - a dying star about 160,000 light-years away from us.</p>



<p>“We are excited because this may be related to the drastic ejection of material from the dying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-dandelion-year-1181-leaves-behind-zombie-star-defying-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a> before a supernova explosion,” said Ohnaka.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tale-of-the-behemoth-star">Tale of the "behemoth star"</h2>



<p>For decades, astronomers referred to WOH G64 as the "behemoth star."</p>



<p>It is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small galaxy that orbits our Milky Way. With its humongous size, around 2,000 times that of our own sun, WOH G64 is a red supergiant star.</p>



<p>Viewing such stars that are hidden in far-off galaxies has been a challenge until now, but ESO’s VLTI’s sharpness has brought WOH G64 to our virtual doorstep.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-a-dying-star">Observing a dying star</h2>



<p>Ohnaka and his team at Universidad Andrés Bello have long been intrigued by WOH G64. The researchers first used observations from ESO's VLTI in 2005 and 2007 in Chile's Atacama Desert.</p>



<p>Despite their persistent efforts, the actual image of the star remained elusive until the development of one of VLTI's second-generation instruments known as GRAVITY.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significant-changes-in-woh-g64">Significant changes in WOH G64 </h2>



<p>GRAVITY allowed the team to examine WOH G64 with a fresh pair of eyes, leading them to a surprising discovery. Over the last decade, the star has dimmed considerably.</p>



<p>Study co-author Gerd Weigelt is an astronomy professor at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany.</p>



<p>"We have found that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-earth-will-meet-its-demise-astronomers-witness-a-star-devour-a-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a> has been experiencing a significant change in the last 10 years, providing us with a rare opportunity to witness a star’s life in real-time,” said Weigelt.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shedding-layers-of-gas-and-dust">Shedding layers of gas and dust</h2>



<p>Red supergiants like WOH G64 are known to discard their outer layers of gas and dust in a process that spans thousands of years. </p>



<p>The team suspects that the dimming of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/binary-systems-with-living-and-dead-stars-reveal-stellar-secrets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a> and the unexpected egg-like shape of the dust cocoon surrounding it could be due to this shedding.</p>



<p>"This star is one of the most extreme of its kind, and any drastic change may bring it closer to an explosive end," noted study co-author Jacco van Loon, director of Keele Observatory at Keele University, UK.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-closely">Looking closely</h2>



<p>As the star continues to fade, capturing detailed images of it becomes increasingly challenging, even for the VLTI. </p>



<p>However, with planned upgrades like GRAVITY+, we can expect to get even better insights into the life of this far-off stellar giant.</p>



<p>“Similar follow-up observations with ESO instruments will be important for understanding what is going on in the star,” said Ohnaka, who is the lead author of the study. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eso-s-very-large-telescope-interferometer">ESO’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer</h2>



<p>The VLTI is an impressive piece of technology that combines light collected by ESO’s Very Large Telescope array to create detailed cosmic images.</p>



<p>The process is highly complex and needs instruments specifically dedicated to this task. In 2005 and 2007, Ohnaka’s team had access to the first generation of these instruments, MIDI. </p>



<p>However, it was the second-generation instrument, GRAVITY, that made the image of WOH G64 possible. But this is just the beginning. With imminent upgrades like GRAVITY+, we're set to witness cosmic phenomena like never before.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-capturing-a-dying-star">Significance of capturing a dying star</h2>



<p>The wondrous universe is always ready to surprise and inspire us. Today, it is the unique image of a dying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a> beyond our galaxy, courtesy of ESO’s VLTI and the relentless curiosity of scientists like Keiichi Ohnaka.</p>



<p>In the ever-evolving field of astronomy, this is just one of the countless wonders that await us. With each star we scrutinize, each galaxy we explore, we inch closer to understanding the cosmos and our place in it. </p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2024/11/aa51820-24/aa51820-24.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy and Astrophysics</a>.</em></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Astronomers reveal the first detailed image of a dying star

A recent capture by the powerful European Southern Observatory’s Very...

