After nearly 250 years of informal recognition, the bald eagle has officially been designated as the national bird of the United States. On Christmas Eve 2024, President Joe Biden signed into law a bill amending title 36 of the United States Code to declare the bird’s status.



"For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn't," said Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the <a href="https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Eagle Center</a>. "But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-proclamation-centuries-in-the-making">A proclamation centuries in the making</h2>



In June 1782, the bald eagle was adopted as the Coat of Arms for the United States Great Seal. Despite its symbolic significance, the bird’s status as the national bird was never acknowledged by law until now.&nbsp;



The legislation, introduced on National American Eagle Day (June 20, 2024), was sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and supported by a bipartisan group, including Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-symbol-of-freedom-nbsp">A symbol of freedom&nbsp;</h2>



"The bald eagle has long been a symbol of freedom and patriotism for our nation," Senator Mullin said in a statement. 



"It's only fitting we officially designate the bald eagle the national bird of the United States. I was glad to join my colleagues in leading this bipartisan effort and appreciate the House's swift consideration."



Jack Davis called the move “long overdue,” emphasizing the bird’s unique role as a symbol of American values and its indigenous roots in North America.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-debate-over-the-bald-eagle">Historical debate over the bald eagle</h2>



Although widely revered today, the bald eagle’s path to national recognition was not without debate. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin famously opposed its selection as a national emblem, disparaging the bird as one of “bad moral character.”



However, for generations, the bald eagle has been celebrated for its attributes of strength, courage, and freedom - qualities deeply associated with the American spirit.&nbsp;



Unlike other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/australias-largest-eagle-was-a-massive-predator/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eagles</a>, the bald eagle is found exclusively in North America, making it a uniquely fitting representative of the United States.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovering-from-the-brink-of-extinction">Recovering from the brink of extinction</h2>



The bald eagle’s journey reflects the resilience of the nation it symbolizes. Once on the brink of extinction due to habitat destruction, hunting, and pesticide use, the bird was listed as endangered in 1967.&nbsp;



Thanks to conservation efforts, including the banning of DDT and the enactment of the National Emblem Act of 1940, bald eagles have made a dramatic comeback.



By 2020, the bald eagle population had reached 316,700 individuals - which quadrupled the estimated number of these birds in 2009.&nbsp;



This recovery demonstrates the power of preservation and the collective commitment to safeguarding America’s wildlife. However, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bald-eagles-are-threatened-by-avian-influenza/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenges persist</a>.&nbsp;



In recent years, threats like avian influenza (bird flu) have emerged. Since January 2022, at least 136 bald eagles have died from bird flu across 24 states.&nbsp;



Furthermore, habitat loss, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lead-ammunition-is-a-silent-threat-to-bald-eagle-recovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lead poisoning</a> from hunting ammunition, and environmental contamination continue to pose risks.



Sustained efforts are needed to address these challenges and ensure the long-term survival of the bald eagle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bald-eagle-a-national-icon">The bald eagle: A national icon</h2>



The legislation is particularly meaningful for the state of Minnesota, which is home to one of the largest bald eagle populations in the country.&nbsp;



“The bald eagle is a symbol of our country’s freedom and strength. In Minnesota, we are proud to call ourselves home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the country as well as the National Eagle Center in Wabasha,” said Senator Klobuchar.&nbsp;



Preston Cook is co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center and author of the book American Eagle - A Visual History of Our National Emblem.&nbsp;



"This is an exciting day. The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782," said Cook. "With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-national-symbols-of-the-united-states">National symbols of the United States </h2>



In the past, the United States designated other symbols to represent its natural heritage and cultural identity. Among these, the rose holds the title of the national flower, chosen for its widespread beauty, significance in American culture, and long history as a symbol of love and resilience.&nbsp;



The oak, revered for its strength and longevity, was declared the national <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/should-we-cut-down-all-oak-trees-isoprene-emissions-air-pollution-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree</a> in 2004 to represent the enduring spirit of the nation.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plains-bison-are-in-danger-from-rising-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bison</a>, an iconic species of the American plains, was named the national mammal in 2016 to honor its historical and ecological importance, as well as its recovery from near extinction.&nbsp;



The formal designation of the bald eagle as the national bird marks a new chapter in its history - one that reflects the values and aspirations of the United States.&nbsp;



As this majestic bird continues to thrive, its legacy as a symbol of freedom and resilience is now protected by law for future generations.



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It's official: The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States 

After nearly 250 years of informal recognition, the bald eagle has officially been designated as the national bird of the United States. On Christmas Eve 2024, President Joe Biden signed into law a bill amending title 36 of the United States Code to declare the bird’s status. "For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn't," said Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center. "But now the title is official, and no bird is more...

