Today's Image of the Day from NASA features an extraordinary view of Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system. 



The photo reveals the rings, moons, and extreme seasons of the ice giant Uranus in unprecedented detail.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-north-polar-cap-nbsp">Dynamic north polar cap&nbsp;</h2>



“The Webb image exquisitely captures Uranus’s seasonal north polar cap, including the bright, white, inner cap and the dark lane in the bottom of the polar cap,” noted NASA.



Unlike Earth, where polar ice caps are formed by the freezing of water, Uranus's polar caps are thought to be primarily composed of a dense concentration of haze in the atmosphere.&nbsp;



The polar cap's haze is likely composed of methane particles. Methane in Uranus's atmosphere condenses into ice particles, which then create a thick haze that scatters sunlight, giving the polar cap its distinct bright appearance in visible and infrared light.



The polar cap is dynamic and changes over time. It becomes more prominent during the summer season of each pole. 



As Uranus moves along its orbit, the cap's appearance transforms, with the haze becoming thicker and brighter when the pole is in continuous sunlight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-zeta-ring-nbsp">The Zeta ring&nbsp;</h2>



The inner and outer rings of Uranus are visible in the image, including Zeta - the innermost ring which is the faintest and most difficult to observe.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-photo-of-uranus-and-its-rings-and-moons-captured-by-the-webb-telescope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rings of Uranus</a> are primarily composed of narrow bands of particles, likely made of water ice mixed with a dark material. These rings are distinct from those of Saturn in that they are much darker and narrower.



The faintness and characteristics of the Zeta ring make it a subject of interest in studies related to the dynamics and composition of planetary ring systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moons-of-uranus-nbsp">Moons of Uranus&nbsp;</h2>



The <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/multimedia/images/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a> photo also features nine of the planet’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-four-uranus-moons-may-have-oceans-that-are-miles-deep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moons</a>, which appear as blue dots surrounding the rings.&nbsp;



“Clockwise starting at 2 o’clock, they are: Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Bianca, Portia, Juliet, and Perdita. The orbits of these moons share the 98-degree tilt of their parent planet relative to the plane of the solar system,” noted NASA.



Uranus has 27 known moons, and they are divided into three main groups based on their orbits: the inner moons, the major moons, and the irregular moons.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uranus-moon-ariel-may-have-a-hidden-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moons</a> of Uranus are unique because they are named after characters from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, rather than being named after figures from classical mythology, as is common for the moons of other planets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ice-giant-uranus-nbsp">The ice giant Uranus&nbsp;</h2>



Uranus is classified as an "ice giant" because, unlike the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, which are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, Uranus has a significant proportion of "ices" in its composition.&nbsp;



In astronomical terms, ices refer to volatile substances like water, ammonia, and methane, which exist in solid or liquid forms at the low temperatures found in the outer solar system.



Uranus has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium, but beneath that, it contains a large, dense mantle composed of these ices, along with rock and other heavier elements.&nbsp;



The term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diamond-rain-may-be-common-on-giant-icy-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice giant</a> differentiates Uranus (and Neptune, the other ice giant) from the larger gas giants, emphasizing the different chemical compositions and internal structures of these planets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-of-uranus-nbsp">Climate of Uranus&nbsp;</h2>



Uranus has a unique and extreme climate, largely influenced by its unusual tilt, which causes the planet to rotate almost on its side. This tilt leads to extreme seasonal variations, with each pole experiencing 42 years of continuous sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness.&nbsp;



Even though it is closer to the sun than Neptune, Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system, with temperatures plunging to as low as -224°C (-371°F). The reason for this is not fully understood, but it might be due to an internal heat distribution anomaly.



Despite these frigid conditions, Uranus experiences intense weather patterns, including powerful storms and winds that can reach speeds of up to 900 kilometers per hour. These winds blow in the same direction as the planet’s rotation and are some of the fastest in the solar system.



Storms on Uranus are driven by its internal heat and the interaction of its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uranus-is-more-gassy-less-icy-than-we-ever-imagined/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric gases</a>. Observations have shown that these storms can be quite large, sometimes comparable in size to the Earth, and can last for several years.&nbsp;



The planet’s extreme axial tilt also means that the storms and weather patterns are highly variable, depending on the season. During equinoxes, when the Sun is directly over the equator, Uranus exhibits more storm activity compared to when the poles are pointed towards the Sun or away from it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observations-of-uranus">Observations of Uranus</h2>



“One day on Uranus is about 17 hours, so the planet’s rotation is relatively quick. This makes it supremely difficult for observatories with a sharp eye like Webb to capture one simple image of the entire planet - storms and other atmospheric features, and the planet’s moons, move visibly within minutes,” explained NASA.



“This image combines several longer and shorter exposures of this dynamic system to correct for those slight changes throughout the observing time.”



The first recorded observations of Uranus were made by John Flamsteed on December 13, 1690. However, Flamsteed mistakenly identified the planet as a star, which he named “34 Tauri."&nbsp;



It wasn't until March 13, 1781, that Uranus was officially identified as a planet by William Herschel. He initially thought he had discovered a comet, but further observations and calculations by other astronomers confirmed that it was a new planet, making Uranus the first planet discovered in modern history with the aid of a telescope.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

The ice giant Uranus in stunning detail

Today's Image of the Day from NASA features an extraordinary view of Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system.  The photo reveals the rings, moons, and extreme seasons of the ice giant Uranus in unprecedented detail.&nbsp; Dynamic north polar cap&nbsp; “The Webb image exquisitely captures Uranus’s seasonal north polar cap, including the bright, white, inner cap and the dark lane in the bottom of the polar cap,” noted NASA. Unlike Earth, where polar ice caps are formed by the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Starburst galaxy in the constellation Columba

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

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Kuwait Bay, where one of the world's largest bridges has been constructed to connect Bay Island North and Bay Island South.

