Today's Image of the Day from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) features the Dark Wolf Nebula, located around 5,300 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius.



According to ESO, this image of the dark <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-reveal-the-ring-nebula-as-it-has-never-been-seen-before/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nebula</a> creates the illusion of a wolf-like silhouette against a colorful cosmic backdrop.&nbsp;



“This image takes up an area in the sky equivalent to four full Moons, but is actually part of an even larger nebula called Gum 55. If you look closely, the wolf could even be a werewolf, its hands ready to grab unsuspecting bystanders,” noted <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESO</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-dark-nebulae">Observing dark nebulae </h2>



Dark nebulae are dense regions in space filled with gas and dust that absorb visible light, making them appear as dark patches against brighter backgrounds.&nbsp;



Unlike emission or reflection nebulae, dark nebulae do not glow on their own. Instead, they obstruct and obscure the light from stars and other objects lying behind them.&nbsp;



This characteristic makes them challenging to observe using visible-light telescopes, as they absorb and scatter light rather than reflecting or emitting it.&nbsp;



However, when viewed in infrared, where their obscuring effect is reduced, dark nebulae reveal intricate details about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-blocks-of-life-found-in-the-perseus-cloud/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">molecular clouds</a> they contain.



According to ESO, astronomers study these clouds of frozen dust because they often contain new stars in the making.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-wolf-nebula-nbsp">Dark Wolf Nebula&nbsp;</h2>



The Dark Wolf Nebula is part of a larger complex known as the Lupus Molecular Cloud, one of several significant star-forming regions close to Earth.&nbsp;



Inside of dark nebulae, the conditions are prime for star formation. The dense gas and dust clump together under gravitational forces. As these clouds contract, they heat up, eventually igniting nuclear fusion and forming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-molecule-detected-in-space-where-stars-are-born/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new stars</a>.



The Dark Wolf Nebula is known for revealing young, low-mass stars - or T Tauri stars - which are in the early stages of their evolution. These stars are still surrounded by disks of material that may eventually form new planets.



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



Scorpius is one of the most recognizable constellations in the sky. It resembles a scorpion with a long, curved tail and stinger.&nbsp;



Located in the southern sky, Scorpius is especially visible during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere and during the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere. 



The constellation is often associated with the story of Orion in Greek mythology. According to legend, the scorpion was sent by the goddess Artemis to kill Orion, the great hunter, either as punishment for his arrogance or to protect her animals, depending on the version of the tale.&nbsp;



The gods later placed both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-nebula-destroys-an-oceans-worth-of-water-every-month/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orion</a> and Scorpius in the sky, but in opposite parts of the heavens so they would never be seen together - as Scorpius rises in the east and Orion sets in the west.



Scorpius contains several notable stars and deep-sky objects. Its brightest star, Antares, is a red supergiant often referred to as the "heart of the scorpion" due to its reddish hue and central position. 



Antares is one of the largest visible stars in the sky and has a luminosity that is tens of thousands of times greater than that of our Sun. 



Scorpius is located close to the core of the Milky Way, making it a rich region for star clusters and nebulae. Among these are the Butterfly Cluster and the Ptolemy Cluster - both of which are visible to the naked eye under dark skies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-image-of-the-dark-wolf-nebula">Image of the Dark Wolf Nebula </h2>



“This image shows in spectacular detail how the dark wolf stands out against the glowing star-forming clouds behind it,” noted ESO.



“The colorful clouds are built up mostly of hydrogen gas and glow in reddish tones excited by the intense UV radiation from the newborn stars within them.”



The picture was created from images taken at different times. Each of the images has a filter that makes a different color of light visible.&nbsp;



Observations of the Dark Wolf Nebula provide astronomers with valuable information about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-star-redefines-our-understanding-of-stellar-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution of stars</a> and the environments in which they form.



The image was captured by the VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile.



Image Credit: ESO/VPHAS+ team



-----



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.



-----

Dark Wolf Nebula in the constellation Scorpius

Today's Image of the Day from the European Southern Observatory...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the Little Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 76, located in the constellation Perseus 3,400 light-years away from Earth.



Astronomers captured this image of the Little Dumbbell Nebula to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, a joint venture between NASA and the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>).



The snapshot provides not only a breathtaking view, but also deep insights into the life cycle of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-stars-scientists-discover-a-new-type-of-star-powered-by-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a> and the dynamic processes within nebulae.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-messier-76">Understanding Messier 76</h2>



Messier 76 is categorized as a planetary nebula - a term which refers to its round, planet-like appearance when viewed through early, low-power telescopes. 



However, the term is somewhat misleading as planetary nebulae have no connection to actual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-finds-17-exoplanets-that-have-oceans-and-possibly-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets</a>.&nbsp;



Instead, they represent an expansive shell of luminous gases expelled by a dying red giant star, which subsequently collapses into a dense, hot white dwarf. 



This transformation marks the late stages of stellar evolution for medium to low-mass stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structure-of-messier-76">Structure of Messier 76</h2>



The structure of Messier 76 is particularly notable. It includes a central ring, giving the appearance of a bar-like feature, with two distinct lobes emanating from either side. 



This formation is believed to be the result of materials ejected by the star during its red giant phase, possibly sculpted by interactions with a companion star.&nbsp;



Although this binary companion is not visible in current Hubble images, its presence is inferred from the thick disk of dust and gas aligned with its orbital plane. 



The phenomenon of the companion star potentially being absorbed by the primary star, a process akin to stellar cannibalism, is a captivating aspect of the nebula's history.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dynamic-environment-of-the-nebula">The dynamic environment of the nebula</h2>



At the core of the nebula, the primary star, now collapsing into 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>, reaches extreme temperatures. This heat is estimated to be 120,000 degrees Celsius - about 24 times hotter than the surface of our Sun.&nbsp;



This intensely hot remnant is visible as a small, bright point at the center of the nebula. Directly below this, another star can be seen; however, it is merely aligned with the nebula by chance and is not a part of it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powerful-glow-of-messier-76">Powerful glow of Messier 76</h2>



The dynamics within Messier 76 are driven by powerful forces. The central disk seems to constrict the material, creating two lobes of gas escaping along the rotational axis of the star, perpendicular to the disk.&nbsp;



The lobes are propelled outward by a potent stellar wind, moving at a staggering two million miles per hour. This rapid movement is sufficient to travel the distance from Earth to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/timeless-mystery-solved-scientists-uncover-what-is-inside-the-moons-core/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moon</a> in just over seven minutes.&nbsp;



The collision of the fast-moving gas with older, slower-moving material ejected during the star’s red giant phase results in the stunning glowing effect seen in the nebula. 



The glow, ignited by the ultraviolet radiation from the white dwarf, is a spectacle of colors with red emanating from nitrogen and blue from oxygen.



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



Despite its current brilliance, the existence of the Little Dumbbell Nebula is fleeting on a cosmological scale. It is expected to last only about 15,000 years - a mere moment in the lifespan of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-energy-is-ripping-the-universe-apart-but-we-arent-sure-how/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a>.&nbsp;



This brief period highlights the transient nature of such cosmic phenomena, which, while short-lived, provide crucial insights into the mechanics of stellar evolution and the complex interactions within these celestial sculptures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-messier-76">More about Messier 76</h2>



Messier 76 was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780. It was later cataloged by Charles Messier, who included it in his famous list of nebulous objects.



