Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features Messier 78 (M78), a reflection nebula located in the constellation Orion about 1,350 light-years away from Earth. 



This image was released as part of the initial series of observations from ESA's <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Euclid space mission</a>.&nbsp;



All data collected during these early observations, including a series of incredible <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid/Euclid_s_first_images_the_dazzling_edge_of_darkness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new views</a> of the nearby universe, is available to the public. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-image-of-messier-78">Image of Messier 78</h2>



Featured here is a high-resolution, detailed segment of a larger image showcasing Messier 78, a dynamic region of star formation obscured by cosmic dust.&nbsp;



This specific view highlights how young stars generate winds of charged particles, carving out “cavities” in the molecular clouds around them.&nbsp;



The blue hues in the image represent ionized atomic hydrogen, which is a primary component of the cloud, while the red indicates the absorption and scattering of light by dust particles.



The image captures hundreds of stars varying in brightness, illuminating their nebulous, purple surroundings. A dark, arch-like structure stretches from the upper left to the bottom right of the frame, merging into the densest, darkest clouds at the image’s base.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-active-site-of-star-formation-nbsp">Active site of star formation&nbsp;</h2>



Messier 78 is not just a single nebula but part of a larger complex of stars and nebulous regions in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-nebula-destroys-an-oceans-worth-of-water-every-month/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orion</a>, which includes various other objects like dark nebulae that are visible as patches blocking light from behind.



This region is an active site of star formation, featuring many young stars and protostars, which are stars in the early stages of formation.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viewing-messier-78">Viewing Messier 78</h2>



M78 is easily observable with small telescopes, and it appears as a hazy patch of light with two prominent stars near its center, which illuminate the surrounding dust.&nbsp;



The nebula is also a favorite among amateur astronomers for its beauty and relatively bright appearance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-subject-of-scientific-interest-nbsp">Subject of scientific interest&nbsp;</h2>



Messier 78 is fascinating not only for its visual beauty but also for its scientific interest, particularly in the study of <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> and interstellar matter.&nbsp;



The nebula consists of dense, cold gas and dust, which are essential ingredients for the birth of new stars.&nbsp;



The intense blue light that characterizes M78 is due to the reflection of starlight off these dust particles, a process known as scattering.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-region-surrounding-messier-78-nbsp">Region surrounding Messier 78&nbsp;</h2>



The region surrounding M78 includes several other interesting features. For instance, there are Herbig-Haro objects within it, which are small patches of nebulosity associated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-molecule-detected-in-space-where-stars-are-born/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">newly born stars</a>.&nbsp;



These objects are formed when gas ejected by young stars collides with clouds of gas and dust at high speeds, creating shock waves that glow brightly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earliest-stages-of-star-development-nbsp">Earliest stages of star development&nbsp;</h2>



Additionally, infrared observations of M78 have revealed much about the dust and colder objects in the area, which are not visible in optical light.&nbsp;



The observations have helped astronomers identify numerous young stars and brown dwarfs (objects that are too large to be planets and too small to be stars) within the nebula. 



This makes M78 a critical area for studying the earliest stages of star development and the properties of the interstellar medium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-euclid-space-mission-nbsp-0">Euclid space mission&nbsp;</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-batch-of-brilliant-images-from-the-euclid-mission-live-up-to-the-hype/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Euclid space mission</a> is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission designed to study the dark universe, particularly focusing on dark energy and dark matter, which are fundamental components that are believed to drive the accelerating expansion of the universe and shape its large-scale structure.&nbsp;



The mission aims to map the geometry of the dark universe and better understand the physics of the cosmos.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-billions-of-galaxies-nbsp">Observing billions of galaxies&nbsp;</h3>



Euclid uses two primary scientific instruments: a visible light camera (VIS) and a near-infrared spectrometer and photometer (NISP).&nbsp;



These instruments will allow Euclid to measure the shapes and redshifts of galaxies at distances of up to 10 billion light-years. By surveying more than a third of the sky, the mission is expected to observe several billion galaxies.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-dark-universe-nbsp">Studying the dark universe&nbsp;</h3>



The data collected will help astronomers in studying the effects of dark matter and dark energy in depth, testing cosmological models, and exploring new theories about the nature of the universe.&nbsp;



The mission, named after the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid, seeks to address key questions related to the structure of the universe and the fundamental laws of physics governing its evolution and expansion.



Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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Messier 78: Young stars shine through dense dust

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a galaxy that is located about 600 million light-years away in the constellation Gemini. The Hubble Space Telescope observed a supernova in this galaxy - which appears as a bright blue dot in the photograph.



“This picture was taken roughly two months after a supernova named SN 2022aajn was discovered in this galaxy. The supernova is visible as a blue dot at the center of the image, brightening the hazy body of the galaxy,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



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



Supernovae are spectacular explosions marking the violent deaths of stars. These cosmic events are so luminous they can briefly outshine entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-are-much-bigger-than-we-originally-believed-gas-clouds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> and radiate more energy in a few weeks than our Sun will in its entire lifetime.&nbsp;



Supernovae explosions release heavy elements like carbon, oxygen, and iron into the interstellar medium. This stellar debris becomes the building blocks for new stars, planets, and even life itself. 



Supernovae also produce neutron stars or black holes, depending on the remaining core’s mass after the explosion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-supernovae-nbsp">Types of supernovae&nbsp;</h2>



There are two main types of supernovae, classified based on their causes. Type I supernovae occur when a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-dwarf-stars-may-be-billions-of-years-older-than-estimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white dwarf</a> in a binary system accretes material from its companion star, eventually reaching a critical mass and triggering a runaway nuclear reaction.&nbsp;



Type II supernovae happen when a massive star, at least eight times the mass of the Sun, exhausts its nuclear fuel. Unable to support its own gravity, the core collapses, resulting in a massive explosion that ejects the outer layers into space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-distance-to-faraway-galaxies-nbsp">Measuring the distance to faraway galaxies&nbsp;</h2>



According to ESA, SN 2022aajn is a Type Ia supernova. “Supernovae of this type help astronomers measure the distance to faraway galaxies. This is possible because Type Ia supernovae are thought to be of the same intrinsic luminosity - no matter how bright they seem from Earth, they put out the same amount of light as other Type Ia supernovae.”



This means that researchers can calculate the distance to the supernova and its host galaxy by comparing the observed brightness to the expected brightness.



“This seemingly simple measurement method is complicated by cosmic dust. The farther away a supernova is, the fainter and redder it will appear - but intergalactic dust can make a supernova appear fainter and redder as well,” explained ESA.



“To understand this complication, researchers will use Hubble to survey a total of 100 Type Ia supernovae in seven wavelength bands from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared.”



By analyzing the brightness of supernovae across multiple wavelengths, researchers can distinguish between the influences of dust and distance, refining our measurements of galaxies that exist billions of light-years away.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-many-galaxies-exist">How many galaxies exist?</h2>



The number of galaxies in the universe is estimated to be around two trillion, based on observations from Hubble and more recent data from the James Webb Space Telescope. 



This estimate is derived from deep-field surveys that reveal countless galaxies, each containing billions to trillions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-found-that-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>.&nbsp;



However, because our observations are limited by current technology and the vastness of the cosmos, the actual number could be even higher.&nbsp;



Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-galaxies-formed-from-the-earliest-elements-in-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> remain unseen due to their extreme distances, faintness, or obstruction by cosmic dust.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-gemini-nbsp">The constellation Gemini&nbsp;</h2>



Gemini is one of the 12 zodiac constellations and is best known for representing the mythological twins Castor and Pollux. It is located in the northern celestial hemisphere and is most visible during winter in the Northern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



The constellation is bordered by Taurus to the west, Cancer to the east, and Orion to the south.



The two brightest stars in Gemini - Castor and Pollux - represent the heads of the twins and are easy to spot. Pollux, the brighter of the two, is an orange giant star about 34 light-years from Earth, while Castor is a more complex system made up of six stars. 



The constellation also contains several notable deep-sky objects, including the open cluster Messier 35, which is a beautiful collection of young stars located near Gemini’s western border.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Hubble spots a supernova in the constellation Gemini 

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543), located about 3,300 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco.&nbsp;



The nebula's name comes from its eye-like appearance when viewed through a telescope. This particular image, which reveals the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/horsehead-nebula-webb-telescope-captured-unprecedented-detail/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nebula</a> in stunning detail, was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-planetary-nebula">Complex planetary nebula </h2>



According to ESA, the Cat's Eye Nebula is one of the most complex planetary nebulae that has ever been discovered.



