The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), an apex predator native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is a symbol of ecological resilience and a critical component of its high-altitude environment.&nbsp;



Despite its importance, little is known about the evolutionary history of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snow-leopards-the-carnivores-that-eat-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elusive species</a> due to the scarcity of fossil records, particularly from the Quaternary period.



A recent study sheds light on the evolutionary adaptations that have allowed snow leopards to thrive in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.&nbsp;



The research was led by an international team of researchers from the <a href="https://english.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a> (CAS) and European institutions.



By analyzing rare fossils and employing advanced modeling techniques, the study reveals the intricate evolutionary journey of the snow leopard and its specialized adaptations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-evolution-of-snow-leopards">Unique evolution of snow leopards</h2>



Until now, our understanding of snow leopards' evolutionary path relied heavily on molecular biology, which links the species closely to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-captive-tigers-help-restore-wild-populations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tigers</a>. However, the vast ecological and morphological differences between the two suggest that snow leopards followed a unique evolutionary trajectory.



To address this, the research team identified five significant fossil sites across Eurasia: Longdan (Gansu, China), Arago (France), Zhoukoudian Locality 3 (Beijing, China), Manga Larga (Portugal) and Niuyan Cave (Mentougou, Beijing, China).



These fossils provided critical insights into snow leopard lineage. While the specimen from Niuyan Cave closely resembled modern snow leopards, the others displayed unique traits, suggesting they were earlier offshoots from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.&nbsp;



The study concluded that these offshoots likely represent multiple dispersal events out of Tibet over time, providing a timeline for the development of the species’ specialized traits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-specialized-adaptations-for-survival">Specialized adaptations for survival</h2>



Using cutting-edge techniques like geometric morphometrics, finite element analysis, and anatomy studies, the researchers analyzed how snow leopards evolved to survive in their mountainous habitat. Their findings highlighted several key adaptations:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exceptional-vision">Exceptional vision</h3>



Large eye sockets and highly developed binocular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-camera-technology-lets-us-see-colors-of-the-world-through-the-eyes-of-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vision</a> allow snow leopards to focus on prey with precision in complex, rugged terrain.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powerful-jaws-and-teeth">Powerful jaws and teeth</h3>



Snow leopards have steeply angled jaws and robust canines, enabling them to subdue large prey like mountain goats and sheep. 



Their large premolars and molars help them efficiently consume frozen carcasses before they spoil in cold environments.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhanced-respiratory-efficiency">Enhanced respiratory efficiency</h3>



A well-developed frontal sinus system warms inhaled air, helping snow leopards cope with low temperatures and oxygen levels at high altitudes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heightened-hearing">Heightened hearing</h3>



Their pronounced tympanic bulla enhances sensitivity to low-frequency sounds, allowing them to detect prey over long distances in open terrain.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-agile-limbs-for-mountainous-terrain">Agile limbs for mountainous terrain</h3>



With elongated distal limb bones and a smaller scapula, snow leopards are built for agility, enabling them to navigate rocky slopes and leap across large gaps with ease.



These traits not only reflect their adaptation to cold, high-altitude environments but also their reliance on Caprinae prey, which are slow-moving yet highly robust with powerful horns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-milestones-of-snow-leopard-evolution">Milestones of snow leopard evolution</h2>



The researchers discovered that early snow leopard fossils, such as Panthera aff. pyrenaica from Longdan and Arago, displayed some adaptations for mountainous prey but lacked traits seen in modern snow leopards.&nbsp;



For instance, while their mandibles were steeply angled, their cheek teeth were smaller, and there was no evidence of advanced respiratory adaptations.



Later fossils, such as those from Zhoukoudian and Portugal, exhibited traits closely resembling modern snow leopards, including larger cheek teeth and advanced sinus systems. 



However, some features, such as forehead expansion and ectotympanic chamber development, were less pronounced compared to their modern counterparts.



These findings suggest a gradual evolution of snow leopards’ traits, driven by changes in climate and prey availability, particularly during the Middle Pleistocene when ice sheets expanded on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-s-role-in-snow-leopard-distribution">Climate’s role in snow leopard distribution</h2>



The study also explored the ecological adaptations of fossil snow leopards by analyzing the species’ distribution in relation to climate data. Using species distribution modeling (SDM), the researchers examined how snow leopards might have adapted to the Last Glacial Maximum.