The nebula's faintness and small size require a good telescope to be observed effectively, with larger telescopes able to reveal more of its fine details and structure.



Studying Messier 76 helps astronomers understand the life cycle of stars and the processes that occur during the late stages of stellar evolution. 



The materials expelled by planetary nebulae like Messier 76 eventually contribute to the interstellar medium, from which new stars and planetary systems may form.



Image Credit: ESA Space Agency&nbsp;



-----



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.



-----

Secrets of the Little Dumbbell Nebula  

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features Westerlund 1 - a young star cluster located in the Milky Way galaxy.&nbsp;



Discovered by Swedish astronomer Bengt Westerlund in 1961, the cluster is composed of thousands of stars - many of which are supergiants - and contains some of the most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-stars-shape-planetary-systems-like-ours-with-ultraviolet-radiation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">massive stars</a> ever observed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-image-of-westerlund-1">Webb image of Westerlund 1</h2>



“The open cluster Westerlund 1, showcased in this new Webb Picture of the Month, is located roughly 12,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Ara (the Altar) where it resides behind a huge interstellar cloud of gas and dust,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“Westerlund 1 is an incomparable natural laboratory for the study of extreme stellar physics, helping astronomers to find out how the most massive stars in our galaxy live and die.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-special-about-westerlund-1">What is special about Westerlund 1?</h2>



According to ESA, the unique draw of Westerlund 1 is its large, dense, and diverse population of massive stars. The star cluster is unparalleled in the known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-is-surrounded-by-massive-magnetic-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a> galaxy in terms of the number of stars and the richness of spectral types and evolutionary phases.&nbsp;



“All stars identified in this cluster are evolved and very massive, spanning the full range of stellar classifications including Wolf-Rayet stars, OB supergiants, yellow hypergiants (nearly as bright as a million Suns) and luminous blue variables. Because such stars have a rather short life, Westerlund 1 is very young, astronomically speaking,” said ESA.



“Astronomers estimate the cluster’s age to be somewhere between 3.5 and 5 million years (its exact age is still a matter of debate), making it a newborn cluster in our galaxy.”



Westerlund 1 is expected to gradually evolve from an open cluster to a globular cluster - a spherical collection of stars that are tightly bound together by gravity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-the-milky-way-galaxy-nbsp">Star formation in the Milky Way galaxy&nbsp;</h2>



The Milky Way <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> forms roughly 1 to 2 stars per year on average. This star formation rate is relatively moderate compared to more active galaxies, which can produce dozens or even hundreds of stars annually.



The Milky Way galaxy used to produce many more stars, likely hitting its peak about 10 billion years ago. At that time, dozens (or possibly even hundreds) of stars were created in the Milky Way each year.&nbsp;



“Astronomers think that most of this star formation took place in massive clusters of stars, known as ‘super star clusters.’ These are young clusters of stars that contain more than 10,000 times the mass of the Sun, packed into an unbelievably small volume. They represent the most extreme environments in which stars and planets can form,” said ESA.&nbsp;



“Only a few super star clusters still exist in our galaxy - of which Westerlund 1 is one - but they offer important clues about this earlier era when most of our galaxy’s stars formed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impressive-example-of-a-star-cluster-nbsp">Impressive example of a star cluster&nbsp;</h2>



ESA noted that Westerlund 1 is an impressive example of a super star cluster because it contains hundreds of very massive stars. Some of these stars shine with the brilliance of almost a million suns, while others are two thousand times larger than the sun. 



“Indeed, if the Solar System was located at the heart of this remarkable cluster, our sky would be full of hundreds of stars as bright as the full Moon."



The large population of massive stars in Westerlund 1 indicates that it will greatly influence its surroundings, noted ESA. With such a high concentration of these stars, the cluster is expected to host over 1,500 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernovae</a> within the next 40 million years. 



This "super" star cluster offers astronomers a rare glimpse into one of the most extreme environments in the Universe. 



Westerlund 1 is set to play a key role in advancing our understanding of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>, particularly massive ones, are formed.



The image was captured as part of The Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey (EWOCS) with Webb’s Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam). 



Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



-----



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.



-----

Westerlund 1: Stars with the brilliance of a million suns

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a brilliant stellar nursery located about 163,000 light-years away.



According to ESA, the image is one of the most photogenic examples of the many stellar nurseries observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope during its 30-year lifetime. 



“The portrait features the giant nebula NGC 2014 and its neighbor NGC 2020 which together form part of a vast star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



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



Stellar nurseries are regions in space where new stars are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-stars-release-sneezes-of-gas-and-dust-as-they-develop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">born</a> - often within vast clouds of gas and dust called molecular clouds.&nbsp;



These areas are fascinating because they are cradles of stellar evolution, where gravity causes clumps of gas to collapse, eventually forming protostars.&nbsp;



Over time, the protostars will heat up and start the nuclear fusion process that powers a star.



One of the most well-known stellar nurseries is the Orion Nebula, which is visible to the naked eye and located about 1,350 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-nature-of-a-stellar-nursery-nbsp">Dynamic nature of a stellar nursery&nbsp;</h2>



Within these nurseries, the balance between gravity and pressure determines the types of stars that form, from massive, luminous stars to smaller, cooler ones like our Sun.&nbsp;



The environment is incredibly dynamic, with powerful winds from young stars shaping the clouds and triggering the birth of even more stars.



These regions are often illuminated by the light from massive newborn stars - creating stunning, colorful displays. The light reveals the intricate structure of the dust and gas, sculpted by the energy of young stars.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-stellar-nurseries-nbsp">Significance of stellar nurseries&nbsp;</h2>



Stellar nurseries are essential for understanding the early stages of planetary formation, as protoplanetary disks (the material from which <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets form</a>) are often found around young stars in these regions.



Stellar nurseries play a crucial role in the ongoing evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a>. They are responsible for the continuous birth of new stars that enrich the interstellar medium with heavier elements. This constant recycling of material is key to the development of future generations of stars and planets.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the study of these regions helps astronomers understand the fundamental processes that govern the life cycles of stars and the overall dynamics of the universe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-local-group">The Local Group</h2>



The Local Group is a collection of over 80 galaxies that includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Triangulum Galaxy, along with numerous smaller dwarf galaxies. These galaxies are bound together by gravity and span a region roughly 10 million light-years across.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-ways-thin-disk-is-billions-of-years-older-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a> and Andromeda are the dominant members, with their respective satellite galaxies orbiting them.&nbsp;



The Local Group is part of a larger structure known as the Virgo Supercluster, and its galaxies are moving toward the gravitational center of the Local Group, contributing to its dynamic nature.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-magellanic-cloud">Large Magellanic Cloud</h2>



The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is the fourth largest galaxy in the Local Group and can be seen with the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



This irregular dwarf galaxy is home to the Tarantula Nebula, one of the most active star-forming regions in our cosmic neighborhood.&nbsp;



The Large Magellanic Cloud played a key role in astronomical history, particularly when the supernova SN 1987A was observed, providing valuable insights into stellar evolution.&nbsp;



The LMC's interaction with the Milky Way, along with its own companion, the Small Magellanic Cloud, is believed to influence its shape and star formation activity. Its proximity and unique properties make it a crucial object of study for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-galactic-explosion-provides-clues-about-galaxy-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy evolution</a>, star formation, and the dynamics of interacting galaxies.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and 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.



