Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features NGC 1792, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Columba about 43 million light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;



This galaxy, discovered by British astronomer James Dunlop in 1826, is part of the larger NGC 1808 group of galaxies.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intimate-view-of-ngc-1792">Intimate view of NGC 1792</h2>



“An orange glow radiates from the center of NGC 1792, the heart of this stellar forge. Captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, this intimate view of NGC 1792 gives us some insight into this galactic powerhouse,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“The vast swathes of tell-tale blue seen throughout the galaxy indicate areas that are full of young, hot stars, and it is in the shades of orange, seen nearer the center, that the older, cooler stars reside.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vigorous-star-formation-nbsp">Vigorous star formation&nbsp;</h2>



NGC 1792 is notable for its vigorous star formation, classifying it as a starburst galaxy. This high rate of star formation is thought to be triggered by gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies, though the exact cause is still under study.



“Nestled in the constellation of Columba (The Dove), NGC 1792 is both a spiral galaxy, and a starburst galaxy,” said ESA. 



“Within starburst galaxies, stars are forming at comparatively exorbitant rates. The rate of star formation can be more than 10 times faster in a starburst galaxy than in the Milky Way.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fierce-bursts-of-star-formation">Fierce bursts of star formation</h2>



ESA noted that when galaxies have a large reservoir of gas, like NGC 1792, these short-lived starburst phases can be sparked by galactic events such as mergers and tidal interactions.&nbsp;



“One might think that these starburst galaxies would easily consume all of their gas in a large forming event. However, supernova explosions and intense stellar winds produced in these powerful starbursts can inject energy into the gas and disperse it.”&nbsp;



“This halts the star formation before it can completely deplete the galaxy of all its fuel. Scientists are actively working to understand this complex interplay between the dynamics that drive and quench these fierce bursts of star formation.”



Due to its distance and brightness, NGC 1792 can be observed with medium-sized telescopes under favorable conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolution-of-galaxies">The evolution of galaxies </h2>



Galaxy evolution refers to the process by which galaxies form and change over time. It begins in the early universe, shortly after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-observations-disprove-big-bang-theory-universe-began-tired-light-theory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bang</a>, when small density fluctuations in the primordial gas led to the collapse of matter into the first galaxies.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-mergers">Galaxy mergers</h3>



Early galaxies were small and irregular, and were composed mostly of gas and dark matter. Over billions of years, galaxies grew larger by merging with one another and by accreting gas from the surrounding space. 



These interactions often triggered bursts of star formation, and collisions between galaxies sometimes led to the creation of new, more massive galaxies.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structural-changes">Structural changes</h3>



As galaxies evolve, their morphology - shape and structure - can change. Early galaxies were often irregular or disk-shaped, but over time, many galaxies formed into the elliptical or spiral shapes we see today. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation">Star formation</h3>



Star formation is a key driver of galaxy evolution, but it gradually slows down as galaxies age. 



The gas that fuels <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a> can be used up, or it can be heated and pushed out of galaxies by supernovae or black holes, reducing the galaxy's ability to form new stars.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-environment-nbsp">Galaxy environment&nbsp;</h3>



The environment in which a galaxy resides also plays a role in its evolution. Galaxies in dense clusters are more likely to interact with their neighbors, which can alter their shape or trigger bursts of star formation.&nbsp;



In contrast, galaxies in more isolated regions of space evolve more slowly and without as many dramatic interactions.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-matter">Dark matter</h3>



Dark matter also plays a crucial role in galaxy evolution. It provides the gravitational framework that holds galaxies together and influences their interactions with one another.&nbsp;



Supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=Galaxies%20merge&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black holes</a>, found at the centers of most large galaxies, can also affect their evolution by releasing energy that impacts star formation and the movement of gas within the galaxy.



Overall, galaxy evolution is a complex and ongoing process driven by interactions between stars, gas, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-dark-matter-does-not-exist-and-the-universe-is-27-billion-years-old/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>, and black holes, and shaped by both internal processes and external influences.



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, J. Lee



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Starburst galaxy in the constellation Columba

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features NGC 1333, a reflection nebula located in the Perseus molecular cloud about 960 light-years away from Earth. The photo is a mosaic of images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.



“Webb’s superb sensitivity allows astronomers to investigate young objects with extremely low masses. Some of the faintest ‘stars’ in the picture are in fact newly born free-floating brown dwarfs with masses comparable to those of giant planets,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



The same cluster was featured in the 33rd anniversary image of the Hubble Space Telescope in April 2023. 



According to ESA, Hubble’s image just scratched the surface of this region, because clouds of dust obscure much of the star formation process. 



"Observing with larger aperture and in the infrared part of the spectrum, Webb is capable of peering through the dusty veil to reveal newborn stars, brown dwarfs and planetary mass objects."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-s-view-of-ngc-1333">Webb’s view of NGC 1333</h2>



ESA noted that the center of the image presents a deep peek into the heart of the NGC 1333 cloud.&nbsp;



“Across the image we see large patches of orange, which represent gas glowing in the infrared. These so-called Herbig-Haro objects form when ionized material ejected from young stars collides with the surrounding cloud. They are hallmarks of a very active site of star formation."



The disks of gas and dust that surround the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a> in this image may eventually produce planetary systems.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stars-in-the-sun-s-birth-cluster">Stars in the Sun's birth cluster</h2>



“Similar to the young stars in this mosaic, our own Sun and planets formed inside a dusty molecular cloud, 4.6 billion years ago. Our Sun did not form in isolation but as part of a cluster, which was perhaps even more massive than NGC 1333,” explained ESA.



Over time, the stars in the Sun's birth cluster would have drifted apart due to gravitational interactions and the dispersion of gas in the region.



Astronomers have been studying certain clues, such as isotopic signatures in meteorites, that hint the Sun may have formed near massive stars. These stars likely produced supernovae, which could have influenced the early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-objects-spotted-in-the-outer-solar-system-beyond-pluto/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar system</a> by injecting heavy elements like iron-60.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-ngc-1333">Star formation in NGC 1333</h2>



NGC 1333 is a vibrant example of a stellar nursery, where active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-stars-release-sneezes-of-gas-and-dust-as-they-develop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a> is ongoing. It is known for its chaotic appearance, shaped by the interactions between newborn stars and the surrounding material.



Within NGC 1333, astronomers have observed a high level of turbulence, which makes the region dynamic and complex. 



These disturbances are caused by the outflows of young stars as they eject material into their surroundings, creating shock waves and influencing further star formation.&nbsp;



These outflows are often seen as jets, which are visible in multiple wavelengths of light, especially infrared, as the surrounding dust absorbs visible light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-stages-of-planet-formation">Early stages of planet formation </h2>



NGC 1333 is also an area of interest for studying the early stages of star and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet formation</a>, as many of the stars within the cluster are in their infancy.



These stars are still in the process of gathering material and developing protoplanetary disks. 



In images, NGC 1333 is marked by bright patches of blue and red, representing reflection <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nebulae</a> and the ionized gas created by energetic young stars.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-perseus-molecular-cloud-nbsp">The Perseus molecular cloud&nbsp;</h2>



The Perseus molecular cloud is a vast region of cold gas and dust located about 600 light-years away from Earth in the constellation <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/1500-billion-orphan-stars-discovered-in-the-perseus-galaxy-cluster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perseus</a>.&nbsp;



It is one of the most studied star-forming regions in our galaxy due to its relative proximity and the diversity of its young stellar objects. This cloud spans several hundred light-years and contains dense pockets of gas where new stars are actively forming.&nbsp;



These areas are often enshrouded in thick dust, which obscures them in visible light but allows astronomers to study them using infrared and radio wavelengths.



The Perseus molecular cloud is particularly interesting because of the chemistry taking place within it, including the formation of complex organic molecules that could be precursors to life.&nbsp;



Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA



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Stellar nursery shines in the Perseus cloud

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features a blanket of dust over the Tarim Basin - a vast, arid region in northwestern China. 



Mountain peaks are visible through a break in the dust. These peaks are part of Tekilik Shan, a subrange of the Kunlun Mountains.



Though not as widely known as some other mountain ranges in the area, Tekilik Shan plays a significant role in shaping local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-is-pushing-nature-toward-a-breaking-point/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather</a> patterns and geography.



