Wandering salamanders, also known as "skydiving salamanders," have fascinated scientists for years with their ability to jump and glide effortlessly through the towering canopies of coastal redwood forests. 



Despite their small size, these amphibians navigate high-altitude branches with precision, sticking their landings and taking off with ease. 



Until recently, the mechanics behind their remarkable acrobatic movement remained a mystery. Now, a new study reveals a surprising answer: blood-powered toes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salamanders-that-control-blood-flow">Salamanders that control blood flow</h2>



Researchers at Washington State University discovered that wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans) can rapidly control the blood flow in their toe tips.



This ability allows them to grip, detach, and move through their arboreal environment with remarkable efficiency. 



The study not only sheds light on an unknown aspect of salamander physiology but also has potential implications for technological advances in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopus-suckers-the-future-of-underwater-adhesives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adhesives</a>, prosthetics, and robotic limbs.



The research team found that salamanders can fill, trap, and drain blood within their toe tips. 



This process helps them fine-tune their attachment and detachment from surfaces, providing the grip necessary for climbing and the release required for efficient movement.



The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the function of the visible red “lakes” of blood in their translucent toes. These structures were long thought to aid in oxygenation, but no scientific evidence supported that claim.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-the-control">Advantages of the control</h2>



The study suggests that controlling blood flow in the toes allows <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-salamander-like-beast-gaiasia-jennyae-top-predator-before-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">salamanders</a> to adjust pressure asymmetrically.



 This fine-tuned control helps them navigate the irregular surfaces of tree bark. Surprisingly, the blood influx before “toe-off” does not aid in attachment but rather helps the salamanders detach. 



By slightly inflating their toe tips, they reduce the surface area in contact with the bark, minimizing the energy required to let go. This efficiency is crucial when gliding between branches and ensuring safe landings.



“Gecko-inspired adhesives already allow surfaces to be reused without losing stickiness,” said Christian Brown, lead author of the study, and a postdoctoral researcher in integrative physiology and neuroscience at <a href="https://wsu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State University</a>.



“Understanding salamander toes could lead to similar breakthroughs in attachment technologies.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-documentary-shoot">A documentary shoot</h2>



The origins of this study trace back to an unexpected moment during the filming of the documentary The Americas, which will air on February 23, 2025 on NBC and Peacock.



Brown was assisting on set as a salamander expert when he noticed something unusual through the production team’s high-powered camera lenses.



Just before a wandering salamander took a step, blood appeared to rush into its toe tips. Brown and camera assistant William Goldenberg observed this phenomenon multiple times. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/salamandar-wandering_Aneides-vagrans_hindfoot_suction_blood-flow_credit-WSU_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/salamandar-wandering_Aneides-vagrans_hindfoot_suction_blood-flow_credit-WSU_1s.webp" alt="The hindfoot of a live wandering salamander (Aneides vagrans). In the background, blood can be seen filling a toe tip. Photo: William P. Goldenberg/WSU" class="wp-image-1958372"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hindfoot of a live wandering salamander (Aneides vagrans). In the background, blood can be seen filling a toe tip. Photo: William P. Goldenberg/WSU</figcaption></figure>



The repeated occurrence caught their attention. “We looked at each other like, ‘Did you see that?’” Brown related.



Although the documentary team moved on to other subjects, Brown’s curiosity lingered. After filming wrapped, he reached out to Goldenberg and proposed an experiment. 



Using high-resolution film equipment, they would investigate whether salamanders consistently displayed this blood-powered toe mechanism under controlled conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salamanders-regulating-their-blood-flow">Salamanders regulating their blood flow </h2>



The research team conducted detailed video trials and microscopic analysis at Washington State University’s <a href="https://fmic.wsu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Franceschi Microscopy &amp; Imaging Center</a>. 



Their findings confirmed that wandering salamanders regulate blood flow to each individual toe tip, which allows them to modify grip strength as needed.



This discovery provides insight into how salamanders navigate the complex terrain of the redwood canopy. The ability to release their grip efficiently is particularly significant. 



“If you’re climbing a redwood and have 18 toes gripping bark, being able to detach efficiently without damaging your toe tips makes a huge difference,” Brown said. 