-----

Hubble captures a stunning stellar nursery

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a pair of interacting spiral galaxies known as the Antennae Galaxies. They are located approximately 45 million light-years away in the constellation Corvus.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-antennae-galaxies-in-a-deadly-embrace">Antennae Galaxies in a deadly embrace </h2>



“The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has snapped the best ever image of the Antennae Galaxies. Hubble has released images of these stunning galaxies twice before, once using observations from its Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) in 1997, and again in 2006 from the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS),” noted <a href="https://esahubble.org/images/potw1345a/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“The galaxies - also known as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 - are locked in a deadly embrace. Once normal, sedate spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, the pair have spent the past few hundred million years sparring with one another.”



According to ESA, the clash of the Antennae Galaxies is so violent that stars have been ripped from their host <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxy-collision-2-million-mph-stephans-quintet-captured-unprecedented-detail/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> to form a streaming arc between the two.&nbsp;



The name "Antennae" comes from this long stream of stars and gas, which resembles insect antennae.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intense-bursts-of-star-formation-nbsp">Intense bursts of star formation&nbsp;</h2>



The collision has triggered intense bursts of star formation, making the Antennae Galaxies one of the nearest and most dramatic examples of a starburst galaxy.&nbsp;



Many of the newly formed stars are concentrated in massive star clusters, some of which are expected to evolve into globular clusters over millions of years.



“This new image of the Antennae Galaxies shows obvious signs of chaos. Clouds of gas are seen in bright pink and red, surrounding the bright flashes of blue star-forming regions - some of which are partially obscured by dark patches of dust,” explained ESA.



“The rate of star formation is so high that the Antennae Galaxies are said to be in a state of starburst, a period in which all of the gas within the galaxies is being used to form stars.”&nbsp;



“This cannot last forever and neither can the separate galaxies; eventually the nuclei will coalesce, and the galaxies will begin their retirement together as one large elliptical galaxy.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-antennae-galaxies">Significance of the Antennae Galaxies</h2>



The Antennae Galaxies are one of the most well-studied examples of galaxy collisions, offering insight into the processes that shape galaxies over time.



Astronomers study the Antennae Galaxies using a range of telescopes across different wavelengths, including visible light, infrared, and X-rays.&nbsp;



Observations in X-rays have revealed evidence of supernovae and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-may-talk-to-galaxies-through-energetic-winds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black holes</a>, while infrared studies highlight regions of dust and star formation.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-milky-way-s-collision-course-nbsp">The Milky Way's collision course&nbsp;</h2>



The Antennae Galaxies provide a glimpse into the future of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uma3-u1-faintest-star-system-found-orbiting-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>, which is expected to eventually merge with the Andromeda Galaxy - our closest spiral galaxy neighbor.



The cosmic collision course of the Milky Way and Andromeda will reshape both galaxies over billions of years. 



This event is expected to occur in about 4.5 billion years. Both galaxies are part of the Local Group, a cluster of galaxies bound together by gravity. Their mutual gravitational pull is drawing them closer at a speed of approximately 110 kilometers per second.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-birth-of-an-elliptical-galaxy-nbsp">The birth of an elliptical galaxy&nbsp;</h3>



When the two galaxies collide, their individual stars will largely avoid direct collisions due to the vast distances between them. However, the gravitational forces involved will create dramatic effects.&nbsp;



These forces will distort the galaxies' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shapes</a>, triggering intense bursts of star formation as gas clouds collide and compress. Over time, the galaxies will settle into a new, larger elliptical galaxy often referred to as "Milkomeda" or "Milkdromeda" by astronomers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-merger-and-the-solar-system">Galaxy merger and the solar system</h3>



Despite the seemingly destructive nature of the collision, the solar system is unlikely to face direct harm. Our Sun may find itself flung into a new orbit within the merged galaxy or even cast into intergalactic space.&nbsp;



The merger will also significantly alter the night sky, with the Andromeda Galaxy becoming increasingly prominent before blending into the unified structure.



This event is part of the natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-are-much-bigger-than-we-originally-believed-gas-clouds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution of galaxies</a> and serves as a fascinating reminder of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the universe. 



While the collision is still billions of years away, studying it helps astronomers understand galactic interactions and the long-term future of our cosmic neighborhood.



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA



-----



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 violent clash of the Antennae Galaxies  

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;



-----



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.



-----

Messier 78: Young stars shine through dense dust

As its name might suggest, Handkerchief Pool was popular with tourists who enjoyed throwing dirty rags into the water – only for them to emerge clean moments later. But after years of such activity, the spring became blocked. And now it lies dormant, the crowds having long moved on to more exciting areas of the park.

Plugged Up

A recent discovery in Türkiye is shaking up our understanding of human evolution. Scientists have identified a new fossil ape, Anadoluvius turkae, from an 8.7-million-year-old site near Çankırı. 



This find challenges the long-held belief that human ancestors evolved solely in Africa, suggesting instead that Europe played a significant role in our evolutionary history.



The fossil, uncovered at the Çorakyerler site with support from Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, reveals that Mediterranean fossil apes were more diverse than previously thought. 



These apes are part of the earliest known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-species-of-human-ancestors-literally-crossed-paths-1-5-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">group of hominins</a>, which includes not only African apes like chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas but also humans and their fossil ancestors. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-of-africa-maybe-not">Out of Africa? Maybe not</h2>



This discovery adds weight to the theory that the ancestors of African apes and humans may have evolved in Europe before migrating to Africa between nine and seven million years ago.



Professor David Begun from the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Toronto</a> and Professor Ayla Sevim Erol from <a href="https://www.ankara.edu.tr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ankara University</a> led the international team of researchers who conducted the study. 



"Our findings further suggest that hominines not only evolved in western and central Europe but spent over five million years evolving there and spreading to the eastern Mediterranean before eventually dispersing into Africa, probably as a consequence of changing environments and diminishing forests," explained Professor Begun. 



"The members of this radiation to which Anadoluvius turkae belongs are currently only identified in Europe and Anatolia."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-partial-skull-of-anadoluvius-turkae">Partial skull of Anadoluvius turkae</h2>



The conclusion drawn from the study is based on the analysis of a well-preserved partial cranium discovered in 2015. 



This fossil includes most of the facial structure and the front part of the braincase, providing valuable insights into the ape's anatomy. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/human-ancestor_Anadoluvius-turkae_early-ape_evolved-europe_credit-Sevim-Erol_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/human-ancestor_Anadoluvius-turkae_early-ape_evolved-europe_credit-Sevim-Erol_1s.webp" alt="A new face and partial brain case of Anadoluvius turkae, a fossil hominine—the group that includes African apes and humans—from the Çorakyerler fossil site located in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. Credit: Sevim-Erol, A., Begun, D.R., Sözer, Ç.S. et al." class="wp-image-1953373"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A new face and partial brain case of Anadoluvius turkae, a fossil hominine—the group that includes African apes and humans—from the Çorakyerler fossil site located in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. Credit: Sevim-Erol, A., Begun, D.R., Sözer, Ç.S. et al.</figcaption></figure>



"The completeness of the fossil allowed us to do a broader and more detailed analysis using many characters and attributes that are coded into a program designed to calculate evolutionary relationships," Begun explained. 



"The face is mostly complete, after applying mirror imaging. The new part is the forehead, with bone preserved to about the crown of the cranium. Previously described fossils do not have this much of the brain case."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-of-anadoluvius-turkae">Life of Anadoluvius turkae</h2>



Anadoluvius was roughly the size of a large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-pass-tool-use-skills-across-generations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">male chimpanzee</a>, weighing between 50-60 kilograms. This size is notably large for a chimp and is comparable to the average size of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-gorilla-day-supporting-the-guardians-of-the-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">female gorilla</a>, which weighs around 75-80 kilograms. 