<p>Click, scroll, sigh. We all do it, don't we? Lying in bed, letting our thoughts run wild as we mindlessly scroll across negative news and social media content on our cell phones. </p>



<p>This habit, known as "doomscrolling," pulls us deeper into the internet - intent on finding answers, solutions, or distractions that weigh on our mental well-being.</p>



<p>More often than not, we find ourselves immersed in an abyss of negativity, bathing in bad news and distressing content. But have you ever stopped to question the impact of this habit on your mental health?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-doomscrolling">What is doomscrolling?</h2>



<p>The term "doomscrolling" describes this exact pattern of digital consumption - continuously trawling through negative information, seemingly addicted to heart-wrenching news and gloomy content. Despite triggering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/doomscrolling-threatens-our-mental-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative emotions</a>, we seem incapable of escaping this pull.</p>



<p>But why? What's causing this? Has doomscrolling become unwittingly intertwined with our attempts to make sense of an increasingly chaotic world?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-doomscrolling-and-mental-health">Doomscrolling and mental health</h2>



<p>A team of researchers from University College London (<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>) set out to investigate. The results of their exploratory study paint a rather <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gen-ai-and-social-media-divert-peoples-attention-from-climate-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disconcerting picture</a>.</p>



<p>It appeared that people with poor mental health not only gravitated toward negative content online, but this habit seemed to amplify their depressive symptoms.</p>



<p>The UCL team assessed the mental health of over 1,000 participants who were then asked to browse the internet for thirty minutes. A subsequent mental health evaluation and examination of their search history revealed a stark pattern. </p>



<p>Those with the lowest mental health scores sought out the most substantial amount of websites with negative themes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-a-two-way-street">It's a two-way street</h2>



<p>A subsequent experiment aimed to discern if doomscrolling was a product of our mental and emotional state or the internet's influence. </p>



<p>In short, were the participants driven to melancholy content because they were already feeling low, or did their foreboding mood result from their online activity?</p>



<p>Tali Sharot is a professor of cognitive neuroscience at UCL, who contributed significantly to this debate.</p>



<p>"Lots of people are saying that there is a correlation between poor mental health and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/panic-driven-doom-gloom-climate-change-messages-do-not-work/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">internet use</a>," said Sharot. "We spend many hours online, and as humans, we only just started doing so in the last few years. Is it causing problems?"</p>



<p>And the irony isn't lost on us. We are willingly choosing to foray into these murky waters, fully aware that it's going to leave us feeling down. Isn't it time we reconsider our digital habits?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-mental-health">Implications for mental health </h2>



<p>Our insatiable appetite for distressing news isn't merely a quirky habit; it has serious implications for public health. This subject is particularly relevant as digital consumption has skyrocketed more than ever.</p>



<p>Health experts and policymakers are advocating for comprehensive digital literacy, aiming to educate individuals about the link between their internet habits and emotional well-being.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-and-the-internet-who-benefits-and-who-suffers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ideal scenario</a>? People would learn how to identify their negative online behavior, helping them to put an end to the negative spiral of doomscrolling.</p>



<p>Furthermore, experts are calling for breaks from screen time. They are promoting environments that are conducive to mental well-being in an effort to offset the harmful effects of excessive digital consumption.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mindful-digital-consumption">Mindful digital consumption </h2>



<p>How can we navigate this digital labyrinth without getting consumed by the darkness it often breeds? Mindful digital consumption may be the answer.</p>



<p>We can counter the anxiety that often accompanies continual exposure to gloomy information by adopting a balanced media diet, moderating our screen time, and using mindfulness techniques like meditation.</p>



<p>In short, we must reframe our relationship with technology. It's about ensuring that technology serves us - not the other way round.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-change-your-scrolling-habits">Change your scrolling habits</h2>



<p>A recent UK study highlighted the potential adverse effects of smartphone obsession, especially among adolescents. </p>



<p>Teens who reported troubled relationships with their smartphones were found to be three times more likely to be anxious, depressed, or suffer from insomnia.</p>