“A planetary nebula forms when Sun-like stars gently eject their outer gaseous layers to form bright nebulae with amazing twisted shapes," explained <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



"Until recently, it was thought that shells around planetary nebulae were a rare phenomenon. However, astronomers have instead shown that these rings are likely to be the rule rather than the exception."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-appearance-of-the-cat-s-eye-nebula-nbsp">Appearance of the Cat's Eye Nebula&nbsp;</h2>



The central focus of the Cat's Eye is a hot, dying star that has shed its outer layers to form the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragons-egg-nebula-is-a-truly-stunning-sight-to-behold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nebula</a>. It is surrounded by concentric gas shells, jets of high-speed gas, and unusual shock-induced knots of gas.



“Although the rings may be the key to explaining the final ‘gasp’ of the dying central star, the mystery behind the Cat’s Eye Nebula’s nested ‘Russian doll’ structure remains largely unsolved,” noted ESA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rings-around-the-cat-s-eye">Rings around the cat’s eye</h2>



“This image, taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), reveals the full pattern of eleven or more concentric rings, or shells, around the Cat’s Eye. Each ‘ring’ is actually the edge of a spherical bubble seen projected onto the sky - which is why it appears bright along its outer edge.”



According to ESA, observations suggest that the star ejected its mass in a series of pulses at 1,500-year intervals. “These convulsions created dust shells that each contains as much mass as all of the planets in our solar system combined.”



Several explanations have been proposed for this phenomenon, including cycles of magnetic activity similar to our Sun's sunspot cycle, the influence of companion stars orbiting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dying-stars-may-be-a-source-of-gravitational-waves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dying star</a>, or stellar pulsations.&nbsp;



Another theory suggests that the material is ejected smoothly from the star, with the rings forming later due to the creation of waves in the outflowing material.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-draco-nbsp">The constellation Draco&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extrasolar-ocean-planet-discovered-in-the-draco-constellation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Draco</a> is a constellation in the northern sky that represents a dragon. It's one of the largest constellations, winding between the Big and Little Dippers.&nbsp;



In Greek mythology, Draco is often identified as the dragon Ladon, who guarded the golden apples in the garden of the Hesperides.



Draco is a circumpolar constellation for most northern hemisphere observers, meaning it never sets below the horizon and can be seen all year round.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-famous-planetary-nebulae">Famous planetary nebulae </h2>



Planetary nebulae are some of the most beautiful and intriguing objects in the universe.&nbsp;



One of the most famous is the Ring Nebula, or M57, located in the constellation Lyra. This nebula is renowned for its nearly perfect ring shape, which is the result of a dying star shedding its outer layers.&nbsp;



Another well-known planetary nebula is the Helix Nebula, or NGC 7293, often referred to as the "Eye of God" due to its eye-like appearance. The Helix Nebula is one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth, making it a popular target for amateur astronomers.&nbsp;



The Dumbbell Nebula, or M27, in the constellation Vulpecula, is another striking example. It is named for its resemblance to a dumbbell and is notable for being the first planetary nebula ever discovered, by Charles Messier in 1764.&nbsp;



The Butterfly Nebula, or NGC 6302, is located in the constellation Scorpius. Its name comes from its distinctive bipolar structure, resembling the wings of a butterfly. The nebula's central star is one of the hottest known, with a surface temperature of around 250,000 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;



The Eskimo Nebula, or NGC 2392, in the constellation Gemini, is known for its resemblance to a face surrounded by a fur parka, which gives it its name. Its intricate structure, including filaments and bubble-like shapes, makes it a fascinating object of study.&nbsp;



These nebulae not only captivate us with their beauty but also provide valuable insights into the life cycles of stars and the processes that shape our galaxy.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope



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Cat's Eye Nebula in the constellation Draco

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Ksudach, a remarkable volcanic complex located on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.



“The peninsula is one of the world’s most active volcanic arcs due to tectonic plate movement, with the Pacific Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153779/ksudachs-nested-calderas-and-craters" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explosive-eruptions-of-ksudach">Explosive eruptions of Ksudach</h2>



Ksudach is classified as a shield <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-camera-helps-scientists-forecast-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcano</a> due to the gentle slopes formed by its extensive lava flows. The combination of its shield-like structure and the prominent caldera system makes Ksudach a unique volcanic feature on the Kamchatka Peninsula.



“Several overlapping calderas and craters comprise the volcano. Calderas are large, bowl-shaped depressions created by the collapse of overlying material into an emptied subsurface magma chamber,” explained NASA.



“Craters are circular depressions created by volcanic activity, surface impacts, or explosions.”



This volcanic system has a fascinating geological history shaped by multiple explosive eruptions.&nbsp;



The most significant of these occurred around 240 AD, leaving behind a prominent caldera that now hosts scenic crater lakes, such as Lake Ksudach. 



“Lakes within the volcanic region are primarily recharged by rain and snowmelt from the winter season. This photo shows the water’s contrasting blue hues surrounded by green vegetation,” noted NASA.



“Traces of snow fill valleys within and outside the volcano’s caldera complex. These snow-covered areas highlight the drainage patterns from higher to lower elevations. Water that flows through these erosional pathways and into the caldera supports its vegetation and lakes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-landscape-of-ksudach-nbsp">Unique landscape of Ksudach&nbsp;</h2>



Ksudach's landscape also features pyroclastic deposits, lava flows, and hydrothermal features like fumaroles.&nbsp;



The surrounding environment - which is part of the UNESCO-listed Kamchatka Volcanoes - supports a diverse ecosystem with unique wildlife. 



Despite its remote location, Ksudach has drawn the attention of geologists, offering insights into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/underwater-volcanic-eruptions-are-more-harmful-than-previously-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanic processes</a> and the dynamics of caldera formation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-nature-of-earth-s-geology-nbsp">Dynamic nature of Earth's geology&nbsp;</h2>



The most well-documented eruption of Ksudach occurred in March 1907. This eruption ranks as one of the largest in Kamchatka in the 20th century, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 5.



The eruption produced a colossal ash column that soared into the stratosphere, dispersing fine particles over vast distances and contributing to global atmospheric changes.&nbsp;



The sheer force of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/icelands-volcanic-eruptions-may-continue-for-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eruption</a> unleashed pyroclastic flows - fast-moving avalanches of hot gas, ash, and volcanic debris - that raced down the volcano's slopes, obliterating everything in their path.&nbsp;



These flows, capable of reaching temperatures over 1,000°C, decimated vegetation and altered the topography of the surrounding region.&nbsp;



Simultaneously, tephra deposits blanketed the landscape in layers of thick volcanic material, smothering ecosystems and creating a barren wasteland.&nbsp;



Today, Ksudach is considered an active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axial-seamount-large-underwater-volcano-off-us-coast-will-likely-erupt-in-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcano</a> but remains dormant. The region is closely monitored due to its potential for renewed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-research-enhances-predictions-on-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">activity</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pacific-ring-of-fire-nbsp">Pacific Ring of Fire&nbsp;</h2>



The Kamchatka Peninsula lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone encircling the Pacific Ocean where tectonic activity is highly concentrated.&nbsp;



This geologically dynamic area features numerous volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, and frequent seismic activity - making it a hotspot for both natural beauty and scientific study. 



Kamchatka is home to over 160 volcanoes, with about 30 considered active, including Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest and one of the most active in the region.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-activity-nbsp">Volcanic activity&nbsp;</h3>



As the Pacific Plate dives into the Earth's mantle, it melts and generates magma that feeds Kamchatka’s volcanic systems.&nbsp;



This ongoing tectonic interaction also contributes to the broader activity of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which accounts for approximately 75% of the world's active and dormant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supervolcano-italy-solfatara-crater-phlegraean-fields-shows-signs-of-waking-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanoes</a> and about 90% of its earthquakes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-significance-nbsp">Broader significance&nbsp;</h3>



Beyond its geological significance, the Kamchatka Peninsula boasts a diverse ecosystem that is home to animals such as snow sheep, brown bears, red foxes, and unique plants that are adapted to its harsh environment. 



The coastal waters surrounding the peninsula support various fish species, including abundant salmon, as well as sea lions and killer whales.