The findings revealed that the suitable habitat for snow leopards during this period was far larger than it is today. 



However, areas such as Europe and Beijing were excluded from this range, suggesting that fossil snow leopards in these regions had ecological adaptations distinct from modern populations. 



Most fossil sites were located in mountainous regions, reinforcing the idea that rugged terrain and prey availability played a more critical role in their survival than altitude or oxygen levels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interactions-of-leopards-and-snow-leopards-nbsp">Interactions of leopards and snow leopards&nbsp;</h2>



Niuyan Cave is the only known site containing both snow leopard and leopard fossils, offering rare insights into the interactions of these predators.&nbsp;



The overlapping habitats suggest that snow leopards occasionally shared transitional zones near forest edges with leopards, similar to behaviors observed in modern populations.&nbsp;



This discovery provides a glimpse into the complex environmental dynamics of the region during ancient times.



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



The study’s findings hold significant implications for conservation efforts. By understanding the evolutionary history and ecological needs of snow leopards, conservationists can better protect their habitats in the face of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-species-are-pre-adapted-to-tolerate-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> and human activity.&nbsp;



The research also highlights the importance of preserving mountainous ecosystems that serve as critical habitats for this species.



This study not only deepens our understanding of snow leopards’ past but also highlights the importance of integrating paleontology, biology, and modern technology to inform the conservation of one of the world’s most iconic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saber-toothed-predators-evolved-the-perfect-fangs-for-hunting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predators</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp5243" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



-----



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Snow leopards: Tracing the evolution of an apex predator

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), an apex predator native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is a symbol of ecological resilience and a critical component of its high-altitude environment.&nbsp; Despite its importance, little is known about the evolutionary history of this elusive species due to the scarcity of fossil records, particularly from the Quaternary period. A recent study sheds light on the evolutionary adaptations that have allowed snow leopards to thrive in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.&nbsp; The research was led by an international team of...

For animals in the Rocky Mountains, global warming is literally an uphill battle. A long-term study from <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">CU Boulder</a> has revealed that golden-mantled ground squirrels, along with many other small mammals, are climbing higher into the mountains to escape unsuitably warm <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-linked-to-low-quality-diets-among-children/">temperatures</a>.

Study lead author Christy McCain is an associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a curator of vertebrates at the CU Museum of Natural History.

"It's frightening. We've been talking about climate change in the Rockies for a long time, but I think we can say that this is a sign that things are now responding and responding quite drastically," said Professor McCain.

The golden-mantled ground squirrel is a popular sight among tourists that has an appearance similar to a chipmunk. The squirrels live in conifer forests in the Rockies and several other western mountain ranges.

"It is likely one of the most photographed mammals in Rocky Mountain National Park as it poses and preens on rocks near the roadside and in campgrounds," said Professor McCain. "They hibernate in winter, are territorial in the summer, and they make distinctive alarm calls to notify each other of nearby dangers."

The research was focused on nearly 50 species of small mammals located in the Front Range and San Juan Rockies, including mice, shrews, and even the yellow-bellied marmot.

The experts determined that the ranges of these small mammals have shifted by an average more than 400 feet up in elevation since the 1980s. Meanwhile, the ground squirrels and other "montane mammals" which already live at higher elevations have shifted by up to 1,100 feet.

According to the researchers, this trend could squeeze many animals out of Colorado altogether. Professor McCain said that the small mammals may be bellwethers for larger and increasingly urgent changes in the Rocky Mountains.

"I was expecting that we would see something between 100 to 200 meters, but we saw a lot more. This is way bigger than the change that has been determined in other mountain regions around the world."

According to Professor McCain, the study paints a stark picture of a mountain range in crisis. The good news is that there may still be time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect the animals and natural landscapes.

"It's a wake-up call," said Professor McCain. "We have to start taking this seriously immediately if we want to have healthy mountains and ecosystems."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19399170">Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Squirrels are climbing high to escape global warming

For animals in the Rocky Mountains, global warming is literally...

A study from <a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/">Bangor University</a> is providing new insight into how migratory birds manage to reorient themselves after venturing off course. The researchers found that reed warblers detect geomagnetic signatures that can guide them back to their migratory route after they have been displaced.

