If you’re a male gray frog trying to find a mate, you’d better have a fast and steady call. That’s what female treefrogs usually go for. But when the crowd gets loud and chaotic, things change. The males that don’t sound all that great? They suddenly have a shot.



In quiet situations where females only hear two males at once, their preferences are clear. They go for the one with the sharper, more rhythmic call. 



But when four or even eight males are calling at once, things get messy. Female choices become unpredictable. This isn’t just a frog issue - it ties into a broader idea that scientists call “choice overload.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frogs-face-chaos-in-the-chorus">Frogs face chaos in the chorus</h2>



In nature, frogs gather in large, noisy groups called choruses. Picture a shallow pond in spring, with dozens of males calling out at the same time. It’s the frog equivalent of a dating scene in a packed nightclub.



The researchers found that the crowded conditions of these choruses might be too overwhelming for females to reliably pick the best mate. It’s not that they stop caring - it’s that they can’t tell who’s who.



Professor Jessie Tanner of the <a href="https://www.utk.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tennessee, Knoxville</a>, led a team studying how choice overload affects evolution.



“Because female mate choice can drive evolution, our results suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unraveling-the-story-of-early-animal-evolution/">evolution</a> might happen more slowly than we thought before,” she said. 



“Some males that are fairly unattractive could still mate, especially if they take advantage of crowded spaces where females might be less able to discriminate between attractive and unattractive males.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-when-choices-are-too-hard">What happens when choices are too hard?</h2>



The idea of choice overload is pretty common in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/science-behind-predicting-and-changing-human-behavior/">human behavior</a>. You walk into a store to buy toothpaste and face 50 brands. You either freeze, grab something random, or walk away. Same goes for dating apps with endless swiping.



“We wanted to understand how having to make mating decisions in crowded environments, where choice overload could be a problem, might drive the evolution of calls,” Tanner explained. 



“Since males that are chosen by females pass on their genes to the next generation, this mate choice can cause the population to change over time.”



When animals, like people, face too many options, their decision-making can break down. That opens up a chance for less attractive mates to get picked - not because they became more appealing, but because the chooser got overwhelmed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choice-overload-in-other-animals">Choice overload in other animals</h2>



This isn’t just about frogs. Scientists are now looking at how this effect shows up in other animals. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bumblebees-increasingly-stressed-over-the-past-century/">Bumblebees</a>, for instance, are on the list. So are wood roaches.



“Our lab is working to understand how choice overload and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/frogs-have-lungs-that-cancel-out-background-noise/">noise</a> may each contribute to the difficulty female treefrogs face in making mating decisions,” Tanner said. 



“We are also working to understand whether this choice overload is something that occurs generally in many different kinds of animals or is more specific to individual species.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simultaneous-cricket-songs">Simultaneous cricket songs </h2>



Tanner, who has a background in both psychology and biology, first got into animal behavior while studying mate choice as an undergrad. She later became interested in sound - especially how it plays into animal communication.



That led to earlier work on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-male-crickets-go-silent-how-females-adapt-and-respond/">crickets</a>. Like treefrogs, male crickets use sound to attract mates. A study on cricket mating showed that noisy environments might either block females from hearing calls or make them too confused to pick. It was hard to tell which was causing the problem.



“During that study, it became clear that our work was consistent with both the possibility that many simultaneous cricket songs created noise that made it hard for females to hear, and the possibility that the females were experiencing choice overload,” Tanner said. “Our current work looks to disentangle those ideas.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-average-becomes-good-enough">When average becomes good enough</h2>



The research adds a new layer to how scientists think about evolution. Normally, stronger signals - like a faster frog call - are expected to win out and spread through the population over time. 



But if crowded conditions keep females from consistently picking the top performers, evolution slows down. Mediocre traits stick around longer.



That changes the math for survival. In nature, being the best isn’t always enough - and sometimes, being just okay is good enough, especially if the crowd’s loud and the choices are many.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Frogs settle for average mates when dating gets too noisy

If you’re a male gray frog trying to find a mate, you’d better have a fast and steady call. That’s what female treefrogs usually go for. But when the crowd gets loud and chaotic, things change. The males that don’t sound all that great? They suddenly have a shot. In quiet situations where females only hear two males at once, their preferences are clear. They go for the one with the sharper, more rhythmic call. But when four or even eight males are calling at once, things...

A new study recorded brain activity from 621,733 neurons in 139 mice as they made decisions, building the first activity map of a mammal’s entire brain at single-cell resolution. 



The team saw where signals for seeing, choosing, moving, and getting feedback show up and how they unfold together.



The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09235-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> goes beyond the usual hunt for a single decision center and shows a coordinated, brain-wide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-our-brains-build-mental-maps-of-the-world/">pattern</a>. It also tests a simple idea about how past experience shapes a new choice without us noticing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-map-of-activity">Brain map of activity</h2>



One of the researchers, <a href="https://neurocenter-unige.ch/research-groups/alexandre-pouget/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alexandre Pouget</a> of the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Geneva</a>, helped lead an international group that trained mice to turn a small wheel to center a striped target for a reward. When the target was faint or absent, the mice leaned on their recent history to guess.



Across 12 labs, the group inserted 699 probes and sampled 279 brain areas while the same task ran everywhere. 



They used <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature24636" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neuropixels</a> to record spikes from hundreds of neurons per probe with millisecond precision, which made a fine-grained map possible.



“This is the first time anyone has produced a full, brain-wide map of the activity of single neurons during decision-making,” explained Pouget.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-activity-and-decisions-in-the-brain">Activity and decisions in the brain</h2>



Vision <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-map-of-the-brains-mitochondria-may-explain-cognitive-decline/">signals</a> appeared first in classical visual areas, then spread into midbrain and hindbrain regions that also carried choice information.&nbsp;



Earlier <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1787-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> in mice had already hinted that choice, action, and engagement are distributed, not isolated in one cortical spot. The new map strengthens that view with coverage of hundreds of regions and clear timing.



Feedback mattered, too. When trials were correct and reward was delivered, wide swaths of the brain lit up together, reflecting both the liquid reward and the licking movements that came with it.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mouse-brain-map_75-thousand-neurons_decision-making-process_Princeton_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mouse-brain-map_75-thousand-neurons_decision-making-process_Princeton_1s.webp" alt="Visualization of 75,000 neurons (colored dots) active across the brain of an adult mouse across different stages of a decision-making task. Dot size reflects a cell’s average firing rate, such that larger dots indicate more active neurons. The color of each dot represents a different grouping of related brain regions. Data collected as part of the International Brain Laboratory’s effort to create a whole-brain map of behavior. Credit: Dan Birman (University of Washington/Allen Institute)" class="wp-image-1985838"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Visualization of 75,000 neurons (colored dots) active across the brain of an adult mouse across different stages of a decision-making task. Dot size reflects a cell’s average firing rate, such that larger dots indicate more active neurons. The color of each dot represents a different grouping of related brain regions. Data collected as part of the International Brain Laboratory’s effort to create a whole-brain map of behavior. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Dan Birman (University of Washington/Allen Institute)</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expectations-shape-perception">Expectations shape perception</h2>



A companion <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09226-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> tested how prior expectations, built from recent trials, are encoded. Mice estimated the block’s left-right probabilities and performed better when the stimulus was weak, including zero-contrast trials.



The authors decoded signals for this subjective prior in 20 percent to 30 percent of recorded regions spanning early sensory areas like the thalamus, motor areas, and higher cortex.&nbsp;



Crucially, prior signals were present even before a new stimulus appeared and were detectable very early after it arrived. 



That result explains how expectations can nudge perception without crossing into conscious awareness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-data-showed">What the data showed</h2>



Across the project, the team analyzed 75,708 well-isolated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-brain-learns-study-reveals-an-unexpected-twist/">neurons</a> with the highest quality metrics. 



Just before a movement began, about 4 percent of neurons had activity correlated with the direction of the upcoming choice after controlling for stimulus and block.



Movement variables were strong predictors of activity, and reward delivery was one of the largest contributors to explained variance. 