The interplay of volcanic landscapes and pristine wilderness makes it a natural laboratory for understanding Earth's dynamic processes.



The image was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Ksudach: A volcano shaped by explosive forces

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the galaxy I Zwicky 18, which was captured in remarkable detail by the James Webb Space Telescope.



I Zwicky 18 is a blue compact dwarf <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> located approximately 59 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-i-zwicky-18">Star formation in I Zwicky 18</h2>



The galaxy is notable for its relatively young appearance and the fact that it contains very few heavy elements. These characteristics indicate that it has experienced little <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> compared to other galaxies of similar age.



“The galaxy was first identified by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky in the 1930’s and resides roughly 59 million light-years from Earth,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>. “This galaxy has gone through several sudden bursts of star formation.”&nbsp;



According to ESA, I Zwicky 18 is typical of the kinds of galaxies that inhabited the early universe and is much smaller than our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/runaway-star-j1249-36-spotted-trying-to-escape-our-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-telescope-image-of-the-galaxy">Webb telescope image of the galaxy</h2>



“Two major starburst regions are embedded in the heart of the galaxy. The wispy brown filaments surrounding the central starburst region are bubbles of gas that have been heated by stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation unleashed by hot, young stars,” said ESA.



“A companion galaxy resides nearby to the dwarf galaxy, which can be seen at the bottom of the wider-field image. The companion may be interacting with the dwarf galaxy and may have triggered that galaxy's recent star formation.”&nbsp;



ESA explained that the “orange blobs” surrounding the galaxy are the dim glow from ancient fully formed galaxies at much larger distances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-characteristics-of-i-zwicky-18">Key characteristics of I Zwicky 18</h2>



As previously mentioned, the galaxy has a very low abundance of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, suggesting that it has not undergone significant stellar processing.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-stellar-population-nbsp">Young stellar population&nbsp;</h3>



Despite its old age, I Zwicky 18 contains many young, hot stars. This suggests that it might have experienced a burst of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hubble-detects-awe-inspiring-newborn-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a> relatively recently in its history.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interstellar-medium-nbsp">Interstellar medium&nbsp;</h3>



The galaxy has a high density of gas, which is a prime ingredient for star formation. This gas is mostly in the form of hydrogen.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unusual-characteristics">Unusual characteristics</h3>



Its characteristics are more typical of primordial galaxies found in the early universe, making it a valuable object of study for understanding galaxy formation and evolution.



Ultimately, I Zwicky 18 provides insights into the conditions and processes that might have been prevalent in the early universe.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-cycles-of-stars-and-dust">Life cycles of stars and dust</h3>



The image was captured as part of a Webb program to study the life cycle of dust in I Zw 18.&nbsp;



“Scientists are now building off of previous research with Hubble obtained at optical wavelengths, studying individual dusty stars in detail with Webb’s equivalent spatial resolution and sensitivity at infrared wavelengths.”&nbsp;



ESA noted that this galaxy is of particular interest as its content of elements heavier than helium is one of the lowest of all known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-galaxy-formation-occurred-much-faster-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> in the local universe.&nbsp;



“Such conditions are thought to be similar to those in some of the first star-forming galaxies at high redshift, so the Webb study of I Zw 18 should shed light on the life-cycle of stars and dust in the early universe.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-ursa-major">The constellation Ursa Major </h2>



Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear, is one of the most prominent and easily recognizable constellations in the northern sky. 



Its name, "Ursa Major," means "Great Bear" in Latin, and it has been a significant part of various mythologies and star lore across cultures for thousands of years. 



One of the most famous asterisms within Ursa Major is the Big Dipper, a group of seven bright stars that form a shape resembling a ladle or dipper. The Big Dipper is often used as a navigation tool because it points to Polaris, the North Star, located in the nearby constellation Ursa Minor.



Ursa Major is best viewed in the northern hemisphere and is circumpolar, meaning it is visible year-round for much of the Northern Hemisphere. Its position changes with the seasons, rotating around Polaris, the North Star.



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



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Dwarf galaxy provides a window into the early universe

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features ice on Lake Michigan in late January 2025, when extreme cold settled into the Chicago area.



“Between January 19 and 24, 2025, a brutal cold snap hit Chicago. This satellite image captured a glimpse of the wintry aftermath,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153885/a-chill-over-chicagoland" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the first half of the cold spell was the most intense.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cold-spells-and-snowfall">Cold spells and snowfall</h2>



Cold spells in the Chicago area are often accompanied by strong winds and significant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snow-cover-has-decreased-in-recent-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">snowfall</a>.



“On January 21, the air temperature in Chicago reached as low as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 26 degrees Celsius). At the time, little to no snow covered the ground in Chicago, which NWS noted is uncommon amid sub-zero temperatures,” said NASA.



“Snowflakes returned toward the end of the cold spell. Between the mornings of January 22 and 23, several waves of snowfall produced the blanket of white across the Chicago area visible in this image.”



“Another expanse of white is visible atop Lake Michigan. This is lake ice, which grows on the Great Lakes each winter, though its extent and timing can be highly variable. Ice coverage on the Great Lakes typically reaches its annual peak in late February or early March.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visible-ice-patterns">Visible ice patterns</h2>



Jia Wang, an ice climatologist at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), noted that on January 24, winds were blowing offshore and pushing ice away from the coastline.



In the photo, areas of dark, thin ice can be seen close to the shore, while patchy areas of bright white ice are visible away from shore. According to Wang, the whiter areas might be due to ice that has piled up and formed a very rough surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-cover-on-lake-michigan-nbsp">Ice cover on Lake Michigan&nbsp;</h2>



“The area of Lake Michigan covered with ice in late January 2025 hovered around the historical average (1973-2024) for the time of year, according to data from GLERL. When the image was acquired, ice covered about 20 percent of the lake,” noted NASA.



“Meanwhile, several hundred miles to the east, ice on Lake Erie spiked well above average in late January, according to GLERL, with ice spanning around 80 percent of the lake. The ice was thick enough to temporarily immobilize a Canadian cargo freighter, according to news reports.”



To calculate the thickness of ice on the Great Lakes, experts are investigating ways to use altimetry data from NASA’s ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2).



Eric Anderson, a researcher at the Colorado School of Mines, noted that such measurements could improve ice and weather <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-era-in-forecasting-ai-will-improve-extreme-weather-warnings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forecasting</a> as well as help us understand changes in Earth’s surface freshwater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-on-the-great-lakes">Ice on the Great Lakes</h2>



Ice formation on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-craters-found-in-the-bottom-of-lake-michigan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Lakes</a> is a dynamic process influenced by seasonal temperatures, wind patterns, and climate variability.&nbsp;



Each year, ice begins to develop in late fall and early winter, typically forming first in sheltered bays and shallow areas before extending over deeper waters.&nbsp;



The extent and duration of ice cover vary significantly, with some years experiencing widespread freezing while others see only partial coverage due to warmer conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fluctuations-in-ice-coverage">Fluctuations in ice coverage</h2>



Historically, ice coverage on the Great Lakes has fluctuated, with long-term records showing a decline in ice extent due to rising global temperatures.&nbsp;



The lakes act as vast heat reservoirs, meaning their large thermal mass can delay freezing, especially in milder winters.&nbsp;



When ice does form, it affects local weather patterns, contributing to lake-effect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-loss-increases-snowfall-over-west-antarctica/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">snow</a> in surrounding regions. It also impacts ecosystems, as ice cover influences fish spawning, winter survival of aquatic organisms, and shoreline <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fighting-coastal-erosion-electricity-turns-sand-into-a-sea-wall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">erosion</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-variability-in-ice-cover-nbsp">Increasing variability in ice cover&nbsp;</h2>



In recent decades, scientists have observed increasing variability in ice cover, with some years experiencing near-record lows. 



This trend impacts commercial shipping in two key ways: reduced ice cover can extend the navigational season, but unpredictable freeze-thaw cycles make ice-breaking operations more challenging.



Additionally, ice conditions influence recreational activities such as ice fishing, skating, and snowmobiling - all of which depend on stable and thick ice.



Overall, ice on the Great Lakes is a key indicator of changing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate patterns</a>, with its variability providing insights into broader environmental shifts.&nbsp;



The image was captured on January 24, 2025 with the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Chicago cold spell brings ice to Lake Michigan 

Galaxies often collide and interact over vast timescales, reshaping their structures in unpredictable ways. Some merge, others drift past one another, but few experience a direct impact through the core. 