The 30-mile Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway opened in May after five years of planning and more than three billion dollars in costs.

Construction companies made an effort to preserve the ecosystem near the bay, specifically for green tiger shrimp. To lure the shrimp away from the site, an alternative breeding area was created with 1,000 rock and reef blocks. 

The photograph was captured on September 8, 2019 by the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8.

  --

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Massive bridge opens in Kuwait Bay

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

Prehistoric monument reappears after 50 years Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Peraleda de la Mata coast of Spain, where a megalithic monument that has been submerged for 50 years has now reappeared.

The Spanish government built the Valdecañas Reservoir in 1963 to provide water and electricity to underdeveloped parts of western <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=spain&amp;form=EDGEAR&amp;qs=PF&amp;cvid=5b51013ff6d343e58e06b1d8c7897d5b&amp;cc=US&amp;setlang=en-US&amp;elv=AY3%21uAY7tbNNZGZ2yiGNjfNcI5dP9v9G08gsHOyyYrAtkkvuZkPJMNHatocLu*HXVSIHGmF4JzIy9zHG1xyZewzm7PwbJiGvDB8O1kdMSCwh&amp;plvar=0&amp;PC=HCTS">Spain</a>. When the reservoir was developed, however, it flooded some inhabited areas as well as large stone monuments. Prehistoric monument reappears after 50 years

Dry and hot conditions caused the lake to shrink this summer, and one of these megaliths - known as the Dolmen of Guadalperal - managed to resurface. Prehistoric monument reappears after 50 years.

The image was captured on July 25, 2019 by the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8.

With an area of 505,990 km2 (195,360 sq mi), Spain is the largest country in Southern Europe, the second-largest country in Western Europe and the European Union, and the fourth-largest country by area on the European continent. With a population exceeding 47.3 million, Spain is the sixth-most populous country in Europe, and the fourth-most populous country in the European Union. Spain's capital and largest city is Madrid; other major urban areas include Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Málaga, and Bilbao.

 --

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Prehistoric monument reappears after 50 years

Prehistoric monument reappears after 50 years Today's Image of the...

Hundreds of fires are burning across Indonesia Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> shows thick smoke lingering over wildfires across Indonesia.

Although most of the fires were set deliberately to clear land for farming, the dry conditions this year are exceptionally dangerous for human health and the environment.

The regions of Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, and Sumatra are covered in a blanket of smoke that is moving across parts of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=south+east+asia&amp;form=EDGEAR&amp;qs=PF&amp;cvid=27e1476e98284ca9896134833667fc12&amp;cc=US&amp;setlang=en-US&amp;elv=AY3%21uAY7tbNNZGZ2yiGNjfNcI5dP9v9G08gsHOyyYrAtczcOfaFLWPNYvdd4ABYJceIDJiMVcFlFrO8PUutS8hjNQEijPji5XnAL8vX7ermE&amp;plvar=0&amp;PC=HCTS">Southeast Asia.</a>

According to news reports, many schools have closed and several airports have canceled or delayed flights in recent weeks.

This image was captured on September 15, 2019 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.

The sovereign state is a presidential, constitutional republic with an elected legislature. It has 34 provinces, of which five have special status. The country's capital, Jakarta, is the second-most populous urban area in the world. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and the eastern part of Malaysia. Other neighbouring countries include Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, Palau, and India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support one of the world's highest levels of biodiversity.

The Indonesian archipelago has been a valuable region for trade since at least the 7th century when Srivijaya and later Majapahit traded with entities from mainland China and the Indian subcontinent. Local rulers gradually absorbed foreign influences from the early centuries and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Hundreds of fires are burning across Indonesia

Hundreds of fires are burning across Indonesia Today's Image of...

Trichodesmium bloom near the Great Barrier Reef Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a bloom of Trichodesmium near the Great Barrier Reef off northeast Australia. 

Trichodesmium blooms start off with a yellowish-brown color when the bloom is healthy, turn green as it begins to decay, and turn white after the pigments decay.

The cyanobacteria plays an important role in the ocean because it supplies large quantities of nitrogen for marine ecosystems, accounting for about 60 to 80 percent of nitrogen fixation in the ocean.

This image was captured on September 1, 2019 by the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8.A large part of the reef is protected by the <a title="Great Barrier Reef Marine Park" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef_Marine_Park">Great Barrier Reef Marine Park</a>, which helps to limit the impact of human use, such as fishing and tourism. Other <a title="Environmental threats to the Great Barrier Reef" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_threats_to_the_Great_Barrier_Reef">environmental pressures on the reef</a> and its <a title="Ecosystem" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem">ecosystem</a> include <a title="Surface runoff" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_runoff">runoff</a>, <a title="Climate change" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a> accompanied by mass <a title="Coral bleaching" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_bleaching">coral bleaching</a>, dumping of dredging sludge and cyclic population outbreaks of the <a title="Crown-of-thorns starfish" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown-of-thorns_starfish">crown-of-thorns starfish</a>. According to a study published in October 2012 by the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceedings_of_the_National_Academy_of_Sciences">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>, the reef has lost more than half its coral cover since 1985, a finding reaffirmed by a 2020 study which found over half of the reef's coral cover to have been lost between 1995 and 2017, with the effects of a widespread 2020 bleaching event not yet quantified

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Trichodesmium bloom near the Great Barrier Reef

Trichodesmium bloom near the Great Barrier Reef Today's Image of...

Storm formation over the South Pacific Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> shows a circular cloud formation over the South <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=pacific+ocean&amp;form=EDGEAR&amp;qs=HS&amp;cvid=71aac0124c6243a89a2f554d32fc7153&amp;cc=US&amp;setlang=en-US&amp;elv=AY3%21uAY7tbNNZGZ2yiGNjfNcI5dP9v9G08gsHOyyYrAt6H093VOqe4fKNeNBe53y8rp9l9VtSQ%21eufXY1FPUPIQM1H0HzP8vigGpmN75CdqT&amp;plvar=0&amp;PC=HCTS">Pacific Ocean</a>. 