The effects of climate change and agriculture are severely impacting insects all over the world. A new report from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> has revealed that the combination of these stressors has reduced insect populations by up to 49 percent.



The study is the first to confirm that rising temperatures and land use changes are responsible for widespread insect losses.



“Many insects appear to be very vulnerable to human pressures, which is concerning as climate change worsens and agricultural areas continue to expand," said study lead author Dr. Charlie Outhwaite.



"Our findings highlight the urgency of actions to preserve natural habitats, slow the expansion of high-intensity agriculture, and cut emissions to mitigate climate change.&nbsp;



“Losing insect populations could be harmful not only to the natural environment, where insects often play key roles in local ecosystems, but it could also harm human health and food security, particularly with losses of pollinators.



“Our findings may only represent the tip of the iceberg as there is limited evidence in some areas, particularly in the tropics which we found have quite high reductions in insect biodiversity in the most impacted areas.”



For the investigation, the researchers analyzed 750,000 records of insect abundance for nearly 20,000 species. The experts considered how species richness may have been affected by agriculture and climate warming in various regions. 



The analysis showed that in areas with the most intensive agriculture and climate warming, insect abundance was 49 percent lower compared to habitats that were less impacted.&nbsp;



The researchers noted that insect declines due to human influences may be even greater than their findings suggest, as many areas with long histories of human impacts would have already seen biodiversity losses before the start of the study period.



“The environmental harms of high-intensity agriculture present a tricky challenge as we try to keep up with food demands of a growing population," said study senior author Dr. Tim Newbold.



"We have previously found that insect pollinators are particularly vulnerable to agricultural expansion, as they appear to be more than 70% less abundant in high-intensity croplands compared to wild sites."



According to Dr. Newbold, the careful management of agricultural areas - such as preserving natural habitats near farmland - is needed to help protect insects.&nbsp;



“We need to acknowledge how important insects are for the environment as a whole, and for human health and wellbeing, in order to address the threats we pose to them before many species are lost forever," said study co-author Peter McCann.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.



---



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

Farming and climate warming have cut insect populations in half

The effects of climate change and agriculture are severely impacting...

In a new study, experts surveyed veterinarians in the United States and Canada to determine the number of cases of cannabis poisoning in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-are-less-likely-to-see-farm-animals-as-just-food/">animals</a>. The results suggest that the incidence of cannabis poisoning among pets is on the rise.&nbsp;



The research was carried out by Richard Quansah Amissah of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph and colleagues.



Previous evidence suggests that cases of pets being poisoned by cannabis are increasing, yet little was actually known about the true extent of this phenomenon. To investigate, the researchers asked 251 veterinarians based in Canada or the United States some questions during 2021. The questions were designed to elucidate how cannabis poisoning has changed over the last few years.&nbsp;&nbsp;



After analyzing the survey results, the researchers concluded that cannabis poisoning has increased significantly both in the US and Canada, particularly since the 2018 legalization in Canada. This could mean that the cases were more likely to be reported after legalization, or that more poisoning cases were actually occurring, according to the researchers.



Unintended consumption of cannabis was the leading cause of poisoning cases, but it remains unclear whether the cannabis was sometimes purchased for medicinal use in animals. The most common animals who suffered from cannabis poisoning were dogs, but there were also cases involving cats, iguanas, ferrets, cockatoos and horses.&nbsp;



Most of the animals fully recovered. A small percentage of pets died, but there were underlying factors that possibly contributed to their deaths. While the danger is small, it is still very real, making the research all that much more important.



“This is an important topic to study in the light of recent legalization of cannabis in Canada and across multiple states," said the researchers.



"In order to understand the mechanisms underlying cannabis-induced toxicosis in pets, and to develop treatments for it, we need to first understand what it looks like; this is what we had hoped to accomplish with this survey, and believe that these findings will help us get a better handle on this under-studied topic.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cannabis poisoning in pets is on the rise

In a new study, experts surveyed veterinarians in the United...

Pterosaurs were flying archosaurs that used bat-like leathery wings to take to the skies. Since no <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-grow-more-down-feathers-in-higher-elevations/">feathers</a> were necessary for pterosaurs to fly, scientists have long debated whether they had them at all. Some dinosaurs have been found with feathers,&nbsp; so it has always been a possibility - but pterosaurs aren’t dinosaurs.&nbsp;



Now, a new discovery not only confirms that pterosaurs had feathers, but also suggests that these feathers were colorful. The study was a collaboration between paleontologists in Ireland, Belgium and Brazil.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed the findings of the 115 million year old head crest of a Tupandactylus imperator. This animal lived in Brazil from 230 to 66 million years ago and is known for its strange head crest. Along the bottom of this particular head crest, the paleontologists discovered fuzzy feathers. There were also shorter wiry feathers and branched feathers.     