<p>Our digital habits hold a sizeable sway over our mental health. While the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/internet-access-should-be-a-basic-human-right/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">internet</a> carries the potential to be a marvelous resource, harnessing its full power lies in our hands. </p>



<p>If we consciously choose to satiate our minds with positive content, we stand a chance at protecting - if not boosting - our mental well-being.</p>



<p>So, the next time you find yourself doomscrolling, remember this: Your mental health is worth far more than any viral tweet, incendiary post, or alarming news article.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02065-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Human Behaviour</a></em>. </p>



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

'Doomscrolling' is silently ruining our mental health

Click, scroll, sigh. We all do it, don't we? Lying...

<p>While the Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach pits to North America, recent research reveals that the real credit for the fruit's widespread cultivation goes to the Indigenous communities of the continent.</p>



<p>The study, conducted by researchers at Penn State, sheds light on this often overlooked chapter of history.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-indigenous-networks-and-the-spread-of-peaches">Indigenous networks and the spread of peaches</h2>



<p>Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, the first author of the study and an assistant professor of anthropology at <a href="https://www.psu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a>, elaborated on the intensive care required for peaches to be productive.</p>



<p>This care includes finding appropriate places for plantation with abundant sunlight and proper soil drainage, along with regular pruning. </p>



<p>The widespread <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-have-sophisticated-strategies-to-balance-defense-and-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cultivation</a> of peaches is a result of the Indigenous networks and land management practices - a fact that is often missed in narratives regarding the quick spread of peaches post-Spanish introduction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-samples-from-archeological-sites">Samples from archeological sites </h2>



<p>The researchers meticulously examined historical documents that mentioned peaches such as the writings of French missionary explorer Jacques Marquette and English merchant Jonathan Dickinson. </p>



<p>Radiocarbon dating, a method that measures the decay of radioactive carbon-14 atoms in organic material, was used to determine the approximate ages of peach pits and other organic samples from various archaeological sites.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spread-of-peaches-in-north-america">Spread of peaches in North America</h2>



<p>The researchers found that by 1620, a hundred years after the Spanish arrival in Florida and Georgia's Oconee Valley, peaches likely spread across the Indigenous settlements throughout the interior southeast.</p>



<p>But these communities didn't just adopt the fruit. They bred new varieties - so many that they outnumbered those found in Europe during the same era.</p>



<p>The researchers identified what are possibly the oldest peaches in North America unearthed at a Muskogean farmstead in Oconee Valley dating back to between 1520 and 1550.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-indigenous-influence-on-peaches">Indigenous influence on peaches</h2>



<p>Study co-author Victor Thompson is a research professor of archaeology at the University of Georgia (<a href="https://www.uga.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UGA</a>) and executive director of the Georgia Museum of Natural History.</p>



<p>"Understanding the path that the introduction of species, such as peach trees, took through colonization and the role that Indigenous people and their long-term relationship with the environment played in shaping these histories demonstrates the importance of these events, people and processes to what becomes a broader American history,” said Thompson.</p>



<p>“Further, the fact that all of this work took place on museum specimens underscores the importance of maintaining these collections for future study.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legacy-of-indigenous-communities">Legacy of Indigenous communities </h2>



<p>At this point in our story, peaches had so intertwined with Indigenous history and culture that when the ancestors of the modern-day Muscogee (Creek) Nation were forcefully relocated from Georgia and Alabama in the 1800s, they took peaches with them.</p>



<p>Today, peaches continue to be grown as heritage crops by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, with the act of growing and caring for them being a significant cultural practice.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-s-role-in-peach-cultivation">Climate's role in peach cultivation</h2>



<p>Understanding the climatic factors that affect peach cultivation is pivotal for their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-uncover-how-plants-grow-wider-not-just-taller/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">successful growth</a>. Peaches thrive in regions with distinct seasonal variations, requiring cold winters to induce dormancy followed by warm springs to awaken the fruiting process. </p>