Its snow-covered peaks can rise above 13,000 feet, contributing to the dramatic elevation differences that define the basin’s borders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dust-storms-in-the-tarim-basin-nbsp">Dust storms in the Tarim Basin&nbsp;</h2>



Spring marks the height of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sahara-desert-dust-storms-carry-harmful-bacteria-and-fungi-around-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dust storm</a> activity in the Tarim Basin, particularly in its southern region.&nbsp;



“It’s a time of year when regional wind patterns shift in ways that cause winds and storm systems to sweep in from the northwest,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154126/a-curtain-of-dust-over-the-tarim-basin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



“In early spring, when landscapes in this region are especially dry and have minimal vegetation, land surfaces warm rapidly under the Sun’s heat every morning, fueling convection that can help loft dust upward by the afternoon.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fingerlike-dust-formations-nbsp">Fingerlike dust formations&nbsp;</h2>



Satellite images revealed dust formations with fingerlike shapes that mirrored the landscape below. These projections aligned with valleys, which channeled and directed the airborne dust.&nbsp;



Ralph Kahn is an atmospheric scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder and scientist emeritus at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.



According to Kahn, the dust may have been “self-lofting.” In this process, sunlight heats recently stirred-up surface dust, creating pockets of convection that lift it even higher into the air.



This interpretation is supported by hourly observations from Japan’s Himawari-9 geostationary satellite, which showed dust gradually rising into the Tekilik Shan throughout the day. By late afternoon, the storm had grown dense enough to obscure the mountains.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decline-in-atmospheric-dust">Decline in atmospheric dust</h2>



Long-term satellite data from MODIS suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-storms-in-the-gulf-of-alaska-help-shape-the-global-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric dust</a> levels in this region have declined by about 1.5 percent each year since the early 2000s.&nbsp;



NASA researcher Hongbin Yu attributes this trend mainly to springtime changes - such as altered wind speeds, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-soil-moisture-can-predict-severe-storms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil moisture</a>, or vegetation cover - rather than shifts in other seasons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainfall-in-the-tarim-basin-nbsp">Rainfall in the Tarim Basin&nbsp;</h2>



“The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Takla-Makan-Desert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Takla Makan Desert</a> is one of the driest, most barren expanses on Earth. Flanked by mountain ranges on three sides and parched by the resulting <a href="https://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Rain_shadow" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rain shadow</a>, parts of the Tarim Basin receive no more than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) of rain per year,” noted NASA.



“Dust storms can lead to public health problems in populated areas downwind by transporting small particles, bacteria, and viruses that infiltrate human respiratory systems.”&nbsp;



NASA added that dust storms can also affect Earth’s climate by scattering and absorbing incoming solar radiation and changing the properties of clouds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-landscape-of-the-tarim-basin-nbsp">Landscape of the Tarim Basin&nbsp;</h2>



The Tarim Basin is one of the largest endorheic basins in the world, meaning that its rivers do not drain into the sea but instead flow into interior lakes or evaporate.&nbsp;



The basin is encircled by three mountain ranges: the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west. These ranges create a powerful rain shadow effect, making the region exceptionally dry.



At the heart of the Tarim Basin lies the Taklamakan Desert, one of the most extreme deserts on Earth. The desert is known for its high dunes, intense temperature swings, and minimal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-rainfall-will-wreak-havoc-on-mountain-ranges-as-warming-climate-turns-snow-to-rain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rainfall</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-history-and-geology">History and geology</h2>



Despite its harsh environment, the basin has been historically significant. It was a key section of the ancient Silk Road, with several oases such as Kashgar, Khotan, and Loulan serving as vital trading and cultural centers for centuries.



Geologically, the basin is rich in natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas, and has become a focal point for China's energy exploration and development.&nbsp;



The region’s challenging climate and remote location, however, make infrastructure development and human habitation difficult.&nbsp;



The image was captured on March 27, 2025 by the Operational Land Imager instrument on Landsat 8.



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Blanket of dust covers China’s Tarim Basin

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the star-forming region NGC 604. The nebula is located 2.73 million light-years away from Earth in the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). 



By studying regions like NGC 604, astronomers can gain insights into the complex interactions between stars and the interstellar medium, as well as the conditions that lead to the birth of stars. This, in turn, helps in understanding the evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> and the universe as a whole.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-massive-stars-of-ngc-604">Massive stars of NGC 604</h2>



"Sheltered among NGC 604’s dusty envelopes of gas are more than 200 of the hottest, most massive kinds of stars, all in the early stages of their lives," said <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



"These types of stars are known as B-types and O-types, the latter of which can be more than 100 times the mass of our own Sun. It’s quite rare to find this concentration of them in the nearby universe. In fact, there’s no similar region within our own Milky Way galaxy."



According to ESA, this concentration of massive stars, combined with its relatively close distance, means that NGC 604 gives astronomers an opportunity to study these objects at a fascinating time early in their life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gigantic-region-of-ionized-hydrogen">Gigantic region of ionized hydrogen</h2>



NGC 604 is one of the largest known regions of ionized hydrogen, also known as an H II region. This nebula is significantly larger than the Orion Nebula, which is one of the most well-known H II regions in our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-amount-of-dark-matter-may-be-missing-from-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way galaxy</a>.&nbsp;



NGC 604 spans about 1,500 light-years across, making it one of the largest H II regions in the Local Group of galaxies. This group includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and about 54 other smaller galaxies.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ngc-604-starburst-phenomenon">NGC 604 starburst phenomenon </h2>



Within NGC 604, there are hundreds of young, hot, massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>. These stars have ionized the surrounding gas, causing it to glow and creating the nebula. The region is a prime example of a starburst phenomenon, where stars form at a much higher rate than in typical galactic conditions.



“The bright orange streaks in this image signify the presence of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs," explained ESA.



"As you travel further from the immediate cavities of dust where the star is forming, the deeper red signifies molecular hydrogen. This cooler gas is a prime environment for star formation. Ionized hydrogen from ultraviolet radiation appears as a white and blue ghostly glow."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-star-formation">More about star formation </h2>



Star formation is crucial for the evolution of galaxies and the synthesis of heavy elements. In the cores of stars, elements heavier than helium are created.



The elements are spread throughout the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-stars-shakti-shiva-shaped-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> when stars reach the end of their lives and expel their material - either gently through winds or violently via supernova explosions. 



This enriching process allows for the formation of new stars and planets, and ultimately, the potential for life.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cloud collapse</h3>



The process begins when part of a molecular cloud becomes unstable and starts to collapse under its own gravity. This can be triggered by events like shock waves from nearby <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernovae</a>, galactic collisions, or the influence of other massive stars.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Formation of a protostar</h3>



As the cloud collapses, it fragments into smaller clumps. Each clump will eventually form one or more stars. 



The material within these clumps continues to fall inward, heating up as it does so, eventually forming a warm core called a protostar. At this stage, the protostar is not yet hot enough for nuclear fusion (the process that powers stars) to occur.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Accretion disk</h3>



Around the protostar, material from the surrounding cloud continues to fall inward, forming a rotating disk. This material slowly accretes onto the protostar, increasing its mass.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nuclear fusion begins</h3>



Once the core of the protostar reaches a high enough temperature and pressure, hydrogen atoms begin to fuse into helium, releasing energy in the process. This marks the transition from a protostar to a main sequence star, like our sun.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Main sequence and beyond</h3>



The star will spend the majority of its life in the main sequence stage, where it balances the gravitational forces trying to collapse it and the outward pressure from nuclear fusion. 



Eventually, the star will exhaust its hydrogen fuel. Its subsequent evolution will depend on its initial mass, leading to various end stages such as red giants, supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope



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Young, massive stars in the Triangulum Galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the galaxy ESO 300-16, which is located 28.7 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus. 



The galaxy is part of the ESO (European Southern Observatory) catalog, which includes a vast collection of galaxies observed in the southern hemisphere.



ESO 300-16 is notable for its chaotic structure, lacking the well-defined <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hubble-captures-a-collection-of-spiral-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiral arms</a> or elliptical shape seen in many other galaxies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ghostly-assemblage-of-stars">Ghostly assemblage of stars</h2>



According to <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>, ESO 300-16 is a ghostly assemblage of stars which resembles a sparkling cloud.&nbsp;



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



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-irregular-galaxy-structure">Irregular galaxy structure </h2>



ESO 300-16 lies at a relatively close distance to Earth compared to many other extragalactic objects, making it an interesting target for studies on galaxy formation and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-galactic-explosion-provides-clues-about-galaxy-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a>. 