The fossil suggests that Anadoluvius lived in a dry forest environment and likely spent a significant amount of time on the ground.



"We have no limb bones but judging from its jaws and teeth, the animals found alongside it, and the geological indicators of the environment, Anadoluvius probably lived in relatively open conditions, unlike the forest settings of living great apes," said Professor Sevim Erol. 



"More like what we think the environments of early humans in Africa were like. The powerful jaws and large, thickly enameled teeth suggest a diet including hard or tough food items from terrestrial sources such as roots and rhizomes."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sharing-earth-with-anadoluvius-turkae">Sharing Earth with Anadoluvius turkae</h2>



The ecosystem in which Anadoluvius lived was similar to today's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grasslands-are-racing-to-adapt-to-climate-shifts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">African grasslands</a> and dry forests. It coexisted with animals such as giraffes, warthogs, rhinos, diverse antelopes, zebras, elephants, porcupines, hyenas, and lion-like carnivores. 



Research indicates that this ecological community likely dispersed into Africa from the eastern Mediterranean sometime after eight million years ago.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/human-ancestor_Anadoluvius-turkae_excavation_evolved-europe_credit-Sevim-Erol_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/human-ancestor_Anadoluvius-turkae_excavation_evolved-europe_credit-Sevim-Erol_1s.webp" alt="Excavation of the Anadoluvius turkae fossil, a significantly well-preserved partial cranium uncovered at the Çorakyerler fossil site in Türkiye in 2015. The fossil includes most of the facial structure and the front part of the brain case. Credit: Ayla Sevim-Erol" class="wp-image-1953375"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Excavation of the Anadoluvius turkae fossil, a significantly well-preserved partial cranium uncovered at the Çorakyerler fossil site in Türkiye in 2015. The fossil includes most of the facial structure and the front part of the brain case. Credit: Ayla Sevim-Erol</figcaption></figure>



"The founding of the modern African open country fauna from the eastern Mediterranean has long been known and now we can add to the list of entrants the ancestors of the African apes and humans," Erol added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-this-a-big-deal">Why is this a big deal?</h2>



Anadoluvius turkae is positioned on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-evolution-was-shaped-by-competition-not-just-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary tree</a> alongside other fossil apes from nearby regions, such as Ouranopithecus from Greece and Graecopithecus from Bulgaria. 



These fossils are the best-preserved specimens of early hominins and offer the strongest evidence to date that this group originated in Europe before moving into Africa.



The study's detailed analysis shows that Balkan and Anatolian apes evolved from ancestors in western and central Europe. 



This suggests that the entire group of hominins likely evolved and diversified in Europe, rather than separate branches moving independently into Europe from Africa over millions of years and then going extinct.



"There is no evidence of the latter, though it remains a favorite proposal among those who do not accept a European origin hypothesis," Begun noted. 



"These findings contrast with the long-held view that African apes and humans evolved exclusively in Africa. While the remains of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-preferred-the-mountains-and-it-changed-our-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early hominins</a> are abundant in Europe and Anatolia, they are completely absent from Africa until the first hominin appeared there about seven million years ago."



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



While the discovery of Anadoluvius turkae provides compelling evidence for a European origin of hominines, it does not definitively prove the theory. 



More fossils from Europe and Africa, dating between eight and seven million years old, are needed to establish a clear connection between the two regions.



This new evidence supports the hypothesis that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-wooden-structure-completely-rewrites-early-human-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hominins</a> originated in Europe and dispersed into Africa along with many other mammals between nine and seven million years ago, though it does not definitively prove it.



"For that, we need to find more fossils from Europe and Africa between eight and seven million years old to establish a definitive connection between the two groups," Begun concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anadoluvius-turkae-and-human-origins">Anadoluvius turkae and human origins</h2>



To sum it all up, if hominines did indeed originate in Europe, it could reshape our understanding of how and where humans evolved. 



It also highlights the importance of fossil sites outside of Africa, which have been underexplored in the quest to trace human origins.



Anadoluvius turkae adds a new species to the fossil record while providing a fresh perspective on the evolutionary journey of hominins. 



By bridging the gap between European and African fossil records, this discovery encourages scientists to revisit existing theories and consider new possibilities in the story of human origins.



As researchers continue to analyze the fossil and search for more evidence, the story of Anadoluvius turkae will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of where we come from and how we evolved.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-05210-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Biology</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.



-----

Fossil discovery suggests humans originated in Europe, not Africa

A recent discovery in Türkiye is shaking up our understanding...

Artificial,Intelligence,Quantum,Processor,Close,Up,3d,Render

Quantum technology has been attracting a lot of attention in recent years thanks to computers that exploit atomic properties, hard drives that hold information in unusual states, and now engines that break free from the old rules. 



These strange engines do not rely on burning anything, nor do they feed on heat. Instead, they gain their push from the unusual behavior of tiny particles.



Quantum mechanics sets the stage for all of this. It is not concerned with big objects, but with what happens at the smallest scales. 



It looks at atoms, molecules, and subatomic bits of matter that do not follow everyday rules. It has sparked new gadgets that tackle problems we never knew we could solve.



The paper describing these results is co-authored by researchers Keerthy Menon, Dr. Eloisa Cuestas, Dr. Thomas Fogarty and Prof. Thomas Busch and has been published in the journal Nature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humble-origins-of-the-quantum-engine">Humble origins of the quantum engine</h2>



Scientists from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (<a href="https://www.oist.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OIST</a>), working with teams from the <a href="https://rptu.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kaiserslautern-Landau</a> and the <a href="https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Stuttgart</a>, designed an engine that does not mimic the noisy machines found under a car’s hood. 



They picked out a trick from the quantum playbook: the use of entanglement.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-a-simple-way-to-grasp-this-impossible-concept-carl-kocher/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum entanglement</a> has been puzzling scientists for decades. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-new-theory-finally-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Albert Einstein</a> once called it “spooky action at a distance.” 



In normal life, nothing moves faster than light. Yet, entangled particles link up so that what happens to one seems to affect the other instantly, even when they sit far apart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-particles-that-bend-the-rules">Particles that bend the rules</h2>



In regular machines, a piston moves when hot gases expand. In the quantum engine, movement comes from changing how particles behave. 



Not all particles are alike. Some belong to a group called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-spooky-action-at-a-distance-persists-between-top-quarks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bosons</a>, others to a group called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quasiparticle-is-seen-for-the-first-time-and-only-has-mass-moving-in-one-direction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fermions</a>. At very low temperatures, bosons settle into states of lower energy than fermions do.



This difference in energy turns out to be key. Instead of fire and heat, changing bosons into fermions and back can create work. 



In this design, particles step through changes in their quantum character, and that shifting property runs the engine. 



“To turn fermions into bosons, you can take two fermions and combine them into a molecule. This new molecule is a boson," explained Prof. Thomas Busch, leader of the <a href="https://groups.oist.jp/qsu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum Systems Unit</a>.



"Breaking it up allows us to retrieve the fermions again. By doing this cyclically, we can power the engine without using heat,” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energy-without-burning-anything">Energy without burning anything</h2>



A normal engine ignites fuel. The quantum engine avoids that step. It switches particle types and uses the resulting energy difference. 