The International Space Station (ISS) was more than 2,000 miles east of New Zealand and more than 2,700 miles west of South <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/american-lobsters-and-sea-scallops-may-shift-as-temperatures-rise/">America</a> when this photo was captured by an astronaut.

Relative to the atmosphere and ISS, the sun was at a low angle during sunrise, which made the striking details of the cloud formation stand out.Storm formation over the South Pacific.

The unnamed storm was short-lived and dissipated before making landfall.

--The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east.
At 165,250,000 square kilometers (63,800,000 square miles) in area (as defined with an Antarctic southern border), this largest division of the World Ocean—and, in turn, the hydrosphere—covers about 46% of Earth's water surface and about 32% of its total surface area, making it larger than all of Earth's land area combined.  The centers of both the Water Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere are in the Pacific Ocean. The equator subdivides it into the North(ern) Pacific Ocean and South(ern) Pacific Ocean, with two exceptions: the Galápagos and Gilbert Islands, while straddling the equator, are deemed wholly within the South Pacific

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Storm formation over the South Pacific

Storm formation over the South Pacific Today's Image of the...

Persistent drought fuels fires in Australia Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> shows wildfire smoke blowing in westerly winds over New South Wales. 

More than 100 fires have already burned this month in Australia, affecting some <a href="http://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/rainforests/">rainforests</a> and eucalyptus forests that do not often experience fire. Persistent drought fuels fires in Australia

The unusual activity has been fueled by persistent and worsening drought.

According to the <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=australia&amp;FORM=EDGENA&amp;PC=HCTS&amp;refig=3a35f59cfe964672a01d039ea76a2982">Australian</a> Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), drier than normal conditions have persisted since the beginning of 2017 and the past 32 months have been the driest on record for New South Wales at 34 percent below average.

This natural-color image was captured on September 12, 2019 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia,is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. 

It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The population of 26 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, though its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
Indigenous Australians inhabited the continent for about 65,000 years prior to the first arrival of Dutch explorers in the early 17th century, who named it New Holland. In 1770.

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Persistent drought fuels fires in Australia

Persistent drought fuels fires in Australia Today's Image of the...

Massive marine heatwave strikes the northeastern Pacific. Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> shows a massive marine heatwave in the northeastern Pacific Ocean in August of 2019.

Red colors represent areas that were hotter than average, while blue-colored areas were colder than average. 

A team at Coral Reef Watch created the map by combining data from the Suomi NPP, MTSAT, Meteosat, POES, Terra, Aqua, and GOES satellites with computer models.

The unusually warm water will impact marine ecosystems and regional fisheries. 

Nicholas Bond is a climatologist and research meteorologist at the University of Washington.

“I would not be surprised if the class of salmon that went to sea this year have relatively low survival rates,” said Bond. “Many of us in the climate and fisheries - oceanography community along the West Coast and in Alaska are watching what is happening with great interest - and at least some trepidation.”

This region is still recovering from a similar event that persisted from 2014 to 2016.The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east.
At 165,250,000 square kilometers (63,800,000 square miles) in area (as defined with an Antarctic southern border), this largest division of the World Ocean—and, in turn, the hydrosphere—covers about 46% of Earth's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area, making it larger than all of Earth's land area combined. The centers of both the Water Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere are in the Pacific Ocean. The equator subdivides it into the North(ern) Pacific Ocean and South(ern) Pacific Ocean, with two exceptions: the Galápagos and Gilbert Islands, while straddling the equator, are deemed wholly within the South Pacific.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Massive marine heatwave strikes the northeastern Pacific

Massive marine heatwave strikes the northeastern Pacific. Today's Image of...

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> shows widespread flooding across Sudan after torrential rainfall in July and August of 2019.

By September, there were reports of flooding in 16 of Sudan’s 18 states, including the capital city of Khartoum.

An estimated 78 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

The image, which is focused on the Sudanese states of White Nile and Blue Nile, was captured on August 31 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. Sudan  officially the Republic of the Sudan (Arabic: جمهورية السودان‎ Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in northeastern Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southeast, Eritrea to the east, and the Red Sea to the northeast. Sudan has a population of 43 million (2018 estimate) and occupies 1,886,068 square kilometres (728,215 square miles), making it Africa's third-largest country and also the third-largest in the Arab world. Before South Sudan's secession from Sudan on 9 July 2011, the united Sudan was the largest country in Africa and the Arab world by area.Sudan's predominant religion is Islam, and its official languages are Arabic and English. The capital is Khartoum, located at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. Since 2011, Sudan has been the scene of an ongoing military conflict in its southern states. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

&nbsp;

Major flooding has devastated areas of Sudan

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

What makes us who we are? Is it our DNA, our childhood, or a mix of both? For decades, scientists and philosophers have debated how much early life shapes adult personality. A new study suggests that something as simple as maternal affection may quietly steer our path.



Affectionate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-start-bonding-with-their-baby-before-delivery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mothering</a> in childhood may do more than bring comfort - it may influence traits that shape success in school, relationships, and health. This insight comes from a rigorous study published in American Psychologist, led by Professor Jasmin Wertz of the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Edinburgh</a>. 



By analyzing how children were parented and how they turned out at 18, the team shed new light on the subtle power of early care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-mother-s-affection-shapes-personality">How mother’s affection shapes personality </h2>



Personality traits like openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness matter. These traits don’t just determine whether someone is polite or curious - they predict major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-paternity-leave-changes-parenting-dynamics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life outcomes</a>. Research has shown they link to academic achievement, job performance, mental health, and even physical health.