Those patterns tell us that action and outcome signals are broadly shared, while basic sensory signals stay more localized and brief.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-brain-activity-map-matters">Why the brain activity map matters</h2>



The map shows that decision-making is not a handoff <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-mapping-research-mouse-neurons-revolutionary-advance/">from sense to thought to action</a>. It looks more like many regions voting together, each carrying partial information that becomes aligned near movement and feedback.



That layout matters for medicine and technology. If priors and choices are distributed, measuring or modulating a single region may miss the story or cause side effects elsewhere.



The data come from head-fixed mice in a specific visual task, so the conclusions are about how mouse brains act under those conditions. 



The authors also note that licking and other movements explain a large share of the variance during reward, which means the hedonic piece is tangled with motor signals.



The map is correlational, not causal. It shows where information is present, not which sites are required for a decision, and it sets up future causal tests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-the-technical-terms">Reading the technical terms</h2>



Neuropixels are high-density silicon electrodes that record spikes from hundreds of neurons along a thin shank. They offer single-spike timing, which is needed to separate fast sensory and motor events.



The thalamus is a relay hub that routes sensory <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-complete-map-of-every-neuron-in-the-brain-revealed/">signals</a> to the cortex and receives strong feedback from the cortex. 



Seeing prior signals there tells us that expectations are changing the initial formatting of incoming inputs, not only the later decision layers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-brain-activity-in-humans">Mapping brain activity in humans</h2>



The dataset is public, and the analysis code is standardized. That enables other labs to check the findings, try new models, and test questions about learning, attention, and internal states.



A natural next step is to combine this map with targeted perturbations and to follow priors as they update in different contexts. 



If the same network rules hold across tasks, that will sharpen theories of how brains implement probabilistic inference.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/RSBDnDD2Efo
</div></figure>



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09235-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

First-ever brain activity map captures the decision-making process

A new study recorded brain activity from 621,733 neurons in...

Every year, across the vast grasslands of East Africa, over a million wildebeest are believed to thunder across the Serengeti and Masai Mara in what’s long been called the world’s greatest wildlife migration. That number just changed. And it changed a lot.



A new study has revealed that the actual number of wildebeest in this legendary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grazing-succession-animal-herbivore-mass-migration-serengeti/">migration</a> may be less than half of what we thought. Instead of 1.3 million, the new count shows fewer than 600,000 animals. So where are the missing wildebeest?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-way-to-count-wildebeest">A new way to count wildebeest</h2>



Until now, scientists have used airplanes to count the herds from above. They flew along set lines, photographed the animals below, and used math models to estimate how many were in the areas they didn’t see directly. It was the best method available, but not perfect. 



Wildebeest are constantly on the move. If a group shifted from one spot to another, they could be counted twice - or missed altogether. That’s where satellites come in.



Researchers turned to high-resolution satellite imagery that can snap photos covering hundreds of thousands of square miles in one shot. These images don’t scare the animals and don’t require dangerous low-flying planes. 



But there’s a catch: there are way too many images for humans to sift through and count animals by hand. So, the team turned to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-protect-elephants/">artificial intelligence</a>. Two powerful deep-learning models were trained to recognize the tiny shapes of wildebeest from space. 



The shapes appear as blobs just 6 - 12 pixels wide, which is barely visible even when zoomed in. The models, called U-Net and YOLOv8, were trained on over 70,000 examples of labeled wildebeest and reached high accuracy scores of up to 0.83, which is considered excellent for this kind of work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-ai-found">What the AI found</h2>



Once trained, the AI models got to work analyzing satellite photos taken in August 2022 and 2023 over the Masai Mara region of Kenya and Tanzania. The results came as a surprise. 



In 2022, the models counted between 324,202 and 337,926 wildebeest. In 2023, they found between 502,917 and 533,137. That’s a huge gap compared to the long-standing estimate of 1.3 million wildebeest - a number that’s been around since the 1970s.



The models were created and run by a team that included researchers from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. They believe the new counts are more reliable because satellite images don’t require any guesswork about where the animals might be.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-the-wildebeest-go">Where did the wildebeest go?</h2>



There’s no clear answer yet about what happened to the “missing” wildebeest. The study was led by Dr. Isla Duporge from the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>.



“The sheer difference between traditional estimates and our new results raises questions about where the ‘missing’ wildebeest might be," said Dr. Duporge.



"Based on data from GPS tracking surveys, we are confident that most of the herd were contained within the surveyed area. And whilst some individuals may have been obscured by tree cover, it seems unlikely that such a large number - on the order of half a million - would have been concealed in this way,” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-changes-in-migration">Possible changes in migration</h2>



It’s possible that wildebeest aren’t vanishing - they may just be moving differently than before. Changes in rainfall due to climate change could be shifting where the best grazing areas are. 



Human activities like farming, roads, and fences are also blocking traditional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildebeest-suffer-genetically-from-blocked-migration-routes/">migration</a> paths. If the herds are splitting or rerouting, they may be harder to spot in one place.



Also, current satellite images can’t easily tell a wildebeest apart from other similar animals like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-the-zebra-got-its-stripes-to-dazzle-horseflies/">zebra</a> or eland. So the count might actually be slightly higher than it should be, not lower.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-accurate-data">Importance of accurate data</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grazing-succession-animal-herbivore-mass-migration-serengeti/">Great Migration</a> doesn’t just involve wildebeest. Lions, crocodiles, hyenas, and other predators rely on this moving buffet for survival. The migration also draws visitors from all over the world and brings in millions of dollars to local communities in Kenya and Tanzania through tourism.



If the herds really are shrinking, it could ripple through the entire ecosystem. That’s why having accurate data is so important.



“The field of wildlife conservation relies on having accurate data on wildlife population numbers," said Dr. Duporge.



"Combining earth observation satellite data with deep learning, this study has revolutionized our understanding of migratory wildebeest numbers, and could open the floodgates for surveying other species using this method.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-else-can-ai-spot-from-space">What else can AI spot from space?</h2>



This isn’t the first time AI and satellites have teamed up for conservation. The same research team had earlier trained a model to spot elephants from space. But this new wildebeest study is the first to count individual animals in a large, spread-out population.



According to the team, the same technology could soon be used to track other herd animals like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-reindeer-populations-are-declining-faster-than-ever-before/">reindeer</a>, camels, and zebra. They’re even working on a new method to detect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-half-of-africas-rhinos-have-private-owners/">African rhinos</a> - one of the most endangered animals on the planet.



Professor David Macdonald, a co-author of the study, noted that the most basic fact to know as a foundation for conserving any species is how many of them there are. 



"The technological breakthrough of our study - satellite-based wildlife monitoring, powered by AI - potentially revolutionises the answer for wildebeest, besides opening up incredible possibilities for monitoring other large species," said Professor MacDonald.



This new way of counting animals could change how we protect wildlife. But for now, it leaves us with a big, unsettling question: what happened to hundreds of thousands of wildebeest that we thought were there? We may need to rethink what we know about one of the planet’s most iconic migrations.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/9/pgaf264/8249339" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Missing wildebeest? AI survey sparks a migration mystery

Every year, across the vast grasslands of East Africa, over...

Peacock feathers are famous for vivid iridescent colors, yet a new study shows they can also emit laser light after being soaked with a common dye and excited by a green pulse. 



Two narrow emission lines appear at 574 and 583 nanometers, a clear sign of true lasing rather than ordinary glow.



The team wetted and dried the feathers several times with rhodamine 6G, then pumped them with 532 nanometer light to trigger the effect. 



The green parts of the eyespot produced the strongest signal, while the same two laser lines also showed up in yellow and brown zones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lasers-from-peacock-feathers">Lasers from peacock feathers?</h2>



“I always like to think that for many technological achievements that benefit humans, some organism somewhere has already developed it through some evolutionary process,” said <a href="https://floridapoly.edu/directory/faculty/nathan-dawson.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nathan J. Dawson</a> of Florida Polytechnic University (<a href="https://floridapoly.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FPU</a>).



These results point to new ways to probe small, regular structures hidden inside complex biological materials. They also hint at future light sources that work safely with living tissue for sensing and imaging.



A biolaser is a laser that uses biological material as part of the device. It still needs a gain material, a feedback structure, and enough pump energy to cross the <a href="https://journals.aps.org/pra/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevA.50.1675" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lasing threshold</a>.