The galaxy's irregular structure suggests that it may have undergone past interactions with other galaxies or is in a stage of dynamic evolution.



One of the most striking features of ESO 300-16 is its wispy, diffuse appearance, with scattered patches of bright star-forming regions embedded within a fainter background. This indicates ongoing star formation, which is a common characteristic of irregular galaxies. 



Unlike large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mesmerizing-beauty-of-spiral-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiral galaxies</a>, where star formation is often concentrated in well-organized arms, ESO 300-16's active regions are more randomly distributed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-raw-material-for-star-formation">Raw material for star formation</h2>



Due to its irregular nature, the galaxy does not have a well-defined nucleus. Instead, it appears as a loose collection of stars, gas, and dust, which astronomers can study to understand the processes shaping such galaxies. 



Irregular galaxies like ESO 300-16 are often rich in gas and dust, providing the raw material for new stars to form. 



Observations in different wavelengths, such as infrared and ultraviolet, can help reveal the presence of young, hot stars and cooler dust clouds that might be sites of future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-formation-reignited-in-the-galaxy-leo-p-after-billions-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-evolution-of-galaxies">Studying the evolution of galaxies </h2>



Hubble observations of ESO 300-16 provide insight into the structure and stellar populations of the galaxy, helping astronomers piece together its history and evolutionary path. 



The study of galaxies like ESO 300-16 contributes to our broader understanding of how galaxies form and evolve, especially those that do not fit into the traditional classifications of spirals and ellipticals.



Because irregular galaxies are often shaped by gravitational interactions or past mergers, ESO 300-16 may have had a turbulent past. 



It could have once been part of a larger system before being disrupted, or it might have formed in an environment where gravitational influences from nearby galaxies prevented it from developing a more regular shape. 



Studying its motion and the distribution of its stars can provide clues about any past interactions it may have experienced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-glimpse-into-the-early-universe">A glimpse into the early universe </h2>



ESO 300-16 also provides a glimpse into what some galaxies in the early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universe-is-expanding-faster-than-science-can-explain-hubble-tension-physics-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> might have looked like. 



Many early galaxies were irregular in shape before evolving into more structured forms over time. As a result, studying nearby irregular galaxies like ESO 300-16 can offer valuable analogs for understanding galaxy formation in the distant past.



Although ESO 300-16 is not one of the most famous galaxies, it remains an important object for astronomers studying irregular galaxies, star formation, and the role of interactions in shaping galactic structures. 



Image Credit: ESA



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Ghostly galaxy in the constellation Eridanus

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the spiral galaxy NGC 5643, which is located roughly 40 million light-years away in the constellation Lupus.&nbsp;



NGC 5643 belongs to the Hubble classification SBc, indicating that it is a barred spiral galaxy with loosely wound arms.&nbsp;



Its orientation, nearly face-on to Earth, provides astronomers with an exceptional view of its detailed spiral structure and central bar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ngc-5643-a-grand-design-spiral-nbsp">NGC 5643: A grand design spiral&nbsp;</h2>



“NGC 5643 is what’s known as a grand design spiral, referring to how the galaxy’s two large, winding spiral arms are clear to see,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>. “The spiral arms are defined by bright blue stars, lacy reddish-brown dust clouds and pink star-forming regions.”



“As fascinating as the galaxy appears at visible wavelengths, some of NGC 5643’s most interesting features are invisible to the human eye.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intense-activity-in-ngc-5643">Intense activity in NGC 5643</h2>



This galaxy is notable for its Seyfert 2 nucleus, a type of active galactic nucleus (AGN). The intense activity in its core is powered by a supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/awakening-of-a-black-hole-witnessed-for-the-first-time/">black hole</a> that accretes surrounding material, emitting energy across a wide range of wavelengths.&nbsp;



“When a supermassive black hole ensnares gas from its surroundings, the gas collects in a disc that heats up to hundreds of thousands of degrees. The superheated gas shines brightly across the electromagnetic spectrum, but especially at X-ray wavelengths,” said ESA.



Observations have revealed jets and outflows of material emanating from the nucleus, likely driven by the black hole’s activity.&nbsp;



NGC 5643’s AGN has been studied extensively for its role in galactic evolution, particularly in how its energetic processes interact with the galaxy’s interstellar medium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-ngc-5643-x-1">The mystery of NGC 5643 X-1</h2>



ESA pointed out that NGC 5643’s active galactic nucleus isn’t the brightest source of X-rays in the galaxy. 



“Researchers using ESA’s XMM-Newton discovered an even brighter X-ray-emitting object, called NGC 5643 X-1, on the galaxy’s outskirts. What could be a more powerful source of X-rays than a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-black-holes-become-supermassive/">supermassive black hole</a>?”&nbsp;



“Surprisingly, the answer appears to be a much smaller black hole! While the exact identity of NGC 5643 X-1 is not yet known, evidence points to a black hole that is about 30 times more massive than the Sun.”&nbsp;



“Locked in an orbital dance with a companion star, the black hole ensnares gas from its stellar companion, creating a superheated disc that outshines the galactic center,” said ESA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-ngc-5643">Star formation in NGC 5643</h2>



NGC 5643 also exhibits prominent regions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">star formation</a> within its spiral arms. These areas are rich in gas and dust - the raw materials for birthing new stars - and glow brightly in ultraviolet and infrared light.&nbsp;



Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) have helped uncover the complex interplay between star formation and the galaxy's central activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extended-ionized-gas-regions-nbsp">Extended ionized gas regions&nbsp;</h2>



A defining feature of NGC 5643 is the presence of its extended ionized gas regions, which are shaped by the galaxy's AGN activity and star-forming regions.&nbsp;



These structures have been mapped through optical spectroscopy, revealing intricate patterns that help astronomers understand the physical conditions of the gas, such as density, temperature, and composition.



The galaxy also has a dust lane that crosses its nucleus, partially obscuring direct observations of the central region in visible light.&nbsp;



Overall, NGC 5643 offers a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of barred <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mesmerizing-beauty-of-spiral-galaxies/">spiral galaxies</a> with active nuclei, serving as a valuable resource for studying the interactions between supermassive black holes, star formation, and galactic evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-lupus">The constellation Lupus</h2>



Lupus is a constellation located in the southern sky, its name meaning "wolf" in Latin. It has been known since antiquity and was cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy.&nbsp;



Once part of the larger constellation Centaurus, Lupus was later recognized as a distinct constellation. It is relatively faint but holds historical significance in mythology, often associated with a sacrificial wolf in ancient stories.



Lupus is bordered by other constellations like Scorpius, Centaurus, and Libra. Its stars do not form a particularly striking pattern, but it contains a variety of interesting astronomical features. Among them are numerous double stars, globular clusters, and other deep-sky objects, visible through telescopes.&nbsp;



For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, Lupus is best seen in the winter and spring months, while it appears closer to the horizon for those in northern latitudes.



This constellation also lies along the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/">Milky Way</a>, offering a rich field of stars and nebulae for stargazers. Despite its modest brightness, Lupus holds a special place in the science of astronomy.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope



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Secrets of a spiraling galactic powerhouse

Badlands National Park&nbsp;(Lakota:&nbsp;Makȟóšiča) is an American&nbsp;national park&nbsp;located in southwestern&nbsp;South Dakota. The park protects 242,756 acres (379.3&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi; 982.4&nbsp;km2)&nbsp;of sharply&nbsp;eroded&nbsp;buttes&nbsp;and&nbsp;pinnacles, along with the largest undisturbed&nbsp;mixed grass prairie&nbsp;in the United States. The&nbsp;National Park Service&nbsp;manages the park, with the South Unit being co-managed with the&nbsp;Oglala Lakota&nbsp;tribe. The White River Badlands have developed an international reputation as a fossil-rich area. They contain the richest deposits of&nbsp;Oligocene&nbsp;mammals known, providing a glimpse of life in the area 33 million years ago.



For those interested in front-country camping, the park offers two official campgrounds. The&nbsp;Cedar Pass Campground&nbsp;is a paid campground with 96 sites total, some designated for RV camping with electric hookups. Sage Creek Campground&nbsp;is a free, first-come first-serve campground with 22 sites.&nbsp;Motor homes, pull behind trailers, and other recreational vehicles greater than 18 feet in length are prohibited.&nbsp; For those seeking a more rugged camping experience, back-country camping is also available in the park. Back-country camping is permitted anywhere in the park as long as it is 0.5 miles from a road or trail and is not visible from a trail or roadway.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

A new idea about&nbsp;cosmic expansion has emerged that might remove the need for dark matter and dark energy altogether.