“We didn’t expect to see this at all," said Dr. Aude Cincotta of <a href="https://www.ucc.ie/">University College Cork</a>. “For decades palaeontologists have argued about whether pterosaurs had feathers. The feathers in our specimen close off that debate for good as they are very clearly branched all the way along their length, just like birds today."



The scientists examined the feathers with an electron microscope and found something even more interesting. The feathers were complete with melanosomes, granules of the pigment melanin. Across various types of feathers, the melanosomes had different shapes, suggesting that the feathers were made up of different colors.&nbsp;



“In birds today, feather colour is strongly linked to melanosome shape.” said Professor Maria McNamara. “Since the pterosaur feather types had different melanosome shapes, these animals must have had the genetic machinery to control the colours of their feathers. This feature is essential for colour patterning and shows that coloration was a critical feature of even the very earliest feathers.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mystery solved: Pterosaurs had colorful feathers

Pterosaurs were flying archosaurs that used bat-like leathery wings to...

This month, the UN Biodiversity Conference will convene governments from around the world to agree to a new set of goals to protect biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/maps-of-bird-populations-can-help-protect-biodiversity/">diversity</a> globally. Leaders will potentially set formal goals to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s surface by 2030, and will draw up a framework to transform society’s relationship with biodiversity.&nbsp;



However, a new study led by the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> has found that simply protecting areas for the use of wildlife alone does not guarantee benefits to the populations of plants and animals. Instead, protected areas such as nature reserves and parks need to be managed specifically to preserve biodiversity. The researchers argue that targets need to be set for the quality of protected areas, not just the quantity.



“We know that protected areas can prevent habitat loss, especially in terms of stopping deforestation,” said study lead author&nbsp;<a href="https://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/staff/profile/index.php?web_id=Hannah_Wauchope">Dr. Hannah Wauchope</a>.&nbsp;“However, we have much less understanding of how protected areas help wildlife.”



The study focused on waterbird populations in 2,500 protected areas throughout 68 different countries. Waterbirds are well studied and data about their populations has been collected over decades by researchers and citizen scientists. Waterbirds are highly mobile and can move rapidly between areas in response to their suitability and the quality of the conditions.



More than 27,000 waterbird populations were investigated using a method that compared numbers of individuals before and after the establishment of protected areas. In addition, the researchers compared population trends of similar waterbird populations inside and outside currently protected areas.&nbsp;



“Our study shows that, while many protected areas are working well, many others are failing to have a positive effect,” said Dr. Wauchope. “Rather than focussing solely on the total global area protected, we need more focus on ensuring areas are well-managed to benefit biodiversity.”



“We are not saying protected areas don't work,” added Dr. Wauchope. “The key point is that their impacts vary hugely, and the biggest thing this depends on is whether they are managed with species in mind – we can’t just expect protected areas to work without appropriate management. It also appears that larger protected areas tend to be better than smaller ones."



The findings, published today in the prestigious journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>, show that protected areas, such as national parks, have a “mixed impact” on wildlife, depending on whether or not they are managed specifically to encourage and preserve biodiversity. This study, which is the largest ever global assessment of the effects of protected areas on biodiversity, provides a much more accurate and detailed picture of the benefits of protected areas than previous studies.&nbsp;



The research team included scientists from Wetlands International and the Universities of Cambridge, Bangor, Queensland, Copenhagen, and Cornell, and the research relied on the efforts of many thousands of volunteers across the world to collect the data on waterbird population numbers. Data on waterbirds in North America came from the National Audubon Society, and the collection of data by volunteers was organized by the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.audubon.org%2Fconservation%2Fscience%2Fchristmas-bird-count&amp;data=04%7C01%7CL.Vennells%40exeter.ac.uk%7C445abed8f94b4ba6da2408da1bb71d32%7C912a5d77fb984eeeaf321334d8f04a53%7C0%7C0%7C637852770636976664%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=Tw9B1gM5entZYHa6KbqdvdeEX9AuH%2FEIGScq95om2ZI%3D&amp;reserved=0">Christmas Bird Count</a>&nbsp;(National Audubon Society) and the&nbsp;<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wetlands.org%2FIWC&amp;data=04%7C01%7CL.Vennells%40exeter.ac.uk%7C445abed8f94b4ba6da2408da1bb71d32%7C912a5d77fb984eeeaf321334d8f04a53%7C0%7C0%7C637852770636976664%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=h0atJZ2Y7OFILak8shjJKpC%2BPtnFAjzjnyZc6YtSm0o%3D&amp;reserved=0">International Waterbird Census</a>&nbsp;(Wetlands International).