Recently, the Bullseye galaxy, officially known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bullseye-galaxy_LEDA-1313424_9-rings_hubble_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LEDA 1313424</a>, has revealed a stunning cosmic event.



NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a> captured this rare phenomenon, showing the Bullseye galaxy marked by nine distinct rings. 



This discovery changes how astronomers view galaxy interactions, providing a rare glimpse into the rippling effects of a high-speed collision.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-dive-through-the-bullseye-galaxy">A dive through the Bullseye galaxy</h2>



A much smaller blue dwarf <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hubble-spots-a-supernova-in-the-constellation-gemini/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> pierced straight through the Bullseye’s heart, leaving behind an intricate pattern of expanding rings. These rings, filled with newborn stars, resemble ripples in a pond. 



While previous studies of ring galaxies identified only two or three rings at most, this system has shattered that record.



The process behind this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/100-years-ago-edwin-hubble-proved-the-milky-way-is-not-the-only-galaxy-in-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extraordinary formation</a> mirrors events found in nature. Consider the Northern Gannet, a seabird known for its high-speed dives into the ocean. 



From as high as 100 feet, it plummets into the water in pursuit of fish. Its pointed beak and tightly folded wings reduce splash, but the impact still sends tiny ripples outward. Now, scale that scenario to galactic proportions.



Instead of a bird, imagine a tiny galaxy plunging into a much larger one. Instead of water, envision a vast galactic disk filled with stars, gas, and dust. 



Fifty million years ago, when the blue dwarf galaxy passed through the core of the Bullseye, the cosmic ripples left in its wake pushed material both inward and outward, shaping the structure of the larger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hubble-captures-a-blue-lurker-multi-star-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rings-in-the-bullseye-galaxy">Rings in the Bullseye galaxy</h2>



Seeing such a phenomenon in detail is rare. Both the Hubble Space Telescope and the <a href="https://keckobservatory.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">W. M. Keck Observatory</a> in Hawaii confirmed the existence of nine rings in the Bullseye galaxy. 



This is more than double the number seen in any other known ring galaxy. Hubble also identified the intruding galaxy, which now sits to the left of the Bullseye.



"This was a serendipitous discovery," said Imad Pasha, the lead researcher and a doctoral student at <a href="https://www.yale.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale University</a>. "I was looking at a ground-based imaging survey and when I saw a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/andromeda-galaxy-the-violent-history-of-our-closest-cosmic-neighbor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> with several clear rings, I was immediately drawn to it. I had to stop to investigate it."



The name "Bullseye" perfectly describes the galaxy’s appearance, with each ring resembling a mark left by a cosmic arrow. 



The rings are not merely decorative features; they represent powerful waves of star formation triggered by the dwarf galaxy’s high-speed passage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-brief-moment-in-history">A brief moment in history </h2>



The researchers believe that this moment in the Bullseye galaxy’s history is brief.



"We’re catching the Bullseye at a very special moment in time. There's a very narrow window after the impact when a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-confirms-hubble-constant-our-understanding-of-universe-expansion-very-wrong/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> like this would have so many rings," noted study co-author Pieter G. van Dokkum, a professor at Yale.



Galactic interactions are common, but a direct hit through the center is rare. The smaller galaxy’s straight trajectory caused material in the Bullseye to shift dramatically, creating the distinct concentric rings. Each ring marks a wave of compressed gas, leading to the birth of new stars.



For perspective, the Milky Way spans about 100,000 light-years across. The Bullseye galaxy, at 250,000 light-years in diameter, is more than twice as large. Its massive size makes the rings even more striking, as they continue expanding outward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-the-ninth-ring">Confirming the ninth ring</h2>



Hubble’s crisp imaging allowed researchers to pinpoint most of the rings, many of which are clustered near the center. 



"This would have been impossible without Hubble," Pasha explained. The telescope’s high resolution provided an unparalleled look at the Bullseye’s structure, revealing intricate details invisible to ground-based observatories.



The Keck Observatory in Hawaii played a crucial role in confirming one additional ring, bringing the total to nine. Researchers believe a tenth ring may have once existed but has since faded beyond detectability. 



If this lost ring still remains in some form, it would be located three times farther than the outermost ring captured by Hubble.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-theories-about-ring-formation">Confirming theories about ring formation</h2>



The Bullseye galaxy aligns almost perfectly with long-standing theories about ring formation. Models predict that a galaxy hit in this way should produce a series of outward-moving rings, and this is exactly what astronomers observed.



"That theory was developed for the day that someone saw so many rings," van Dokkum said. "It is immensely gratifying to confirm this long-standing prediction with the Bullseye galaxy."



Hubble’s image provides an angled view of the rings, making them appear unevenly spaced. If seen directly from above, they would form nearly perfect circles - with the innermost rings packed closely together and the outermost ones more widely spaced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-ripple-effect-in-space">A ripple effect in space</h2>



To understand how these rings formed, imagine a pebble dropped into a pond. The first ripple spreads out widest, while others follow at regular intervals. 



In the Bullseye galaxy, the first two rings likely formed rapidly and expanded outward. Later rings appeared in sequence, slightly offset by the continued movement of gas and dust.



The passage of the blue dwarf galaxy affected the earliest rings the most, triggering a chain reaction that lasted millions of years. 



While individual stars remained largely undisturbed, entire groups of stars piled up to form the visible rings.



Meanwhile, gas was carried outward and mixed with dust, fueling the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universe-is-expanding-faster-than-science-can-explain-hubble-tension-physics-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creation</a> of new stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-the-bullseye-galaxy">Evolution of the Bullseye galaxy </h2>



Despite the clarity of this discovery, many questions remain. Astronomers want to determine which stars existed before the dwarf galaxy’s arrival and which formed afterward. 



This will help refine models of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unknown-factors-are-accelerating-the-expansion-of-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> evolution and provide insight into the long-term fate of the Bullseye.



Over time, some of the rings will fade as stars move out of alignment. However, the larger structure of the Bullseye will persist for millions of years, giving astronomers plenty of time to study its evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-galactic-interactions">Insights into galactic interactions</h2>



Although this discovery was unexpected, it sets the stage for more findings in the future. Advanced telescopes will soon provide even greater insights into galactic interactions. 



"Once NASA's Nancy Grace <a href="https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roman Space Telescope</a> begins science operations, interesting objects will pop out much more easily," said van Dokkum. "We will learn how rare these spectacular events really are."



The research not only confirms theories about ring formation but also raises new questions about the physics of galactic collisions. .



The team's findings were published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad9f5c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Imad Pasha (Yale), Pieter van Dokkum (Yale)



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Bullseye galaxy reveals stunning rings after galactic impact

Galaxies often collide and interact over vast timescales, reshaping their...

Music has long been a source of comfort and connection for humanity. Expectant parents have often turned to music as a way to bond with their unborn children, believing that melodies can soothe and stimulate fetal development. 



While this idea has been popular for generations, science is now uncovering real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-connects-people-emotionally-and-physically/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physiological effects of music</a> on the unborn child.



Recent research has shown that playing classical music during pregnancy may not only create a sense of calm but could also influence fetal heart rate patterns. This discovery opens new possibilities in understanding how early exposure to sound might impact neurological and physiological growth before birth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fetal-heart-rate-and-development">Fetal heart rate and development</h2>



The fetal heart does more than just pump blood. Its rhythm and variability provide insights into the developing autonomic nervous system. 



Scientists often use heart rate variability - changes in the time between individual heartbeats - to measure overall fetal health. Greater variability often signals more advanced neurological development, indicating a maturing nervous system.



Traditional heart rate assessments measure an average of beats over multiple seconds. This method offers useful information but does not capture the finer details of how the heart responds in real-time. 



Heart rate variability, on the other hand, reveals subtle shifts in fetal autonomic activity. This makes it a valuable tool for assessing developmental progress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-music-on-the-fetal-heart">Effects of music on the fetal heart</h2>



A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.uaemex.mx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Autonomous University of the State of Mexico</a>, the Metropolitan Autonomous University, the General Hospital Nicolás San Juan, and the <a href="https://www.cardiologia.org.mx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez</a> explored how classical music affects fetal heart rate.