Experts have long debated exotic solutions to explain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-in-the-shadows-giant-black-hole-emerges-from-cosmic-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic</a> acceleration. Now, an alternate approach proposes a scenario in which more than one burst of creation took place, rather than a singular event.



The <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6382/adbed1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">model</a> originates from Dr. Richard Lieu, a physics professor at <a href="https://www.ua.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Alabama</a> in Huntsville. He suggests an ongoing series of events that shape galactic structure in real and unexpected ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sudden-bursts-drive-cosmic-expansion">Sudden bursts drive cosmic expansion</h2>



These repeated bursts, called "<a href="https://opg.optica.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-46-15-3789" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transient temporal singularities</a>," may happen so fast that observers never witness them. 



The universe, according to this view, gains its expanded form from multiple sudden shifts instead of a single grand explosion.



"This new paper proposes an improved version of the earlier model, which is also radically different," said Dr. Lieu. He emphasized that these bursts "uniformly affect all space to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-dark-matter-does-not-exist-and-the-universe-is-27-billion-years-old/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">replace conventional dark matter and dark energy</a>."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-dark-matter-and-energy">Understanding dark matter and energy</h2>



According to commonly accepted theory, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-true-nature-of-dark-matter-may-be-revealed-in-a-supernova/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-energy-could-explain-the-rapid-expansion-of-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark energy</a> drive cosmic expansion and compose roughly 95% of the Universe. The problem is, neither of these things have been definitively proven to exist.



For now, cosmology assumes that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-big-bang-theory-attempts-to-explain-origin-of-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a> acts like an invisible glue, holding galaxies together. It doesn’t emit light or energy, so we can’t see it directly, but we know it’s there because galaxies spin way too fast for visible matter alone to keep them from flying apart. 



Without dark matter, the structure of the universe would look totally different - more chaotic, less organized. It's like the scaffolding that lets cosmic architecture take form.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-dark-energy-changing-the-mystery-of-cosmic-expansion-deepens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dark energy</a>, on the other hand, is a bit more mysterious and a lot more powerful. It’s the force behind the accelerating expansion of the universe. 



Instead of gravity pulling everything back together, dark energy pushes space itself outward - faster and faster as time goes on. 



Imagine stretching a balloon, and then suddenly that balloon starts inflating on its own at breakneck speed. That’s what dark energy is doing to the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-matter-appears-and-vanishes-briefly">Matter appears and vanishes briefly</h2>



The theory sidesteps any reliance on <a href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20200000366/downloads/20200000366.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative mass</a> or negative density. It outlines a process in which matter appears and disappears, providing the momentum needed for cosmic growth.



Researchers following this path acknowledge that there is still a place for known physics. Yet they note that <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spacetime-singularities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">singularities</a> do not violate conservation laws if they happen in short, abrupt flashes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-model-builds-on-steady-state-theory">Model builds on steady state theory</h2>



"Sir Fred Hoyle opposed Big Bang cosmology and postulated a steady state model of the universe," said Dr. Lieu. 



Hoyle's <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/108/5/372/2601825" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">view</a> relied on a continual source of matter, though it clashed with known conservation rules.



Dr. Lieu's model tries to resolve that conflict with carefully timed bursts that obey energy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-space-cosmic-rays-from-supernova-sparked-rapid-earth-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">constraints</a>. The notion recalls steady state logic but introduces a different mechanism to maintain total balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-ideas-on-cosmic-expansion">Old ideas on cosmic expansion</h2>



Older theories proposed <a href="https://blog.ashcroft.com/what-is-negative-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative pressure</a> to describe the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-cosmic-explosion-changes-what-we-know-about-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe's</a> acceleration. This occurs when certain forms of energy push outward, creating an effect that counters gravity.



Einstein proposed a similar <a href="https://adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1917SPAW.......142E" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concept</a> in 1917 to explain how the cosmos might hold itself steady. This fresh approach weaves that idea into singularities that appear, then vanish without leaving direct traces.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-expansion-without-dark-matter">Cosmic expansion without dark matter</h2>



The model hints that galaxies can form and remain bound without unseen particles. One brief surge might seed structures, and subsequent surges keep the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/january-2025-stargazing-a-parade-of-bright-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> expanding in steps.



Observation remains key. If these bursts are real, they might explain why direct searches for missing matter or unusual energy have yet to confirm anything conclusive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-telescopes-can-confirm-bursts">How telescopes can confirm bursts</h2>



Dr. Lieu points to Earth-based telescopes as a potential way to check for these cosmic jumps. Slicing data by redshift could reveal subtle irregularities in how distance scales with time.



He suggests that a high-resolution approach might spot discontinuities in the "<a href="https://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/proj/advanced/hubble/">Hubble diagram</a>," an established method of gauging cosmic distances. 



Catching a slight break in data trends might confirm that cosmic expansion does not happen smoothly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-to-the-big-bang-story">Challenges to the Big Bang story</h2>



The standard view relies on a single creation event at the start of time. Alternative perspectives do not necessarily overthrow that story but raise the idea of multiple surges of matter and energy.



This approach challenges assumptions about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/march-2025-stargazing-a-red-moon-and-a-vanishing-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmos</a> having only one moment of birth. If more bursts took place, they might stretch, shape, or energize space in irregular yet calculable steps.



These ideas link naturally to instruments like the <a href="https://keckobservatory.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Keck Observatory</a> in Hawaii and the <a href="https://www.ing.iac.es/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes</a> in Spain. 



Focusing on different redshift ranges over billions of light-years could gather the evidence necessary to distinguish between single-surge expansion and repeated bursts.



Some remain cautious, noting that past attempts to replace dark energy have faced strict challenges. Yet the possibility of verifying this model with improved detectors and broader data sets remains open.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-clues-in-cosmic-expansion">Future clues in cosmic expansion</h2>



Astronomers may seek patterns left by short-lived cosmic shifts. If matter indeed pops in and out of existence on fleeting timescales, it would explain why conventional searches for missing mass have so far been fruitless.



This line of research also revisits how cosmic expansion fits within fundamental physics. Each singular burst must respect mass-energy conservation, implying a deeper interplay between space, time, and matter.



The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6382/adbed1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Classical and Quantum Gravity</a>.



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"Multiple Big Bangs" drive Universe expansion, not dark matter or dark energy

A new idea about&nbsp;cosmic expansion has emerged that might remove...

For centuries, humans believed they held a monopoly on geometric intuition. The ability to recognize structure in a&nbsp;shape - its right angles, symmetry, and parallel lines - was seen as a mark of human cognition. But a new study suggests that this mathematical sense may not be ours alone. 



Carrion crows, long admired for their cleverness, have now demonstrated the ability to detect geometric regularity in shapes. 



This discovery, led by researchers at the <a href="https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tübingen</a>, opens a surprising chapter in the story of animal intelligence.



The research does more than showcase the brainpower of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-flightless-birds-are-more-intelligent-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a>. It questions whether our deepest ways of understanding space and form might be shared with other species - and perhaps even rooted in evolution itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-geometry-helps-crows">How geometry helps crows</h2>



Geometry isn't just about math classes or architectural blueprints. At its core, it reflects the brain’s ability to process structure. 



In humans, even those without schooling or exposure to formal mathematics can recognize simple geometric rules. Symmetry stands out. So do parallel lines and equal sides. We notice when something is off.



Until now, this perception seemed absent in other animals. Many can navigate, estimate quantities, or even use tools, but they appeared blind to the subtler rules that define shapes. 



Previous research with baboons, our close evolutionary cousins, found they could not consistently recognize regular quadrilaterals. That led some scientists to believe geometric insight might be uniquely human.



But carrion crows, members of the corvid family known for problem-solving, proved otherwise with their surprising geometric shape recognition <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-brain-study-will-shed-new-light-on-avian-intelligence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">abilities</a>.



"Claiming that it is specific to us humans, that only humans can detect geometric regularity, is now falsified," said Andreas Nieder, the study’s lead researcher. "Because we have at least the crow."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-crows-geometry-skills">Testing crows' geometry skills </h2>



Nieder and his team worked with two male carrion crows, both over ten years old, and trained to interact with a touchscreen. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-living-in-cities-are-usually-more-colorful-and-less-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> had previously shown the ability to count, and now they faced a new kind of challenge. 