The study is the first of its kind to reveal that birds have the perceptive ability to navigate toward a magnetic position that they have experienced before along their normal migration route.

"What these birds are achieving is 'true navigation,'" explained study co-author Dr. Dmitry Kishkinev. "In other words, they are able to return to a known goal after displacement to a completely unknown location without relying on familiar surroundings, cues that emanate from the destination, or information collected during the outward journey."

Different locations on Earth have distinct geomagnetic signatures based on factors such as the strength of the geomagnetic field or the angle between directions to the geographic and magnetic North poles.

For the investigation, adult reed warblers were held in captivity for a short period of time. Because they were adults, the birds were already familiar with their migration route and its general magnetic signatures.

Once they were released, the warblers were exposed to a simulation of the Earth's magnetic signature at a location thousands of miles away from the birds' natural migratory range.

Despite all the sensory clues that showed the birds they were physically located elsewhere, they behaved based on the magnetic signals that they were experiencing. As a result, the reed warblers oriented themselves to fly in a direction which would lead them from the simulated location back to their migratory path.

The findings show that Earth's magnetic field is key in guiding reed warblers when they are off course.

"The overriding impulse was to respond to the magnetic information they were receiving," explained study co-author Richard Holland. 

"What our current work shows is that birds are able to sense that they are beyond the bounds of the magnetic fields that are familiar to them from their year-round movements, and are able to extrapolate their position sufficiently from the signals. This fascinating ability enables bird to navigate towards their normal migration route."

"We have already shown that the reed warblers use the same magnetic cues experienced within their natural range, but this study shows that they can extrapolate what they understand about how the magnetic field varies in space far beyond any previous experience they have had," said study co-author Florian Packmor.

While the research was focused on the Eurasian reed warbler, the researchers expect their findings can be applied to other migrating songbirds.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Reed warblers use Earth's magnetic field to get back on track

A study from Bangor University is providing new insight into...

Whales,Of,The,North,Shore,Quebec

The songs of fin whales can be used to survey the structure of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-concentrations-of-microplastics-found-on-the-seafloor-2/">seafloor</a>, according to a new study from <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a>. The experts report that fin whale songs contain signals that are reflected and refracted within the crust, including the sediment and the solid rock layers beneath. 

Study co-author John Nabelek explained that these signals can be used to determine the thickness of the layers as well as other information relevant to seismic research.

"People in the past have used whale calls to track whales and study whale behavior. We thought maybe we can study the Earth using those calls," said Professor Nabelek. "What we discovered is that whale calls may serve as a complement to traditional passive seismic research methods."

The songs of fin whales occur at frequencies known to travel well across the ocean floor, persisting for up to hours at a time. The vocalizations be as loud as large ships, and are often captured by seismometer (OBS) stations on the seafloor that monitor earthquake activity. 

Professor Nabelek said the study serves as a proof of concept that could provide new avenues for using data from whale calls in research.

"This expands the use of data that is already being collected. It shows these animal vocalizations are useful not just for understanding the animals, but also understanding their environment."

In collaboration with study lead author Vaclav M. Kuna, Professor Nabelek analyzed earthquakes from a network of 54 underwater seismometers positioned along the Blanco transform fault. At its closest point, the fault is around 100 miles off Cape Blanco on the coast of Oregon.

The team recognized strong signals on the seismometers that correlated with the presence of fin whales in the area.

"After each whale call, if you look closely at the seismometer data, there is a response from the Earth," said Professor Nabelek.

The calls recorded at the seismometer can provide information that allows researchers to estimate and map the structure of the crust. Based on a series of whale songs recorded by three seismometers, the researchers were able to pinpoint the whale's location and use the vibrations to create images of the Earth's crust layers.

According to Professor Nabelek, the current traditional method for imaging of the crust can be expensive and permits can be difficult to obtain because the work involves deploying air guns. While the whale songs are captured at a lower resolution, they are also much less invasive.

"The data from the whale songs is useful but it doesn't completely replace the standard methods," noted Professor Nabelek. "This method is useful for investigating the Earth's oceanic crust where standard science survey methods are not available."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fin whale songs can help map the structure of the Earth's crust

The songs of fin whales can be used to survey...