The research suggests that this mechanism plays a crucial role in the salamanders’ ability to thrive in the towering heights of their natural habitat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-beyond-one-species">Implications beyond one species</h2>



While this study focused on&nbsp;Aneides vagrans, the findings could have broader implications. Other salamander species, including aquatic ones, also have vascularized toe structures. 



These structures may serve different purposes depending on the environment, from regulating grip on wet surfaces to enhancing movement across diverse landscapes.



The discovery could also inspire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-pushing-the-u-s-toward-an-unpredictable-transformation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">innovations</a> beyond biology. Scientists studying bioinspired design are particularly interested in nature’s solutions to movement and adhesion problems.



By understanding how salamanders control their grip with blood-powered toe tips, researchers may be able to develop new adhesives and prosthetics that mimic this ability.



Brown and his colleagues plan to expand their research to investigate how similar mechanisms function in other salamander species. 



“This could redefine our understanding of how salamanders move across diverse habitats,” Brown said. The findings could help explain how different species adapt to their environments and refine our knowledge of biomechanics in amphibians.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-perspective-on-salamander-movement">New perspective on salamander movement</h2>



The discovery of blood-powered toes in wandering salamanders challenges previous assumptions about their movement and grip strength. 



As scientists continue to study these remarkable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/frogs-and-toads-face-new-risks-as-their-habitats-dry-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians</a>, they may uncover even more secrets hidden within their physiology. 



For now, the ability of wandering salamanders to control their grip with precision remains an intriguing discovery in animal biomechanics.



The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmor.70026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Morphology</a>. 



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'Skydiving' salamanders can fully control blood flow in their toes

Wandering salamanders, also known as "skydiving salamanders," have fascinated scientists for years with their ability to jump and glide effortlessly through the towering canopies of coastal redwood forests. Despite their small size, these amphibians navigate high-altitude branches with precision, sticking their landings and taking off with ease. Until recently, the mechanics behind their remarkable acrobatic movement remained a mystery. Now, a new study reveals a surprising answer: blood-powered toes. Salamanders that control blood flow Researchers at Washington State University discovered that wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans) can rapidly control...

When you think about evolution, the ear might not be the first thing that springs to mind. But it turns out that our ears, the little organ tucked away in our skull plays a surprising role in how mammals adapt to their environments. 



An international team of scientists has discovered something quite astonishing. Mammals with little to no genetic connection but sharing similar lifestyles have evolved similar inner ear shapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammals-and-their-inner-ears">Mammals and their inner ears</h2>



One could argue that few parts of the animal body are as vital yet overlooked as the vertebrate inner ear. This intricate structure has two vital tasks: maintaining balance and preserving hearing. 



It's interesting to note that its complex shape varies among animals. One might think this diversity speaks to the modifications needed for different environments and locomotor behaviors. 



Yet, closely related species seem to have more comparable inner ear shapes than those distantly related.



Does this mean neutral (non-adaptive) evolution plays a larger role in shaping the inner ear's morphology than we initially suspected? This latest study on the inner ears of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-mammals-live-depends-more-on-climate-than-human-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diverse group of mammals</a> provides some new hints.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-3d-models-bring-clarity">Virtual 3D models bring clarity</h2>



In order to better understand the evolution of the inner ear in Afrotheria, an international team of evolutionary biologists and paleontologists, including researchers from the Natural History Museum Vienna, studied the inner ear's shape in Afrotheria. 



This group consists of related mammals that drastically differ in their anatomy and habitats: aardvark, elephants, golden moles, hyraxes, rodent-like elephant shrews, and sea cows. 



They compared these ear shapes to those of analogous but distantly related <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-geographic-isolation-shaped-global-species-habitat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a>, like anteaters, 'true' moles, rodents, hedgehogs, and dolphins.



The team relied on X-ray microtomography on skulls stored in museum collections to construct virtual 3D models of the inner ear. 