They were presented with an array of six shapes. Five were similar, one was not. Their task? Pick the odd one out.



Initially, the birds encountered easy trials - five stars and a crescent moon, for example. They quickly learned that pecking the unique shape earned them a tasty reward: mealworms. 



After they consistently succeeded with simple patterns, researchers introduced more complex ones. The new shapes were all quadrilaterals - four-sided figures - carefully adjusted to vary in geometric regularity.



Here’s where things got interesting. These quadrilaterals weren't easy to distinguish. The researchers made only subtle changes: shifting a single corner to distort the shape’s symmetry or right angles. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unambiguous-test-results">Unambiguous test results</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-brains-fossil-reveals-roots-of-avian-intelligence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> had never seen these quadrilateral comparisons before, and yet, when tested, they performed far above chance.



On their very first try with the quadrilateral shapes, the crows performed strikingly well. Crow 1 correctly picked the outlier in 50% of the trials, while crow 2 managed 60%. Since there were six options, random guessing would result in a success rate of just 16.7%.



What’s more, their ability didn’t depend on familiarity. The shapes were randomly rotated and scaled. The irregular shape, called the “intruder,” changed position every trial. Yet both crows maintained impressive accuracy. Their detection rate remained well above chance across 60 initial tests.



Statistical analysis confirmed the results. Performance differences also matched the degree of geometric regularity. The birds identified intruders more easily when the base shapes followed stronger geometric rules - parallel sides, right angles, equal lengths.



These effects emerged immediately. The birds showed no need for additional training or repeated exposure. The researchers tested whether results improved over time. They found slight learning effects, but the core skill was present from the beginning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-like-cognition-yet-bird-brained">Human-like cognition, yet bird-brained</h2>



To probe deeper, the researchers compared the birds' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagulls-birds-more-intelligent-than-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">success</a> with the types of quadrilaterals shown. These included squares, rhombuses, trapezoids, and more irregular shapes. Both birds performed better on the most regular shapes and struggled more as irregularity increased.



In some cases, their struggles mirrored those seen in humans. The rhombus, despite being highly regular, tripped up both the crows and people in earlier studies. 



This suggests a shared perceptual bias - a tendency to overlook certain features or prioritize others when judging shape.



"The evidence is actually quite convincing," said Mathias Sablé-Meyer, a cognitive neuroscientist who worked on the earlier baboon study.



"I have to accept the result and think, you know, that's pretty cool! And then the question is, where does that even come from?"



The answer may lie in the way animals process embedded features - nested shapes, equal angles, and structured lines. Crows, like humans, seem capable of recognizing these shape relationships, even without formal instruction or language.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-excel-in-shape-recognition-nbsp">Birds excel in shape recognition&nbsp;</h2>



If baboons can’t do it, but crows can, what does this say about intelligence? Not all cognition follows the same evolutionary paths. Birds and primates diverged long ago, yet both have evolved complex cognitive abilities.



The crows' success in shape recognition may stem from a broader sensitivity to visual detail. Unlike the baboons, which failed to reach consistent accuracy even after training, the crows met high performance standards across multiple sessions. 



They also faced more exaggerated shape deviations - one vertex of each intruder was shifted by 75% of the average edge length, a bolder change than in the baboon experiments.



But that alone may not explain their success. Birds such as pigeons and chickens have shown sensitivity to symmetry in patterns and mate selection. Some use regularity in spatial cues for navigation. What this new study reveals is something more abstract: an ability to detect structure in shape for its own sake.



"I hope that my colleagues are looking into other species," said Nieder. "I'm pretty sure they may find that other intelligent animals can also do this."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geometry-crows-and-evolution">Geometry, crows, and evolution</h2>



This study challenges the idea that geometry emerged solely with human civilization. Instead, it suggests that the roots of this ability run deeper - into the biological foundations of perception.



Carrion crows did not learn geometry in classrooms. They did not measure angles or discuss theorems. Yet they saw order in shape. They recognized what fit and what did not. That’s the very heart of geometric intuition.



By watching these birds peck at a screen, researchers have unearthed something remarkable. The way we understand space may be less of a cultural invention and more of a shared instinct - one that humans, birds, and perhaps many other creatures carry within.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.adt3718" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Crows can also do geometry, on top of their well-known math skills

For centuries, humans believed they held a monopoly on geometric...

Fire was a lifeline for humans during the Ice Age. It cooked their food, lit up their nights, kept them warm, and helped them shape tools. But oddly enough, archaeologists have long struggled to find clear evidence of fire use during the coldest phase of the Ice Age in Europe.



However, new research led by the <a href="https://www.ualg.pt/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Algarve</a> and the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a> is helping to fill that gap. It reveals how Homo sapiens used fire during the Ice Age’s coldest period, between 26,500 and 19,000 years ago.



Using a combination of advanced techniques, the researchers were able to reconstruct what ancient fireplaces looked like, what they burned, and how fire helped <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-had-surprising-diets-3-5-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early humans</a> survive some of the harshest climates our species has ever faced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-essential-tool-for-survival">Essential tool for survival</h2>



For decades, researchers agreed fire was indispensable for Ice Age communities. It wasn’t just a way to stay warm - it was central to daily life. 



“Fire was not just about keeping warm; it was also essential for cooking, making <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-nature-to-knapping-the-surprising-origins-of-stone-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tools</a>, and for social gatherings,” said Philip R. Nigst, an archaeologist at the University of Vienna and a lead author of the study.



But if fire was so critical, why is there so little physical evidence of it from this period? According to the research team, that puzzle is exactly what makes their recent discovery so exciting.



“We know that fire was widespread before and after this period, but there is little evidence from the height of the Ice Age,” said William Murphree, co-lead author of the study and geoarchaeologist at the University of Algarve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digging-into-ice-age-hearths">Digging into Ice Age hearths</h2>



The team focused their analysis on three hearths found at a prehistoric site in Ukraine. These weren’t massive fire pits but rather simple, flat constructions, easily overlooked without the right tools and techniques. 



They used microstratigraphic analysis, micromorphology, and colorimetric analysis to study soil layers, structure, and burn-related color changes. These methods confirmed the hearths were human-made.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fire_early-humans_ice-age_pyrotechnology_credit-Philip-Nigst_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fire_early-humans_ice-age_pyrotechnology_credit-Philip-Nigst_1s.webp" alt="Section through the large fireplace 1. Credit: Philip R. Nigst" class="wp-image-1965812"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Section through the large fireplace 1. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Philip R. Nigst</figcaption></figure>



Even more compelling, the fires built in these hearths reached temperatures over 600°C. That’s no accident. 



It indicates a controlled, deliberate use of fire, even in a landscape where cold, snow, and limited resources might have made ignition and fuel supply extremely difficult.



“People perfectly controlled the fire and knew how to use it in different ways, depending on the purpose of the fire,” Nigst explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fueling-the-flames">Fueling the flames</h2>



So what exactly were these fires made from? The researchers found that spruce wood was likely the primary fuel, based on their charcoal analysis. 



However, the story doesn’t end there. Researchers found animal bones at the site that had been charred by fire at temperatures exceeding 650°C. 



This raises the possibility that people also burned <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pterosaur-bones-biomimicry-could-inspire-better-aircraft-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bones</a> or animal fat - either deliberately or as a byproduct of cooking or waste disposal.



“Some of the animal bones found at the site were burnt in a fire with a temperature of over 650° Celsius. We are currently investigating whether they were used as fuel or just accidentally burned,” said Marjolein D. Bosch, a zooarchaeologist from the University of Vienna and co-author of the study.



If Ice Age humans really were using bones and fat as alternative fuels, it would suggest a high level of adaptability. 



In environments where dry wood may have been scarce - especially in open tundra landscapes - people may have turned to whatever flammable materials were available.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seasonal-life-around-the-hearth">Seasonal life around the hearth</h2>



All three hearths were open and flat, without the stone enclosures that might characterize later or more permanent fire pits. Still, not all were built the same. 



One of the hearths was larger and had a thicker deposit, implying it burned hotter and probably longer. This variation offers clues about how people used the fires and when they built them.