That’s why researchers have taken a growing interest in personality not as something fixed, but as something that can evolve with experience. While past studies hinted at parenting’s influence on personality, few could separate it from genetics or broader family context.



“Personality traits are strong predictors of important life outcomes, from academic and career success to health and well-being,” said Dr. Jasmin Wertz, a professor of psychology at the University of Edinburgh and the study's lead author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parenting-s-impact-on-personality">Parenting’s impact on personality</h2>



To truly isolate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-treat-their-children-differently-but-do-they-have-a-favorite/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parenting’s effects</a>, Dr. Wertz and colleagues studied 2,232 British twins, including many identical (monozygotic) pairs.



These twins share 100% of their DNA and grew up in the same households. That makes them ideal for teasing apart the role of environment - especially the differences in how each twin was parented.



Between ages 5 and 10, mothers participated in structured interviews where they were asked to talk about each child for five minutes. The interviews captured spontaneous expressions of warmth and dissatisfaction. Coders rated the tone and content to assess how affectionate each mother was toward each twin.



Later, when the twins turned 18, trained observers and family members rated their personalities using the Big Five framework: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mother-s-affection-linked-to-openness">Mother’s affection linked to openness</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parenting-may-help-keep-the-brain-younger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Children</a> who received more maternal affection were more likely to become open, conscientious, and agreeable by age 18. These effects were small but statistically significant - even after adjusting for maltreatment, childhood behavior, and family support at 18.



Twins with more affectionate treatment than their co-twin scored higher on the three traits that support learning, cooperation, and long-term success.



“Our findings suggest that fostering positive parenting environments in early childhood could have a small but significant and lasting impact on the development of these crucial personality traits,” said Dr. Wertz.



These results held not just in the full sample but even within identical twin pairs. That means the differences can’t be explained by shared genes or family setting - they reflect parenting alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-conscientiousness-matters-most">Why conscientiousness matters most</h2>



Among the three traits, conscientiousness stands out for its long-term value. People high in this trait tend to be organized, responsible, and reliable. They do better in school, avoid health risks, and thrive in the workplace.



Because of this, even modest increases in conscientiousness could improve public health and economic outcomes at a national scale. Affectionate parenting may thus play an important role in shaping not just individuals but society as a whole.



The study’s authors suggest that policies promoting supportive parenting could have long-reaching benefits. These might include income support, mental health treatment for parents, and programs that help families strengthen emotional bonds.



“There are many proven ways to support parents, such as policies that improve a family’s financial situation; access to treatment for parents who struggle with mental health problems such as depression; and parenting programs that help parents <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">build stronger relationships</a> with their children,” said Dr. Wertz.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-traits-and-mother-s-affection">Personality traits and mother's affection</h2>



The study also explored extraversion and neuroticism. In the broader sample, mother's affection seemed to relate to these personality traits. But when genetic and environmental confounds were removed by comparing identical twins, the effects disappeared.



This suggests that parenting may not have a strong or lasting impact on how outgoing or emotionally sensitive someone becomes. Instead, other influences - such as peers, later life experiences, or even therapy - might play a bigger role.



The authors note that neuroticism, despite being tied to early mental health issues, may not respond to affectionate parenting alone. However, interventions later in life can still help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-rules-out-other-causes">Study rules out other causes</h2>



One strength of the study lies in its cautious, thorough approach. The researchers tested whether other factors could explain the results. They controlled for child behavior at age five to rule out the possibility that more agreeable children simply receive better parenting.



The experts also looked at the impact of childhood maltreatment and support from family at age 18. None of these factors changed the main outcome. Maternal affection remained linked to stronger personality traits.



“This research provides valuable evidence for the potential of parenting programs to influence critical aspects of personality development,” said Dr. Wertz.



“However, it also highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of how different factors, including genetics, parenting and life experiences, interact to shape who we are.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-subtle-yet-powerful-influence">A subtle yet powerful influence</h2>



While the effects of affectionate parenting on personality are not huge, they are consistent. And they come from a study design that few can match in terms of clarity.



Even small shifts in personality can lead to noticeable gains when seen across an entire population. This is especially true for traits that boost health, learning, and cooperation.



“By targeting parenting practices that promote positive traits in childhood, it may be possible to reduce disparities in life outcomes associated with socioeconomic background, family dynamics and other environmental factors,” said Dr. Wertz.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-care-lifelong-consequences">Early care, lifelong consequences</h2>



The link between personality traits and mother's affection reminds us that the small things we do for children may echo for years. A kind word, a warm tone, a moment of encouragement - they do not just comfort in the moment. They can shape who a child becomes.



In a world searching for effective, scalable ways to improve lives, these findings bring attention back to one of the oldest tools we have: love and attention in early childhood. 



Affection, though simple, may be one of the most powerful investments a society can make.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-amp0001508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Psychologist</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Mother’s affection shapes a child's personality into adulthood

What makes us who we are? Is it our DNA,...

A new image of the planetary nebula NGC 1514 reveals a chaotic scene: rings of a dying star with tangled clouds of gas and dust.



The James Webb Space Telescope captured the stunning image, revealing the intricate structures of a stellar remnant located over 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus.



The observations were made by scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who played a key role in managing the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the Webb telescope during its launch.



The data paints a dramatically detailed picture of a dying star’s final outbursts, bringing clarity to a scene that’s been forming for roughly 4,000 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-rings-form-around-dying-stars">Why rings form around dying stars</h2>



At the heart of NGC 1514 is a star that once shone several times brighter and larger than our Sun. Over time, it ballooned outward, expelling layers of gas and dust in a slow, dense stellar wind. 



This process created what we now see as glowing rings of material. After shedding its outer layers, only a small, hot core remained - 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>. As this core continued to eject material at higher speeds, it sculpted the expanding gas into complex shells and cavities.