“To slow biodiversity loss, we need a much better understanding of which conservation approaches work, and which don’t," said Professor Julia Jones. "This analysis gives really useful indications of how conservation can be improved to deliver better outcomes for species.”



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Protected areas must be managed to benefit biodiversity

This month, the UN Biodiversity Conference will convene governments from...

Non-biting midge flies (Chironomus riparius) are common in North America and Europe where they are often known as blood worms due to the red coloration of the larvae. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-insects-will-kill-more-than-a-million-street-trees-by-2050/">insects</a> lay their eggs in bodies of fresh water and the larvae develop in the sediment at the bottom. When they metamorphose into adult midges, they leave the water and continue their life cycle on land.



The aquatic life stages of these insects may take place in water bodies that are polluted by pesticides, fungicides and herbicides that run off from agricultural lands. Mixtures of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides are applied to farms, forests, yards and gardens and, when it rains, the contaminants may be washed into nearby streams, lakes and dams.&nbsp;



The larvae of many aquatic insects are known to accumulate these pollutants, particularly legacy pesticides that remain in the environment long after they were banned from use. Moreover, once in the bodies of the larvae, the contaminants are retained and passed from larvae to pupae to adults, as the life cycle progresses. The levels of contaminants carried in the bodies of male and female midges has not yet been compared, and it is also not known whether these insects accumulate currently used pesticides and carry them into adulthood.&nbsp;



Researchers Alexis Roodt and Ralf Schulz from the University of Koblenz-Landau in Germany, and their colleagues, tracked a range of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides throughout the life cycle of female and male non-biting midges. They also estimated the potential consequences for terrestrial insectivorous birds and bats that eat the contaminated flies. The results are published today in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>, the journal of the American Chemical Society.&nbsp;



The researchers kept midge larvae in containers with sediment and water, and exposed them to sub-lethal doses of a mixture of nine different pesticides. The exposure was at three different concentrations that were related to levels recorded in the field. They then assessed the extent to which the contaminants accumulated in the bodies of the insects over their full aquatic-terrestrial life cycle.&nbsp;



Larvae that lived in the contaminated environment for 14 days accumulated all of the nine different pesticides, fungicides and herbicides studied, and the adult flies retained most of these compounds after emergence. The process of metamorphosis did, however, lower the levels of the contaminants, except for the herbicide propyzamide which showed up in similar concentrations in larvae and recently emerged adult flies.&nbsp;



Adult female midge flies had higher concentrations of the contaminants, when compared to the males. But, as females mated and died, their contaminant levels generally decreased, which the researchers saw as a consequence of laying eggs and thereby transporting the compounds along to the next generation of midges. By contrast, contaminant levels remained steady for adult males from the time they emerged as flies to the end of their adult lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The researchers say that non-biting midge flies are thus a potential source of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides to terrestrial food webs when they are eaten by predators such as birds and bats. They estimated that tree swallow nestlings and two threatened bat species consume low to moderate levels of these contaminants&nbsp; daily, when they forage on adult-stage midges.&nbsp;



This means that current-use pesticides add to the diverse range of organic contaminants already known to be in the diets of tree swallows and insectivorous bats, some of which are already present at high concentrations.



“Considering the declines in bird and bat populations coinciding with increased pesticide use in recent decades, a better understanding of the potential dietary exposure to organic pesticides is of great relevance," concluded the study authors.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Birds and bats are eating midge flies that contain pesticides

Non-biting midge flies (Chironomus riparius) are common in North America...

Wolves used to be widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia and North America, but persecution and conflict with expanding human populations led to their extermination in many regions. They now only occupy approximately one-third of their original range. However, in recent decades wolves have been reintroduced to wilderness areas in many parts of the US, and their numbers are increasing. This development has not been greeted with enthusiasm by everyone, as these mammals can pose a threat to humans, livestock and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pets-are-exposed-to-toxic-chemicals-in-our-homes/">pets</a>.