The aim was to compare inner ear shapes between Afrotherians and their analogues and to analyze ear shape in relation to habitat and movement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shared-selection-pressure">Shared selection pressure</h2>



"We found that the inner ear shape is more similar between analogous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ontocetus-posti-extinct-walrus-like-mammal-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> than between non-analogous ones, even when the latter share a more recent common ancestor and are therefore more closely related", explains Nicole Grunstra, first author of the study.&nbsp;



For instance, dolphins and sea cows display greater ear shape similarity due to adaptations to a solely aquatic environment, even though the latter is more closely related to other Afrotherians such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-elephant-day-2024-saving-the-gentle-giants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elephants</a> or hyraxes.



The study found similar tendencies among other distantly related species with similar environment or nutrition methods: subterranean species and tree-dwelling ones share similar ear shapes. 



"We were also able to show that eco-morphologically similar mammals evolved similar ear shapes as an adaptation to shared ecological niches or locomotion, rather than by chance", interprets senior author Anne Le Maître from Konrad Lorenz Institute (<a href="https://www.kli.ac.at" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KLI</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolving-ears-of-mammals">Evolving ears of mammals</h2>



This research seems to conflict with recent studies on birds, reptiles, and certain mammals, which have questioned the importance of adaptive mechanisms in shaping inner ear variation. 



One explanation might be that adaptive differences in ear shape surface more when comparing species with diverse ecological strategies.



Another explanation revolves around the concept of 'evolvability', or the inherent capacity for adaptive evolution. 



The mammalian ear, particularly sophisticated among vertebrates, can detect a wider range of sounds, especially high pitches. 



The anatomical, genetic, and developmental complexity of the ear potentially widens the range of possible ear shapes that can evolve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptations-of-mammals">Adaptations of mammals</h2>



"An increase in genetic and developmental factors of a trait gives natural selection more knobs to turn, which facilitates the evolution of different adaptations," adds co-senior author Philipp Mitteröcker from the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a>.&nbsp;



Perhaps the increased evolvability of the ear played a notable part in adaptations to new environments and locomotor behaviors during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-mammals-have-evolved-over-66-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammalian evolution</a>.



In the ever-evolving tapestry of life on Earth, the surprisingly convergent evolution in the inner ear of mammals serves as a potent reminder of the marvels of adaptation and evolution.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52180-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Mammals evolved similar inner ears despite different ancestry

When you think about evolution, the ear might not be...

Seabirds such as penguins and albatrosses have highly sensitive regions in their beaks that could help them locate food, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge.&nbsp;



“Birds’ bills are their main tactile interface with the outside world. Tactile bill-tip organs associated with specialized foraging techniques are present in several bird groups, yet remain understudied in most clades,” noted the study authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nerves-and-receptors-in-seabird-beaks">Nerves and receptors in seabird beaks</h2>



By studying over 350 species of birds, the experts found that seabirds have a high concentration of sensory receptors and nerves at the tips of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beak-shape-determined-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beaks</a>. This trait has previously been observed in tactile foragers like ducks. 



According to the scientists, this touch-sensitive area may have originated from a common ancestor. However, further research is needed to determine whether this trait serves a specific function in today’s birds.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sensitive-beak-tips-to-assist-in-foraging-nbsp">Sensitive beak-tips to assist in foraging&nbsp;</h2>



Birds use their beaks similarly to how humans and other primates use their hands, interacting with the world around them. Some birds have touch-sensitive beak tips to assist in foraging, but the extent and evolution of this ability have not been well studied.



“Many scientists had assumed most birds had touch-sensitive beaks, but we hadn’t investigated it enough to know whether it’s a common ability, or whether it’s limited to particular families of birds,” said lead author Carla du Toit from Cambridge’s <a href="https://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Earth Sciences</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-endangered-group-of-seabirds">Endangered group of seabirds</h2>



The large group of seabirds known as Austrodyptornithes - which includes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/albatrosses-put-their-partners-needs-before-their-own/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">albatrosses</a>, petrels, and penguins - has not been well-studied in this context. 



Since many species within this group are critically endangered, understanding how they use their beaks to find food could aid in their conservation.