In a new study published by <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/">Frontiers</a>, four pigs learned how to play video games by moving a joystick with their snouts. According to the experts, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-ocean-soundscapes-impact-animals-worldwide/">animals</a> demonstrated that they understood the concept of the computer games despite having some physical limitations. 

The researchers said the fact that these far-sighted animals with no opposable thumbs could succeed at the task is "remarkable."

The study was focused on two Yorkshire pigs and two Panepinto micro pigs. All four animals were trained to manipulate a joystick with their snouts in front of a computer monitor. Next, they were taught how to play a video game where the goal was to move a cursor toward up to four target walls on the screen.

Each pig performed well above chance, which indicates that the animals were fully aware of the connection between the movement of the joystick and the cursor on the computer screen. 

"It is no small feat for an animal to grasp the concept that the behavior they are performing is having an effect elsewhere. That pigs can do this to any degree should give us pause as to what else they are capable of learning and how such learning may impact them," said study lead author Dr. Candace Croney.

Previous research has shown that pigs are capable of various types of learning ranging from basic obedience commands to more complex behaviors.

The current study revealed that pigs become more persistent as a result of social contact. Verbal encouragement motivated them to complete the most challenging tasks. 

"This sort of study is important because, as with any sentient beings, how we interact with pigs and what we do to them impacts and matters to them," said Dr. Croney. 

"We therefore have an ethical obligation to understand how pigs acquire information, and what they are capable of learning and remembering, because it ultimately has implications for how they perceive their interactions with us and their environments."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology">Frontiers in Psychology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pigs can learn how to play video games

In a new study published by Frontiers, four pigs learned...

Domestic cats become much less of a threat to wildlife when they are fed a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-mediterranean-diet-reduces-fatty-liver-disease-by-half/">diet</a> that is rich in meat, according to new research from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>. The experts also discovered that cats hunt for wildlife less when their owners play with them on a daily basis. 

The study revealed that introducing a premium commercial food, where proteins came from meat, reduced the number of prey animals cats brought home by 36 percent. In addition, five to ten minutes of daily play reduced hunting by 25 percent.

"Previous research in this area has focused on inhibiting cats' ability to hunt, either by keeping them indoors or fitting them with collars, devices and deterrents," explained study co-author Professor Robbie McDonald.

"While keeping cats indoors is the only sure-fire way to prevent hunting, some owners are worried about the welfare implications of restricting their cat's outdoor access."

"Our study shows that - using entirely non-invasive, non-restrictive methods - owners can change what the cats themselves want to do. By playing with cats and changing their diets, owners can reduce their impact on wildlife without restricting their freedom."

For the investigation, cat owners simulated hunting by moving a feather toy on a string so cats could stalk, chase, and pounce. As for the food, it is not yet clear which elements of the meat led to a reduction in hunting.

"Some cat foods contain protein from plant sources such as soy, and it is possible that despite forming a 'complete diet' these foods leave some cats deficient in one or more micronutrients -prompting them to hunt," said study lead author Martina Cecchetti.

"However, meat production raises clear climate and environmental issues, so one of our next steps is to find out whether specific micronutrients could be added to cat foods to reduce hunting."

"We also plan to investigate whether different kinds of play have different effects, and whether combining strategies can reduce hunting even further."

The study involved a 12-week trial of 355 cats in 219 households in southwest England. The researchers tested existing devices used to limit hunting by cats, such as collar covers and bells. Overall, these devices were found to be ineffective.

Lisa George has a three-year-old tabby cat named Minnie who took part in the trial.

"Minnie loves to hunt. More often than not, she will bring her prey home and let it go in the house. We've had birds in the bedroom, rats in the waste paper bin (which took us three days to catch), rabbits in the utility room," said George.

"On changing Minnie's food (previously supermarket own-brand), to Lily's Kitchen, I found she hardly hunted at all. This continued the whole time she was on this food. I can honestly say I couldn't believe the difference as regards her hunting behavior."

George Bradley of <a href="https://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/">SongBird Survival</a>, which sponsored the research, said the study is excellent news for birds.

"The data show that cat owners (like me) can make a few small and easy steps to really improve the health and happiness of our pets as well as make a really big difference for all our wildlife, especially our beloved songbirds."

According to Bradley, making these simple changes will be a win-win for birds, cats, and cat owners.