The research suggests that Ice Age people returned to this site at different times of the year, possibly during their seasonal migrations. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fire_early-humans_ice-age_pyrotechnology_large-fireplace_credit-Philip-Nigst_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fire_early-humans_ice-age_pyrotechnology_large-fireplace_credit-Philip-Nigst_1s.webp" alt="The large fireplace 1 during the excavation. Credit: Philip R. Nigst" class="wp-image-1965814"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The large fireplace 1 during the excavation. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Philip R. Nigst</figcaption></figure>



Depending on the weather and the resources they had, they may have altered the size, intensity, or purpose of their fires.



That kind of flexibility shows a deep understanding of fire’s many uses - not just for warmth, but as a tool that could be adapted to different contexts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-so-few-fires-from-the-ice-age-remain">Why so few fires from the Ice Age remain</h2>



Despite the careful work done at the Ukrainian site, the overall lack of hearths from this time period still leaves questions unanswered. 



“Was most of the evidence destroyed by the ice-age-typical, alternating freezing and thawing of the soil?” Murphree asked.



That kind of freeze-thaw action can easily disturb or erase delicate archaeological layers, making it hard to identify hearths or other features in the ground.



Another possibility is that humans had to innovate new ways to stay warm when fire wasn’t possible. “Did people not find enough fuel during the Last Glacial Maximum? Did they not use fire, but instead relied on other technological solutions?” Nigst added. 



While speculative, these questions invite further exploration into how Ice Age humans adapted to life in brutal environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



What this study makes clear is that even in the harshest conditions, Ice Age communities were far from rudimentary. 



They were skilled pyrotechnicians who knew how to manage fire under difficult circumstances. They adapted their fire use to different seasons, likely understood the properties of various fuel types, and were capable of producing high, consistent temperatures.



The team continues their work, and future analysis may uncover more about how people managed fire during the Ice Age. 



But for now, the research adds a crucial piece to the puzzle of human evolution - highlighting fire not just as a tool for survival, but as a symbol of human ingenuity and resilience.



By unearthing and studying these humble hearths, the researchers are doing more than filling in historical blanks. They’re showing us that our ancestors, thousands of years ago, were already shaping fire to meet the demands of life in one of Earth’s most challenging climates.



In doing so, they laid the groundwork for humanity’s ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive - an ability that continues to define us today.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gea.70006" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geoarchaeology</a>.



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Early humans were much better at using fire than we thought

Fire was a lifeline for humans during the Ice Age....

Most people know sauerkraut as a tart, crunchy topping for bratwurst or hot dogs. But this humble fermented cabbage could be doing much more than adding flavor. 



New research from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a>, shows that sauerkraut may help protect and strengthen your intestinal barrier. 



The study focuses on the way fermentation transforms cabbage - and how those changes may improve gut health.



Fermented foods are not new. Humans have been fermenting vegetables for thousands of years. In many cultures, cabbage is transformed into regionally loved dishes: sauerkraut in Europe, suan cai in China, and curtido in Latin America. 



But while these foods have long been praised for taste and preservation, modern science is now catching up. Researchers are investigating what’s happening on a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-microbes-have-an-unexpected-link-to-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular level</a> when we consume these fermented foods, and why they could be so beneficial for the human body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fermentation-transforms-more-than-flavor">Fermentation transforms more than flavor</h2>



In the new study, Professor Maria Marco and postdoctoral researcher Lei Wei examined how sauerkraut differs from raw cabbage in its chemical makeup. They wanted to see whether the transformation brought about during fermentation had any measurable effect on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-may-be-the-key-to-anxiety-relief/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut health</a>. 



To do this, they analyzed hundreds of metabolites - small molecules formed through the breakdown of food and by microbial action.



The researchers compared raw cabbage, homemade sauerkraut, and commercial, store-bought sauerkraut. They also tested the leftover brine to see whether it carried any beneficial effects on its own.



Using Caco-2 cells, a well-established model of human intestinal epithelium, they exposed the cells to inflammatory cytokines to simulate gut stress.



They found that fermented cabbage helped protect the intestinal barrier, preventing the kind of damage typically caused by inflammation. Raw cabbage and the fermentation brine did not provide the same <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/targeting-the-gut-might-be-key-in-preventing-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">benefit</a>.



“It doesn't matter, in a way, if we make sauerkraut at home or we buy it from the store; both kinds of sauerkraut seemed to protect gut function,” Marco said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-gut-barrier-matters">Why the gut barrier matters</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-have-very-clever-ways-of-supporting-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut</a> lining is more than just a digestive surface. It forms a tight barrier that keeps harmful pathogens out while letting nutrients in. 



When this barrier breaks down, it can lead to inflammation, infection, and chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. Inflammation also plays a key role in the progression of metabolic diseases.



The study showed that sauerkraut maintains trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TER), a measurement that reflects how well the gut barrier holds together. 



It also reduced paracellular permeability, meaning fewer unwanted substances passed through the gut wall. These effects were observed for both lab-fermented and store-bought samples.



“Some of the metabolites we find in the sauerkraut are the same kind of metabolites we're finding to be made by the gut <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tool-detects-changes-in-gut-health-to-help-prevent-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbiome</a>, so that gives us a little more confidence that this connection we found between the metabolites in sauerkraut and good gut health makes sense,” Marco said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sauerkraut-has-unique-helpful-molecules">Sauerkraut has unique helpful molecules</h2>



What’s going on inside sauerkraut that gives it these powers? The UC Davis team analyzed over 500 metabolites using two high-resolution techniques: gas chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. 



Compared to raw cabbage, fermented versions had increased levels of beneficial compounds like D-phenyl-lactate (D-PLA), indole-3-lactate (ILA), and lactic acid.



These are not random byproducts. These metabolites are also made by beneficial gut microbes and are known to support the immune system and strengthen the gut lining. Some even help with antioxidant activity and metabolic regulation.



In particular, ferments that included the probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP8826R produced a metabolite profile closer to commercial sauerkraut. These samples had more sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol, and higher acidity, which helps prevent spoilage and supports beneficial bacteria.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whole-sauerkraut-works-better">Whole sauerkraut works better</h2>



The researchers didn’t stop at identifying these compounds. They isolated D-PLA, ILA, and lactate to test their effect on gut cells. While these molecules reduced permeability, they didn’t fully protect the gut barrier on their own. 



In contrast, the whole sauerkraut preparation worked much better, suggesting that the full spectrum of fermentation byproducts works together to support gut health.



This synergy reinforces the idea that whole fermented foods often outperform isolated compounds. The food matrix and microbial complexity likely play important roles that can’t be captured by a single supplement.



“A little bit of sauerkraut could go a long way,” Marco said. “We should be thinking about including these fermented foods in our regular diets and not just as a side on our hot dogs.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sauerkraut-and-gut-inflammation">Sauerkraut and gut inflammation</h2>



Interestingly, the team also measured levels of IL-8, a key marker of inflammation. Sauerkraut didn’t reduce IL-8 in every sample, especially not in the lab-fermented versions. 



However, the intestinal barrier still stayed intact. This suggests that fermented cabbage may act through a different pathway than previously assumed. It might not block inflammatory signals, but instead may prevent those signals from damaging the gut.



The study also looked at gene expression tied to gut integrity. Only the lab ferments with added L. plantarum restored normal levels of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), a gene involved in regulating tight junctions between intestinal cells.



“Along with eating more fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables, even if we have just a regular serving of sauerkraut, maybe putting these things more into our diet, we'll find that can help us in the long run against inflammation, for example, and make our digestive tract more resilient when we have a disturbance,” Marco said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fermentation-gives-cabbage-protective-powers">Fermentation gives cabbage protective powers</h2>



With rising interest in gut health, fermented foods are becoming more popular. But not all ferments are created equal, and most benefits are anecdotal. This study provides a clearer picture. It shows how cabbage fermentation creates a consistent core of protective metabolites.



Commercial sauerkraut also had higher levels of putrescine and tyramine - compounds that increase during storage. Though these didn’t appear harmful, their presence highlights how storage conditions may influence health effects. 



The probiotic-added lab ferments mimicked commercial samples more closely, suggesting that starter cultures might offer ways to tailor health benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-from-cells-to-humans">Next steps: From cells to humans</h2>



This study was done using cell models, not people. Human trials will be the real test. Future research should look at how long fermented cabbage metabolites stay active in the body and what quantity is beneficial. 



It will also be important to see how sauerkraut interacts with the diverse microbial communities in actual human guts.