Du Toit and her colleagues from the UK and South Africa conducted a study of 361 modern bird species, examining fossil and skeletal records as well as birds that had been accidentally killed by fishing gear. They focused on the structure of the beaks and how they are connected to nerves and blood vessels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organs-in-the-beaks-of-seabirds">Organs in the beaks of seabirds</h2>



The researchers discovered that albatrosses and penguins possess organs in their beaks containing dense clusters of sensory receptors and nerves. This feature is commonly found in tactile foragers like ducks, but this is the first time it has been observed in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-makes-it-harder-for-seabirds-to-find-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seabirds</a>.



“Seabirds aren’t known to be tactile foragers, so it’s surprising to find that they have this organ,” said du Toit. “It’s really exciting when you get to be the first to see something.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-tiny-vibrations-from-prey">Detecting tiny vibrations from prey</h2>



These touch-sensitive beaks might enable seabirds to detect tiny vibrations from potential prey, especially when foraging underwater or at night. Birds with similar abilities are known to use their beaks to detect subtle movements from prey like worms underground.



However, it is also possible that these sensitive regions are a remnant from a common ancestor and may not serve a specific purpose in modern birds, much like certain features found in ostriches and emus.&nbsp;



Further research on live birds will be required to determine the precise function of these touch-sensitive areas, which could also shed light on their evolutionary history.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-remarkable-discovery-in-seabird-beaks">Remarkable discovery in seabird beaks</h2>



“In humans and other primates, our sensitive hands and fingers allowed us to master a huge range of environments,” said du Toit.&nbsp;



“Beaks are analogous to hands in a way, but this is the first time we’ve seen touch-sensitive beaks in seabirds. It’s remarkable that no one has ever really studied this in detail, considering that we all learn about evolution from the beaks of Darwin’s finches in school.”



The researchers noted that the bill-tip organ in Austrodyptornithes may be functionally related to nocturnal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/foraging-habits-of-seabirds-altered-by-turbulent-tidal-flows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foraging</a> and prey detection under water, or courtship displays involving tactile stimulation of the bill. 



“Ancestral state reconstructions fail to reject the hypothesis that the last common ancestor of Austrodyptornithes had a bill-tip organ; thus, tactile foraging may be ancestral for this major extant clade, perhaps retained from a deeper point in crown bird evolutionary history.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study-nbsp">Broader implications of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers believe that their findings could contribute to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-need-ocean-wide-protection-to-survive-human-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a> of seabirds. Of the 22 known species of albatross, 15 are at risk of extinction, and two are listed as critically endangered. 



One significant threat to albatrosses is commercial longline fishing, which causes about 100,000 bird deaths per year when they get caught in fishing lines and drown.&nbsp;



If scientists can better understand how these birds find their food, it might lead to methods for protecting them.



According to du Toit, if albatrosses and other seabirds are able to detect vibrations from potential prey via their beaks, it could be possible to attach some sort of device to longlines that could repel them, so they are less likely to get caught.&nbsp;



“Of course, the bigger threats to birds like albatrosses are climate change, rising ocean temperatures, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-most-endangered-seabirds-are-also-threatened-by-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic pollution</a> and falling fish stocks, but if there’s a way to reduce the risks to seabirds in even a small way, then that’s incredibly valuable,” du Toit concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0259" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



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Seabirds have highly sensitive beaks to locate food

Seabirds such as penguins and albatrosses have highly sensitive regions...

Ever wondered how some primates form strong bonds while others don't? How do these friendships with benefits come to life? A fresh perspective into the world of primates reveals the fascinating dynamics of their relationships.



According to a new study, females play a vital role in shaping primate bonds. Sometimes, it takes more than just a fruit to win over a primate's heart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primate-bond-more-than-attraction">Primate bond: More than attraction </h2>



Liesbeth Sterck from the Utrecht University and <a href="https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/prof.+dr.+julia+ostner+/164051.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julia Ostner</a> from the University of Göttingen have unraveled the mystery behind primate bonds. Their study, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, highlights how females steer the course of primate relationships.



Countless scientific theories have attempted to make sense of why some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-primates-struggle-more-with-extreme-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primates</a> hit it off better with others, but here's the catch - these theories have mostly been male-focused. 