The experts set out to investigate whether music exposure could shape heart rate dynamics in a measurable way.



To conduct their experiment, the team recruited 36 pregnant women and exposed their unborn children to two classical pieces. 



The selected compositions were The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns, a well-known French melody, and Arpa de Oro by Abundio Martínez, a traditional Mexican guitar piece. 



Using external heart rate monitors, the researchers recorded changes in fetal heart activity during and after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-has-the-power-to-change-the-mood-of-our-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a> played.



By applying nonlinear recurrence quantification analysis, they examined how heart rate variability responded to the melodies. This advanced mathematical technique allowed them to detect patterns that traditional methods might overlook.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-and-nervous-system-development">Music and nervous system development </h2>



The results showed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-evokes-stronger-emotions-than-streamed-music/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">listening to music</a> led to more stable and predictable heart rate patterns in the fetus.



“Overall, we discovered that exposure to music resulted in more stable and predictable fetal heart rate patterns,” said author Claudia Lerma. “We speculate that this momentary effect could stimulate the development of the fetal autonomic nervous system.”



These findings suggest that music has an immediate effect on fetal physiology. It may help regulate heart rhythms, potentially supporting healthy nervous system development. 



While the long-term implications are still unknown, this study highlights the potential for sound to play a role in prenatal health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-different-musical-compositions">Effects of different musical compositions</h2>



Beyond identifying a general effect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-music-help-plants-grow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a>, the researchers also compared how the two selected pieces influenced fetal heart rate. Both compositions produced changes, but the Mexican guitar melody had a stronger impact on heart rate variability.



“When contrasting ‘The Swan’ with ‘Arpa de Oro,’ we did notice some significant differences,” said author Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro. 



“In particular, the second piece appeared to have a stronger impact on some measures, indicating that it produced heart rate patterns that were more predictable and regular. Factors like rhythmic characteristics, melodic structure, or cultural familiarity may be linked to this differentiation.”



This finding raises intriguing questions about how different types of music influence fetal development. The role of rhythm, harmony, and cultural familiarity in shaping physiological responses could be an important area for future study.



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



For parents-to-be, this research provides scientific support for an age-old practice. Playing soothing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/song-melodies-have-become-much-simpler-since-1950/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a> during pregnancy may do more than create a peaceful environment - it could also promote fetal development in subtle but meaningful ways.



“Our results suggest that these changes in fetal heart rate dynamics occur instantly in short-term fluctuations, so parents might want to consider exposing their fetuses to quiet music,” said Abarca-Castro. 



“Parents who play soothing music may stimulate and benefit the fetal autonomic system.”



While further research is needed to determine the long-term benefits of this practice, these findings suggest that music could be a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-reveals-which-brain-areas-are-affected-by-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">simple and natural way</a> to support fetal well-being. Expectant parents may wish to experiment with different styles of calming music to see how their unborn child responds.



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



The researchers plan to deepen their investigation by studying different musical genres and expanding their sample size. Classical music may be just one of many styles capable of influencing fetal heart rate dynamics.



“To ascertain whether rhythmic or cultural variations elicit distinct fetal cardiac responses, we intend to increase the size of our sample and expand our investigation to include a variety of musical styles beyond classical pieces,” said author José Javier Reyes-Lagos.



This next phase of research could reveal whether jazz, folk, or even modern electronic music has similar effects on fetal heart rate patterns. 



Understanding how different forms of sound interact with prenatal development may provide insights into how early sensory experiences shape human growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-and-fetal-health">Music and fetal health</h2>



As science continues to explore the impact of music on fetal health, these findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the importance of sensory stimulation in the womb. 



Music may not only comfort and connect expectant parents with their unborn children but also contribute to neurological and physiological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-that-listen-to-music-grow-faster-and-healthier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development</a> in ways that are only beginning to be understood.



For now, playing gentle, rhythmic music may be a simple way for parents to engage with their baby before birth. 



The discovery that heart rate patterns can become more stable and predictable with music suggests that sound could play a deeper role in shaping early life than previously believed.



The study is published in the <a href="https://pubs.aip.org/aip/cha/article/35/2/023121/3333471/Response-to-music-on-the-nonlinear-dynamics-of" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science.</a>



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How music affects a baby’s heartbeat before birth

Music has long been a source of comfort and connection...

Juice cleanses have long been marketed as a quick way to detox and boost health. Many people believe that replacing solid food with fruit and vegetable juices can flush out toxins and improve digestion. 



However, a new study from Northwestern University suggests otherwise. The researchers found that even a short-term juice-only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stuck-in-traffic-youre-more-likely-to-grab-fast-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet</a> can lead to changes in gut and oral bacteria.



These shifts are linked to inflammation and cognitive decline, raising concerns about the long-term impact of juicing. While juices provide vitamins and antioxidants, they also lack fiber, which plays a crucial role in gut health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-juicing">Impact of juicing</h2>



To understand how a juice cleanse affects the body, <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern</a> scientists conducted a study on three groups of healthy adults. 



The first group consumed only juice, the second combined juice with whole foods, and the third ate only whole plant-based foods. 



Scientists collected saliva, cheek swabs, and stool samples before, during, and after the diets to analyze bacterial changes using gene-sequencing techniques.



The study aimed to determine whether a juice-only diet truly supports health or if it disrupts the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut and mouth. 



Many people assume that juicing is a natural way to reset the body, but the findings suggest that it may do the opposite.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-juice-cleanse-and-microbiome-imbalance">Juice cleanse and microbiome imbalance </h2>



The results showed that the juice-only group experienced the most significant increase in bacteria associated with inflammation and gut permeability. 



The plant-based whole food group, on the other hand, saw more beneficial microbial changes. The group that combined juice with whole foods showed some bacterial shifts, but these were less severe than those seen in the juice-only group.



“Most people think of juicing as a healthy cleanse, but this study offers a reality check,” said Dr. Melinda Ring, director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University <a href="https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feinberg School of Medicine</a>.



“Consuming large amounts of juice with little fiber may lead to microbiome imbalances that could have negative consequences, such as inflammation and reduced gut health.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-fiber-in-gut-health">Role of fiber in gut health</h2>



One of the biggest concerns with juice cleanses is the removal of fiber. When <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-say-this-is-the-best-fruit-to-eat-for-a-healthier-liver/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruits and vegetables</a> are juiced, most of their fiber content is stripped away. 



Fiber feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut, helping them produce anti-inflammatory compounds like butyrate. Without fiber, sugar-loving bacteria multiply, and the high sugar content in juice fuels their growth.



This imbalance can lead to gut dysbiosis, a condition where harmful bacteria outnumber beneficial ones. Over time, this can increase the risk of digestive issues, weakened immunity, and even mental health problems. 



The study also suggests that reduced fiber intake may negatively affect metabolism, making it harder for the body to regulate blood sugar and energy levels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oral-microbiome-changes-rapidly">Oral microbiome changes rapidly</h2>



The study revealed that while gut bacteria remained relatively stable, the oral microbiome responded quickly to the juice-only diet. Scientists observed a decline in beneficial Firmicutes bacteria and an increase in Proteobacteria, a group associated with inflammation.



“This highlights how quickly dietary choices can influence health-related bacterial populations,” said Ring. “The oral microbiome appears to be a rapid barometer of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-is-far-more-important-than-weight-for-living-a-healthy-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dietary impact</a>.”



The shift in oral bacteria suggests that juicing may contribute to inflammation in the mouth and throat, which could have implications for overall health. A disrupted oral microbiome has been linked to conditions such as gum disease, cavities, and even cardiovascular problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-further-research">Need for further research</h2>



While this study highlights the potential risks of juice cleanses, more research is needed to understand how different diets impact the microbiome, especially in children. 



Many parents substitute whole fruits with juice, believing it offers the same benefits. However, this study suggests that juice may not be a suitable replacement due to its effects on gut and oral bacteria.



“The nutritional composition of juice diets - specifically their sugar and carbohydrate levels - plays a key role in shaping microbial dynamics in both the gut and oral cavity and should be carefully considered,” said Maria Luisa Savo Sardaro, first author of the study and a professor of food microbiology at San Raffaele University in Rome.



Future studies may explore whether adding fiber back into juices or pairing them with whole foods can help mitigate these effects. 