While this type of engine only works in the quantum regime, the team found that its efficiency is quite high and can reach up to 25% with the present experimental set up built by the collaborators in Germany.



These results show that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-tunneling-allow-particles-break-light-speed-barrier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum effects</a> are not just textbook oddities. They can do something useful, at least in controlled lab conditions. Still, everyone involved knows that real-world applications are not right around the corner. 



“While these systems can be highly efficient, we have only done a proof-of-concept together with our experimental collaborators,” explained Keerthy Menon. “There are still many challenges in building a useful quantum engine.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-engine-keeps-it-cool">Quantum engine keeps it cool</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-quantum-computers-just-got-easier-with-new-technique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum devices</a> are notoriously finicky. Heat destroys the delicate conditions they need to operate. Any slight bump in temperature can throw the system off. 



To keep it stable, scientists must chill everything. That in itself takes serious effort and energy. Avoiding heat within the engine means building an environment that is as calm and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coldest-quantum-detectors-in-the-world-enlisted-to-search-for-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cold as possible</a>.



This research moves in a direction that might help people think differently about how to extract energy from materials. 



Instead of relying on old-fashioned methods, it encourages rethinking the nature of what energy is and how it can be tapped at its source, without needing the spark of a flame.



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



This is only the start. The researchers plan on pushing forward, asking tough questions about how the engine operates at the most basic level. They hope to see how it might hook into other devices, such as tiny batteries or precise sensors.



There are many pieces left to fit together, but the core idea is out in the open. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-quantum-revolution-will-impact-all-aspects-of-society/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The quantum world</a> offers behaviors that do not show up in ordinary life. 



If scientists can keep these particles stable, control their states, and move them through clever cycles, then a whole new class of engines could arise.



The current research never hints at swapping out standard car engines anytime soon. The point is not to run our trucks and buses on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/schrodingers-cat-survives-in-quantum-superposition-for-a-record-shattering-23-minutes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum effects</a>. It is to understand what is possible. 



For those curious about where quantum technology might lead, this is a hint that there might be more surprises ahead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-into-a-strange-world">Window into a strange world</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/impossibility-paradox-calculating-incalculable-quantum-realm-particles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum mechanics</a> once seemed too weird to ever become useful. 



Now it's powering computers that crunch through problems with speed we could not have dreamed of, and it's setting up communication channels that might be too secure for any hacker to break. 



Adding engines to that list, even if they stay in the lab, shifts the way we think about how technology can run.



It is not about making a machine better than a car engine right now. It's about seeing that there is another way. 



Without burning fuel or relying on hot gases, particles at the smallest levels have a kind of energy all their own. 



By turning fermions into bosons and back again, researchers have shown that change itself can power a tiny, efficient engine. This small step is just one more example of how quantum physics can show us unexpected possibilities.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06469-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</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.



-----

Quantum entanglement, instead of oil or coal, powers a new kind of engine

Quantum technology has been attracting a lot of attention in...

Saltwater intrusion, a process where seawater infiltrates freshwater aquifers near coastlines, poses a growing threat to water supplies, ecosystems, and infrastructure.&nbsp;



According to a study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL), by the year 2100, three-quarters of the world’s coastal areas are likely to experience saltwater intrusion.



This is due to the combined effects of climate change, particularly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-sea-levels-spiked-dramatically-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea level rise</a> and reduced groundwater recharge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disruption-of-the-natural-balance">Disruption of the natural balance</h2>



Under normal circumstances, coastal aquifers maintain a balance between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellites-reveal-a-sudden-drop-in-global-freshwater-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">freshwater</a> flowing from land and seawater pressing inland. Rainfall replenishes these freshwater reserves, pushing the saltwater back toward the ocean, while ocean pressure exerts a counterforce.&nbsp;



In the transition zone where the two meet, a mix of freshwater and saltwater exists, but the equilibrium keeps saltwater from encroaching further inland.



Climate change is altering this delicate balance. Sea level rise, driven by global warming, is causing coastlines to shift inland, increasing the pressure of seawater on freshwater aquifers.&nbsp;



At the same time, reduced rainfall and warmer weather patterns are slowing the recharge of freshwater, weakening its ability to counteract the saltwater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-projected-impact-of-saltwater-intrusion-nbsp">Projected impact of saltwater intrusion&nbsp;</h2>



The study, published in <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GL110359" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a>, analyzed over 60,000 coastal watersheds worldwide to assess how saltwater intrusion might evolve by the end of the century.&nbsp;



The researchers considered two primary drivers of the phenomenon - sea level rise and reduced groundwater recharge - both individually and in combination.



Spurred by planetary warming, sea level rise is making coastlines to migrate inland and increase the force pushing salt water landward. Moreover, slower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/groundwater-depletion-is-accelerating-but-it-is-not-inevitable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">groundwater</a> recharge due to less rainfall and warmer weather is weakening the force moving the underground fresh water in some regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saltwater-intrusion-into-coastal-watersheds-nbsp">Saltwater intrusion into coastal watersheds&nbsp;</h2>



When examined separately, sea level rise is expected to cause saltwater to encroach in 82% of coastal watersheds.&nbsp;



In these areas, the transition zone between fresh and saltwater is projected to move up to 656 feet (200 meters) inland, particularly affecting low-lying regions such as Southeast Asia, the Gulf of Mexico, and the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.



In 45% of the watersheds studied, slower groundwater recharge will independently drive saltwater intrusion farther inland, with the transition zone advancing as much as three-quarters of a mile (1,200 meters) in some places.&nbsp;



Regions most impacted by reduced recharge include the Arabian Peninsula, Western Australia, and Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.



Combining these effects, the study predicts that 77% of coastal watersheds will experience saltwater intrusion by 2100.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-influencing-saltwater-intrusion-nbsp">Factors influencing saltwater intrusion&nbsp;</h2>



According to study lead author Kyra Adams, a groundwater scientist at JPL, lower rates of groundwater recharge will drive how far saltwater intrudes inland, while sea level rise will have a major effect on how widespread it is around the world.&nbsp;



Adams emphasized that local management strategies will need to be tailored to the dominant factor in each region. For instance, if low recharge is the main reason intrusion is happening in one region, officials could address it by protecting groundwater resources.&nbsp;



However, if the greater concern is that sea level rise will oversaturate aquifers, officials might choose to divert groundwater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-impacts-of-sea-level-rise">The impacts of sea level rise</h2>



The study is part of a broader effort to evaluate how sea level rise will impact coastal regions, co-funded by <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> and the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Defense</a>. It used data from HydroSHEDS, a <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Wildlife Fund</a>-managed database based on elevation observations from NASA’s Shuttle Radar Topography Mission.&nbsp;



The researchers employed a model that incorporated variables such as groundwater recharge rates, water table changes, and sea level rise to estimate saltwater intrusion distances.



According to co-author Ben Hamlington, a climate scientist at JPL, a globally consistent framework which captures localized climate impacts is essential for countries that don’t have the necessary expertise to generate one on their own.&nbsp;



“Those that have the fewest resources are the ones most affected by sea level rise and climate change, so this kind of approach can go a long way,” he said.