The current study, however, suggests that female <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visually-striking-primate-features-ease-tension-and-reduce-conflict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primates</a> may be the crucial architects of these relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-primate-bonds">Benefits of primate bonds</h2>



By studying hundreds of primate cases over the past decades, our researchers propose that these friendships usually evolve when both parties can benefit. "Our findings show that these bonds aren't just about attraction and affection," said Sterck. "They are also strategic."



"Both male and female primates unconsciously seek out these friendships that provide benefits. The benefits can be protection, better access to resources, or securing the survival of their offspring. For evolution to shape these behaviors, it is not needed that they know when or how the bonds pay off."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-dynamic-of-primate-relationships">Changing dynamic of primate relationships</h2>



The nature of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primates-who-are-facially-expressive-make-the-best-leaders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primate</a> bonds can change over the course of time. For females, securing protection for their infants might mean seeking male support.



However, once the offspring become independent, these bonds often dissolve. But if a female repeatedly chooses the same male and he's willing to provide ongoing care, a long-term bond is more likely to form.



"Just like our primate relatives, human bonds often involve a mix of affection and strategic partnership," said Sterck. 



"While love and emotional connection are vital, unconsciously there's also an element of mutual benefit, whether it's support, protection, or shared resources."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-primate-family-bonds">Advantages of primate family bonds</h2>



Delving deeper into the world of primate relationships, another layer unfolds - mutual cooperation, often influenced by kinship ties. Primate societies display a remarkable propensity for supporting relatives, which can significantly boost their social status and survival prospects.



Studies indicate that kin alliances can lead to increased access to resources and a higher likelihood of prevailing in conflicts with rival groups. 



Kinship-driven cooperation enhances group cohesion and ensures the prosperity of future generations. This remarkable blend of cooperation and familial ties not only fortifies social structures but also highlights the evolutionary advantages of maintaining family bonds.



"While the drive to form strong bonds may stem from evolutionary advantages, emotions like love and affection kick-start these connections," said Sterck.



"These feelings act as the lubricant, smoothing the way for the actions and behaviors necessary to maintain and deepen these bonds over time."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-primate-social-bonds">Impact of primate social bonds</h2>



Understanding primate social structures offers valuable insights into the evolution of human sociality. By examining the roles and dynamics within primate groups, researchers can draw parallels that inform our comprehension of human social behaviors and relationships. 



The parallels highlight shared ancestral traits, such as the importance of alliances, cooperation, and communal living. 



Studying primates provides a unique window into the evolutionary underpinnings of human social interactions. 



The cumulative knowledge gleaned from primate studies reinforces the notion that our social behaviors have deep-rooted evolutionary origins, offering profound implications for fields ranging from anthropology to psychology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-research-is-needed">More research is needed</h2>



While this study does shed new light on the dynamics of primate relationships, Sterck's team believes there's still more to uncover. They call for more research in great apes, New World primates, and even non-primate species living in permanent social groups like wolves and lions.



So, the next time you observe primates at a zoo or on a nature show, you'll have a whole new appreciation for the complexity of their bonds. And who knows, we might even learn something about our own relationships in the process.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513824001041?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evolution and Human Behavior</a>.



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Primate bonds are not just about love - they're strategic

Ever wondered how some primates form strong bonds while others...

You know that feeling, when you lock eyes with a pooch and feel an unspoken connection? Well, it's not just a feeling, it turns out. Experts have found out that human and canine brains sync up in these moments, proving we share a more profound connection with dogs at a neurological level.



Researchers in China have broken new ground, discovering a unique inter-species neural synchronization between humans and dogs. The research builds upon past studies that show similar brain activity synchronization among humans, particularly when they communicate or work together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-activities-of-dogs-and-humans">Brain activities of dogs and humans</h2>



The research team, led by biologist Wei Ren from the <a href="https://english.cas.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, employed a set of ingenious experiments to uncover this phenomenon.