Biologists know that predators help to keep prey population numbers in check by preying on older and more vulnerable individuals. Reducing the numbers of moose, deer or elk, for example, leads to less pressure on vegetation and is therefore beneficial for the ecosystem in general. In addition, carcasses left behind after wolf kills provide food for scavenging animals and birds.&nbsp;



It is also widely accepted that predators keep prey populations healthy by selectively removing individuals that are old, weak, sick or injured. This assumption, however, is seldom tested scientifically. In a new study, published today in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution">Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution</a>, researchers from Michigan Technological University report that predation by wolves may be beneficial to prey populations in another, more unexpected way.&nbsp;



“Wolf biologists have in the past assumed that wolves play an important role in regulating the health of prey populations by selectively removing old or diseased animals,” said Dr Sarah Hoy, of Michigan Technological University. “However, a rigorous assessment of that idea has not been tested until now.”



The researchers assessed the extent to which wolves in the Isle Royale National Park, near Michigan’s border with Canada, select moose (Alces alces) on the basis of their age and the presence of osteoarthritis in their joints. Osteoarthritis is a chronic, non-communicable disease that affects the ability of an individual to move with ease. Its presence can be detected by analysis of skeletal remains.



“Osteoarthritis is a progressively crippling disease caused by deterioration of cartilage on the surfaces of moveable joints (for example, knees and hip joints),” explained Hoy.&nbsp;“As individuals get older, they are more likely to develop osteoarthritis and develop more severe forms of the disease.”



The researchers found, as expected, that wolves preyed preferentially on elderly moose and avoided prime-aged adults. “When it comes to wolves and moose, it makes a lot of sense that wolves would preferentially target moose that are in poorer condition because adult moose weigh between 800 and 900lbs which is between eight and 10 times as heavy as a wolf,”&nbsp;said Hoy.



However, among the prime-aged individuals that were killed by wolves, many showed evidence of severe osteoarthritis. The presence of severe osteoarthritis symptoms, but not mild or moderate symptoms, increased the vulnerability of prime-aged moose to predation.



“But the situation is different for older moose. While older moose are more vulnerable to predation, that vulnerability does not strongly depend on whether an old moose has osteoarthritis,” explained Hoy.



When the researchers examined how temporal variation in kill rates was associated with the subsequent incidence of osteoarthritis in the moose population, they found that, over a 33-year period, osteoarthritis in the moose population decreased following years with higher kill rates. This indicates that predation by wolves was resulting in an overall healthier moose population, in terms of osteoarthritis in particular.



“The decline in osteoarthritis following years with more predation is – we think – because wolves preferentially removed moose with osteoarthritis from the population,” said Hoy.&nbsp;



Furthermore, because osteoarthritis is influenced by genetic factors, these results highlight how wolf predation may be acting as a selective force against genes associated with developing severe osteoarthritis as a prime-aged adult. This finding supports the idea that predation can regulate the health of prey populations, and has implications for the management and conservation of wolf populations.&nbsp;



“The management and conservation of wolves is controversial among the public. Yet our results suggest wolves might be an effective, natural, and more ethical way of regulating the health of deer and moose populations – as opposed to using culls or recreational hunting to reduce the incidence of diseases or parasites of concern,” explained Hoy.



“The results are also relevant for policy-related arguments about reasons to refrain from intensively hunting wolf populations,” continued Hoy.



“When deciding whether to hunt wolves it is important to not only consider issues that may be caused by wolves (e.g., occasional predation of livestock) but to also consider the important ecological benefits that wolves may provide by removing old and diseased animals from the populations.”



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wolves improve the genetic fitness of moose populations

Wolves used to be widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia and...

Macro,Close,Up,Of,Fresh,Steamed,Blue,Sea,Mussels.

New research from <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au/">Flinders University</a> has found further evidence of microplastics in our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-food-chains-threatened-by-ocean-acidification/">food chain</a>.&nbsp;In southern Australia’s most popular and remote beaches, microplastics were found in blue mussels and the surrounding water. 



The research team considers this a warning that our food chains are now polluted with plastic waste. From wild-caught fish and ocean-farmed seafood, microplastics are polluting the Southern Ocean and gulf waters of South Australia.



The world’s oceans are littered with plastic waste that breaks down into smaller fragments, known as microplastics. The highest concentration of microplastics have been reported in the shallow sea floor in the Maldives and lowest reported in the surface waters of the Antarctic Southern Ocean.



To measure concentrations of microplastics, the researchers analyzed samples from 10 beaches in South Australia's coastline. These areas are important for shipping, fishing and tourism, along with other industries and local communities.



The results showed that microplastic concentrations in the intertidal water are low to moderate compared to global levels. Microplastic concentrations in mussels are also within the range reported globally.&nbsp;



Blue mussels were studied because they are directly affected by ecosystem conditions. This allowed the research team to investigate the types of pollution that are affecting the local environment, “and single use plastics was the main offender” said study senior author Professor Burke da Silva.