<p>This adaptability explains their prevalence in temperate zones worldwide. However, climate change poses potential challenges, with rising temperatures and unpredictable frosts threatening the delicate balance necessary for peach production. </p>



<p>The researchers emphasize the need for exploring cultivars resilient to climate fluctuations, ensuring the preservation of both traditional and newly developed peach varieties.</p>



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



<p>As the historical and anthropological perspectives have enriched our understanding of peach cultivation, future research may involve genetic studies and exploring innovative agricultural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electro-agriculture-grows-food-in-the-dark-with-94-less-land-required/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">practices</a>.</p>



<p>With advances in biotechnology, scientists are unraveling the genome of peaches to identify traits that confer resistance to diseases and environmental stressors. This genetic insight is crucial for breeding programs aimed at improving yield and quality. </p>



<p>Moreover, sustainable practices, such as permaculture and regenerative agriculture, are being explored to reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-farming-and-flower-strips-improve-honey-bee-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental impact</a>. </p>



<p>So, the next time you enjoy a sweet, juicy peach, remember the Indigenous communities that played a key role in its journey.</p>



<p>Their extensive care and management not only introduced this beloved summer fruit to a new continent but also paved the way for its spread and the diversity we enjoy today.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52597-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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<p>-----</p>

How peaches spread across North America and the world

While the Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach...

<p>The collision of cargo vessels with whales is one of the leading causes of death for these majestic marine creatures. Despite high-profile accidents and localized research efforts, a comprehensive global picture of the risks posed by shipping to whales has remained elusive - until now.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A study led by the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a> (UW), with contributions from <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Santa Barbara</a> (UCSB) researchers, reveals that global shipping routes overlap with 92% of the migratory ranges of blue, fin, humpback, and sperm <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blue-whales-continue-their-battle-for-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whales</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-risk-assessment-nbsp">Global risk assessment&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adp1950" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>, the study offers the first global map of ship-strike risks for these four large whale species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-new-approach-to-protecting-whales-from-ship-strikes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ship-strike</a> studies are done at a regional scale, which is critically important but doesn’t provide the full picture worldwide,” said co-author Rachel Rhodes, a project scientist at UCSB’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“By taking this broader perspective, we can identify the highest-risk areas globally and strategically direct research and conservation efforts where they’re needed most.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="7sxoUzIVbl-4050404-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whales-and-ships-a-deadly-intersection">Whales and ships: A deadly intersection</h2>



<p>Cargo vessels, often the size of skyscrapers and over ten times the length of an adult blue whale, dominate the oceans. Any whale crossing their path faces almost certain death.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As shipping lanes increasingly intersect with whale migration routes, the likelihood of collisions grows.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to Professor Briana Abrahms, this translates to ships traveling thousands of times the distance to the moon and back within these species’ ranges each and every year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“And this problem is only projected to increase as global trade grows in the coming decades,” said Abrahms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-success-in-local-conservation-efforts">Success in local conservation efforts</h2>



<p>While the outlook may seem grim, successful initiatives like <a href="https://whalesafe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Whale Safe</a> off the California coast demonstrate the potential for mitigating these risks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Whale Safe is a collaborative effort between researchers, citizen scientists, and shipping companies to reduce collisions by slowing vessels in whale-rich waters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Tracking whale presence and providing data on ship compliance with slow zones have helped lower collision rates since the program’s launch in 2019.</p>



<p>“Getting the vessels to slow down works,” said UCSB marine ecologist and co-author Douglas McCauley, whose lab developed Whale Safe.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-adequate-protection-for-whales">Lack of adequate protection for whales</h2>



<p>The Santa Barbara Channel, a vital migration corridor for blue, fin, and humpback whales, overlaps with major shipping hubs in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Federal guidelines encourage ships to voluntarily reduce their speed from May to December to protect endangered whales.</p>



<p>Despite these localized successes, the study found that only 7% of the highest-risk areas globally have measures in place to protect whales from ship strikes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-whale-ship-collision-hotspots">Mapping whale-ship collision hotspots</h2>