“Before Webb, we weren’t able to detect most of this material, let alone observe it so clearly,” said Mike Ressler, a researcher and project scientist for Webb’s MIRI at <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a>.



Ressler initially discovered the rings around NGC 1514 in 2010 using data from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).



“With MIRI’s data, we can now comprehensively examine the turbulent nature of this nebula,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nebula-rings-form-an-hourglass-shape">Nebula rings form an hourglass shape</h2>



The new image shows what appears to be two bright stars at the nebula’s center. These stars are part of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/binary-systems-with-living-and-dead-stars-reveal-stellar-secrets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">binary system</a>, locked in a tight, elongated orbit that lasts about nine years.



Webb’s observation displays them as a single source surrounded by bright diffraction spikes. An arc of orange dust is draped across the scene.



The nebula’s overall shape appears tilted at about 60 degrees. That gives it a poured-from-a-can appearance, but it’s more likely shaped like an hourglass with its ends cut off. This is especially visible near the top left and bottom right edges of the image. This is where orange dust appears to drift into V-shaped forms.



David Jones is a senior scientist at the Institute of Astrophysics on the Canary Islands, who confirmed the binary system at the center of NGC 1514 in 2017.



“When this star was at its peak of losing material, the companion could have gotten very, very close,” said Jones. "That interaction can lead to shapes that you wouldn’t expect. Instead of producing a sphere, this interaction might have formed these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-directly-observes-carbon-factories-milky-way-galaxy-wolf-rayet-140/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rings</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fuzzy-rings-and-translucent-dust-clouds">Fuzzy rings and translucent dust clouds</h2>



In addition to the rings of a dying star, there’s a faint web of translucent dust clouds in the space between them. These soft orange filaments produce a three-dimensional feel.



The rings themselves aren’t smooth. Instead, they appear fuzzy and irregular in Webb’s infrared view.



“We think the rings are primarily made up of very small dust grains,” said Ressler. “When those grains are hit by ultraviolet light from the white dwarf star, they heat up ever so slightly, which we think makes them just warm enough to be detected by Webb in mid-infrared light.”



At the nebula’s center, Webb also detected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-known-galaxy-contains-surprising-oxygen-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxygen</a>. This area is highlighted in pink tones, especially around the edges of bubble-like structures and holes where fast-moving material broke through.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-carbon-and-complex-molecules">Lack of carbon and complex molecules </h2>



What’s most surprising is what the team didn’t find, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-finds-largest-amount-of-carbon-ever-seen-in-a-planet-forming-disk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon</a> and more complex carbon-based molecules like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These substances are commonly seen in similar planetary nebulae.



One reason could be the orbital interaction between the two central stars, which might have stirred up the expelled matter too quickly for such molecules to form. 



With less complex material blocking the way, light from the stars travels farther, making the faint cloud-like nebula rings easier to observe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-rings-of-a-dying-star">Unique rings of a dying star</h2>



NGC 1514 has puzzled astronomers since the 18th century. William Herschel made an important observation with his telescope in 1790. 



Herschel noted that that the nebula looked like a true cloud. This structure was unlike the star clusters he was accustomed to studying. For over 200 years, scientists lacked the tools to observe the unique rings of a dying star.



Thanks to the Webb Space Telescope’s infrared capabilities, NGC 1514 is finally giving up its secrets.



And while the nebula may appear serene in images, its appearance is anything but static. The dynamic interactions between its stars, dust, and gas will continue to reshape the scene for thousands of years.



One final detail in the image catches the eye: a bright blue star at the bottom left. Although it seems part of the action, it’s just a bystander. That star lies much closer to Earth and has nothing to do with the drama unfolding in the dying embers of NGC 1514.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Michael Ressler (NASA-JPL), Dave Jones (IAC)



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Webb telescope reveals the ghostly rings of a dying star

A new image of the planetary nebula NGC 1514 reveals...

Rice has long been a symbol of nourishment and security. Across vast stretches of Asia, it serves not just as a meal but as a cultural constant - present in everyday dishes and sacred celebrations alike. Now, climate pressure threatens that deep-rooted connection.



But a new study led by researchers at Columbia University’s <a href="https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mailman School of Public Health</a>, in collaboration with teams from China and the United States, reveals a brewing crisis. 



As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astonishing-global-heat-in-january-2025-defied-climate-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> warms and carbon dioxide levels climb, a quiet transformation is taking place deep in paddy soils. This change could soon place millions at risk - not from scarcity, but from toxicity.



The findings, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, detail how a hotter, CO₂-rich atmosphere is likely to increase levels of inorganic arsenic in rice. This toxic compound is linked to a wide array of serious health problems, including cancers, cardiovascular disease, and developmental disorders. 



With rice being a staple food for over half the world’s population, the implications are far-reaching and deeply concerning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-factors-and-arsenic-accumulation">Climate factors and arsenic accumulation </h2>



Until recently, studies examining arsenic accumulation in rice focused on isolated climate factors. Researchers had explored how elevated temperatures or increased CO₂ levels might influence arsenic uptake, but never both at once in a natural setting. 



This new study is the first to simulate real-world growing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-water-day-2025-preserving-glaciers-protecting-our-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions</a> over multiple years and varieties using Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) platforms.



Over a ten-year span, researchers observed 28 genetically diverse rice cultivars across four field sites in the Yangtze River Delta, a region emblematic of Asian rice agriculture. 



The FACE system introduced CO₂ levels 200 ppm above ambient conditions and used infrared heating to simulate a 2°C rise in temperature. The results were clear: temperature and CO₂ together had a synergistic effect, raising inorganic arsenic levels in rice grains more than either factor alone.