Microplastics are usually abundant in mussel samples near large towns and cities. The experts found that concentration levels were four times higher at Semaphore Beach compared to the more remote beaches.



“By investigating microplastic load in the mussel, we call attention to the implications of microplastic pollution on South Australia’s unique marine ecosystems and on the local human food chain,” said study first author Janet Klein.



The types of plastics found in these beaches were synthetic, suggesting they came from single-use, short-life cycle products, fabrics, ropes and cordage from the fishing industry.&nbsp;



“The areas examined include some biodiversity hotspots of global significance – including the breeding ground of the Great Cuttlefish in the Northern Spencer Gulf and marine ecosystems more diverse than the Great Barrier Reef (such as Coffin Bay), so cleanup and prevention measures are long overdue,” said Professor da Silva.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Apart from the harvesting of blue mussels, we also need to consider the impact of microplastic particles entering other parts of the human food chain with microplastic pollution expected to increase in the future.”



The findings demonstrate the urgent need to prevent plastic pollution. The research team concludes that this can only be done by working with the industries that produce these products, local communities, and government to best protect our ocean ecosystems.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/science-of-the-total-environment">Science of The Total Environment</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study confirms: microplastics have entered our food chain

New research from Flinders University has found further evidence of...

The conch, one of the world’s largest invertebrates, is traditionally battered and fried in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caribbean-corals-have-been-warming-for-at-least-a-century/">Caribbean</a>. The animal’s shell is famously used as a horn for long distance communications in Polynesia. Since 1969, the horse conch has been an official symbol of Florida and has been used to promote tourism in the sunshine state. But now, the animal inhabiting the shell is slipping toward extinction.



Unregulated harvest of the gastropod has led to a drop in population, and this decline turns out to be greater than scientists realized. Previously, it was believed that conchs could live for up to 50 years. A new study led by researchers at the <a href="https://www.usf.edu/">University of South Florida</a> tells a different tale.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The new research shows that the horse conch lives for only an average of 8 to 10 years, reaching reproductive maturity at 6 and giving birth to 28,000 offspring annually. A record breaking two-foot-long conch shell in Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum was found to be only 16 years old. Even with the large amount of offspring, the study shows that fewer conchs are replaced each year than are harvested.&nbsp;



"Our research shows that horse conch reproduction is less likely to keep pace with intense harvest than previously thought," said study lead author Greg Herbert, an associate professor in the USF School of Geosciences.&nbsp;



"Horse conch populations are important. They create habitat for other species by leaving empty shells of dead prey around for fish, crabs and other animals to use as homes. They also contribute to the unique experience that we have in Florida of being able to go to the beach and seeing one of the largest seashells in the world at the water's edge."



The researchers estimated the age of conchs by chemically analyzing the layers in the animal’s shell. They found that males grow slower than females and mature at a smaller size. The experts also discovered that females start laying eggs at the age of six.



The researchers analyzed data from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commision (FWC) to determine population trends over time. They found a decline from a peak conch harvest of 14,511 in 1996 steadily dropping to a mere 67 in 2020.&nbsp;



"We still know very little about how many horse conchs exist and where their preferred habitats or what their optimal environmental conditions are," said study co-author Stephen Geiger, research scientist at the FWC. "Because we have no dedicated funding for more than 1,500 species of mollusks found in the waters that surround Florida, we continue to seek grants that enable us to study their biological traits, including those that will help managers decide if some species are in need of better protection."



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>,



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Florida’s horse conch is closer to extinction than expected

The conch, one of the world’s largest invertebrates, is traditionally...

A team of paleontologists led by the <a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/">Swinburne University of Technology</a> in Melbourne has recently described the smallest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sauropod-dinosaurs-lived-only-in-earths-warmer-regions/">sauropod</a> dinosaur ever discovered in Australia. Measuring 11 meters in length and weighting about 4.2 tons at its time of death, the juvenile Diamantinasaurus matildae, nicknamed “Ollie,” is the third of its species to be discovered. Its fossils – which included several thoracic vertebrae and ribs, together with a humerus, a scapula, a thumb claw, and a femur - were found on a sheep station near Winton in western Queensland in 2012.



Ollie roamed the Earth around 95 million years ago and, like his sauropod relatives, was an herbivorous dinosaur, feeding exclusively on plants such as&nbsp;conifers, angiosperms, ginkgoes, cycads, ferns, or horsetails. Since most other sauropods measured between 20 and 30 meters in length, researchers believe that Ollie was a juvenile dinosaur that died before reaching adulthood, most likely by getting stuck into the mud and sinking near a watering hole. The fact that Ollie’s bones were not completely fused confirm the hypothesis that the fossils belonged to a juvenile sauropod.