<p>To estimate collision risks, the researchers first needed to map whale habitats on an unprecedented global scale.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This involved compiling data from government surveys, public sightings, tagging studies, and even historic whaling vessel logbooks to track where blue, fin, humpback, and sperm whales live, feed, and migrate.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team combined this information with the routes of 176,000 cargo vessels tracked between 2017 and 2022 using data from ships’ automatic identification systems and algorithms developed by <a href="https://globalfishingwatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Fishing Watch</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-high-risk-regions-nbsp">Identifying high-risk regions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The study revealed several new high-risk regions, including areas off southern Africa; the coasts of Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador in South America; the Azores; and East Asia, particularly near China, Japan, and South Korea.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“These are vast areas of the ocean where whales may quietly be being killed,” Rhodes said. “This may be a silent contributor to why we aren’t seeing more optimistic recoveries for some at-risk whale populations.”</p>



<p>The research also reaffirmed known hotspots, such as the Pacific coast of North America (including California), Panama, the Arabian Sea, Sri Lanka, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean Sea.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-need-for-policy-changes">Urgent need for policy changes</h2>



<p>The team discovered that mandatory measures to prevent whale-ship collisions are exceedingly rare, covering just 0.54% of blue whale hotspots, 0.27% of humpback hotspots, and none for fin or sperm whales.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even marine protected areas often lack speed regulations for vessels, as they were initially established to address issues like overfishing and industrial pollution rather than shipping-related risks.</p>



<p>Encouragingly, 95% of the hotspots identified lie within nations’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs), meaning individual countries have the authority to implement protective measures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“From the standpoint of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/effective-conservation-efforts-key-to-saving-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a>, the fact that most high-risk areas lie within exclusive economic zones is actually encouraging,” said lead author Anna Nisi, a UW postdoctoral researcher.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It means individual countries have the ability to protect the riskiest areas.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Expanding protective measures to cover an additional 2.6% of the ocean’s surface would safeguard all the identified collision hotspots, the researchers estimate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-whales-from-ship-strikes-nbsp">Protecting whales from ship strikes&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The experts hope their study will inspire local and regional research to refine hotspot maps, inform advocacy efforts, and address the impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-a-warming-climate-will-change-the-humpback-whales-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, which will alter whale and ship distributions as sea ice melts and ecosystems shift.</p>



<p>“Protecting whales from the impact of ship strikes is a huge global challenge,” said Jono Wilson, co-author and director of ocean science at <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nature Conservancy</a>ù’s California Chapter.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We’ve seen the benefits of slowing ships down at local scales through programs like ‘Blue Whales Blue Skies’ in California. Scaling up such programs will require a concerted effort by conservation organizations, governments, and shipping companies.”</p>



<p>Whales play a critical role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystems</a>, supporting biodiversity and contributing to ocean health. By identifying ship-collision hotspots and prioritizing these areas for conservation, this study offers a path forward to ensure their survival in an increasingly industrialized ocean.</p>



<p>Video Credit: Global Fishing Watch&nbsp;</p>



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Ship routes overlap with 92% of whale habitats 

The collision of cargo vessels with whales is one of...

<p>The Guitar Nebula is a fascinating cosmic object that was named for its uncanny resemblance to the instrument in glowing hydrogen light.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic</a> guitar isn't idle, though. It is constantly on the move, just as a swaying guitarist, belting out tune after tune.</p>



<p>The driving force behind its movement is the pulsar PSR B2224+65, a rapidly rotating neutron star. Picture it as the guitarist in this cosmic band.</p>



<p>And the music it plays? A flame-like filament of particles and X-rays. Over the years, astronomers have captured this symphony using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secrets-of-the-guitar-nebula">Secrets of the Guitar Nebula</h2>



<p>How does space manage to create such a bizarre <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-signals-from-crab-nebula-form-a-zebra-pattern/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scenario</a>? </p>