Teams of human-dog pairs were put together and had their brain activities recorded. To do so, electrodes were placed over their heads. These pairs then engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-imitate-human-actions-from-2d-videos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nonverbal communication</a> such as mutual gazing, or a friendly pat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-test-and-control">Test and control </h2>



In one set of tests, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interacting-with-dogs-can-ease-physical-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human-dog</a> duos interacted with each other, while during other tests they shared the same space but did not interact. 



The researchers noticed an increase in inter-brain correlations in the frontal and parietal regions of the brain during the mutual gaze.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frontal-and-parietal-brain-regions">Frontal and parietal brain regions</h2>



In human brains, joint attention is associated with activity in both the frontal and parietal regions. Previous research has shown that human frontal lobe activity increases when we pet our dogs, signaling emotional engagement and focused attention. 



However, it was unclear whether similar activity was happening in dogs' brains. The study has finally shed light on this unknown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-and-dog-brains-sync-up">Human and dog brains sync up</h2>



To pinpoint whether the human or dog was initiating the neural sync, the researchers used a unique mathematical algorithm to analyze the data.



The results indicated that it was the human brains that led this harmonized neural activity — revealing that the more we interact, the stronger our bond grows.



When participants were asked to simultaneously pet the dogs and gaze into their eyes, the study found even greater connectivity in the inter-brain activity.



"We observed that inter-brain correlations in frontal and parietal regions dramatically increased during mutual gaze," noted the study authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-dog-brains-mirror-humans">Do dog brains mirror humans?</h2>



Interestingly, the study has implications beyond just understanding our bond with dogs. Experts hypothesize that social cognition deficits found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might result from diminished brain synchronization.



To test this, the team repeated the experiments, but this time with dogs that exhibited similar characteristics to humans with ASD.



In this new set of tests, the human-dog pairs showed lessened synchronization, which suggested reduced joint attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lsd-and-neural-synchronization">LSD and neural synchronization?</h2>



Diving deeper into the ASD connection, dogs with ASD-like characteristics were given a dose of LSD. This drug has been known to enhance social behavior in mice in past studies.



Interestingly, the LSD seemed to improve the dogs' synchronization with their paired humans in this study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-oxytocin-the-bonding-hormone">Role of oxytocin - the bonding hormone</h2>



Oxytocin, often dubbed the "love hormone," plays a crucial role in establishing social bonds, including those between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-provide-insight-into-human-cognition-and-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans and dogs</a>. 



This hormone is released in response to close interactions and has been shown to promote trust and social connections. The study further revealed that both human and dog brains experience increased oxytocin levels during mutual interactions, such as petting and eye contact.



This hormonal surge not only strengthens the emotional connection but also supports the neural synchronization observed in the experiments. 



The findings highlight the biological underpinnings of the human-dog bond and suggest that oxytocin might be a key player in facilitating the enhanced inter-species neural connectivity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study">Broader implications of the study </h2>



While more extensive research is called for, this study contributes significantly to our understanding of the social deficits associated with ASD. It suggests that such dogs, along with studying the brains of humans, could provide valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying these social deficits.



The research also opens up the possibility of using inter-brain activity as potential biomarkers for diagnosing ASD. This pioneering work could lead to the development of specially engineered, non-hallucinogenic versions of LSD to correct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-smell-human-stress-and-it-makes-them-feel-gloomy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social deficits</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202402493" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advanced Science</a>.



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Dog and human brains sync up during eye contact

You know that feeling, when you lock eyes with a...

Recent research took a plunge into a tale about the discovery of a new species of fish that's less than 2 centimeters long and carries a 'grumpy' demeanor. The tiny creature sports a perpetually disgruntled face, hence its fitting name: the grumpy dwarfgoby.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fierce-grumpy-dwarfgoby">Fierce grumpy dwarfgoby</h2>



The grumpy dwarfgoby, in spite of its small size, doesn’t do subtle. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dietary-shift-to-forage-fish-could-prevent-millions-of-deaths/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a>’s large canines and intense expression pull off a macho vibe. 