Here the gain came from the dye, and the feedback appears to arise from tiny structures inside the feather. 



The authors ruled out the usual mirror based cavities and found that something within the feather acts as a resonator.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-peacock-colors-are-special">Why peacock colors are special</h2>



The eyespot colors do not come from paint like pigments alone. In peacocks, a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC240659/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photonic</a> crystal of melanin rods embedded in keratin inside each barbule sets the hue by reflecting specific wavelengths.



Those nanostructures are common across birds, and their evolution is well <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/71179" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">documented</a>. Across species, thinning melanin layers expands the palette of iridescent colors.



That structural heritage explains the feather’s strong color, but the new laser action needed an added dye and repeated wetting and drying. 



The cycling likely helps the dye and solvent diffuse into the barbules and slightly loosen protein fibrils.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-build-a-feather-laser">How to build a feather laser</h2>



Researchers trimmed decorative peacock <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chicken-embryos-reveal-secrets-of-early-feather-development/">feathers</a> and mounted the eyespot region on an absorptive base. 



They soaked the surface with rhodamine 6G in a water and ethanol mix, dried it, and repeated this step several times.



During the final cycle, they pumped the still wet sample with 532 nanometer pulses and captured the emitted spectrum. The procedure produced sharp lines only after multiple wet and dry cycles, not after a single stain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-experiments-showed">What the experiments showed</h2>



Two tight peaks emerged in the yellow orange region, centered at 574 and 583 nanometers. The team saw the same wavelengths from different colored areas of the eyespot.



“The dye infused barbules were prepared by repeatedly wetting the eyespot with dye solution and allowing it to dry," Dawson explained. 



"While wet, and after wet and dry cycling, across multiple parts of the same feather as well as across different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vulture-fossil-reveals-that-volcanic-rock-can-preserve-feathers/">feather</a> samples, a highly conserved set of laser wavelengths was observed."



The thresholds measured for the 583 nanometer line were about 380 microjoules per square millimeter in the brown region and about 290 microjoules per square millimeter in the yellow region.



The green region delivered the strongest emission relative to the broad fluorescence background. That behavior tracks the dye’s absorption and emission bands and the local structure of the feather.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-differs-from-random-lasers">How this differs from random lasers</h2>



In many biological samples, lasing can occur without a well defined cavity. A random laser uses many scattering paths in a disordered medium for feedback, and its spectrum is very sensitive to small changes. 



Random lasing in dyed human tissues has been demonstrated with diagnostic implications.



“The system is found to emit laser light that cannot be random laser emission,” wrote Dawson. 



The peacock feather behaves differently. The same two wavelengths repeat across different feather regions and across samples, which is not typical of random systems.



Prior <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7843591/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> has shown lasers from bird feathers in other ways. Parrot feathers produced random lasing when feathers and dye were sandwiched between plastic films. 



The new peacock result maps consistent laser modes inside the natural structure after dye infusion and cycling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peacock-feather-laser-cavity">Peacock feather laser cavity</h2>



The authors did not find evidence that the color setting photonic lattice itself provides the feedback. Whispering gallery modes need round structures of a specific size, which do not appear in the barbules.



They point instead to small, repeated features that form many low quality resonators with similar optical lengths. 



Those hidden building blocks could be protein granules, dye nano crystals, or other mesoscale elements created or revealed by the stain cycles.



Using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/penny-sized-ultrafast-laser-could-help-self-driving-cars-see-better-measure-gravitational-waves/">laser emission</a> as a probe can reveal subtle order in complex tissue. Stable spectral lines that repeat across a sample suggest recurring microstructures that are hard to spot by imaging alone.



That kind of optical fingerprinting could help characterize biocompatible materials, and one day inform sensors or imaging tools that work with minimal power in living systems. 



Further work will need to identify the exact structures and understand how processing steps tune them.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-04039-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Scientists get peacock feathers to emit laser beams - but why would they want to?

Peacock feathers are famous for vivid iridescent colors, yet a...

When people talk about iridescence, they usually think of butterflies, hummingbirds, or beetles. These animals shimmer when light hits them, creating colors that shift with each angle. 



Mammals, by contrast, appear duller and more uniform. Their coats are typically brown, black, or grey, designed for camouflage and survival.



But recent research from <a href="https://www.ugent.be/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ghent University</a> shows this picture is incomplete. Some mammals carry shimmering fur that rivals the beauty of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-tried-different-ways-to-move-before-walking-upright/">birds</a> and insects. 



The discovery challenges long-standing assumptions and opens new questions about how common these hidden colors really are.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-surprising-discovery">A surprising discovery</h2>



The story began in a museum, not in the wild. A researcher studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammal-evolution-kicked-off-with-daring-experiments/">mammal</a> specimens noticed an odd blue glint on the fur of a tropical vlei rat. That moment set everything in motion. Until then, golden moles were the only mammals widely recognized as iridescent. 



These small African burrowers are known for their metallic, tinsel-like hairs. But the rat’s fur suggested something more was happening. If one overlooked species shimmered, perhaps others did too.



The observation was more than a curiosity. It challenged a simple claim in biology: that iridescence belonged almost entirely to creatures with scales or feathers. Mammals, it seemed, were the exception.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-the-past">Searching the past</h2>



Instead of stopping at the rat, the researcher dug deeper. Old scientific reports contained scattered references to shiny fur in other mammals, some dating back to the late 1800s. 



These notes were brief and often dismissed, treated as oddities rather than serious findings. For over a century, no one had followed them up. The new discovery gave reason to revisit those forgotten records.



By combining modern tools with these old clues, scientists could finally test whether mammals truly showed iridescence beyond golden moles. Museum collections, filled with preserved animals from around the world, provided the perfect opportunity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-iridescence-in-fur">Detecting iridescence in fur</h2>



The team examined specimens linked to historic mentions of iridescence. They also included related species to broaden the search. Using microscopes, they shone light at different angles across the hairs and measured how it reflected. 



This simple test revealed the truth. Golden moles were not unique. Fourteen additional mammal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-species-some-live-days-others-for-centuries-maximum-lifespan-potential-mlsp/">species</a> displayed iridescent coats. Ten were rodents. 



Another was the giant otter shrew, a semiaquatic predator unrelated to either otters or shrews despite its name. For six of these animals, this was the first time iridescence had been scientifically recorded.



The discovery turned a narrow claim into a broader pattern. Iridescence in mammals, once thought to be nearly absent, now appeared in multiple groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-iridescent-fur-works">How iridescent fur works</h2>



Understanding why the fur glowed required a closer look. Under high-powered microscopes, the hairs showed a special design. Normal mammal hairs are rough and uneven, made up of layers that scatter light. In contrast, iridescent hairs were smooth and compressed into parallel sheets.



Light striking these layers bent slightly at each surface. As the layers stacked, they bent light in multiple directions, creating interference patterns. The result was a rainbow shimmer, its colors changing as the viewing angle shifted. 



The process resembled the one behind butterfly wings or beetle shells, though mammals achieved it through fur instead of scales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-reasons-for-iridescence">Possible reasons for iridescence</h2>



Why would <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-ground-dwellers-survived-the-asteroid-impact-that-killed-the-dinosaurs/">mammals</a> develop such unusual hair? The answer is still uncertain. Many iridescent species are burrowers or swimmers. For animals living underground or in water, smooth hair could reduce dirt buildup or resist moisture. In that case, the shine would be a by-product, not an adaptation in itself.



Yet another explanation remains on the table. In birds, iridescence often serves as a communication tool, helping attract mates or signal dominance. 



Mammals could use it the same way. If so, the shimmer would not be an accident but an important social feature. At present, scientists cannot say for sure. Both ideas remain possible, and both need further testing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-iridescent-species-found">More iridescent species found</h2>



Evidence suggests the list of iridescent mammals is far from complete. In 2024, scientists described a new shrew from Indonesia with fur that appeared somewhat shiny. 



With around 2,500 rodent species worldwide, and only a small portion studied under microscopes, the odds of finding more iridescent examples are high.



Each discovery adds weight to the idea that iridescence in mammals is not a rare exception. Instead, it may be a common but overlooked trait, hidden until light strikes at the right angle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biology-remains-full-of-surprises">Biology remains full of surprises </h2>



The findings highlight the importance of close observation. For decades, scientists assumed mammal fur was plain because it usually looks that way under normal conditions. But assumptions can blind research. 