“Our results suggest that this increase in arsenic levels could significantly elevate the incidence of heart disease, diabetes, and other non-cancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-accelerating-beyond-control-as-co2-levels-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health effects</a>,” said Dr. Lewis Ziska, associate professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the Columbia Mailman School.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-increases-arsenic-uptake">Climate change increases arsenic uptake</h2>



What makes these findings especially alarming is the mechanism behind them. The study uncovered that elevated temperature and CO₂ don't just influence rice physiology - they reshape the microbial and chemical makeup of paddy soils.



Increased temperatures lowered redox potential in the soil, creating more anaerobic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-constantly-reshuffling-earths-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions</a>. These conditions favor the release of arsenic into the water where rice roots grow. 



Additionally, key soil microbial genes responsible for transforming arsenic into its more toxic forms became more abundant. One gene in particular, arsC, saw a sixfold increase in presence during the grain-filling stage when both temperature and CO₂ were elevated.



Dr. Ziska explained that the higher arsenic levels are likely due to climate-related changes in soil chemistry that favor arsenic that can more easily be absorbed into rice grain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-of-arsenic-exposure">Health risks of arsenic exposure </h2>



The study didn’t stop at biochemistry. Using the latest population and consumption data, researchers modeled health risks for seven Asian countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam. 



These countries were selected because of their high rice consumption and the prevalence of irrigated paddy systems, where arsenic mobility is highest.



Their projections for the year 2050 are alarming. Under the combined CO₂+Temp scenario, mean inorganic arsenic exposure through rice was highest in Vietnam and Indonesia. 



Lifetime cancer risks, particularly for lung and bladder cancer, saw a 44% rise compared to ambient conditions. China alone may face 19.3 million excess cancer cases related to arsenic exposure through rice.



“Ingesting rice in regions like southern China and Southeast and South Asia is already a significant source of dietary arsenic and cancer risk,” said Dr. Ziska.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diseases-linked-to-arsenic-in-rice">Diseases linked to arsenic in rice </h2>



From a public health perspective, arsenic is not just a cancer risk. Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic has been linked to diabetes, ischemic heart disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, neurodevelopmental delays, and immune dysfunction.



In every country assessed, non-cancer risks also rose sharply under the CO₂+Temp scenario. Hazard quotients for health issues like heart disease and diabetes reached worrying levels. 



In Vietnam, for instance, the hazard quotient for these conditions reached 12 - far above the safety threshold of 1. The pattern was similar for fetal and infant health effects and cognitive development concerns.



“From a health perspective, the toxicological effects of chronic iAs exposure are well established; and include cancers of the lung, bladder, and skin, as well as ischemic heart disease,” said Dr. Ziska.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-patterns-and-rice-arsenic-levels">Climate patterns and rice arsenic levels</h2>



While the FACE experiments simulated future climate conditions, natural seasonal variations from 2014 to 2023 added another layer of evidence. 



Arsenic levels in rice tracked closely with temperature changes across those years, even under current CO₂ levels. This real-world correlation supports the experimental data and suggests that climate-induced arsenic risks may already be escalating.



Furthermore, the presence of organic arsenic compounds like dimethylarsenic acid (DMA) also increased under warmer, CO₂-enriched conditions. Although these compounds were not found in highly toxic forms like DMMTA in this study, their rise raises concerns for future rice safety and yield.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-global-action-needed">Urgent global action needed</h2>



“Based on our findings, we believe there are several actions that could help reduce arsenic exposure in the future,” noted Dr. Ziska.



He and his co-authors recommend urgent attention to agricultural adaptation. That includes breeding rice strains that naturally accumulate less arsenic, managing irrigation to reduce soil anaerobic conditions, and improving milling processes to lower arsenic content in edible rice.



Policy gaps remain a critical issue. Most countries lack enforceable standards for arsenic in rice. For example, under the simulated climate scenarios, over half the rice samples exceeded China's proposed 200 ppb safety threshold for inorganic arsenic. 



Meanwhile, many nations either lack such standards entirely or rely on voluntary guidelines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rice-safety-in-a-changing-world">Rice safety in a changing world</h2>



“Our study underscores the urgent need for action to reduce arsenic exposure in rice, especially as climate change continues to affect global food security,” said Dr. Ziska.



Rice is too important to ignore. It sustains billions and shapes cultures. But as this study reveals, it can also quietly carry a growing threat when climate stress meets overlooked soil dynamics. 



The good news? The problem is not irreversible. With the right investment in science, policy, and farming practices, we can protect rice as a safe and trusted food for future generations.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00055-5/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Planetary Health</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Climate change is quietly making rice more toxic

Rice has long been a symbol of nourishment and security....

If you've ever watched songbirds squabble at a backyard feeder, you've seen a small glimpse of the competition animals face for limited resources. 



While some species seem to be constantly at odds, others - even those that appear quite similar - manage to coexist in surprising harmony.



For decades, a classic theory from the field of ecology has suggested that forest-dwelling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-genes-are-responsible-for-the-rapid-diversification-of-warblers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warblers</a> share trees by using different parts of them. 



Now, a new study adds a modern twist to that idea and shows it may be more complicated than it seems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revisiting-a-classic-idea">Revisiting a classic idea </h2>



The research, conducted by scientists at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> and the American Bird Conservancy, revisits an influential idea that was first proposed by ecologist Robert MacArthur in the 1950s.



MacArthur observed that several species of warblers could live in the same tree without crowding each other out, simply by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-social-networks-greatly-influence-their-food-choices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foraging</a> in different zones - some near the trunk, others at the tips of branches, and at varying heights.



This concept has been a staple in biology textbooks ever since. But thanks to DNA analysis and decades of fieldwork, the new study suggests that the story goes deeper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-close-look-at-species-interactions">A close look at species interactions </h2>



Study co-author David Toews is the Louis Martarano Career Development Professor of Biology in the Penn State Eberly College of Science.