Hamlington likened the issue of saltwater intrusion to the risks posed by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coastal flooding</a>.&nbsp;



“As sea levels rise, there’s an increased risk of flooding everywhere. With saltwater intrusion, we’re seeing that sea level rise is raising the baseline risk for changes in groundwater recharge to become a serious factor,” he added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-a-new-reality">Preparing for a new reality</h2>



The findings underscore the urgency of proactive measures to manage saltwater intrusion and protect freshwater supplies.&nbsp;



From safeguarding drinking water to preserving ecosystems and infrastructure, governments and local officials must act swiftly to address this growing threat.&nbsp;



With a clear and consistent model provided by this study, communities around the globe can better understand and mitigate the long-term impacts of saltwater intrusion.



-----



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.



-----

Saltwater intrusion threatens coastal groundwater supplies worldwide

Saltwater intrusion, a process where seawater infiltrates freshwater aquifers near...

Trees offer undeniable cooling benefits during the day by providing shade and reducing heat through evaporation. However, new research&nbsp;reveals that at night, tree canopies can trap heat and potentially increase temperatures.



The study, led by scientists from the University of Cambridge, emphasizes the importance of strategic planning when integrating trees into urban landscapes to combat heat stress effectively.



"Trees have a crucial role to play in cooling cities down, but we need to plant them much more strategically to maximize the benefits which they can provide," said Dr. Ronita Bardhan, an associate professor at the University of Cambridge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-temperatures-and-urban-heat-stress">Rising temperatures and urban heat stress</h2>



Urban heat stress has become a global concern that is linked to health issues, increased energy demands, social inequalities, and infrastructure challenges.



Many cities have turned to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/resilient-trees-can-help-safeguard-cities-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree planting</a> as a mitigation strategy. Yet, the study warns that the wrong species or poor placement can negate these benefits.



By analyzing 182 studies covering 17 climates and 110 cities, the researchers have conducted the first global assessment of urban tree cooling. Findings highlight the complex interplay between tree species, urban layouts, and local climates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-day-vs-night-cooling-dynamics">Day vs. night cooling dynamics</h2>



Trees cool cities during the day by blocking solar radiation, evaporating water through their leaves, and influencing airflow with their foliage.



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li></li>
</ol>



At night, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-relocating-in-a-race-against-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree</a> canopies can trap longwave radiation from the ground, leading to a warming effect. 



This phenomenon, caused by aerodynamic resistance and stomatal closure (a response to heat and drought), varies significantly across climates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-specific-cooling-and-heating-effects">Climate-specific cooling and heating effects</h2>



The analysis revealed that urban trees provide varying degrees of cooling and heating depending on the climate:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tropical wet and dry climates: Trees cooled cities by up to 12°C (21.6°F) but warmed them by 0.8°C (1.44°F) at night.</li>



<li>Arid climates: Cooling reached over 9°C (16.2°F), while nighttime warming was 0.4°C (0.72°F).</li>



<li>Temperate climates: Daytime cooling was 6°C (10.8°F), with a nighttime warming effect of 1.5°C (2.7°F).</li>



<li>Tropical rainforest climates: Cooling dropped to 2°C (3.6°F), with 0.8°C (1.44°F) warming at night.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-tree-planting-for-maximum-cooling">Strategic tree planting for maximum cooling</h2>



Cities with open urban layouts and mixed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-trees-is-important-but-reforestation-can-help-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree species</a> (evergreen and deciduous) achieved better cooling results, especially in temperate and tropical climates. Mixed species provide seasonal shading and three-dimensional cooling.



In arid regions, compact urban areas (like Cairo and Dubai) with evergreen trees experienced significant cooling benefits. Open spaces in low-rise cities allowed for larger tree canopies, further enhancing cooling by 0.4°C.



"Our study provides context-specific greening guidelines for urban planners to more effectively harness tree cooling in the face of global warming," noted Dr. Bardhan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-matching-trees-to-urban-features">Matching trees to urban features</h2>



The study emphasized the importance of compatibility between tree species and urban features. Factors such as street orientation, visible sky ratio, and aspect ratio impact tree cooling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-have-an-amazing-ability-to-adapt-to-new-climates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">efficacy</a>.



In compact urban zones with high temperatures, excessive canopy cover can trap heat at pedestrian levels. 



The researchers recommend using narrow species and sparse planting strategies in such areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-trees-solutions-for-urban-cooling">Beyond trees: Solutions for urban cooling</h2>



While trees are valuable, the study from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> urges reliance on complementary strategies like solar shading and reflective materials. These solutions enhance urban cooling without the unintended effects of poorly planned tree placement.



To assist urban planners, the researchers developed an interactive map and database. This tool helps estimate cooling efficacy based on data from cities with similar climates and urban features.



"Urban planners should plan for future warmer climates by choosing resilient species which will continue to thrive and maintain cooling benefits," said Dr. Bardhan.



In summary, strategic tree planting can significantly mitigate urban heat stress, but careful consideration is essential. 



Selecting the right species, planting them in optimal locations, and incorporating complementary solutions can ensure that cities maximize cooling benefits while minimizing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/should-we-cut-down-all-oak-trees-isoprene-emissions-air-pollution-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unintended consequences</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cooling-power-of-trees">The cooling power of trees</h2>



Large, mature trees provide greater cooling benefits due to their expansive canopies, which block sunlight and facilitate higher evaporation rates. 



Broadleaf species are especially effective, offering more shade and water evaporation compared to needleleaf trees. When planted in clusters, trees create a synergistic cooling effect by enhancing air circulation and providing widespread shade.



Proximity to water bodies further amplifies cooling effects, as the combination of tree shade and evaporation from water surfaces creates cooler microclimates. 



Native species often outperform non-native ones, as they are better adapted to local climates and conditions.



Evergreen trees offer year-round cooling, particularly in regions with less distinct seasonal changes. Additionally, leaf color influences cooling, with lighter-colored leaves absorbing less heat. Tree roots also play a role, cooling the soil and supporting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-one-third-of-the-worlds-trees-face-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthier ecosystems</a>.



A diverse mix of tree species strengthens urban forests, making them resilient to pests and ensuring long-lasting cooling benefits.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01908-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</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.



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.



-----

Planting trees in the wrong place can make cities hotter

Trees offer undeniable cooling benefits during the day by providing...

One of nature's most well-kept secrets is the ocean's hadal zone, a realm of darkness that harbors an unexpected predator in its most extreme depths.



This zone includes the deepest part of the ocean. It's marked by total darkness and crushing pressures - a place where you would not expect to find life.



Yet astonishingly, the hadal zone is home to a myriad of unique creatures that hold clues to understanding life's evolution in some of Earth's harshest habitats.



Now, we are shining the spotlight on a new addition to this intriguing underwater neighborhood - a predatory crustacean identified as Dulcibella camanchaca.



This creature is the first predatory amphipod to be discovered in these extreme environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fast-swimming-predator-in-the-deep-ocean">A fast-swimming predator in the deep ocean</h2>



The experts behind this discovery are scientists from the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/who-we-are/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> and the<a href="https://www.imo-chile.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía</a> at the Universidad de Concepción in Chile.



"Dulcibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator that we named after 'darkness' in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region, to signify the deep, dark ocean from where it predates," explained study co-lead author Dr. Johanna Weston.



Spanning almost 4 centimeters, this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crustacean</a> deploys specialized raptorial appendages to catch and feed on smaller <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-crustaceans-prey-on-jellyfish-to-survive-the-polar-night/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphipod</a> species lurking in the food-scarce territory of the Atacama Trench.