Only when someone noticed a small flash of color did the story begin to change. Museum collections, often viewed as archives of the past, proved vital in rewriting the present understanding of mammal biology.



This work also shows how biology remains full of surprises. Even groups as familiar as rodents can carry traits we barely recognize. What seems ordinary may hold complexity beneath the surface.



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



Future studies will likely explore how iridescence affects animal behavior. Does it influence mating or social interactions? Does it offer camouflage under certain light conditions? Or is it simply a side effect of hair built for other environments? 



Answering these questions will take fieldwork as well as lab analysis. The possibility of discovering many more iridescent mammals is exciting. Every new case adds to our picture of how structural colors evolve. 



The research also reshapes our understanding of what mammals can look like. Far from being drab, some may shimmer like jewels under the right conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iridescent-beauty-in-mammals">Iridescent beauty in mammals</h2>



The discovery of iridescent fur in mammals changes a basic story about animal colors. It shows that beauty and complexity are not limited to insects, birds, or reptiles. 



Mammals, too, can hide light-bending structures in their coats. These shimmering layers may serve survival, communication, or both.



What began with a single flash of blue on a museum specimen has opened a new chapter in biology. It proves once again that even in well-studied groups, nature still keeps secrets. Sometimes all it takes is the right angle of light to reveal them.



The study is published in the <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2025.0508" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the Royal Society Interface</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Not just birds and beetles: Iridescence found in unexpected animals

When people talk about iridescence, they usually think of butterflies,...

In Uganda’s Kibale National Park, scientists have spent years doing the slow, unglamorous work of catching tiny wasps. The payoff is big: a clearer map of “dark biodiversity” - the vast share of species that are poorly known or not yet described - and practical clues for how to protect it before it disappears.



Most of Earth’s species have never been formally documented, making them easy to overlook in conservation plans. Biologists call these overlooked lineages “dark taxa.” They are especially abundant in tropical forests, where species, habitats, and ecological roles remain thinly studied.



The Biodiversity Unit at the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turku</a> has made a specialty of unveiling this hidden diversity, describing new species each year, and building tools to slow global biodiversity loss.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-living-lab-for-biodiversity">A living lab for biodiversity</h2>



Kibale National Park offers a mosaic of habitats. These include tracts of largely undisturbed forest, areas recovering from past logging, and nearby farmland. That patchwork allowed researchers to ask a simple but powerful question: where, exactly, is the unknown diversity concentrated?



The team focused on ichneumonid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-parasitic-wasps-quietly-crossed-oceans-now-thriving-in-u-s-oak-trees/">wasps</a> - one of the most diverse animal groups on the planet - and, within it, the subfamily Pimplinae.



These wasps don’t just buzz around flowers. They regulate other species by parasitizing the immature stages of insects and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-with-spiders-brain-suggests-arachnids-originated-in-the-sea/">spiders</a>, linking them tightly to the health of entire food webs.



“Ichneumonids are a very poorly known taxon in Africa - we estimate that over half of the species we found are new to science,” said doctoral researcher Emil Österman. 



With so little baseline knowledge for tropical ichneumonids, the team used long-term, standardized sampling to see how Pimplinae diversity is distributed across Kibale’s different habitats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wasps-link-species-and-ecosystems">Wasps link species and ecosystems</h2>



Because parasitoid wasps sit high in food webs, they are sensitive to disruptions below them. If the insects and spiders they rely on decline, parasitoids tend to follow. 



That sensitivity makes Pimplinae useful indicators: shifts in their richness and abundance often mirror broader changes in biodiversity. The new work confirms what many ecologists have suspected but struggled to quantify in tropical Africa. 



“Many of our finds weren't unexpected, but we didn't have data based on long-term collecting in the field," said Tapani Hopkins, a researcher with the Biodiversity Unit. 



"Now we can tell in greater detail how many more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-owl-species-discovered-in-africa/">species</a> there are in natural forest, and to what extent disturbed or logged tropical forest can harbor species.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farmland-cannot-match-forest-life">Farmland cannot match forest life</h2>



The headline result is encouraging for conservation: intact forest in Kibale harbors especially rich Pimplinae communities. Secondary forest that is regrowing after logging also supports far more species than adjacent farmland.



In other words, protecting remaining forest is essential, and letting disturbed forest recover pays real biodiversity dividends.



“Our results clearly show that African forest, including forest that is recovering from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainforests-replanted-seedlings-after-logging-do-not-recover-well/">logging</a>, maintains a species-rich Pimplinae fauna compared to, say, nearby farmland," Österman said. "Species-rich habitats can be considered especially valuable in conserving unknown dark biodiversity.” 



That matters for policy and on-the-ground management. If you want to safeguard the most unknown species, prioritize forests - and don’t write off recovering stands. They’re already doing important work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-forests-store-hidden-diversity">Global forests store hidden diversity</h2>



The team also asked a bigger biogeographic question: how does African tropical diversity stack up against the New World? 



Drawing on their parallel long-term collections in western Amazonia and Brazil’s coastal forests, the researchers found hints that South American rainforests may host even higher Pimplinae richness than Africa. However, African forests still harbor a rich fauna.



“Conserving dark taxa effectively requires a detailed knowledge of how biodiversity is distributed, both locally and at a global scale,” said Professor Ilari E. Sääksjärvi, who leads the Biodiversity Unit.



The comparison underscores a simple lesson: tropical forests on multiple continents are irreplaceable reservoirs of poorly known life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-biodiversity-loss-accelerates">Forest biodiversity loss accelerates</h2>



Parasitoid wasps are only one window into dark biodiversity. But they tell a familiar story: clearing or simplifying forests causes losses to ripple upward. Protecting or allowing forests to recover lets complex communities rebound - including species we haven’t named yet.



The Kibale study shows <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-leaks-conservation-efforts-may-shift-harm-elsewhere/">conservation</a> can succeed despite limited taxonomy: protect habitats that concentrate hidden diversity. It also highlights the value of patient, long-term fieldwork in places where biodiversity is vanishing fastest.



“We will continue our field studies at different tropical forest sites, because that is where biodiversity is disappearing especially quickly. It is a fight against time. When a rainforest is destroyed, we lose countless species which we know nothing about,” Sääksjärvi concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/icad.70017" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Insect Conservation and Diversity</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Wasps shine a light on 'dark biodiversity' in rainforests

In Uganda’s Kibale National Park, scientists have spent years doing...

When people imagine grasslands, they often picture bison herds stretching to the horizon. These giant animals once ruled the Great Plains, shaping the land with their grazing. But size is not everything.



A new study shows that the smallest herbivores, prairie dogs and grasshoppers, do more for nutrient cycling than the mighty bison or cattle.



The research, led&nbsp;by scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (<a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NZCBI</a>), reveals a surprising truth. The tiniest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grasslands-are-racing-to-adapt-to-climate-shifts/">animals</a> can have the biggest impact on how nutrients move through grassland soil and plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-grasslands-matter">Why grasslands matter</h2>



Grasslands cover 40 percent of Earth’s land. They store carbon, protect soil, and support biodiversity. Yet they remain among the planet’s most threatened ecosystems.



Farming and ranching have taken over large areas. Development has carved up habitats and replaced native grasses with crops or invasive plants. The result is fragile soil, fewer species, and land that struggles to recover after droughts or fires.



In North America, the Great Plains once stretched endlessly. Bison herds darkened the horizon. Prairie dogs dug their towns across vast distances. Today, those numbers have collapsed. Both species survive at just one or two percent of their former abundance. 



This loss changed how the grasslands <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grasslands-crucial-role-global-agriculture-environment-ecosystems/">function</a>. Without constant grazing or burrowing, the soil misses some of the recycling and mixing it once relied on. Plants grow differently. Nutrients move more slowly. The system no longer works the same.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-animals-support-grasslands">Which animals support grasslands?</h2>



To see what remains, the researchers focused on northeast Montana. This region still holds stretches of shortgrass prairie. It also shows how people use the land in many ways. 