According to study lead author Samantha Rigby, a graduate student at Swinburne University, the discovery of these fossils will likely help researchers better understand the patterns of growth characterizing this dinosaur species. “I spent a really long time comparing Ollie with all of the adult specimens&nbsp;here in Winton and we found that Ollie is not an exact copy of the adult,” she said.&nbsp;



“The limb bones of this juvenile titanosaur grew at a more rapid rate than its back and shoulder bones. The bones are also narrower in width when compared with the robust limb bones of an adult Diamantinasaurus. Ollie's limbs were a lot more overgrown and, as he grew up, he grew into his limbs. He would have looked a bit weird with really long legs and a small body.”



Ollie’s bones are now part of the sauropod collection at the <a href="https://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com/">Australian Age of Dinosaurs</a>, a museum of Paleontology in Winton, Australia. These fossils will likely boost “dino-tourism,” by drawing many visitors from Australia and perhaps even abroad.



A detailed description of this dinosaur is published in the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2021.2047991">Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The smallest sauropod has been found in Australia

A team of paleontologists led by the Swinburne University of...

A research team led by <a href="https://vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a> has recently identified and described a new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-acidification-reduces-the-hatching-success-of-a-keystone-fish-species/">species</a> of millipede from the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. The researchers named this species Nannaria swiftae, after famous musician Taylor Swift - an artist deeply admired by study lead author and entomologist Derek Hennen.



“Her music helped me get through the highs and lows of graduate school, so naming a new millipede species after her is my way of saying thanks,”&nbsp;explained Hennen.



Scientists have long suspected that twisted-claw millipedes include many more species than formally described until now. In order to expand our understanding of these creatures’ biodiversity, Hennen and his colleagues embarked on a multi-year project to collect new millipede specimens throughout the eastern United States. They travelled through 17 states, searching new millipedes under rocks, logs, or leaf litter.&nbsp;



By investigating over 1,800 specimens collected on their field trips or found in university and museum collections, the researchers have managed to describe 17 new species, including Nannaria marianae, which was named after Hennen’s wife. Most of these species preferred to live in forested habitats near streams, and were often found buried under the soil, thus exhibiting more cryptic behavior than many of their relatives.



Nannaria swiftae is between 18 and 38 millimeters long, has a shiny, caramel-brown to black body with white, red, or orange spots, and white legs. The males have small, twisted and flattened claws on their anterior legs (hence the common name “twisted-claw millipedes”). Together with the other species of millipedes discovered in the Appalachian Mountains, N.swiftae have a valuable role as decomposers. They feed on decaying leaves and other plant matter, and, by breaking down leaf litter, they release precious nutrients into the ecosystem.&nbsp;



According to the scientists, even more species of millipedes are expected to be discovered in the southern Appalachian Mountains in further expeditions.



A detailed description of this new species can be found in the open-source journal <a href="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/73485/">ZooKeys</a>.&nbsp;



Image Credit: Dr Derek Hennen



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Millipede discovered in the Appalachian Mountains named after Taylor Swift

A research team led by Virginia Tech has recently identified...

The current environmental crisis associated with human activities is more damaging to some wildlife than tens of thousands of years of major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/growing-perennial-grasses-could-help-curb-climate-change/">climate</a> changes, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/">Florida Museum of Natural History</a>. The experts report that mollusk communities, which were incredibly resilient to major climatic shifts during the last ice age, are now withering under the strain of human activities.&nbsp;



The results of the study show that mollusk communities were extremely resilient to past changes in temperature, salinity and sea level, but are struggling to endure the burden of human development and overfishing in the region.&nbsp;



“It is sobering to consider that about 120,000 years of major climate change did not affect these ecosystems nearly as much as the human-induced changes of the last few centuries,” said study senior author Michał Kowalewski.



This is not the first time that scientists have recognized a human driven shift in modern Adriatic ecosystems.



“There are multiple human-driven stressors on these ecosystems, such as changes in land use that increase sedimentation rates,” said study co-author Rafał Nawrot. “This has occurred as far back as the Roman Empire, when increased agriculture led to higher rates of erosion.”



While prior civilizations along the Italian peninsula have left a notable signature on Adriatic ecosystems, most of the changes have occurred within the last century, explained Nawrot. These changes include pollution, as well as fertilizer runoff that has depleted oxygen in marine and freshwater environments.&nbsp;



In particular, commercial fishing is possibly the biggest threat to Adriatic mollusks. “The Adriatic Sea is the most heavily trawled area in the world,” said Nawrot.