Understanding the long-term consequences of juice cleanses is essential for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forming-healthy-habits-takes-much-longer-than-21-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creating dietary guidelines</a> that truly support health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-make-a-juice-cleanse-healthier">How to make a juice cleanse healthier</h2>



Despite the concerns raised by this study, people who enjoy juicing do not need to eliminate it completely. Instead, they can take steps to make it healthier. 



One option is blending rather than juicing, as blending retains fiber while still delivering the vitamins and antioxidants found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-avocado-every-day-diet-quality-can-add-years-to-life-but-this-fruit-has-enemies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruits and vegetables</a>.



For those who prefer juicing, pairing it with whole foods can help balance its effects. Eating fiber-rich foods alongside juice may prevent harmful bacterial shifts and support a more stable microbiome. 



Choosing lower-sugar vegetables and incorporating ingredients like chia seeds or flaxseeds can also help maintain fiber intake.



“If you love juicing, consider blending instead to keep the fiber intact, or pair juices with whole foods to balance the impact on your microbiome,” noted Ring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-juice-cleanses">Rethinking juice cleanses</h2>



The idea of a juice cleanse may sound appealing, but this study challenges the assumption that juicing is always beneficial. 



While juices provide essential nutrients, they also remove fiber, which is vital for gut and oral health. The findings suggest that consuming only juice, even for a short period, may cause microbial imbalances linked to inflammation and other health issues.



Rather than relying on juice cleanses for health benefits, individuals may see better results by focusing on a balanced diet that includes whole <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-fruits-and-vegetables-improve-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruits and vegetables</a>. 



The study’s findings emphasize the importance of fiber and highlight how dietary choices can rapidly influence bacterial populations in the body.



Juicing may still have a place in a healthy diet, but it should not replace whole foods. By making small adjustments, such as blending or consuming juice alongside fiber-rich meals, people can enjoy the benefits of fruits and vegetables while maintaining a healthy microbiome.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/3/458" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a>.



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Juice cleanses: Are they doing more harm than good? Study results are very surprising

Juice cleanses have long been marketed as a quick way...

Osiris-rex,Spacecraft,Collected,Samples,From,Asteroid,Bennu,101955,,And,Returned

Samples from asteroid Bennu have delivered remarkable insights into the origins of Earth’s water, the organic molecules that may have seeded life here and elsewhere, and the fundamental materials and building blocks of our planet and solar system. 



All of this was discovered in just 4 ounces of dust and rock, carefully gathered by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission in 2023.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-relics-of-the-early-solar-system-nbsp">Relics of the early solar system&nbsp;</h2>



Michelle Thompson, an associate professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences at <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a>, was among the first nine lead investigators on the OSIRIS-REx science team to examine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-bennu-holds-secrets-of-the-solar-systems-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bennu</a>’s samples.&nbsp;



Thompson and her colleagues had 72 hours to perform initial measurements and analyses, drawing on her expertise in how off-world bodies and their chemistry respond to space environments.&nbsp;



The discoveries shed light on how Earth and the solar system formed and whether life’s building blocks arrived via asteroids.



“Asteroids are relics of the early solar system,” Thompson said. “They’re like time capsules. We can use them to examine the origin of our solar system and to open a window to the origin of life on Earth.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bringing-bennu-sample-to-earth">Bringing Bennu sample to Earth</h2>



NASA’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-safely-delivers-rock-samples-from-asteroid-bennu-back-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSIRIS-REx</a> is the agency’s first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid and return them to Earth. 



The mission is focused on analyzing solar system building blocks and exploring resources that might enable future deep-space missions.&nbsp;



After more than a decade of planning and collaboration among hundreds of team members, OSIRIS-REx successfully returned 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of Bennu’s material - exceeding its goal of 60 grams.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-once-in-a-lifetime-experience">Once-in-a-lifetime experience</h2>



The asteroid samples provide scientists with a rare, pristine look at asteroid dust and rock unaltered by Earth’s atmosphere.



“This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime - maybe a once-in-several-lifetimes - experience,” Thompson said. “OSIRIS-REx was selected in 2011, the year I started graduate school, and launched in 2016, the year I finished my PhD.”&nbsp;



“It reached Bennu in 2018, the year I came to Purdue. And now I am one of the first humans to get to study it. Bennu is a treasure trove of information; this is literally the project of my career.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pristine-samples-from-asteroid-bennu-nbsp">Pristine samples from asteroid Bennu&nbsp;</h2>



Although pieces of asteroids sometimes land on Earth naturally as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-meteorites-can-be-traced-to-three-asteroid-families/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meteorites</a>, the fiery journey through Earth’s atmosphere often damages or contaminates them.&nbsp;



By bringing Bennu’s samples home inside a protective capsule, scientists can examine them in a virtually unaltered state. 



This clarity allows for more precise evaluations of organic compounds, isotopes, and minerals that could explain the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-are-the-origins-of-water-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">origins of water</a> on Earth and the formation of life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organic-molecules-in-bennu-samples">Organic molecules in Bennu samples</h2>



Bennu is a carbonaceous asteroid, rich in carbon and other elements crucial to life’s chemistry. The Bennu samples reveal key details about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-molecules-found-throughout-the-universe-hint-that-life-began-in-deep-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">organic molecules</a> that are essential to life’s development.



“Looking at the organic molecules from Bennu, we are getting an understanding of what kinds of molecules could have seeded life on early Earth,” Thompson noted. 



“We won’t find life itself, but we’re looking at the building blocks that could have eventually evolved into life.”



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="KNaqn8jEPp-4282904-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ammonia-is-crucial-for-life">Ammonia is crucial for life</h2>



Scientists found incredibly large amounts of ammonia in the Bennu samples. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-green-tech-ammonia-fertilizer-production-using-earths-natural-forces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ammonia</a> is important for life because it can combine with formaldehyde, which was also found in the samples, to create complex molecules like amino acids when the conditions are right. 



When amino acids join together into long chains, they form proteins, which are essential for almost every function in living things.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bennu-comes-from-a-water-planet">Bennu comes from a water planet</h2>



The presence of elements like phosphate, sulfate, and other salt minerals in Bennu’s dust points to an environment conducive to forming vital biomolecules.&nbsp;



“Together with our international partner teams, we have been able to detect a large proportion of the minerals that are formed when salty, liquid water - known as brine - evaporates more and more and the minerals are precipitated in the order of their solubility,” explains Dr. Sheri Singerling, who manages the Schwiete Cosmo Lab.



Professor Frank Brenker of <a href="https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goethe University Frankfurt</a> noted that other teams have found various precursors of biomolecules such as numerous amino acids in the Bennu samples.



“This means that Bennu’s parent body had some known building blocks for biomolecules, water and - at least for a certain time - energy to keep the water liquid," explained Professor Brenker.



Similar brines have been detected or suggested across the solar system, including at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-blocks-of-life-found-on-the-dwarf-planet-ceres/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dwarf planet Ceres</a> and Saturn’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-could-survive-near-surface-europa-enceladus-moons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moon Enceladus</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-earth-s-water">Mystery of Earth's water</h2>



The samples also had traces of minerals containing water. Understanding how asteroids can deliver these resources offers vital context about how Earth’s water might have arrived.&nbsp;



“The scientific community doesn’t have a definitive understanding of how Earth got all its water,” Thompson said.&nbsp;



“Looking at how much water is part of these minerals in the samples from Bennu gives us a clue about how much water was out in the solar system when the planets were forming.”



“How much material was available that could have been delivered through impacts - not just organic material, but water and minerals as well.”



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



Scientists around the world are now parsing the Bennu samples to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-clues-about-the-origins-of-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deepen our knowledge</a> of planetary science.



The experts are analyzing mineral content, studying stable isotopes for clues about the solar system’s formation, and testing hypotheses about how organic compounds travel between celestial bodies.&nbsp;



The final goal is to piece together a clearer picture of how life-supporting environments arise and persist. Although the newly returned samples measure just a few ounces, their significance is immense.



Panspermia suggests that life, or the essential building blocks of life, could be distributed throughout the universe via meteoroids, asteroids, comets, or even space dust.



Is that what happened here on Earth? Is humanity the ultimate result of an asteroid colliding with our planet billions of years ago?



By continuing to analyze this pristine material from asteroid Bennu, we may just learn the answer to that question sooner rather than later.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 



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NASA finds life's building blocks from an unknown water world in asteroid sample

Samples from asteroid Bennu have delivered remarkable insights into the...