Some areas are set aside for conservation. Others support ranching or crop farming. Together, they form a patchwork landscape. That mix gave scientists a chance to study real conditions rather than isolated sites. 



The team selected 15 locations. By comparing them, the researchers could see how herbivores - from prairie dogs to cattle - shape soil and grass today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-green-food-web">The green food web</h2>



“Herbivores contribute to the green food web by turning plant tissues into urine and dung that provide new plant growth with readily available nutrients,” said Ellen Welti, NZCBI community ecologist and the study’s senior author. 



“This cycles nutrients at a faster rate than the brown food web, where plant tissues slowly senesce and degrade before nutrients become available for uptake by future plants.”



The cycle is faster and more direct when small animals do the work. Prairie dogs and grasshoppers, in particular, push nutrients back into the soil quickly, changing the landscape in ways the larger grazers do not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prairie-dogs-have-a-big-influence">Prairie dogs have a big influence </h2>



Prairie dogs had the biggest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restored-grasslands-bring-more-peace-to-africa/">influence</a>. Their colonies held higher levels of carbon and nitrogen in the soil than surrounding grasslands. 



Their burrows moved nutrients deeper into the ground, while their waste enriched plants with nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium.



These animals don’t just nibble on grass. By digging, depositing, and living in dense groups, they create hot spots of fertility. The land around a prairie dog town becomes richer and more productive than areas without them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-animals-that-shape-grasslands">Tiny animals that shape grasslands</h2>



Grasshoppers also left their mark. Their feeding increased phosphorus in the soil, an essential nutrient for plant growth. But they also shaped the rhythm of the prairie. Plant biomass peaked in mid-summer, then declined sharply. That pattern lined up with the grasshopper life cycle.



Nymphs hatched in spring, barely eating at first. By late summer, they had grown into hungry adults, devouring plants at a much higher rate. 



Bison and cattle grazed more steadily through the season, but grasshoppers created these dramatic seasonal swings - influencing not only plant growth but also food availability for other prairie species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interactions-that-matter">Interactions that matter</h2>



“This study shows there are many different interactions occurring between herbivores and the greater grassland ecosystem,” said Julie Rebh, the study’s lead author who conducted the research as an intern at NZCBI. 



“While the presence of some smaller herbivores such as prairie dogs and grasshoppers may not be as obvious, the impact they have on grassland ecology is considerable.”



The research makes one point clear: ecosystems rely on many actors, not just the most visible ones. Big animals shape the landscape in one way, but the smallest can speed up cycles and create pockets of fertility that keep the system running.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-broader-view-of-healthy-grasslands">A broader view of healthy grasslands </h2>



Conservation often centers on iconic species like bison. But this study argues for a more complete approach. 



Prairie dogs and grasshoppers may not inspire awe, but they keep nutrients flowing. Without them, grasslands risk losing part of their engine.



Healthy grasslands need both large grazers and small recyclers. Together they keep soil, plants, and animals in balance. Protecting them protects the whole system. It also ensures resilience, biodiversity, and survival under pressure.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecy.70192" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Surprisingly small animals are powerful grassland engineers

When people imagine grasslands, they often picture bison herds stretching...

In nature, flashy displays usually scream courtship. Peacocks fan iridescent trains, peacock spiders dance in sequined shorts, and all the glitter serves one end: to impress a mate. So when Panama’s matador bugs - Anisoscelis alipes - waggle bright, banner-like hind legs, the obvious guess has been sexual selection. 



But a new <a href="https://stri.si.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute</a> (STRI) study says the leg-waving isn’t a love signal at all.



“The very nature of discovery is that we can’t anticipate where our questions lead,” said STRI postdoctoral fellow Ummat Somjee, whose work on sexual selection and insect weaponry has been widely covered. 



“By following our curiosity we sometimes arrive at unexpected realities, leading us to reevaluate the very questions we asked in the first place.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-matador-bugs-put-to-the-test">Matador bugs put to the test</h2>



Sexual selection leaves a telltale pattern. In species with showy male ornaments, males tend to carry bigger, brighter structures than females, and they show them off more often - especially at close range to suitors or rivals.



The STRI-led team, with collaborators in the UK, Panama, the United States, Switzerland, and Germany, set out to test whether matador bugs fit that script.



They first gave each wild-caught bug a tiny dot of nontoxic paint so individuals could be tracked. Then, in a screened enclosure, they released the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/">insects</a> in groups of three, stepped out, and let the cameras roll.



Over repeated trials, they recorded positions every couple of minutes, later combing through full-session video to measure how often and how long the bugs waved and how far apart they were when they did. By the end, they had logged more than 745 flag-waving bouts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-showy-legs-aren-t-about-mating">Showy legs aren’t about mating</h2>



The pattern was striking for how unsexy it was. Flag size scaled with body size in both sexes, but females - though generally larger - did not carry disproportionately bigger flags than males of the same size. Males and females waved about as often and at similar rates.



Most telling, waving tended to happen when other bugs were farther away, not at close quarters where courtship and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-clues-about-the-feeding-habits-of-grasshoppers/">rivalry</a> typically unfold. Whether the trio was all male, all female, or mixed didn’t change the behavior.



Taken together, the evidence points away from signaling to mates or rivals. For matador bugs, flamboyant feet are probably not about impressing anyone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bugs-wave-to-stay-alive">Bugs wave to stay alive</h2>



If sex isn’t the driver, another explanation rises to the top: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worms-activate-an-ancient-sleep-circuit-when-trapped-by-predators/">predator</a> distraction. In the wild, nearly one in six matador bugs is missing a hind leg. That’s a lot of lost limbs in exactly the spot where those flashy flags are.



The team suspects the bright, mobile banners operate like a bullfighter’s cape - drawing attacks away from vital body parts. Sacrificing a leg is bad, but it’s better than being eaten.



Future experiments will directly test this idea, for instance by observing predator strikes with and without flags or by manipulating color and motion to see what attackers target.



The researchers aren’t ruling out other functions either; flags could startle predators, misdirect their aim, or even act as a general “back off” signal to larger animals without being a specialized sexual signal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flashy-bugs-spark-new-solutions">Flashy bugs spark new solutions</h2>



Matador bugs aren’t just jungle curiosities. In Panama and neighboring Costa Rica, they’re common pests on passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) farms. If the flags are indeed decoys for predators, that insight could inform <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pests-are-moving-to-cooler-regions-due-to-climate-change/">pest</a> management.



Encouraging natural enemies - or even designing low-toxicity lures that exploit the bugs’ own signaling - might offer alternatives to broad-spectrum insecticides that harm beneficial insects as well.



Good ideas start with careful natural history. Until now, the matador bug’s signature behavior was famous mostly as a striking photograph on guidebook covers. This study turns the image into data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fieldwork-beats-the-feed"><a></a>Fieldwork beats the feed</h2>



Much of the project’s grunt work fell to early-career researchers tracking painted bugs under tropical heat. For first author and <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Manchester</a> undergraduate intern Cameron Longbottom, the field season was transformational.



“Being in the field in Panama is so different from watching Avatar on the internet," he said. "To see animals in their own habitats - you don’t get that in many places. there is still so much to learn.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-showiness-can-also-mean-survival">Showiness can also mean survival</h2>



Charles Darwin wrestled with the strange logic of ornamentation and ultimately proposed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/temperature-tolerance-has-co-evolved-with-sexual-selection/">sexual selection</a> to explain it. That theory remains a powerful lens, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to every bright color or exaggerated appendage.



The matador bug’s neon leg flags remind us that conspicuous traits can evolve for reasons other than romance - especially if they help animals survive long enough to reproduce.



For now, the verdict is clear: the leg-waving that made these insects famous doesn’t help them flirt. It likely helps them live.



The study is&nbsp;published&nbsp;in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cz/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cz/zoaf047/8220672?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Zoology</a>. 



Image Credit: Steven Paton



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Matador bugs wave their flashy neon legs to distract predators

In nature, flashy displays usually scream courtship. Peacocks fan iridescent...

Today is World Dolphin Day, a time when people everywhere celebrate dolphins and call attention to the threats they face. 



Dolphins communicate in ways that demonstrate incredible intelligence. They forge lifelong relationships and use unique whistles that function like names.