“MacArthur suggested that we needed to look more closely at species interactions. We wanted to revisit this idea with modern technology, using molecular methods and an evolutionary perspective that weren’t available in MacArthur’s time," explained Professor Toews.



"This allowed us to not only directly quantify their diet, but also better understand how warblers are partitioning their habitat and how what we see today may have been shaped by competition over the warbler’s evolutionary history.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-analyzing-bird-competition">Analyzing bird competition </h2>



The team observed 13 warbler species that nest in northeastern New York forests during the summer. 



Over 20 years, the researchers tracked where in the trees each bird preferred to forage - how high up they searched, how dense the foliage was, and how close they stayed to the trunk.



The experts also collected fecal samples during five breeding seasons to analyze what the birds were eating.



Using a technique called fecal meta-barcoding, they could extract insect DNA to identify prey species. Alongside this, they studied the physical traits of each bird, including size and beak shape, using public databases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-songbird-foraging-behaviors">Songbird foraging behaviors </h2>



The findings showed that each bird species did indeed forage in slightly different ways. "The implication from MacArthur’s study is that, if the birds are foraging in different areas of the tree, then they are eating different things,” said Professor Toews.



“MacArthur tried to test this using data from his colleagues, who attempted to analyze fragments of insects from stomach contents, but this was biased toward fragments that weren’t digested, and they were extremely difficult to identify."



"Now, we can extract DNA from fecal samples and use a technique called fecal meta-barcoding to see which insect species have been eaten by birds.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pressures-over-evolutionary-timescales">Pressures over evolutionary timescales </h2>



While the birds' movements and strategies differed clearly - smaller species tended to hover more, and those with longer legs stayed closer to the ground - their diets were surprisingly similar.



Eliot Miller, BirdsPlus Index Manager at the American Bird Conservancy, noted that a bird's and shape are products of many pressures operating over evolutionary timescales.



“But numerous studies, including our own, show that chief amongst these pressures is foraging behavior,” said Miller.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-subtle-differences-in-songbird-diets">Subtle differences in songbird diets</h2>



The DNA analysis revealed that although the warblers fed on thousands of insect and spider species, there was a great deal of overlap in their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-plantations-limit-native-birds-diets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets</a>.



“The birds we studied collectively consumed thousands of arthropod species, and there was a considerable amount of overlap in their diets,” said Professor Toews.



“The differences in diet were quite subtle, and we found that closely related species had more similar diets. This suggests that MacArthur’s emphasis on diet may have been partially misplaced, though the general idea of portioning their resources by foraging in different parts of the trees is sound.”



Many birds were simply taking advantage of what was available. Professor Toews noted that more than 75% of fecal samples contained the most common insect in the area, a snipefly, and more than half of the samples contained a common, invasive leaf weevil.



This kind of opportunistic feeding may suggest that while <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/competition-limits-the-ranges-of-tropical-mountain-birds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">competition</a> shaped the songbirds’ physical traits and foraging strategies, diet may not have played as strong a role in pushing species apart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-migration-and-competition">Bird migration and competition </h2>



“Because of the notable differences in foraging behavior, we believe that competition has shaped how these species forage today, as well as how they evolved to forage over evolutionary time,” Miller said. 



“But we don’t see many differences in diet, so it’s likely that other forces may have more directly influenced warbler evolution. It is worth noting that these birds migrate to Central and South America over the winter, so competition for resources in those locations as well as the stress of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/songbirds-benefit-from-social-networks-during-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration</a> may also shape the traits we see today.”



The researchers are planning future studies to look more closely at what warblers eat during their time in the tropics and how the nutritional value of their food might vary. 



This could offer deeper insight into how competition and migration shape these songbirds beyond their breeding grounds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-more-nuanced-view-of-coexistence">A more nuanced view of coexistence</h2>



“MacArthur was right in that these warblers are partitioning their habitat in fine ways, but it’s a little more complex than he originally thought,” said Professor Toews.



“People often observe competitive interactions between species at their bird feeders, and studies like this show how these kinds of interactions that happened hundreds or thousands of years ago can shape the species we see today.”



The takeaway? Even birds that seem to get along may be playing out a long, slow competition - one that stretches across trees, continents, and generations.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0001" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Bird competition: How warblers share trees without fighting

If you've ever watched songbirds squabble at a backyard feeder,...

Ankylosaurus,In,Nature.,This,Is,A,3d,Render,Illustration

Dinosaur fossils often steal the spotlight, but sometimes, tracks and footprints can tell an even deeper story. Ancient ankylosaur tracks, recently discovered in Canada, have rewritten a chapter of dinosaur history.



These newly discovered tracks belong to a group of armored dinosaurs known for their tail clubs called ankylosaurids. Yet, no one had ever seen their footprints before.



Researchers working in British Columbia and Alberta uncovered the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-extinction-theories-are-challenged-by-new-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossilized</a> prints in mid-Cretaceous rock formations. The discovery includes multiple trackways of a new ichnospecies, Ruopodosaurus clava.



This finding offers long-sought confirmation that ankylosaurid dinosaurs, known for their weaponized tails, roamed North America far earlier than previously recorded.



The research, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, highlights just how much a footprint can reveal. From foot structure to group behavior, and even evolutionary timelines, these impressions bridge gaps in the fossil record and expand our understanding of dinosaur diversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-armored-ankylosaur-dinosaur-tracks">Armored ankylosaur dinosaur tracks</h2>



Ankylosaurs are famous for their tank-like bodies and low-slung frames. They fall into two main groups: nodosaurids and ankylosaurids. 



Nodosaurids had four toes and flexible tails. Ankylosaurids, however, carried club-like tails and walked on three-toed feet.



Until now, paleontologists had only found four-toed ankylosaur tracks in North America. These belonged to Tetrapodosaurus borealis, a widely documented ichnospecies linked to nodosaurid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-did-dinosaurs-come-from-missing-fossils-hold-the-secret/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaurs</a>. 