The trench, a deep scar in the eastern South Pacific Ocean, reaches staggering depths of more than 8,000 meters (26,200 feet) off the northern Chilean coast and has long piqued scientific interest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-life-in-a-harsh-environment">Unique life in a harsh environment</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shocking-deepest-parts-of-the-ocean-polluted-with-pcb-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atacama Trench</a>, which lies far beneath the nutrient-rich surface waters and is geographically distant from other hadal environments, supports a distinctive community of native species. This new crustacean is just one of many unique species that cope with life at great depths.



"Most excitingly, the DNA and morphology data pointed to this species being a new genus too, emphasizing the Atacama Trench as an endemic hotspot," said Dr. Weston.



The fascinating discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca was part of the 2023 Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System Expedition aboard the R/V Abate Molina.



The team collected four Dulcibella camanchaca individuals at an impressive depth of 7,902 meters (26,000 feet) using a lander vehicle - an untethered platform that transports scientific equipment, including baited traps, to and from the ocean floor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-collaborative-and-integrative-approach">A collaborative and integrative approach</h2>



Upon returning to the ship, the captured amphipods were preserved in freezing conditions before undergoing comprehensive morphological and genetic analyses at the Universidad de Concepción.



Dr. Carolina González, co-lead author of the study who tackled the sample collection and DNA analysis, noted that the team's collaborative effort and integrative approach confirmed that Dulcibella camanchaca was indeed a new species.



"The new species highlights ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-time-machine-reveals-a-century-of-biological-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> discoveries in the Atacama Trench. This finding underlines the importance of continued deep-ocean exploration, particularly in Chile's front yard. More discoveries are expected as we continue to study the Atacama Trench," said Dr. González.



With each new stride in exploration technology, we can look forward to uncovering more species - each hinting at the unique evolutionary pressures and adaptions in the deep ocean.



The findings will open up new avenues to comprehend these deep-ocean ecosystems better and protect them from emerging threats like pollution and climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predators-of-the-deep-ocean-nbsp">Predators of the deep ocean&nbsp;</h2>



Dulcibella camanchaca is just one example of the unique predators that thrive in the hadal zone, but it raises broader questions about how life adapts to such extreme environments.



Predators in these depths, like Dulcibella, rely on highly specialized features to hunt and survive. For instance, their enhanced sensory systems allow them to detect subtle movements in complete darkness, while their powerful appendages make quick work of capturing prey in a world where every meal counts.



These adaptations not only highlight the resilience of the deep-sea organisms, but also provide critical insights into evolutionary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-rule-of-biology-instability-key-to-evolution-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biology</a>.



Understanding how these deep-sea predators function can shed light on the survival strategies of life forms in Earth's most inhospitable habitats, offering clues about how organisms might adapt to extreme conditions on other planets or moons. 



As researchers continue to explore the Atacama Trench and other ecosystems in the deep ocean, they are likely to uncover more fascinating predators that will expand our knowledge of the intricate food webs operating miles beneath the surface.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772000.2024.2416430" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Systematics and Biodiversity</a>.



Image Credit: Johanna Weston, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution



-----



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.



-----

New predator found in one of the deepest parts of the ocean

One of nature's most well-kept secrets is the ocean's hadal...

Scientists have long wondered how the northern Gulf of Mexico receives most of its nitrogen load. An intriguing study led by researchers at Boston College has finally solved this mystery.



The team discovered that heavy rain and runoff, rather than a constant flow from sources both below and above ground, transport the highest amounts of nitrogen from fertilizer into the Gulf.



Study lead author Xingchen (Tony) Wang is an assistant professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Boston College.



Wang believes this research could advance our understanding of nitrogen delivery to the Gulf, ultimately helping to develop protective policies for the northern Gulf of Mexico.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-challenges-faced-by-the-gulf">Environmental challenges faced by the Gulf</h2>



"The northern Gulf of Mexico faces significant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/home-fragrances-impact-indoor-air-quality-and-the-health-risks-are-alarming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental challenges</a>, including nutrient overloading, harmful algal blooms, and oxygen-depleted ‘dead zones’,"&nbsp; Wang said. 



"These issues are primarily driven by nitrogen pollution transported via <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/streams-near-farms-are-fizzy-with-nitrous-oxide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rivers</a>, with the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin - a major agricultural hub in North America - being a key contributor."



To comprehend how different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-nutrient-loss-due-to-heavy-rainfall-threatens-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen</a> sources, especially fertilizers, flow into the Gulf under varying hydrological conditions, Wang's lab collaborated with fellow researchers from various universities.



The Army Corps of Engineers funded this intriguing project. Wang is hopeful that the insights derived from the study will improve our grasp of pollution dynamics and inform effective mitigation strategies in future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nitrogen-flow-in-the-gulf">Nitrogen flow in the Gulf</h2>



The Gulf of Mexico receives water from 33 major rivers, draining from 31 states and two Canadian provinces. 



The researchers collected water and particle samples from the Wax Lake Delta, a pivotal distributary of the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin, in 2021. Wang's lab further analyzed these samples for nitrogen isotope composition.



Nitrogen has two stable isotopes - nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15. Wang noted that sources of nitrogen often display distinct nitrogen-15 to nitrogen-14 ratios, allowing the scientists to trace and characterize nitrogen sources effectively in the Wax Lake Delta.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seasonal-shifts-in-nitrogen-sources">Seasonal shifts in nitrogen sources</h2>



The researchers found lower nitrogen isotope ratios characteristic of nitrogen originating from fertilizers. Interestingly, the nitrogen-15 to nitrogen-14 ratios in samples collected during the wet season were consistently lower than those from the dry season.



Co-authored by <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.C. Santa Barbara</a>'s Gen Li, <a href="https://www.caltech.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caltech</a>'s Michael Lamb, and <a href="https://www.bc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston College</a> professors Noah Snyder and Hanqin Tian, the study also revealed that groundwater nitrogen becomes the dominant source during the dry season.



“We were somewhat surprised to observe such a significant shift in anthropogenic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-air-pollution-forms-may-help-us-prevent-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen sources</a> between the dry and wet seasons, which had not been identified in previous studies,” said co-author Jian-Jhih (Kenji) Chen, who was a postdoc researcher in the Wang Lab during the project.



The study strongly emphasizes the crucial role of hydrology in controlling nitrogen pollution in the northern Gulf of Mexico.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-challenges-of-nitrogen-pollution-in-the-gulf">Future challenges of nitrogen pollution in the Gulf</h2>



Climate change is expected to escalate the number of extreme precipitation events which would, in turn, amplify the transport of fertilizer-derived nitrogen into the Gulf. This would intensify hypoxic conditions further, warns Professor Wang.



However, the study suggests that the negative impacts could be softened by aligning the timing of fertilizer usage with crops known to diminish nitrogen loading and its environmental repercussions in the Gulf.



The team's future research will focus on tracing the journey of anthropogenic nitrogen in the Gulf of Mexico. The scientists seek to understand whether this nitrogen remains trapped in coastal zones or gets transported into the Gulf's open waters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nitrogen-pollution-a-global-issue">Nitrogen pollution: A global issue</h2>



Nitrogen pollution is a global issue that affects water quality and marine life. Excess nitrogen from agriculture, sewage, and industrial waste often enters rivers and coastal areas, leading to eutrophication. 



This process results in algal blooms, which reduce oxygen levels and harm aquatic ecosystems. In addition to the Gulf of Mexico, nitrogen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-produce-their-own-nitrogen-fertilizer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollution</a> impacts ecosystems like the Chesapeake Bay and Baltic Sea. 