As humanity strives to establish communities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the fundamental problem of how to maintain life remains paramount. The solutions revolve around supplying oxygen, food, and water. 



While it has been established that water exists on the Moon, pinpointing its precise locations presents a formidable challenge. Could it be within craters, permanently shadowed areas, or near the poles?



Answering these questions is essential for ensuring that astronauts can successfully inhabit the Moon.



A recent study by researchers at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California San Diego</a> (UC San Diego) might help transform this vision into reality by guiding upcoming space missions, including <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Artemis program</a>, which aims to thoroughly explore and ultimately settle on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lunar-anthropocene-how-humans-have-impacted-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moon</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-rooted-in-lunar-analysis">A legacy rooted in lunar analysis</h2>



Study lead author Maxwell Thiemens is a research fellow at <a href="https://www.vub.be/nl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vrije Universiteit Brussel</a> and an alumnus of the <a href="https://scripps.ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scripps Institution of Oceanography</a>. He conducted the study with his father, Mark Thiemens, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC San Diego.



Their contributions build upon UC San Diego’s historical connections to lunar research. In 1967, Nobel Laureate Harold Urey and James Arnold, both at UC San Diego’s Department of Chemistry, were among the earliest scientists to receive Apollo 11 lunar samples.&nbsp;



Urey was one of the first to theorize the presence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moons-entire-surface-is-covered-with-water-and-hydroxyl-not-just-the-poles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar water</a>, particularly within the permanently shadowed polar regions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-the-moon-get-its-water">Where did the Moon get its water?</h2>



Contemporary scientific understanding suggests that lunar water could stem from one of three primary origins. First, it may be indigenous to the Moon.



Another theory is that lunar water was created by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-solar-wind-which-creates-beautiful-auroras-on-earth-is-now-less-mysterious/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar winds</a>, where hydrogen from the Sun reacts with lunar oxygen under high energy. The third possibility is that the water was deposited by icy comets that crashed onto the lunar surface.



Just as civilizations on Earth have historically settled near dependable water supplies, any permanent lunar presence will hinge on identifying and understanding the Moon’s water sources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extracting-water-from-lunar-rocks">Extracting water from lunar rocks</h2>



Seeking to clarify where and how lunar water forms, Morgan Nunn Martinez (formerly a UC San Diego graduate student) conducted an analysis of small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-rocks-may-unlock-secrets-of-the-moons-magnetic-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rock samples</a> obtained during the Apollo 9 mission in 1969.&nbsp;



While it might seem improbable for rocks to host measurable amounts of water, a process called thermal release makes it possible. During this process, lunar specimens are heated to three temperature levels - 50°C, 150°C, and 1,000°C - to free water molecules embedded within the rock.



In the case of low-temperature releases (50°C, 150°C), lightly bound water molecules that are loosely attached to the rock are able to escape. 



On the other hand, in a high-temperature release (1,000°C), tightly bound water molecules, lodged deep within the rock’s structure, are liberated. Surprisingly, the rock samples were found to be relatively “wet.” 



After the molecules are driven off as water vapor, they are collected and purified until only oxygen remains. 



Scientists then measure the composition of the three oxygen isotopes in the sample - valuable for identifying both the origin and the time frame of the water.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-of-water-molecules-nbsp">Origins of water molecules&nbsp;</h2>



In much the same way that every person has a distinct fingerprint, celestial bodies like comets and the Sun possess characteristic isotopic signatures.



By comparing the oxygen isotope ratios against those known signatures, researchers can pinpoint where the water molecules came from.



The results of the rock analysis indicate that most of the Moon’s water likely formed within the Moon itself or arrived through comet collisions, not primarily via the solar wind. This challenges earlier assumptions that solar wind interactions might be a dominant water source.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-presence-on-the-moon">Human presence on the Moon</h2>



The findings offer critical insights to agencies such as NASA, which intends to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon through the Artemis program.&nbsp;



Determining water’s precise locations and its most likely origins will help mission planners decide where best to set up long-term habitation.



“This kind of work hasn’t been done before and we think it can provide NASA with some valuable clues about where water is located on the moon,” Mark Thiemens said. “The real goal of Artemis is to get to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wave-ripples-discovered-mars-surface-indicate-liquid-water-present-4-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>. Our research shows that there is likely at least as much water on Mars as on the moon, if not more.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-challenges-and-future-innovations">Practical challenges and future innovations</h2>



Although finding and analyzing lunar water sources marks a major step, effectively extracting and utilizing water to support human communities on the Moon is another challenge entirely.&nbsp;



Researchers will need to develop robust technology for large-scale water extraction, as well as systems to ensure that the water is potable or otherwise suitable for use in life support.



Questions such as whether the water requires purification and how to store it in sufficient quantities remain to be addressed. These solutions will be pivotal for enabling off-planet growth, ultimately extending beyond the Moon to Mars and other parts of the solar system.



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



By identifying the potential locations and likely origins of lunar water, this study paves the way toward human settlements on the Moon, an idea once confined to science fiction.&nbsp;



Through the synergy of advanced isotopic measurements, decades of lunar rock analysis, and forward-looking mission planning, researchers and space agencies are inching closer to making lunar colonization a reality.



Armed with fresh scientific data and improved extraction techniques, future explorers may soon find themselves sustainably living on the Moon.



The study is detailed in a special issue of the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2321069121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> (PNAS) under the theme “Water on the Moon and Mars.”&nbsp;



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Experts are searching for viable sources of water on the Moon

As humanity strives to establish communities on the Moon, Mars,...

Earth, the only known planet to support life, owes much of its habitability to water. Understanding when and how water arrived on Earth is crucial for piecing together the story of life’s origins. 



Scientists have long debated whether water was present from the planet’s formation or if it arrived later through external sources. 



A recent study led by a Rutgers-New Brunswick scientist challenges existing theories, suggesting that water arrived much later than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-cycles-through-plants-with-unexpected-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously believed</a>.



The findings indicate that Earth received water toward the final stages of its formation. This discovery could reshape scientific understanding of the conditions necessary for life.



By examining isotopes in Earth’s rocks and comparing them with meteorites, researchers have provided new insights into the timing and process of water’s arrival on our planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-of-life-s-origins">Timing of life’s origins</h2>



Scientists seek to pinpoint when key <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/comets-may-have-delivered-water-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ingredients for life</a> first appeared on Earth. Water, energy, and a mix of organic chemicals known as CHNOPS - carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur - are essential for life to emerge. 



Determining when these components arrived can offer clues about the timing of life’s formation.



Katherine Bermingham is an associate professor in the <a href="https://eps.rutgers.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences</a> at Rutgers and lead author of the study.



“When water was delivered to the planet is a major unanswered question in planetary science,” said Bermingham. “If we know the answer, we can better constrain when and how life developed.”



Her research suggests that water was not present during the early phases of Earth’s formation, as some theories propose. Instead, the planet acquired it much later through a process known as late accretion, when additional material from space continued to shape Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examining-the-building-blocks-of-planets">Examining the building blocks of planets</h2>



Bermingham specializes in cosmogeochemistry, a field that examines the chemical composition of planetary materials to understand their origins. 



By analyzing Earth rocks and extraterrestrial materials such as meteorites, she investigates how rocky planets, including Earth, formed and evolved.



In this study, Bermingham’s team used thermal ionization mass spectrometry, a precise method for measuring isotopic compositions. 



They developed a new analytical approach to examine isotopes of molybdenum, an element found in both Earth’s crust and meteorites.



Isotopes are variations of an element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, which gives them slightly different atomic masses while maintaining identical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/distress-signals-earths-water-cycle-is-becoming-more-erratic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemical properties</a>.



“The molybdenum isotopic composition of Earth rocks provides us with a special window into events occurring around the time of Earth’s final core formation, when the last 10% to 20% of material was being assembled by the planet. This period is thought to coincide with the Moon’s formation,” explained Bermingham.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-meteorites-and-earth-rocks">Comparing meteorites and Earth rocks</h2>



To track Earth’s early chemical history, the team examined meteorite samples from the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution. Scientists classify meteorites into two main groups based on their place of origin in the solar system.



The first group, known as “CC” meteorites, likely formed in the outer solar system, where conditions were wetter. The second group, “NC” meteorites, originated in the inner solar system, where conditions were much drier. 