Still, the results are promising. Fermented cabbage consistently protected intestinal cells from damage. Its effect was not tied to one specific brand, strain, or fermentation setup. This points to a resilient and adaptable health benefit - one that might fit easily into many diets around the world.



Whether you ferment your own cabbage or pick it up at the store, that tangy forkful might be doing your gut a favor. And that makes sauerkraut more than just a topping - it makes it a potential ally in maintaining everyday health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.asm.org/doi/epub/10.1128/aem.02234-24" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied and Environmental Microbiology</a>.



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Potential new superfood proves incredibly beneficial for gut health

Most people know sauerkraut as a tart, crunchy topping for...

Close-up,Of,A,Bitter,Bracket,Fungus,At,The,Veluwe

Most of us experience bitterness as a simple taste - something triggered by a vegetable that makes us wrinkle our noses and push a plate away.



But there’s more going on behind the scenes. The molecules that cause bitterness can vary wildly in shape and source, and scientists are still piecing together how our bodies recognize and react to them. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-a-bitter-mushroom">The mystery of a bitter mushroom</h2>



A recent study has taken that search into lesser-known territory, using a forest mushroom with an extremely bitter flavor to find out more.



In a collaborative effort, scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the <a href="https://www.tum.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Munich</a> and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Halle (Saale) set out to explore the bitter properties of Amaropostia stiptica, commonly called the bitter bracket mushroom.



This fungus can be found growing on the trunks and branches of dead trees. It has a shelf-like fruiting body that juts out from the wood and, although not harmful, it is known for its intensely bitter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/taste-buds-are-the-first-line-of-defense-against-eating-too-much-and-too-fast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">taste</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-amaropostia-stiptica">Understanding Amaropostia stiptica</h2>



Amaropostia stiptica is a crust fungus that hangs out mostly on decaying wood, especially in tropical and subtropical forests. 



You’ll spot it forming thin, resiny patches on dead hardwood, often with a waxy or slightly sticky texture. Its surface tends to look smooth to slightly bumpy, and it usually has a pale color - think creamy beige to light yellow. 



Even though it's not flashy, it plays a crucial role in breaking down tough plant material, recycling nutrients back into the forest floor.



While it’s not edible or medicinal, this fungus still earns respect for doing the gritty work of decomposition in ecosystems where that kind of job is essential.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-know-about-bitter-compounds">What we know about bitter compounds</h2>



Most of what we know about bitter compounds comes from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-of-life-created-for-flowering-plants-using-400-million-specimens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flowering plants</a> or synthetic chemicals. 



In fact, the BitterDB database - the main catalog of known bitter molecules - currently lists over 2,400 entries. For around 800 of them, researchers have matched at least one specific human bitter taste receptor. 



But animal, bacterial, and fungal sources of bitter compounds are still a mystery. This makes mushrooms an ideal place to look for new insights.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-bitter-compounds-are-toxic">Not all bitter compounds are toxic</h2>



Our bodies rely on bitter receptors, called TAS2Rs, to warn us against potentially dangerous substances. But there’s a twist: not all bitter compounds are toxic, and not all toxins taste bitter.



The infamous death cap mushroom, for example, contains toxins that don’t taste bitter at all. Clearly, something more complex is happening.



Adding to the mystery, bitter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-tongue-now-has-six-basic-taste-receptors-instead-of-just-five/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">taste receptors</a> aren’t only found on the tongue. They also show up in the stomach, intestines, heart, lungs, and even on some blood cells. 



These receptors aren’t used for tasting in the traditional sense, so scientists wonder what role they’re playing in the rest of the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-new-bitter-compounds">Identifying new bitter compounds</h2>



"Comprehensive data collections on bitter compounds and their receptors could help us to find answers to these open questions," said Maik Behrens, who heads a research group at the <a href="https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/institute/leibniz-institute-alle-listen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leibniz Institute</a> in Freising.



"The more well-founded data we have on the various bitter compound classes, taste receptor types and variants, the better we can develop predictive models using systems biology methods to identify new bitter compounds and predict bitter taste receptor-mediated effects." 



This applies to both food constituents and endogenous substances that activate extraoral bitter taste receptors.



To support this effort, the team focused on finding new, underrepresented sources of bitterness. Their latest work adds rare fungal-derived compounds to the growing database of known bitter substances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mushroom-with-three-bitter-compounds">Mushroom with three bitter compounds </h2>



Using advanced analytical techniques, the team identified three new bitter compounds from Amaropostia stiptica and mapped out their chemical structures. 



When tested in cell-based systems, all three compounds triggered at least one of the human bitter taste receptors.



The standout discovery, however, was a molecule called oligoporin D. This substance activates the TAS2R46 receptor at extremely low concentrations - about 63 micrograms per liter.



To put it in perspective, that’s like dissolving a single gram of the compound into more than 100 bathtubs of water. One gram is about the same as the tip of a knife full of baking soda.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bitterness-as-a-clue-to-better-health">Bitterness as a clue to better health</h2>



"Our results contribute to expanding our knowledge of the molecular diversity and mode of action of natural bitter compounds," explained Behrens.



"In the long term, insights in this area could enable new applications in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-region-that-influences-our-food-preferences-can-be-manipulated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> and health research, for example in the development of sensorially appealing foods that positively influence digestion and satiety."



The discovery of new bitter molecules from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-all-fungi-matter-not-just-mushrooms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fungi</a> shows just how much is left to learn. Bitterness isn't just a taste - it’s a signal, a potential tool, and possibly even a pathway to better health.



With each new entry into the bitter compound database, researchers come one step closer to understanding how taste shapes our bodies in ways we’re only just beginning to grasp.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c12651" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a>.



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Most bitter tasting substance on Earth identified by scientists

Most of us experience bitterness as a simple taste -...

What happens when a mouse watches The Matrix? Apparently, science advances. A recent project used that very setup to produce the most detailed functional brain map ever created. 



It captures 84,000 neurons and their 500 million synapses in vivid, 3D <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-our-brains-build-mental-maps-of-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">detail</a>. The resulting data opens a new chapter in neuroscience, and hints at how thoughts and perceptions arise from a tangled mess of neural wiring.



This isn’t just a technical marvel. It’s a window into the brain’s hidden world, one that may eventually explain how we think, remember, or lose ourselves to disease. 



From gene engineering to artificial intelligence, the research combined many tools - but its essence lies in one simple curiosity: how do brain cells connect to form what we experience?



"It definitely inspires a sense of awe, just like looking at pictures of the galaxies," said Forrest Collman of the <a href="https://alleninstitute.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Allen Institute</a>, one of the project's leading researchers. "You get a sense of how complicated you are …"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-mouse-mind">Inside the mouse mind</h2>



The <a href="https://www.nature.com/immersive/d42859-025-00001-w/index.html">experiment</a> began with entertainment. Scientists played a variety of video clips to a mouse - snippets of sci-fi, nature scenes, animations, and sports.



The mouse had been genetically engineered to make its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fueling-the-mind-new-map-reveals-where-the-brain-gets-its-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neurons</a> glow when active. A laser-powered microscope captured the resulting activity in the brain’s visual cortex.



The <a href="https://www.bcm.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baylor College of Medicine</a> team recorded how individual brain cells lit up as the mouse viewed the world on screen. 



Every flicker of light marked a neuron in action, communicating through a vast, living network. This activity was concentrated in a tiny brain section, about the size of a poppy seed.



From that glowing tissue, the Allen Institute took over. They shaved the brain sample into more than 25,000 slices, each one thinner than a human hair. Using electron microscopes, they captured almost 100 million images. 



These pictures revealed the fibers - axons and dendrites - connecting the neurons like spaghetti in a bowl.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-slices-turned-into-colorful-3d-map">Brain slices turned into colorful 3D map</h2>



The real magic began with analysis. Scientists used powerful software and artificial intelligence to stitch the images back together. 



This digital reconstruction recreated the tangled circuits in 3D. Each neural fiber was given a different color, letting researchers distinguish one from another with clarity.