<p>The secret lies in the pulsar's fast rotation and strong magnetic fields. These extremes lead to particle acceleration and high-energy radiation, creating matter and antimatter pairs of electron and positron. </p>



<p>In effect, the famous equation by Albert Einstein, E = mc<sup>2</sup>, which usually converts mass into energy, is reversed. In this case, energy converts into mass to produce the particles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pulsar-s-journey-through-space">Pulsar’s journey through space</h2>



<p>As the Guitar Nebula passes through space, it emanates a steady wind, like a gentle melody, causing particles to be ejected. </p>



<p>These particles then create bubbles, and as the pulsar continues to traverse through a medium with variations in density, more bubbles are created behind it, forming our unique guitar shape.</p>



<p>This symphony isn’t a static tune. Images captured at different points indicate the changes this filament undergoes. It's a unique kind of cosmic rhythm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-the-guitar-nebula">Observing the Guitar Nebula </h2>



<p>The Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope have been instrumental in recording this intriguing performance.</p>



<p>A recent film, combining data from both, has revealed the pulsar and the filament moving towards the upper left - akin to a cosmic blow torch shooting from the tip of the guitar.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="VzMYfwbr7c-4050286-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-guitar-nebula">Significance of the Guitar Nebula</h2>



<p>The Guitar <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/dark-wolf-nebula-in-the-constellation-scorpius/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nebula</a> is more than just a captivating spectacle. The filament is helping astrologists understand how electrons and positrons traverse the interstellar medium. </p>



<p>The nebula also serves as an example of how these particles get injected into the interstellar space.</p>



<p>None of the observations would be possible without the dedicated work of teams at the NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/marshall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marshall Space Flight Center</a> and the <a href="https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory</a>’s Chandra X-ray Center.</p>



<p>The experts manage and control the Chandra program's science operations and flight operations, respectively.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-high-energy-astrophysics">Understanding high-energy astrophysics</h2>



<p>The discovery and study of objects like the Guitar Nebula extend far beyond the realm of astronomy into the fundamental principles of physics.</p>



<p>By studying these celestial symphonies, astrophysicists are able to gather insights on the behavior of pulsars, their magnetic fields, and the dynamics of neutron stars. </p>



<p>Such phenomena inform theories on how energy and matter interact at extreme scales, offering observable cases for complex physical equations. </p>



<p>This knowledge contributes significantly to our understanding of high-energy astrophysics and the ongoing quest to unify the vast and diverse events occurring in the universe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inspirations-for-science-and-art">Inspirations for science and art</h2>



<p>Beyond contributing to scientific knowledge, the mesmerizing appearances and tales of cosmic structures inspire both amateur and professional artists. </p>



<p>The Guitar Nebula's poetic dance through space, reminiscent of brushstrokes on a vast canvas or melodic chords in music, encourages creative interpretations and artistic expressions. </p>



<p>This merging of science and art promotes a deeper public appreciation for cosmic phenomena, sparking curiosity and wonder about our universe.</p>



<p>Such inspiration ensures that the mysteries of space continue to captivate future generations, crossing the boundaries between disciplines and opening new avenues for interpretation and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/cosmic-cannibalism-and-stellar-winds-unveiling-the-secrets-of-messier-76/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exploration</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testament-to-the-wonders-of-space">Testament to the wonders of space</h2>



<p>This cosmic concert, with the flamethrower guitar and its changing tune, is a testament to the wonders that space holds. </p>



<p>What other cosmic secrets are out there, waiting to be unraveled? If a pulsar can play such a visually radiant tune, who knows what the other stars are up to?</p>



<p>So, the next time you gaze up at the night sky, remember the Guitar Nebula, belting out its symphony in the vast auditorium of space. </p>



<p>Video &amp; Image Credit: Hubble/NASA/ESA/STScI and (Palomar) Hale Telescope/Palomar/CalTech</p>



<p>-----</p>



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The Guitar Nebula: A pulsar's dazzling performance in space

The Guitar Nebula is a fascinating cosmic object that was...