This study focused on meteorites from the NC group to compare their chemical composition with Earth rocks.



The researchers analyzed molybdenum isotopes in rocks from Greenland, South Africa, Canada, the United States, and Japan. 



These rocks date back to the time of the Moon’s formation and are believed to contain elements added to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-other-planets-collected-first-water-from-unexpected-source-planetesimals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a> during this period.



By comparing the isotopic signatures of meteorites and Earth rocks, the team sought to determine whether the Moon-forming event delivered a significant amount of water to Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-water-may-have-arrived-late">Earth’s water may have arrived late</h2>



“Once we gathered the different samples and measured their isotopic compositions, we compared the meteorites’ signatures with the rock signatures to see if there was a similarity or a difference,” Bermingham said. “And from there, we drew inferences.”



The analysis revealed that the molybdenum composition of Earth rocks closely matched that of NC meteorites, which originated in the drier inner solar system. 



This finding suggests that Earth’s building blocks primarily came from a region of the solar system where water was scarce.



This contradicts a popular theory that a significant amount of Earth’s water arrived during the Moon-forming event. 



Instead, the study indicates that water was delivered in smaller amounts long after the Moon formed, during the later stages of planetary development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-the-source-of-earth-s-water">Rethinking the source of Earth’s water</h2>



“We have to figure out from where in our solar system Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-discovery-earths-building-blocks-contained-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building blocks</a> - the dust and the gas - came and around when that happened,” Bermingham said. “That’s the information needed to understand when the stage was set for life to begin.”



If most of Earth’s original material came from the drier inner solar system, then the Moon-forming event was likely not a major contributor of water. Instead, water must have arrived in smaller portions later. 



This conclusion challenges the idea that a single event provided Earth with the majority of its water. 



The study supports the view that water accumulated gradually over time, arriving through a combination of asteroid impacts and other processes occurring well after the planet had taken shape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-about-life-s-early-conditions">Questions about life’s early conditions</h2>



“Our results suggest that the Moon-forming event was not a major supplier of water, unlike what has been thought previously,” Bermingham said. “These findings, however, permit a small amount of water to be added after final core formation, during what is called late accretion.”



This discovery raises new questions about how long it took for Earth to become habitable. If water arrived later than previously thought, then life may have taken longer to emerge. 



This could also have implications for understanding other planets, particularly those that scientists consider candidates for life.



By refining the timeline of Earth’s water history, this study contributes to a broader effort to understand planetary evolution. If water arrived late on Earth, then other planets might have followed a similar pattern. 



This could mean that life-supporting conditions take longer to develop than scientists once assumed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-in-the-search-for-earth-s-water">What’s next in the search for Earth’s water?</h2>



The study represents a step forward in unraveling Earth’s past, but it also highlights the many unanswered questions about the origins of water and life. 



Future research will likely focus on refining models of planetary accretion, analyzing additional meteorite samples, and exploring other isotopic markers that could provide further insights.



Other Rutgers contributors to the study include Linda Godfrey, an assistant research professor, and Hope Tornebene, a laboratory researcher in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 



The research continues to push the boundaries of planetary science, bringing us closer to understanding how Earth became a world capable of supporting life.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016703724005751?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta</a>.



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Water arrived on Earth gradually over time, not in one big event

Earth, the only known planet to support life, owes much...

Childhood malignant brain tumors remain a significant challenge for clinicians and researchers around the world, largely because they are often only discovered after they have already become complex and difficult to treat.&nbsp;



Among these cancers, medulloblastoma stands out as the most common malignant brain tumor in children, frequently leading to devastating outcomes.&nbsp;



Now, a team of scientists at <a href="https://www.sickkids.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hospital for Sick Children</a> (SickKids) has made a pivotal finding that could stop a subtype of medulloblastoma - known as sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma - from forming at its earliest stages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detection-of-childhood-brain-cancer">Detection of childhood brain cancer</h2>



Because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-antidepressants-could-help-treat-brain-tumors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain tumors</a> typically trigger noticeable symptoms only after considerable growth, crucial details about the cancer’s initial formation can remain hidden. 



By the time a young patient is diagnosed, the tumorous cells may have already undergone numerous mutations. 



In response to this clinical hurdle, a research group led by Dr. Peter Dirks at SickKids focused on the earliest cellular steps of SHH medulloblastoma.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-halting-tumor-formation">Halting tumor formation </h2>



The new study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54858-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>, shows that a single protein serves as a critical “on switch,” awakening dormant stem cells that then give rise to a tumor.



“Our findings offer a novel strategy to target cancer stem cells, providing hope for more effective treatments against aggressive brain tumors,” said Dirks, a senior scientist in the Developmental, Stem Cell &amp; Cancer Biology program and Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery.



One of the study’s most significant insights is that by preventing the reactivation of these dormant, cancer-initiating cells, the entire cascade of tumor formation can be intercepted.&nbsp;



SHH medulloblastoma arises in a particular subset of patients, and this discovery suggests that if the first molecular trigger is blocked, the disease may be prevented from taking root in the brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-opportunity-for-intervention-nbsp">An opportunity for intervention&nbsp;</h2>



In the study, the team looked at how SHH medulloblastoma unfolds at the cellular level. They found that the protein OLIG2 plays a central role in “waking up” quiescent stem <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-cancer-cell-death-may-transform-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cells</a> - cells that are otherwise inactive - and prompting them to divide uncontrollably, eventually forming tumors.&nbsp;



As the scientists dug deeper, they identified the exact window in which this reactivation occurs and recognized it as a prime opportunity for intervention.



“There is order to how the cancer initiating stem cells undergo fate changes to form tumors. We can target an early transition event and intercept the entire process - essentially stopping the cancer in its earliest form,” said study first author Kinjal Desai, a postdoctoral researcher in the Dirks lab.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-to-prevent-relapse">Potential to prevent relapse</h2>



By pinpointing OLIG2’s critical role, the researchers tested whether blocking its action could halt tumor initiation and, importantly, prevent relapse in cases that had already undergone conventional treatments.&nbsp;



The experts used a small molecule called CT-179, which disrupts OLIG2 function and stops the dormant stem cells from waking.&nbsp;



When combined with an existing therapeutic approach, this treatment not only blocked SHH medulloblastoma formation in a preclinical model but also effectively prevented residual cancer stem cells from becoming reactivated later on.&nbsp;



This two-pronged effect significantly reduced the chance of tumor regrowth and improved survival outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeting-brain-tumors-in-the-early-stages">Targeting brain tumors in the early stages</h2>



Simultaneously, researchers at <a href="https://www.choa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta</a> and the <a href="https://www.qimrberghofer.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute</a> in Australia carried out related experiments, published concurrently in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54861-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.&nbsp;



Their work corroborates the SickKids findings, hinting that this kind of OLIG2-targeting strategy could go beyond SHH medulloblastoma to combat other pediatric brain tumors, including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - an aggressive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-cancer-rates-in-young-adults-linked-to-accelerated-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer</a> that has proven particularly resistant to conventional therapies.



This latest discovery advances previous research from the Dirks Lab on the early stages of brain tumors. While the new findings will require validation in clinical trials, they highlight the advantages of what Dr. Dirks describes as ‘precision biology.’



“At SickKids, we’re already genetically testing every child with cancer to inform their diagnosis and treatments - our study goes beyond genetic testing to precision biology,” Dirks said. “I am excited for a future where this ‘magic bullet’ for early treatment could be combined with diagnostic tests to potentially prevent the cancer from developing at all.”



By intervening at the very root of tumor formation, the team’s approach could offer a transformative path for children with medulloblastoma and other aggressive brain cancers.&nbsp;



If these promising strategies move successfully through clinical trials, early intervention might indeed stop pediatric brain tumors before they can even take hold, heralding a new era in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-the-next-frontier-in-cancer-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer treatment</a>.



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New therapy for childhood brain cancer halts tumor formation

Childhood malignant brain tumors remain a significant challenge for clinicians...

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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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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

“Bobo’s group-mates were desperately curious, but he kept them all at a distance, making sure no one disturbed his new friend,” said Elissa. This constant protection was all-too-familiar for Bobo, whose mother experienced the same kind of threats before succumbing to poachers. That&#8217;s when Bobo did something truly amazing. Photo Credit: Ape Action Africa / YouTube

Curiosity Didn't Kill the Galagos