"We are really encouraged by the findings of this study," said Dr. Sarah Ellis of iCatCare. "While many cat owners are wildlife lovers and find the killing and injuring of wild animals by their cats upsetting, many owners also feel that keeping their cats indoors or restricting their outdoor access would impact negatively on their cats' quality of life."

"At iCatCare, we are particularly excited about the positive effects of play - this is an activity that owners can easily introduce at no or little cost, takes little time and is very cat-friendly.

"The mental and physical stimulation of predatory-like play are likely to help keep a cat in tip top condition and provide an appropriate behavioural outlet for its predatory behaviours."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cats will hunt less wildlife if you feed them meat

Domestic cats become much less of a threat to wildlife...

The range of white sharks is shrinking and shifting as a result of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-to-blame-for-longer-allergy-seasons/">climate</a> change, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/">Monterey Bay Aquarium</a>. The experts report that there have been unprecedented sightings of juvenile white sharks at the northern end of Monterey Bay, which is a major shift in their range. 

The researchers have determined that the northward shift of young white sharks indicates that they are struggling to find suitable habitat as water temperatures rise beyond their desirable temperature range.

"Nature has many ways to tell us the status quo is being disrupted, but it's up to us to listen," said study co-author Dr. Kyle Van Houtan. "These sharks - by venturing into territory where they have not historically been found - are telling us how the ocean is being affected by climate change."

Two decades ago, as aquarium scientists were preparing to display young white sharks, they monitored juveniles in southern California to study their behavior.

After the North Pacific was impacted by an extreme marine heatwave between 2014 and 2016, the team noticed unusual sightings of juvenile white sharks off central California. This is outside of their typical grounds off southern California, and the farthest north that young white sharks have ever been spotted.

In an effort to identify their thermal preferences, the team analyzed 22 million electronic data records from 14 sharks and compared these records to 38 years of ocean temperatures.

Between 1982 and 2013, the northernmost edge of the juveniles' range was located near Santa Barbara. After the marine heatwave, this range shifted dramatically north to Bodega Bay, and currently hovers near Monterey.

"After studying juvenile white shark behavior and movements in southern California for the last 16 years, it is very interesting to see this northerly shift in nursery habitat use," said study co-author Dr. Chris Lowe. "I think this is what many biologists have expected to see as the result of climate change and rising ocean temperatures. Frankly, I'll be surprised if we don't see this northerly shift across more species."

"This study would not have been possible without contributions from our community scientists and treasured Aquarium volunteers," said Dr. Van Houtan. "Eric Mailander, a local firefighter, provided a decade of detailed logbook records of shark sightings, and volunteer Carol Galginaitis transcribed those hand-written data into an electronic database."

The researchers say their findings reinforce what scientists have been saying for years - animals and nature are revealing the impacts of climate change.

"White sharks, otters, kelp, lobsters, corals, redwoods, monarch butterflies - these are all showing us that climate change is happening right here in our backyard," said Dr. Van Houtan. 

"It's time for us to take notice and listen to this chorus from nature. We know that greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly disrupting our climate and this is taking hold in many ways. Our study showed one example of juvenile white sharks appearing in Monterey Bay. But let's be clear: The sharks are not the problem. Our emissions are the problem. We need to act on climate change and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Young white sharks are moving north to find suitable habitat

The range of white sharks is shrinking and shifting as...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> have traced the success of non-native starlings to rapid evolution. The experts set out to investigate how the European starling has become one of the most abundant bird species in North America. 

After just 80 individuals were released in New York City's Central Park in 1890, the starling population exploded to an estimated 200 million breeding adults spread across the continent of North America.

"The amazing thing about the evolutionary changes among starling populations since they were introduced in North America is that the changes happened in a span of just 130 years in parallel with a huge expansion in the bird's range and population size," said study lead author Natalie Hofmeister. "For a long time we didn't think that was possible - that it took millions of years for genetic mutations to change a genome."

According to the researchers, the genetic differences found among North American starlings are very subtle. DNA sequencing showed that the genomes of birds from different regions of the United States were all remarkably similar. 

The experts identified specific genetic signatures representing changes in areas of the genome that control how starlings adapt to variations in temperature and rainfall. The study authors concluded the birds had undergone "rapid local adaptation" to quickly adjust to conditions not found in their native European range.