These marine mammals are social and playful. But while dolphins are fun to watch, they also serve as important indicators of ocean health. When dolphin numbers decline, it often signals deeper problems in the environment. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dolphins-exposed-to-chemical-toxins">Dolphins exposed to chemical toxins</h2>



Researchers studying short-beaked common dolphins near the UK found something alarming. The dolphins carried high levels of PCBs, toxic industrial chemicals banned decades ago. 



These poisonous chemicals linger in the ocean and build up in dolphin bodies. They harm the immune system and reduce reproduction.



Warming oceans pile on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dolphins-face-serious-threats-from-chemical-pollution-and-ocean-warming/">extra stress</a>. Heat makes dolphins more likely to get sick. Pollution and rising temperatures together create a dangerous double hit.



The research shows that even old chemicals, long out of factories, continue to harm marine life today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-starts-before-birth">Pollution starts before birth</h2>



A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unborn-dolphin-calves-have-toxic-metals-in-their-blood-revealing-horrific-ocean-pollution">study</a> in Brazil revealed a heartbreaking fact: unborn dolphin calves already carry toxic metals in their blood. 



Scientists found mercury, arsenic, copper, zinc, and more. These metals pass from mother to calf through the placenta. That means dolphin life begins with dangerous chemicals already inside the body.



Older calves collect even higher amounts as they grow and eat fish. This early exposure can damage health for life. 



World Dolphin Day reminds us that pollution is not just a problem for current dolphin populations - it threatens the very future of the species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-in-dolphins-and-humans">Mercury in dolphins and humans</h2>



Dolphins in the southeastern United States are contaminated with high levels of mercury. Some live in bays where the pollution is especially strong.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elevated-mercury-levels-discovered-in-dolphins/">Mercury</a> enters the ocean from coal burning and industry. It works its way through the food chain. Dolphins, as top predators, get the worst of it.



Furthermore, dolphins eat the same kinds of fish people eat. High mercury in dolphins means humans are also at risk. If they’re poisoned, our food sources may be too.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dolphins-are-breathing-plastic">Dolphins are breathing plastic </h2>



You’ve probably heard about dolphins swallowing plastic. But did you know they also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-found-in-dolphin-breath">breathe</a> it in? 



Scientists studying bottlenose dolphins in Florida and Louisiana discovered microplastics in their breath. Small fibers and fragments from clothing and packaging slip into their lungs during normal breathing.



Microplastics don’t just harm the stomach - they may also damage respiratory health. And because these plastics are everywhere, avoiding them is nearly impossible. Dolphins now face pollution from both water and air.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-efforts-to-protect-dolphins">Efforts to protect dolphins</h2>



Conservation groups are pushing back against these threats. They’re setting up marine protected areas. They’re working with fisheries to reduce accidental captures. Teams also rescue stranded dolphins and provide care when possible.



Some governments regulate emissions and pollutants like mercury, while campaigns urge the public to cut down on single-use plastics. These steps matter, but they’re not enough. 



Old pollutants like PCBs remain in the environment, and new problems like microplastics keep spreading. Protecting dolphins will require stronger global cooperation and long-term action.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dolphins-talk-in-whistles">Dolphins talk in whistles</h2>



Studies continue to reveal just how remarkable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dolphins-hear-special-whistles-and-change-their-behavior/">dolphins</a> are. In Sarasota Bay, researchers found that dolphins use special whistles beyond their usual signature calls. These sounds trigger changes in behavior, suggesting a form of shared language.



The study reinforces what many already believe: dolphins are capable of complex communication. They don’t just react to their environment. They share information, cooperate, and likely understand far more than we once imagined.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-you-can-help">How you can help </h2>



Even if you don’t live near the ocean, you can still make a difference to help protect dolphins. 



Choose seafood from sustainable sources, cut back on plastic, join beach cleanups when possible, and support conservation groups - whether through time, donations, or simply by amplifying their message.



Small actions build up when people work together. Every choice to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-catalyst-could-change-how-we-recycle-plastic-forever/">recycle</a>, refuse plastic, or eat responsibly causes less harm to the ocean. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taking-action-on-world-dolphin-day">Taking action on World Dolphin Day</h2>



World Dolphin Day 2025 isn’t just about admiration. It’s about action. Dolphins reflect the damage humans are inflicting on marine life.



The evidence is clear: dolphins are poisoned by metals before birth, stressed by warming seas, and choked by plastics. 



Protecting dolphins goes far beyond ensuring the survival of one remarkable species. When oceans thrive, they regulate climate, provide food, and safeguard human health. When they falter, we all pay the price. 



Saving dolphins is, in many ways, saving ourselves - a reminder that the well-being of humans, wildlife, and the planet are inseparably linked.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

World Dolphin Day: Protecting oceans and the planet

Today is World Dolphin Day, a time when people everywhere...

oficial-trabajar-mas-de-seis-horas-derecho-15-minutos-descanso -

Florida has a new household headache that does not respect lawns, fence lines, or even the electronics on your porch. People notice the swarming first, then the silence that follows when other insects vanish.



Many folks call them yellow crazy ants, but the species spreading across Florida is the tawny crazy ant, <a href="https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Nylanderia_fulva" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nylanderia fulva</a>. 



This is an invader from South American with a jittery gait and a talent for building huge colonies. It is different from the yellow crazy ant found on the Pacific and Indian Ocean islands, and it is the one Floridians keep running into.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tawny-crazy-ant-antics">Tawny crazy ant antics</h2>



Tawny crazy ants do not fly at you or sting like fire ants. They run in rapid, erratic lines, and they show up in numbers that feel out of scale to a backyard.



They move queens and workers into many shallow nests, spreading through leaf litter, under stones, and around woodpiles. The spread feels steady at first, then it surges.



These ants swarm food sources and guard sweet liquids from plant pests, which gives them steady fuel. That steady fuel helps their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-quiet-engineers-what-happens-when-common-ant-species-disappear/">numbers</a> jump in warm months.



They do not act like a normal backyard ant colony with a clear border. Their social structure is loose enough that neighboring nests share workers and food.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-they-build-supercolonies">How they build supercolonies</h2>



Scientists use the term supercolony to describe a network of nests that act like one giant colony. Workers from distant nests do not fight, and queens can move freely among nests.



USDA <a href="https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=436291&amp;fy=2020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> found that tawny crazy ants collected from nests as far as 270 miles (435 kilometers) apart showed no aggression towards each other. That absence of territorial behavior lets their populations scale across entire neighborhoods.



A <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/invasive-crazy-ants-could-meet-their-match-mysterious-funguslike-pathogen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> captured what overrun sites looks and sounds like to field teams. “There’s no insect noise and there’s no bird noise,” described Edward LeBrun, ecologist at the University of Texas at Austin (<a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">UT</a>).



That kind of silence points to impacts up the food web. When insects disappear, birds and reptiles lose prey, and that ripples through a local ecosystem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invading-homes-and-electronics">Invading homes and electronics</h2>



A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1076" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">factsheet</a> notes that tawny crazy ants are attracted to electrical equipment. 



It also documents attacks on honeybee hives, crops, and native ant species. These ants prey on a range of small animals, including birds and insects, with some deaths caused by asphyxia.



Large numbers can clog switches and short out contacts. Once they establish near a structure, they trail inside through tiny gaps around doors, windows, and utility penetrations.



People sometimes try bait or a quick perimeter spray and expect a clean win. The colony structure makes that unlikely, because reinvasion from nearby nests can be constant.



Simple yard hygiene reduces the pressure at the edges. Trim branches off the house, store trash away from walls, and clear stacked lumber and leaf litter that provide cover.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tawny-ant-feeding-strategies">Tawny ant feeding strategies</h2>



Tawny crazy ants are omnivores that sip sugary honeydew from sap sucking insects and harvest protein from other arthropods. They also scavenge, which is why you might see them overwhelm a dead lizard or a fallen insect in minutes.



They bite rather than sting. Worker ants deploy formic acid from a nozzle-like opening called an acidopore, which they use in close contact fights against other insects.



On open ground, their advantage is sheer volume. Ants pour over <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-destabilizing-ant-plant-relationships/">competitors</a> and quickly control the space around food.