"I imagine in its own tiny world, it is a fearsome predator. Its grumpy expression and large canines certainly make it look the part, despite its small size," remarks Lucía Pombo-Ayora, who gifted the species its unique common name.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-red-in-the-deep-camouflage-or-statement">Red in the deep: Camouflage or statement?</h2>



What's fascinating about the grumpy dwarfgoby is its coloration strategy. The species boasts a vibrant red color, which sticks out to us -- however, in their natural environment, it's a perfect camouflage.



They frequent sections of coral reefs blanketed in red coralline algae, and use the algae as a hideout, hopping from one small hole or crevice to another. 



Additionally, those large canines aren't just for show; they’re used to capture tiny invertebrates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-the-grumpy-dwarfgoby">Finding the grumpy dwarfgoby</h2>



The research was led by Dr. Viktor Nunes Peinemann who was at the forefront of this discovery during a diving expedition intended to explore the diversity of coral reef <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-lionfish-global-domination-mediterranean-sea-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fishes</a>. 



They first found specimens in Saudi Arabia's Farasan Banks, and later near Thuwal in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-fish-red-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Red Sea</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/fish_Grumpy-dwarfgoby_Sueviota-aethon_new-species_credit-UWashington_1b.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/fish_Grumpy-dwarfgoby_Sueviota-aethon_new-species_credit-UWashington_1s.webp" alt="Specimens of Sueviota aethon sp. nov. a UW 203365, holotype, freshly collected b UW 203367, freshly collected, showing the yellow variation of the species c UW 203365, holotype, preserved in 75% ethanol. Credit: University of Washington/Pensoft" class="wp-image-1944840"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Specimens of Sueviota aethon sp. nov. a UW 203365, holotype, freshly collected b UW 203367, freshly collected, showing the yellow variation of the species c UW 203365, holotype, preserved in 75% ethanol. Credit: University of Washington/Pensoft</figcaption></figure>



Initially, the team believed they'd rediscovered the fiery dwarfgoby, Sueviota pyrios, a solitary specimen known from a 1972 collection. However, they were in for a fascinating surprise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-so-deja-vu">Not so déjà vu</h2>



Upon further analysis, the team from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (<a href="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KAUST</a>) and the University of Washington (<a href="https://www.washington.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UW</a>) realized they were swimming in uncharted waters -- a brand-new species they'd never seen before.



"The ongoing discovery of distinctive new species like this grumpy dwarfgoby shows how much biodiversity remains undiscovered in the Red Sea," underlines Peinemann.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eroding-edifice-of-biodiversity">Eroding edifice of biodiversity</h2>



The Red Sea is celebrated for its rich endemic species, with our little grump adding to its roster. However, the sea's environment has taken a severe hit due to climate change, leading to widespread coral bleaching and mortality. 



The fact we're still discovering new species in this volatile ecosystem underlines the urgency for continued research and conservation efforts.



"This is concerning given the recent environmental changes in the region. In some cases, species could go extinct before we even describe them," Peinemann encapsulates the issues and stakes aptly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preserving-the-grumpy-dwarfgoby">Preserving the grumpy dwarfgoby</h2>



In light of the ecological challenges that beset the Red Sea, initiatives to preserve its unique marine life have never been more critical. 



Conserving the grumpy dwarfgoby involves not only protecting its immediate habitat but also strengthening broader reef ecosystems.



Efforts encompass strategic measures such as establishing marine protected areas, regulating fishing activities, and promoting responsible tourism. 



Additionally, advancing scientific understanding through research and fostering education on the importance of marine biodiversity can galvanize public support for conservation. 



Each new species we uncover should be a reminder of the delicate intricacies that make up our planet's biodiversity, and the imperative to shield them from harm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-discoveries-await">Future discoveries await</h2>



"The ongoing discovery of distinctive new species like this grumpy dwarfgoby shows how much biodiversity remains undiscovered in the Red Sea," Viktor Nunes Peinemann explains. 



"This is concerning given the recent environmental changes in the region. In some cases, species could go extinct before we even describe them." The identification of the grumpy dwarfgoby heralds a promising future for marine exploration and biodiversity research. 



The Red Sea, though significantly studied, harbors countless mysteries that, when unraveled, might revolutionize current biological frameworks and conservation methodologies. 