Movement played a major role in the evolution of starlings. They established new populations as they spread westward, and each population had to adapt to the new environmental conditions. These adaptations may not have required new mutations, but instead resulted from an existing genetic variations.

"A genetic variation that might not have been useful in one environment could turn out to be very beneficial in another," said Hofmeister. "So, a variation related to temperature and rainfall that enhanced survival became more common in a new environment." 

The massive size of the total starling population across North America meant these gene variants were passed down from the original birds across generations.

"What I think is really cool is that the starlings in North America appear to have adapted to different conditions across the range," said Hofmeister. "So, it wasn't just that they reproduced really quickly, and then just kept reproducing. It's that they specialized once they arrived in new areas."

Despite their success, the European starlings are currently in a state of decline. The population is now half the size it was 50 years ago throughout North America, and is also declining in Europe.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1365294x">Molecular Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Starlings are a prime example of rapid evolution

Researchers at Cornell University have traced the success of non-native...

In a new study led by <a href="https://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a>, researchers have taken a new approach to reconstruct the movement of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-the-dinosaurs-vanished-forests-expanded-and-thrived/">dinosaurs</a> and other extinct animals. The experts developed a 3D imaging technique to investigate the mechanics of early animal locomotion. 

"By combining the latest technology for studying joint motion with unprecedented amounts of joint pose data, we've uncovered surprising new information that will improve reconstructions of locomotion in extinct animals," said study lead author Armita Manafzadeh.

According to Manafzadeh, improving the ability for scientists to study animal biomechanics is important because knowledge of how individual species moved can advance our understanding of major evolutionary transformations. 

For example, advanced knowledge of early animal movement could help us understand how vertebrates came out of the water and started walking on land, how they went from walking on four legs to two, and how flight evolved, explained Manafzadeh.

Current research on early animal locomotion relies on the process of elimination. The fossilized bones are assembled together and manipulated to determine a joint's mobility, which includes all of the poses that could have been executed without the bones bumping into each other. 

However, this traditional approach only identifies the way in which animals did not move, and requires additional resources to investigate how they actually did move. 

For the current investigation, Manafzadeh teamed up with Professor Stephen M. Gatesy and Dr. Robert Kambic to determine whether joint mobility data may be more informative than what has been assumed.

Using XROMM 3D imaging technology, the researchers analyzed the locomotion of two living animals that are closely related to extinct dinosaurs -  the helmeted guineafowl and the American alligator.

The team captured X-ray videos of the animals walking and having their limbs manipulated, conducted CT scans of the skeletons, and measured nearly 600,000 joint poses. 

The researchers found consistent patterns that linked joint mobility to specific poses used by the dinosaur relatives during locomotion. The experts explained that these patterns can now be applied to reconstruct the movements of extinct animals with more accuracy.

"Thanks to these pose usage patterns, it turns out that what dinosaurs couldn't do with their joints will give us some big clues about how they walked," said Manafzadeh. "What's more, this information has been right in front of us, hidden within the data that paleontologists are already collecting. We just didn't know how to appreciate it yet."

According to the researchers, their confidence in the patterns is supported by the hundreds of thousands of joint poses they have been able to measure and analyze. "We can now pursue future research to ask how broad those patterns are, how they evolved and why," said Professor Gatesy.

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>. 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dinosaur relatives reveal clues about early animal locomotion

In a new study led by Brown University, researchers have...

Scientists may have just discovered the world's smallest reptiles living on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-parts-of-the-amazon-rainforest-will-thrive-in-a-warming-climate/">rainforest</a> floor in Madagascar. The tiny chameleons are so small that they fit on a human fingertip.

According to study co-author Frank Glaw, a reptile expert at the <a href="https://www.zsm.mwn.de/">Bavarian State Collection of Zoology</a> in Munich, the male and female specimens were spotted on a mountainside by a local guide during an expedition in 2012.

“You really have to get down on your knees to find them,” Glaw told <a href="https://apnews.com/">AP News</a>. “They are obviously camouflaged and they move very slowly.”

The international team of researchers from Germany and Madagascar named the species Brookesia nana, or nano-chameleon. The body of the male lizard is about 13.5 millimeters in length. This is at least 1.5 millimeters smaller than the previous record holder, another member of the Brookesia family.

Glaw explained that confirming Brookesia nana as the smallest reptile species will require finding more of them, which could take several years.