"You can make a thousand hypotheses about how brain cells might do their job but you can't test those hypotheses unless you know perhaps the most fundamental thing - how are those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-specialized-regions-develop-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cells</a> wired together," said Clay Reid, one of the project’s pioneers.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mouse-brain-map_small-section-neurons_brain-wiring_credit-Allen-Institute_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mouse-brain-map_small-section-neurons_brain-wiring_credit-Allen-Institute_1s.webp" alt="This image provided by the Allen Institute shows a digital representation of neurons in a section of a mouse's brain, part of a project to create the largest map to date of brain wiring and function, in Seattle, Wash. Credit: Forrest Collman/Allen Institute" class="wp-image-1965641"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image provided by the Allen Institute shows a digital representation of neurons in a section of a mouse's brain, part of a project to create the largest map to date of brain wiring and function, in Seattle, Wash. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Forrest Collman/Allen Institute</figcaption></figure>



The colored map wasn’t just for show. It allowed researchers to track which neurons connected to which - and how signals might travel through the maze. 



Even more impressively they matched those connections to the activity recorded earlier, while the mouse was watching movies.



This link between structure and function has rarely been achieved at such scale. If laid end to end, the neuron wiring in the tiny sample would stretch over 5 kilometers (3 miles).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-brain-map-may-explain-disorders">New brain map may explain disorders</h2>



This kind of detailed mapping holds promise beyond pure curiosity. Understanding brain circuitry could lead to new insights into neurological diseases. Disorders like Alzheimer’s and autism might result from wiring problems - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-maps-help-the-brain-remember-places-and-paths/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">connections</a> that form incorrectly or not at all.



That’s where the new dataset becomes powerful. It allows scientists to explore healthy brain wiring in full detail. Future comparisons with diseased tissue might reveal subtle patterns that are responsible for serious brain malfunctions.



"The technologies developed by this project will give us our first chance to really identify some kind of abnormal pattern of connectivity that gives rise to a disorder," said Sebastian Seung, a lead researcher from <a href="https://www.princeton.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton</a>.



The researchers stress that this is just the beginning. Their current map represents a small part of the mouse brain. Mapping an entire mouse brain will take more time, effort, and technology. But the foundation is now in place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-shared-brain-map-for-all">A shared brain map for all</h2>



The team didn’t just build a brain map - they made it public. The full 3D reconstruction is now available for scientists around the world to explore. Curious minds can also dive in, even if they aren’t neuroscientists.



"The beauty and complexity that you can see in these actual neurons and the hundreds of millions of connections between them" make it a work of both science and art, said Collman.



Researchers at Princeton created digital tools to navigate the data. Anyone can use these tools to trace circuits, identify neurons, or design their own experiments. This kind of sharing echoes the spirit of the Human Genome Project, which helped launch gene-based medicine after decoding our DNA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead">The road ahead</h2>



The comparison to the Human Genome Project is not casual. Neuroscientists believe this work will have a similar impact. Mapping the brain at this level can change how we approach mental health, cognition, and learning.



Harvard researchers Mariela Petkova and Gregor Schuhknecht, who were not involved in the study, offered strong praise.



The work "marks a major leap forwards and offers an invaluable community resource for future discoveries," they wrote. The shared data "will help to unravel the complex neural networks underlying cognition and behavior."



In this new map, scientists see more than lines and colors. They see a future where understanding the brain’s wiring may unlock the mind itself. One mouse, a movie, and millions of synapses - together, they’ve brought us one step closer.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08790-w">Nature</a>.



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Huge advance in brain research that was supposed to be 'impossible'

What happens when a mouse watches The Matrix? Apparently, science...

At any single moment on Earth, billions of animals are on the move. Birds cross continents, marine mammals traverse vast oceans, insects pollinate fields and orchards, and mammals - from foxes to hedgehogs - navigate their way through forests, grasslands, and even city gardens.



These movements are not random; they are vital threads, in the fabric of ecosystems, that support biodiversity, regulate natural cycles, and ultimately sustain life on Earth. 



In line with this, understanding why animals move, how they choose their paths, and where they go has never been more important.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-movement-in-a-changing-world">Animal movement in a changing world</h2>



New research from researchers at <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swansea University</a>, in collaboration with CNRS Montpellier and University College Dublin, offers a fresh perspective about animal movement in the face of global change. 



Rather than simply tracking where animals go, this work explores how to predict where they will go next as the planet rapidly transforms due to human activity.



From climate shifts and habitat loss to pollution and urban sprawl, the conditions that animals face are evolving fast. Models and methods need to adapt just as quickly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-animals-gps-to-big-data">Tracking animals: GPS to big data</h2>



The study of animal movement has come a long way. With technologies such as GPS collars, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-tag-allows-long-term-tracking-of-whale-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite tags</a>, radar, and even Fitbit-style sensors, scientists are now able to collect vast amounts of data on animal behavior. 



These tools allow researchers to track everything from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grazing-succession-animal-herbivore-mass-migration-serengeti/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration</a> paths to daily commutes across a landscape. Each year, billions of data points pour in and are analyzed using cutting-edge mathematics and statistics.



But most of this work has focused on the present. Scientists have used these tools to describe patterns, not to forecast them. 



And in a world where environments are changing faster than ever due to climate shifts, habitat loss, and human expansion, that kind of short-term thinking may be inadequate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-activity-shapes-animal-paths">Human activity shapes animal paths</h2>



This new study lays out a roadmap for predicting animal movement in unpredictable times. The team reviewed how a wide range of human-driven changes - including ocean warming, deforestation, invasive species, light pollution, and oil spills - are shaping where and how animals move.



“To predict where animals will move in rapidly changing environments, we cannot rely on correlative approaches,” said Sara Gomez of CNRS Montpellier. 



“We must incorporate biological mechanisms into our models, starting from first principles of animal movements and decision making, and develop models adequate for dynamical systems.”



The authors also argue that we need to study more species - and not just in pristine natural spaces. Movements in human-dominated environments are often overlooked, yet they may hold the key to understanding how animals adapt to novel challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-wildlife-management">Improving wildlife management</h2>



Dr. Holly English of University College Dublin emphasized that this is not just about improving scientific models. These predictions could shape how we manage wildlife and design <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conservation-success-stories-offer-hope-for-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a> strategies in future.



"We discuss the challenges and opportunities of including these predictions into more effective <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a> management and policy," said Dr. English. 



"We give examples of conservation schemes, such as rewilding and translocations, which offer exciting, but vastly unused, opportunities to collect data from novel environments and test our model predictions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predictive-science-is-needed">Predictive science is needed</h2>



The study's lead researcher, Professor Luca Börger from Swansea University, believes the field is on the edge of a major shift. “Animal movements fundamentally affect ecosystem processes,” he said.



“Current research in the field, however, fails to address one of the most pressing problems we are facing: predicting where and when animals will move in rapidly changing or 'novel' environments.”



“We believe we are at an exciting point now where we can achieve such a crucial transformation in our field, from a descriptive to a predictive science, which is much needed under current rapid global change,” said Professor Börger.



As the world changes, so must the science we use to understand it. This study is a call to think ahead - to build models that don’t just explain the past, but help us prepare for what comes next.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2656.70040" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Animal Ecology</a>.



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Animal movement predictions matter more than ever

At any single moment on Earth, billions of animals are...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.



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Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.



In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;



According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;



Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. 



Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.



Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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Assateague Island is a 37-mile (60 km) long barrier island located off the eastern coast of the Delmarva Peninsula facing the Atlantic Ocean. The northern two-thirds of the island is in Maryland while the southern third is in Virginia. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/assateague-island-national-seashore-maryland-2/">Maryland</a> section contains the majority of Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park. The Virginia section contains Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and a one-mile stretch of land containing the lifeguarded recreational beach and interpretive facilities managed by the National Park Service (or NPS). It is best known for its herds of feral horses, pristine beaches and the Assateague Lighthouse. The island also contains numerous marshes, bays, and coves, including Toms Cove.



Camping is available only in the Maryland district of Assateague Island. Reservations are required from March 15 through November 15. Campsite reservations are available six months in advance.&nbsp; Oceanside Drive-in:&nbsp;Tents, trailers and recreational vehicles (no hookups). Sites have a picnic table and a fire ring.&nbsp;Oceanside Walk-in:&nbsp;Tent-only sites, located 100-200 feet from centralized parking areas. Sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. Walk-in sites are closed from November 16 through March 14. Bayside Drive-in:&nbsp;Tents, trailers and recreational vehicles (no hookups). Sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. A Drive-In "Generator-Free Zone" is located in Bayside B Loop. Horse Camp:&nbsp;There are 2 campsites for horse camping available October 16 through April 14. Each site accommodates up to 6 people and 6 horses.&nbsp;Assateague has two oceanside and four bayside camping areas in Maryland for visitors who wish to backpack or paddle the island.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

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