In trees and shrubs, they protect honeydew producers and move them between plants. That behavior spreads plant stress and, in some cases, disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-they-ve-spread">Where they've spread</h2>



A UF IFAS <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1071" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">update</a> documents confirmed infestations across at least 27 Florida counties as of 2014, and also across the Gulf Coast. New county records continue to appear as survey work expands.



Florida’s mix of warm winters, moisture, and heavy plant cover suits this ant well. That is why neighborhoods near water or with dense landscaping often report the earliest pressure.



Movement often follows people. Nursery stock, mulch piles, and equipment can carry small colonies or queens.



Once they arrive, the pattern is familiar. Numbers spike in spring and summer, settle back in cooler months, then surge again.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-tawny-ants">Controlling tawny ants</h2>



With these ants, the goal is suppression, not instant eradication. UF IFAS IPM <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN889" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidance</a> stresses sanitation, habitat modification, and targeted insecticide use coordinated at the community level.



Professionals often time treatments for early spring, before populations expand from winter sites. That timing slows the seasonal surge and helps other steps work better.



Homeowners can help by sealing exterior gaps and reducing moisture and clutter. Food and water control indoors cuts trailing and nesting pressure.



Coordination matters because a single lot rarely stands alone. If one property clears out ants and the neighbor does not, reinvasion is likely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-biological-tool-may-help">A new biological tool may help</h2>



A peer reviewed <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9168452/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> reports that infection by a microsporidian pathogen, Myrmecomorba nylanderiae, can drive local populations of tawny crazy ants to collapse. 



In long term tracking, 62 percent of infected local populations disappeared over nine years.



Researchers also tested careful introductions of the pathogen at two Texas sites. Within two years, tawny crazy ants were eliminated at both.



That does not mean ants vanish everywhere overnight. It suggests a path for biological control that targets this ant while sparing native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-frankenstein-fire-black-ant-hybrid-insect-species-harms-plants-and-humans/">species</a>.



Public agencies will need protocols to use that tool responsibly. Field monitoring, lab diagnostics, and clear thresholds will guide where its use is appropriate.



Photo: Joe MacGown, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Tawny 'crazy ants' are invading the US and disrupting ecosystems

Florida has a new household headache that does not respect...

Bats do not just hunt by ear. A new study on wild common noctule bats shows that light changes how they chase insects, and it changes their speed as well. These bats still use echolocation during the hunt, sending out high-pitched calls and listening for echoes. 



A team from Aarhus University and the <a href="https://www.izw-berlin.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leibniz Institute</a> for Zoo and Wildlife Research found that bats also keep functional vision. They can blend information across senses, a pattern supported by earlier lab work on multisensory integration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tuning-sonar-for-precision">Tuning sonar for precision</h2>



Decades of research show that bats adjust call timing, intensity, and frequency as they close in on prey. This flexibility helps them track fast movements and cut through cluttered backgrounds instead of relying on a fixed pattern.



Vision also plays a role - when there is even a little light in the sky, it adds information that complements echoes and helps refine tracking decisions.



This is especially useful at dusk, when many bats leave their roosts. To explore how bats integrate sound and light in real time, researchers tagged 21 wild common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-surf-the-winds-of-storms-during-migration/">noctules</a> (Nyctalus noctula) with tiny recorders that captured light, ultrasound, and motion.



The tags documented commuting flights between sites and foraging flights over open air. Meanwhile, sensors tracked call intervals, call loudness, wingbeat strength, flight speed, and ambient brightness, allowing the team to compare behavior in both dark and lit conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bat-vision-reshapes-the-hunt">Bat vision reshapes the hunt</h2>



When the environment was lit, the bats called less often but somewhat louder. They cut call rate roughly in half and increased loudness by up to seven decibels compared with darkness, while still intercepting prey.



Approach speed rose from about 11.6 miles per hour in the dark to about 17.7 miles per hour in light, a large jump for an aerial chase. Faster approaches with fewer calls suggest that vision helped fill in key details when it was available.



“We show that the bats reduce the acoustic tracking of their prey when enough light is available as complementary sensory information,” said Laura Stidsholt, an assistant professor of biology at Aarhus University.



“We were able to reveal that this happens because the bats flapped their wings more vigorously in light environments and approached the insects significantly faster than in dark environments.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-bat-biology">Impact on bat biology</h2>



The same study showed that commuting behavior stayed stable across light levels, indicating bats keep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-brains-are-highly-specialized-for-flight/">sonar</a> running for short range orientation even when they can see.



That pattern lines up with controlled experiments showing some species maintain signature echolocation behaviors even when light is present during target approaches.



Hunting is different from commuting because prey can jink, drop, or climb in an instant. Adding vision gives another stream of information that can speed up choices without sacrificing accuracy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artificial-light-shifts-bat-behavior">Artificial light shifts bat behavior</h2>



Dusk is a prime time for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/very-little-is-known-about-99-of-all-insects-on-earth/">insects</a>, and open-air hunters like noctules take advantage of that window. Streetlights and skyglow, however, can create uneven patches of brightness that alter how bats balance vision and echolocation during those early hours.



That doesn’t mean more light is always better. Species differ in their tolerance of artificial illumination, and many avoid bright areas altogether. 



Local context - such as habitat type, light intensity, and insect activity - still plays a major role in shaping bat behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology-reveals-hunting-secrets">Technology reveals hunting secrets</h2>



New bat-borne sensors that log sound, light, and movement at high resolution are giving biologists a way to see hunting from the bat’s perspective. 



These tags capture moment-by-moment choices that are impossible to observe from the ground, revealing how animals adapt to changing conditions.



By combining synchronized data streams, researchers can distinguish commuting from prey pursuit and link call patterns to wingbeats and acceleration. This level of detail strengthens long-standing theories of bat foraging while showing how vision and echolocation complement one another. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-have-acoustic-mental-maps-to-navigate-total-darkness/">Echolocation</a> samples the world in rapid pings, while vision - when light is available - provides continuous input. Together, they reduce uncertainty during fast maneuvers. 



Field evidence now confirms that bats can integrate both senses in real time to catch evasive prey, underscoring their flexibility in dynamic, human-influenced landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planning-with-bats-in-mind">Planning with bats in mind</h2>



Scientists want to know how general this pattern is across bat families and habitats. Noctules hunt in open spaces, while other species forage along edges or within cluttered vegetation.



Future work can test how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-surge-in-global-warming-may-have-an-unexpected-source/">cloud cover</a>, moon phase, and artificial light influence the balance between sight and sound. Comparative studies may also reveal how eye structure and call design shape sensing choices.



Urban lighting plans can consider bat activity without compromising safety. Warmer color temperatures, targeted fixtures, and darker corridors can reduce disruption where sensitive species forage.



Fine grained data like those in this study can help planners know when and where lighting changes matter most. That can support both biodiversity and human needs.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2515087122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Bats use a hidden superpower to hunt faster

Bats do not just hunt by ear. A new study...

Dogs live with us, watch us, and often reflect our lives back at us. When routines shift, they shift. When stress builds, they sense it. 



Scientists wanted to know just how much these changes affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-puppy-day-2025-where-happiness-meets-responsibility/">dogs</a>, particularly during the upheaval of the pandemic. That curiosity led to one of the largest studies ever on canine behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-dog-behavior-and-health">Tracking dog behavior and health</h2>



Researchers at Virginia Tech and the <a href="https://www.washington.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a> studied over 47,000 dogs between 2020 and 2023. 



The work was conducted as part of the Dog Aging Project, a massive effort that tracks the lives and health of dogs across the United States.



"Most importantly, with these data, we're excited to now have a starting point from which we can continue to follow changes in the behaviors of tens of thousands of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-may-respond-to-each-other-through-blinking/">dogs</a> as they age, which will ultimately help us understand how behavior and health are linked," said Courtney Sexton, lead researcher from Virginia Tech.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-changes-in-dogs">Detecting changes in dogs</h2>



Behavior in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-suffer-from-the-january-blues-just-like-humans/">dogs</a> is more than personality. A sudden change can point to illness, pain, or stress. Small shifts in aggression, fear, or trainability can signal bigger problems. 



By establishing a baseline, researchers now have a way to spot meaningful changes across time. 