The discovery of three-toed tracks with associated five-fingered forelimb impressions was new – and important.



The name Ruopodosaurus clava means “tumbled-down lizard with a club,” which is a nod to both its clubbed tail and the mountainous terrain of Tumbler Ridge. 



The armored dinosaur tracks date back around 100 million years to the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. They came from two formations – the Dunvegan and the basal Kaskapau. Both represent wet deltaic environments that supported lush vegetation and slow-moving waterways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-well-preserved-dinosaur-footprints">Well-preserved dinosaur footprints </h2>



The most complete specimen, TRMF 2023.09.002, was found beside the Wolverine River. It preserves a left manus and a pair of feet, with all digits clearly impressed.



Other tracks were recovered from sites like Bullmoose Creek and Everlasting Creek - each offering a unique snapshot of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-fossils-reveal-hollow-bones-just-like-modern-birds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animals</a>' movements.



The prints differ sharply from other dinosaur tracks. The three toes of the hindfoot are wide, blunt, and either triangular or U-shaped.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dinosaur_Ruopodosaurus_footprints_spiked-tail_credit-Arbour_-1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dinosaur_Ruopodosaurus_footprints_spiked-tail_credit-Arbour_1s.webp" alt="Ruopodosaurus hand and footprints from Tumbler Ridge: Ruopodosaurus footprints from Tumbler Ridge. Credit: V. Arbour/C. Helm." class="wp-image-1965970"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ruopodosaurus hand and footprints from Tumbler Ridge: Ruopodosaurus footprints from Tumbler Ridge. Click image to enlarge. Credit: V. Arbour/C. Helm.</figcaption></figure>



The forefoot shows five spread-out digits in a crescent shape. The stride patterns, toe shapes, and narrow walking stance support the identification of ankylosaurids.



“While we don’t know exactly what the dinosaur that made&nbsp;Ruopodosaurus&nbsp;footprints looked like, we know that it would have been about 5–6 meters long, spiky and armored, and with a stiff tail or a full tail club,” said Victoria M. Arbour, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uvic.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Victoria</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaur-fossil-record-in-north-america">Dinosaur fossil record in North America</h2>



These footprints bridge a long-standing gap in the North American <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-ground-dwellers-survived-the-asteroid-impact-that-killed-the-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> record. No ankylosaurid bones have been found in this region between 100 and 84 million years ago. 



For decades, researchers thought ankylosaurids had disappeared from the continent during this time, only to return later from Asia.



But the tracks tell a different story. They show that ankylosaurids were very much present in mid-Cretaceous ecosystems. They coexisted with nodosaurids, as both Ruopodosaurus and Tetrapodosaurus prints appear in the same rock layers.



Dr. Charles Helm, who co-authored the study, had observed these unusual three-toed tracks near Tumbler Ridge for years. 



He eventually brought Arbour into the project to confirm their significance. This collaboration paid off with the identification of a new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-americas-oldest-dinosaur-is-completely-rewriting-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> and the rewriting of an evolutionary timeline.



“Ever since two young boys discovered an ankylosaur trackway close to Tumbler Ridge in 2000, ankylosaurs and Tumbler Ridge have been synonymous," Helm enthused. 



"It is really exciting to know through this research that there are two types of ankylosaurs that called this region home and that Ruopodosaurus has only been identified in this part of Canada."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revealing-3d-models-and-skin-prints">Revealing 3D models and skin prints</h2>



Beyond visual observations, the researchers used photogrammetry to create detailed 3D models of the dinosaur tracks. These helped confirm the unique features of Ruopodosaurus. Some track surfaces also revealed faint skin impressions, providing rare textural data on ankylosaur feet.



Trackway measurements showed consistent stride lengths, narrow gait, and outward toe rotation. This matched well with ankylosaurid hip and limb anatomy. 



Although these dinosaurs had wide bodies, their legs were positioned more vertically, resulting in a surprisingly narrow trackway.



Comparative studies ruled out other possible candidates. Stegosaurs, ceratopsians, and iguanodonts either lacked the right foot shape or had different forelimb anatomy. Only ankylosaurids possessed the correct combination of a three-toed foot and a five-digit hand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bone-and-stone-evidence">Bone and stone evidence</h2>



While skeletal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-predatory-dinosaur-species-identified-in-lost-photos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remains</a> from this time are rare, a few bone fragments support the presence of ankylosaurids. 



Vertebrae and ossicles found in the same formations share more in common with ankylosaurids than nodosaurids. These hints, paired with the new tracks, paint a clearer picture of mid-Cretaceous dinosaur diversity.



“This study also highlights how important the Peace Region of northeastern BC is for understanding the evolution of dinosaurs in North America - there’s still lots more to be discovered,” said Arbour.



The size of the prints suggests the animals were about 120 cm tall at the hip. That’s slightly smaller than some nodosaurids, whose prints measure up to 50 cm. This difference hints at niche separation or varied ecological roles among the armored dinosaurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-region-rich-in-dinosaur-tracks">A region rich in dinosaur tracks</h2>



The Peace Region continues to be a goldmine for track-based discoveries. Past finds include tyrannosaurid trails, giant crocodylian traces, and even the largest bird footprints from the Mesozoic in North America. 



Ruopodosaurus joins this growing list, adding a new dimension to our understanding of dinosaur evolution.



These armored dinosaur tracks, formed in mud and preserved by time, offer more than just direction. They tell us who walked here, how they moved, and how long they remained. In a land where bones are rare, the ground carries the memory of ancient giants.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology</a>. 



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Footprints of armored dinosaurs with clubbed tails found for the first time

Dinosaur fossils often steal the spotlight, but sometimes, tracks and...

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



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

The ice giant Uranus in stunning detail

News coming your way