CT scans revealed that the female harbored two eggs, which confirmed that it was an adult. While the length of the male specimen was 22 millimeters from top to tail, the female is quite a bit larger, with a length of around 29 millimeters. 

The size difference among the genders may explain why the male lizard was found to have genitals that were almost one-fifth of its body size. The researchers said that the "well-developed" genitals may allow the smaller male chameleon to mate with the larger female.

The scientists recommend for Brookesia nana to be listed as critically endangered for its protection. In Madagascar, chameleons are threatened by deforestation.

"The new chameleon is only known from a degraded montane rainforest in northern Madagascar and might be threatened by extinction," wrote the study authors.

Dr. Mark Scherz was one of the experts involved in the discovery. In a blog post, he referred to Brookesia nana as "a spectacular case of extreme miniaturization." 

Dr. Scherz noted that the forests where the chameleons were found are still well connected with others across the north of the island. "So this tiny new chameleon violates the pattern of the smallest species being found on small islands. That suggests that something else is allowing/causing these chameleons to miniaturize."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAvP6ABhCjARIsAH37rbQ5rRYQ39GEJJJhrRAmDBpFCy3JpHSAkQFqiFlPqBzbYkvzFI2c7GMaAn5QEALw_wcB">Scientific Reports</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

Tiny chameleons found in Madagascar fit on a human fingertip

Scientists may have just discovered the world's smallest reptiles living...

Understanding how birds species live in their natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bumblebees-in-low-quality-habitats-are-more-susceptible-to-disease/">habitats</a> can help inform zoos on how to protect birds in captivity, according to research conducted by Dr. Paul Rose of the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>. In addition, observations of captive birds can guide conservation strategies for birds living in the wild.

“Research into wild birds is extremely useful for furthering how birds are managed in zoos,” said Dr Rose. “For species of conservation concern, zoo professionals can be linked with field biologists to share information on how to best care for these species in captivity and how to develop and formulate conservation actions."

“We can use proxy species - those common in zoos - to develop practices for conservation that can be used for less familiar species that might be of concern and need help from information gathered through things such as captive breeding."

“Or we can promote the threats that these not-in-the-zoo species face by using the commoner species as an ambassador. We do this through my work at the Wildfowl &amp; Wetlands Trust, promoting the rarer species of flamingo that are in the wild using the commoner ones we keep in the living collection.”

The analysis was focused on the helmeted hornbill, which plays an important role in seed dispersal in pristine areas of southeastern Asian rainforests. These birds are critically endangered as a result of poaching.

While some species of large hornbill can be found in captivity, the helmeted hornbill cannot. By studying the ecological role of the helmeted hornbill in its natural habitat, zoos have been able to design enclosures that will increase chances of reproduction.

For example, experts identified the temperature and humidity range of hornbill nesting sites in the wild, where eggs are more likely to hatch. Zoos can now match these environmental conditions as closely as possible.

Zoos have also been able to guide conservation action for hornbills living in the wild by monitoring the behavior of these birds. Researchers discovered that using nest boxes enhances the quality of breeding habitats for hornbills. As a result, nest boxes have been built in areas of the helmeted hornbill’s range in Borneo.

“The effect of visitors on zoos can also help direct future research questions and increase understanding of birds under human care,” said Dr. Rose.

“Developing zoo bird exhibits to theme them around specific conservation messages can be used to promote wider understanding of the threats faced by wild birds specifically and hopefully encourage human behavior change that benefits ecosystem health.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/birds">Birds</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

Observing birds in nature can help protect them in captivity

Understanding how birds species live in their natural habitats can...

A gene that is linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) plays a critically important role in the memorization skills of songbirds. Researchers at <a href="https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/">UT Southwestern</a> found that deactivating this gene prevented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birdsong-frequency-is-influenced-by-sexual-selection/">birds</a> from being able to memorize their fathers' unique songs.

The findings are shedding new light on speech and language deficiencies that often accompany autism, and may ultimately lead to improved treatments.

Study lead author Dr. Todd Roberts explained that the vocalizations which are a central part of human communication are relatively unique among the animal world - not just for their complexity, but in the way they are passed down from caregivers to offspring. 