The team relied on a widely used survey known as C-BARQ, in which owners reported on 14 aspects of their dogs’ behavior - from aggression to trainability. 



Researchers then organized these traits into four broad categories: Fear, Attention and Excitability, Aggression, and Trainability. This framework allowed them to track and compare behavior patterns over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strength-of-the-data">Strength of the data</h2>



The dataset was huge. It included dogs from every region of the United States. Nearly half of the dogs were mixed breeds, while the rest were single breeds. Ages ranged from puppies to seniors.



"When you have a data set this big, you really do have power in numbers," Sexton explained. "While we can't understand all the factors, when we find statistical significance, there is likely something there worth thinking about in its real-world context."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-behavior-during-the-pandemic">Dog behavior during the pandemic </h2>



The original goal was clear. Researchers wanted to see how the pandemic shaped dog behavior. People spent more time at home. Many adopted new pets, and social interactions declined.



Routines changed overnight. Did <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-are-evolving-to-fit-the-modern-lives-of-humans/">dogs</a> change too? Scientists hoped to uncover whether these new conditions led to lasting behavioral shifts, from training challenges to changes in aggression or fear. They wanted to know if dogs adapted or struggled alongside humans.



The data showed that dogs remained surprisingly consistent from 2020 through 2023. "We saw that certain factors, such as a dog's life stage, sex, and size had some influence on their behavior," Sexton said.



"Interestingly, we found that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic time period, there were not substantial changes in dogs' overall behavioral profiles from year to year despite what we might have expected given the changes in environment and routines that many were experiencing at that time."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pandemic-puppy-struggles">Pandemic puppy struggles</h2>



One behavior did shift: trainability. Dogs enrolled in 2020 scored higher than those added in later years. Scores dropped in 2021, 2022, and 2023. 



Researchers think the dip reflects “pandemic puppy” struggles. New owners often lacked time or access to training. Dogs had fewer chances to socialize. Stress in households added to the mix.



By 2023, trainability scores started to climb back toward earlier levels. That rebound suggests that as people regained stable routines, dogs did too.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-gender-breed-and-size">The role of gender, breed, and size</h2>



The study also revealed differences tied to breed and body size. Mixed-breed dogs scored higher on fear, attention-seeking, and aggression than purebred dogs. Shelter backgrounds and early trauma may play a role.



Small dogs were more fearful, more aggressive, and less trainable than larger dogs. 



Puppies needed more attention, were less fearful and less aggressive, but also harder to train. Males were more aggressive and less trainable than females.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-and-owners-bounced-back">Dogs and owners bounced back</h2>



Owners in 2020 reported more aggression than those in 2023. That drop may reflect less household stress and more opportunities for dogs to interact as restrictions lifted.



“What was interesting was that the difference in reported trainability between the first year and the last year was the smallest of any in the averages,” Sexton noted. 



“It’s a small statistical significance but could show that dogs, or their owners, are bouncing back.”



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



This is only the beginning. <a href="https://dogagingproject.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dog Aging Project</a> will keep tracking these dogs as they grow older. Researchers want to see how location, health, and age shape behavior over time. 



The ultimate goal is to connect behavior with health so owners can better care for their pets.



Dogs adapted through the pandemic. They struggled in some ways, especially with training, but showed remarkable resilience. Their story mirrors ours. 



As life changed, dogs adjusted, and as routines returned, they found steadier ground. This study now offers the first large-scale baseline of canine behavior - a reference point that will guide both researchers and dog owners for years to come.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0330257" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

How the pandemic changed dog behavior over 3 years

Dogs live with us, watch us, and often reflect our...

Dragonflies outlasted the dinosaurs and even endured asteroid strikes. But now they face a survival threat unlike any before. Rising heat and wildfires are reshaping the very traits they depend on to attract mates.



A study from the <a href="https://www.ucdenver.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Colorado Denver</a> shows how this shift could push some species toward local extinction. Traits that once drew partners are now putting dragonflies at risk.



“Dragonflies have survived asteroids, but now climate change and wildfires are threatening them in ways evolution can’t keep up with,” said lead author Sarah Nalley, a PhD student in CU Denver’s Integrative Biology program. 



“Our findings suggest that adaptation alone may not be fast enough to protect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonfly-larvae-expose-climates-hidden-influence-on-biology/">species</a> in a rapidly changing climate.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-ornaments-backfire">When ornaments backfire</h2>



Many dragonflies have dark spots on their wings. These patterns attract <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonflies-hunt-perfectly-even-in-extreme-temperatures/">mates</a>. They also absorb heat. In hotter regions and burned habitats, that heat builds too quickly. Males tire, rest, and lose chances to compete for females.



Thermal imaging confirmed the problem. Dark spots made wings hotter, faster. Unlike the peppered moth, where wing color affected survival through camouflage, dragonflies face a different pressure. Here, color weakens reproductive success. Survival is not enough if mating fails.



This twist highlights a blind spot in conservation. Scientists usually check if species survive hotter, drier habitats. But if mating collapses, the population vanishes regardless of survival, leaving ecosystems weaker and biodiversity loss far greater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dragonfly-survival-amid-wildfires">Dragonfly survival amid wildfires</h2>



“This changes how we think about vulnerability,” said Professor Michael Moore. “It’s not just about whether animals can survive after wildfire - it’s about whether they can reproduce in those modified environments. That’s the key to long-term survival.”



If reproduction falters, decline accelerates. And dragonflies matter. They eat mosquitoes, keeping insect numbers in check. They also feed birds, fish, and amphibians. Lose them, and entire food webs shift, unraveling in unpredictable ways.



Dragonflies have always seemed resilient. But this study suggests they may not keep pace with today’s rapid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonflies-developed-dark-wing-spots-for-survival/">changes</a>, showing how climate and fire pressures can overwhelm even long-lasting species once thought secure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfire-data-reveal-worrying-trends">Wildfire data reveal worrying trends</h2>



The project began as a class assignment in Professor Moore’s course. Students worked with open datasets: wildfire maps from the U.S. Geological Survey, climate records, and citizen science observations spanning 40 years. No external funding backed the research.



Despite the simple beginnings, the analysis uncovered a serious trend. Dragonflies with ornamental wings are disappearing from fire-damaged and hotter regions. The data gave a broad view of how climate and wildfires interact with reproductive traits.



Nalley brought personal motivation. She lost her home in Superior, Colorado, during the 2021 Marshall Fire. That experience shaped her focus.



“I knew I wanted to study animals - and after the fire, I knew I wanted to study wildfires too,” said Nalley. “That experience pushed me to ask how animals are affected not just by surviving a fire, but by whether they can still reproduce and carry on the species afterward.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-conservation">Lessons for conservation</h2>



The findings stretch beyond dragonflies. If ancient predators that once ruled the skies falter, what about other species? The research shows conservationists must look past survival rates. Reproduction matters just as much.



“Working with Sarah pushed me to think about my own research in a new way,” said Moore. “She came in with great questions about wildfires and reproduction that made me reconsider how I approach these big ecological issues.”



The study’s message is clear: ecosystems don’t just need species to live, they need them to breed. Dragonflies warn us of what happens when natural signals of attraction turn into liabilities, threatening stability, biodiversity, and long-term ecological resilience everywhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dragonfly-decline-from-wildfires">Dragonfly decline from wildfires</h2>



Dragonflies have been here for hundreds of millions of years. Their decline would mark a profound loss. More than that, it would unsettle the balance of ecosystems that depend on them.



The CU Denver research shows how quickly environmental pressures reach into the smallest details of life - courtship displays, wing patterns, mating chances. Those details decide whether a species thrives or disappears, shaping both present ecosystems and future biodiversity.



Dragonflies are not just survivors from deep time. They are indicators of how even the most resilient animals can stumble in a warming, fire-prone world.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02417-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Climate Change</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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



-----

Dragonflies lived with dinosaurs, now they face their toughest fight for survival

Dragonflies outlasted the dinosaurs and even endured asteroid strikes. But...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



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



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



—–



Like what you saw and 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.



—–

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



-----



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.



-----

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



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.



-----

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</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.



-----

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



-----



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.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</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.



-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<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="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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.

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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.

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&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.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



---



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



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.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&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.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



---



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.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



---



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.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

News coming your way