“By looking at the fossil record, you can reconstruct a range of natural variability," said study lead author Professor Daniele Scarponi of the University of Bologna. "If the present-day community falls outside that range, it’s probably because of us."



For the investigation, the researchers analyzed more than 70,000 marine mollusk fossils dating back to the Late Pleistocene.&nbsp;



At the peak of the last ice age, sea levels dropped by about 400 feet and the northern portion of the Adriatic nearly vanished altogether. The shores retreated over 150 miles south toward the Mediterranean.



“It would have been possible to walk from modern-day Italy to Croatia,” said Professor Scarponi. “The entire northern part of the basin was exposed and transformed into an immense lowland plain.”



The experts focused their study on fossils which date back to before, during and after the last ice age to identify changes to mollusk communities. The results show that as oceans receded, mollusks that live in colder regions flourished in the Adriatic, while those that need warmer water did not.&nbsp;



Despite some severe population declines, however, the researchers note that very few species disappeared altogether.&nbsp;



“The main difference between mollusk communities through the glacial/interglacial cycles isn’t extinction or the appearance of new species, but rather changes in relative abundance,” said Nawrot.



At the end of the ice age, the Adriatic Sea bounced back - along with the abundance of mollusks.&nbsp;



“Our fossil analyses show that communities of mollusk species along northern Adriatic coasts essentially re-assembled into a nearly identical image of themselves when the sea returned,” said Kowalewski.



“Temperatures during the last interglacial were actually a few degrees higher than they are at present, and yet we see the same associations of mollusks,” said Professor Scarponi. “That means near-shore mollusk communities will likely be resilient to a slight increase in temperature going forward.”



On the other hand, Nawrot warns that a warmer world brings with it a unique set of compounding problems. “Many stressors, like anoxia and the effects of invasive species will only intensify with warming, even if higher temperatures alone wouldn’t be a huge deal."



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652486">Global Change Biology</a>.



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

Human activities are ravaging Adriatic mollusk communities

The current environmental crisis associated with human activities is more...

Since the second half of the 20th century, scientists have discussed at length the negative impact of excess nitrogen on both terrestrial and aquatic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-feces-can-harm-the-environment-and-disrupt-ecosystems/">ecosystems</a>. However, a new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh3767">Science</a> argues that nitrogen insufficiencies in certain areas of the world could affect the proper functioning of ecosystems. 



“There is both too much nitrogen and too little nitrogen on Earth at the same time,” said study lead author Rachel Mason, a former postdoctoral researcher at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center.



During the 20th century, humans have more than doubled the global supply of nitrogen through agricultural and industrial activities. Most of this ended up in coastal waters, inland lakes, or streams, often resulting in harmful algae blooms, low-oxygen zones, and eutrophication. The negative impacts of excess nitrogen has led the scientists to consider this substance a dangerous pollutant.&nbsp;



However, nitrogen remains an essential element for plants and the animals that consume them. When fertilized with nitrogen, gardens, forests, or fisheries are much more productive. With declines in plant nitrogen, trees grow slower and their leaves become less nutritious for insects and their predators such as birds or bats. Moreover, less of this element can constrain the ability of plants to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and thus participate in climate change mitigation.



“When nitrogen is less available, every living thing holds on to the element for longer, slowing the flow of nitrogen from one organism to another through the food chain. This is why we can say that the nitrogen cycle is seizing up,” explained study senior author Andrew Elmore, a professor of Landscape Ecology at the <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a>.



By reviewing long-term global and regional studies, the scientists found evidence of declining nitrogen availability in various terrestrial ecosystems. These worrisome declines are caused by multiple environmental changes, such as rises in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, which help plant fertilization but, at the same time, dilute the nitrogen plants store. Other causes of this decline include increases in global temperatures, which affect plant and microbial processes associated with nitrogen supply and demand, or wildfires that can remove nitrogen from ecosystems and significantly reduce its availability over time.



“These results show how the world is changing in complex and surprising ways,” said study co-author Peter Groffman, a professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the <a href="https://www.cuny.edu/">City University of New York</a>. “Our findings show the importance of having long-term data as well as focused synthesis efforts to understand these changes and the implications they have for ecosystem and human health and well-being.”



Further research is needed to better understand the spatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen availability in order to efficiently direct global management efforts.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Earth has too much and too little nitrogen at the same time

Since the second half of the 20th century, scientists have...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features 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



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



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

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

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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;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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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;



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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"

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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;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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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



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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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



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



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

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

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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)



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...