Among songbirds like zebra finches, songs are passed along from fathers to male offspring. Similar to humans, the birds have neural circuitry that is dedicated to this learning process in a region of the brain that is referred to as the high vocal center.(HVC).

Dr. Roberts said that because of the parallels between song learning in birds and language learning in humans, songbirds are often used as a scientific model for understanding speech development in people.

The researchers studied zebra finches to investigate the role of a gene called FoxP1, a gene that is closely related to ASD. Mutations of this gene cause a subtype of autism that is characterized by severe language impairment.

According to Dr. Roberts, learning vocalizations consists of two different stages: forming a memory of sounds and then practicing the sounds through imitation. Juvenile zebra finches practice their fathers' song thousands of times a day over three months. They rehearse the song tens of thousands of times until it is a close match. 

To investigate the role FoxP1 in this learning process, the researchers separated young zebra finches into two groups. Half the birds spent their early lives in contact with their singing fathers and lived together with them while they practiced their songs. The other half spent their early lives with their mothers and later joined their fathers during the practice phase. 

The experts used a technique called RNA interference to deactivate FoxP1 in the HVC of some of the birds. The experiment revealed that once the birds reached adulthood, only those with active FoxP1 during the song memorization phase were able to accurately reproduce their fathers' songs. If FoxP1 was deactivated before memorization, the birds sang songs that did not share any resemblance with the tunes sang by their fathers.

"Our results suggest that FoxP1 is key for forming the song memories in these birds that are critical for imitation later in life," said Dr. Roberts. "A similar deficit in humans could play a parallel role in speech development, blocking babies from forming memories of adult speech they hear around them and hindering their own communication as they grow."

If this finding is reinforced in future studies, it could lead to new types of therapy for children with autism, noted Dr. Roberts.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</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

&nbsp;

Songbirds rely on an autism gene for memorization

A gene that is linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD)...

Rapidly changing ocean soundscapes are disrupting marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/burrowing-animals-in-the-mojave-desert-escape-the-heat-of-climate-change/">animals</a> on a global scale, according to a new study led by Professor Carlos Duarte of King Abdullah University. The experts report that mitigating these impacts is key to achieving a healthier ocean.

"Sound is the sensory cue that travels farthest through the ocean and is used by marine animals, ranging from invertebrates to great whales, to interpret and explore the marine environment and to interact within and among species," wrote the researchers.

"Ocean soundscapes are rapidly changing because of massive declines in the abundance of sound-producing animals, increases in anthropogenic noise, and altered contributions of geophysical sources, such as sea ice and storms, owing to climate change." 

"As a result, the soundscape of the Anthropocene ocean is fundamentally different from that of preindustrial times, with anthropogenic noise negatively impacting marine life."

For more than a century, sounds from activities such as fishing, shipping, and development have increasingly contributed to underwater noise pollution. Based on the analysis of more than four decades of published research, the experts found that this noise adversely affects the behavior and physiology of marine animals. 

"We find evidence that anthropogenic noise negatively affects marine animals. Strong evidence for such impacts is available for marine mammals, and some studies also find impacts for fishes and invertebrates, marine birds, and reptiles," wrote the study authors. 

'Noise from vessels, active sonar, synthetic sounds, and acoustic deterrent devices are all found to affect marine animals, as are noise from energy and construction infrastructure and seismic surveys."

According to the researchers, noise is not the only consequence of human activities, as some areas of the ocean have also become quieter. For example, the hunting of large marine mammals, including highly vocal whales, has led to drastic declines in the abundance of sound-producing animals.

The study authors emphasize that, unlike many other anthropogenic stressors on marine ecosystems, the harmful effects of noise pollution could be addressed and mitigated with new regulations.

"Changing ocean soundscapes have become the neglected 'elephant in the room' of global ocean change," wrote the researchers. "In an era when societies increasingly look to the 'blue economy' as a source of resources and wealth, it is essential that ocean soundscapes be responsibly managed to ensure the sustainable use of the ocean."

"The evidence summarized here encourages national and international policies to become more ambitious in regulating and deploying existing technological solutions to mitigate marine noise and improve the human stewardship of ocean soundscapes to maintain a healthy ocean." 

The study is published by <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">AAAS</a> in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</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

Changing ocean soundscapes impact animals worldwide

Rapidly changing ocean soundscapes are disrupting marine animals on a...

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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...