Urban areas also contribute significantly through stormwater runoff that contains fertilizers and waste. Addressing this issue requires reducing nitrogen emissions, improving wastewater treatment, and promoting sustainable farming practices.



Public awareness and community participation can play crucial roles in minimizing nitrogen’s environmental impact.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01873-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>.



-----



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



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



-----

Nitrogen pollution in the Gulf of Mexico linked to heavy rainfall 

Scientists have long wondered how the northern Gulf of Mexico...

For the first time, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has unveiled and measured a galaxy from the early universe -- one with a mass akin to what the Milky Way might have had during its formative years.



Nicknamed the Firefly Sparkle, this galaxy existed just 600 million years after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-big-bang-theory-attempts-to-explain-origin-of-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bang</a> and gleams with 10 distinct star clusters, providing an unprecedented glimpse into galactic assembly.&nbsp;



Unlike other galaxies from this epoch, which are typically much larger, Firefly Sparkle is a relatively lightweight galaxy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-firefly-sparkle-a-galaxy-like-no-other">Firefly Sparkle: A galaxy like no other</h2>



“I didn’t think it would be possible to resolve a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-are-much-bigger-than-we-originally-believed-gas-clouds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> that existed so early in the Universe into so many distinct components, let alone find that its mass is similar to that of our own galaxy when it was in the process of forming,” said Lamiya Mowla, co-lead author and assistant professor at <a href="https://www.wellesley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wellesley College.</a> 



"There is so much going on inside this tiny galaxy, including so many different phases of star formation.”



This extraordinary discovery was made possible by the combined effects of nature and technology. 



A massive foreground galaxy cluster amplified the distant galaxy’s appearance through gravitational lensing, and the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) state-of-the-art infrared imaging delivered unparalleled clarity.



“Without the benefit of this gravitational lens, we would not be able to see this galaxy in such detail,” explained Kartheik Iyer, co-lead author and NASA Hubble Fellow at <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a>. “We knew to expect it based on current physics, but it’s surprising that we actually saw it.”



The galaxy, named for its sparkling clusters reminiscent of fireflies on a summer night, immediately captivated Mowla due to its unique characteristics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconstructing-the-shape-of-firefly-sparkle-nbsp">Reconstructing the shape of Firefly Sparkle&nbsp;</h2>



To understand the true structure of the Firefly Sparkle galaxy, the research team reconstructed its shape, removing the distortions caused by gravitational lensing. 



They discovered it resembles an elongated raindrop containing clusters of stars at various stages of development.



“Our reconstruction shows that clumps of actively forming stars are surrounded by diffuse light from other unresolved stars,” Iyer said. “This galaxy is literally in the process of assembling.”



Despite its small size, Firefly Sparkle falls into the category of low-mass galaxies. It will take billions of years for it to evolve into a larger, more distinct form.&nbsp;



“Most of the other galaxies Webb has shown us aren’t magnified or stretched, and we are not able to see their 'building blocks' separately. With Firefly Sparkle, we are witnessing a galaxy being assembled brick by brick,” Mowla added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-building-blocks-of-a-galaxy">The building blocks of a galaxy</h2>



Thanks to the gravitational lensing effect, the galaxy appears as a stretched arc, allowing researchers to identify 10 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secret-origins-of-young-star-clusters-traced-to-three-families/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star clusters</a> contributing most of its light.&nbsp;



These clusters, glowing in shades of pink, purple, and blue, provide critical evidence that star formation in Firefly Sparkle occurred in staggered phases rather than all at once.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Firefly-Sparkle-Galaxy_Webb-telescope_NIRCam_inset-image_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Firefly-Sparkle-Galaxy_Webb-telescope_NIRCam_inset-image_NASA_1s.webp" alt="Horizontal split down the middle. At left, thousands of overlapping objects at various distances are spread across this galaxy cluster. A box at bottom right is enlarged on the right half. A central oval identifies the Firefly Sparkle galaxy, a line with 10 dots in various colors. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1953341"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Horizontal split down the middle. At left, thousands of overlapping objects at various distances are spread across this galaxy cluster. A box at bottom right is enlarged on the right half. A central oval identifies the Firefly Sparkle galaxy, a line with 10 dots in various colors. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



“This galaxy has a diverse collection of star clusters, and it is remarkable that we can see them separately at such an early age of the Universe,” said co-author Chris Willott, a scientist at the <a href="https://nrc.canada.ca/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Research Council Canada</a>. “Each clump of stars is at a different stage of formation or evolution.”



The galaxy’s elongated and disorganized shape further suggests its stars have not yet coalesced into a central bulge or thin disc, suggesting that Firefly Sparkle is still in its formative phase.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neighboring-galaxies-and-future-growth">Neighboring galaxies and future growth</h2>



Firefly Sparkle is not alone. Two companion galaxies orbit nearby and are likely to influence its growth and shape over billions of years.&nbsp;



The nearest companion lies just 6,500 light-years away, while the second is separated by 42,000 light-years - both distances relatively small compared to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>’s 100,000-light-year diameter.&nbsp;



Researchers believe these companions are close enough to interact gravitationally, driving gas condensation and new star formation during each orbital pass.



“It has long been predicted that galaxies in the early Universe form through successive interactions and mergers with other tinier galaxies,” said study co-author Yoshihisa Asada, a doctoral student at Kyoto University. “We might be witnessing this process in action.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-horizons-in-galactic-discovery">New horizons in galactic discovery</h2>



Firefly Sparkle is just one of many galaxies that will be uncovered by the Webb telescope, marking the dawn of a new era in understanding early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-galaxy-formation-occurred-much-faster-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy formation</a>.&nbsp;



“This is just the first of many such galaxies JWST will discover, as we are only starting to use these cosmic microscopes,” noted Maruša Bradač from the <a href="https://www.uni-lj.si/en/university" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Ljubljana</a>.&nbsp;



“Just like microscopes let us see pollen grains from plants, the incredible resolution of Webb and the magnifying power of gravitational lensing let us see the small pieces inside galaxies.”



The team’s findings were made possible through the Webb’s Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS), which includes near-infrared imaging from the NIRCam and spectral data from the NIRSpec microshutter array.&nbsp;



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



Published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08293-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>, this research is a critical step toward unraveling the mysteries of galactic evolution.&nbsp;



By examining the Firefly Sparkle galaxy, scientists are piecing together how small, disorganized galaxies gradually coalesce into the grand structures we see today, like the Milky Way.&nbsp;



With JWST continuing its mission, many more galaxies like Firefly Sparkle await discovery, promising to deepen our understanding of the early universe.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">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.



-----

Firefly Sparkle: Webb telescope 'weighs' a galaxy for the first time

For the first time, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)...

<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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

The park ranger explained,“When the vent becomes completely plugged, as it has in several springs in the park, then the spring can actually plug up to the point where it’s not a hot spring any more and it’ll go dormant or it’ll die.” And she further highlighted the situation at Handkerchief Pool, once a popular attraction at Yellowstone. Photo Credit: YouTube/KTVQ News

Past Precedent

“Foreign objects can damage hot springs and geysers,” the Facebook statement from Yellowstone said. “The next time Ear Spring erupts we hope it’s nothing but natural rocks and water.” Rebecca Roland, who works for Yellowstone, elaborated on what happens when debris begins to clog up the landscape of the park. Photo Credit: YouTube/KTVQ News