Peinemann and his team are committed to continuing their exploration, paving the way for a deeper comprehension of marine life and its vulnerabilities. 



"It's a thrilling time for marine biology," says Peinemann, "as each discovery offers not just answers, but intriguing new questions."



The full study is published in the journal <a href="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ZooKeys</a>.



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Scientists discover 'grumpy dwarfgoby,' a tiny fish with a big attitude

Recent research took a plunge into a tale about the...

Early life adversity can have lasting health impacts on individuals, even when circumstances improve later in life. To measure this, scientists use a cumulative adversity index (CAI), which quantifies factors like poverty and stress to assess long-term health and longevity.&nbsp;



This tool has been invaluable in identifying ways governments, healthcare providers, and families can help improve people’s lives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-life-adversity-among-mammals">Early life adversity among mammals</h2>



Wild animals also face early life adversity, but how these experiences affect their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-early-life-adversity-in-gorillas-lead-to-hardship-as-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survival</a> and lifespan is less understood.&nbsp;



Developing a CAI for wildlife could help scientists identify key stressors that impact animal populations and guide conservation efforts. However, the challenge lies in obtaining long-term data needed to create such an index for animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-adversity-index-for-marmots-nbsp">Cumulative adversity index for marmots&nbsp;</h2>



A team of biologists from the <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Los Angeles</a> (UCLA) is currently addressing this challenge by developing the first cumulative adversity index for yellow-bellied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marmots-may-hold-the-key-to-longevity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marmots</a>.&nbsp;



The findings are based on 62 years of continuous data collected at the <a href="https://www.rmbl.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory</a> in Colorado, making it the second-longest study of individually marked mammals in the world.&nbsp;



The research provides a framework for creating a cumulative adversity index for other species using large datasets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stressors-affecting-the-lifespan-of-mammals">Stressors affecting the lifespan of mammals</h2>



The index revealed both expected and surprising stressors that influence marmot survival and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-explain-longevity-in-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifespan</a>.&nbsp;



For instance, it was no surprise that a late start to the growing season negatively affected survival, as marmots need to gain weight during the summer to prepare for their long hibernation.&nbsp;



However, the team was surprised to find that summer drought had no significant impact on survival. Predation, another expected factor, played a smaller-than-anticipated role, while a mother’s death - especially if it occurred after the pup was weaned - had a substantial effect.&nbsp;



Pups live with their mother for a full year after weaning, so maternal loss appears to be a significant adversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-on-female-marmots-nbsp">Focus on female marmots&nbsp;</h2>



Doctoral student Xochitl Ortiz-Ross led the development of the index, focusing on data from female marmots born after 2001.&nbsp;



The data included quantifiable physiological stress measures collected until 2019, allowing researchers to track individual marmots throughout their lifespans.&nbsp;



Female marmots typically remain in the colony where they are born, making it easier for biologists to gather complete lifetime data.



The study population spans a 984-foot elevation change, dividing it into up-valley and down-valley groups with varying environmental conditions.&nbsp;



Throughout spring and summer, scientists trap and collect behavioral, morphological, and physiological data on these marmots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-demographic-and-maternal-factors">Ecological, demographic, and maternal factors</h2>



Ortiz-Ross identified several key ecological, demographic, and maternal factors that affect a pup’s chances of surviving its first year.&nbsp;



These stressors included a late start to the season, summer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a>, predation pressure, large or male-biased litters, late weaning, poor maternal health, high maternal stress, and maternal loss.&nbsp;



Ortiz-Ross wanted to understand how these factors impacted the marmots' lifespan beyond the first year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-computer-models-to-measure-adversity-nbsp">Using computer models to measure adversity&nbsp;</h2>



The data were fed into computer models that categorized adversity as standard, mild, moderate, or acute.&nbsp;



The models produced consistent results, showing that moderate and acute adversity decreased the odds of pup survival by 30% and 40%, respectively.&nbsp;



Marmots living up-valley had better survival odds in all models, while maternal loss reduced survival chances by up to 64% in the moderate adversity model.&nbsp;



Poor maternal health lowered survival odds by 77% in the moderate adversity model, while late weaning decreased survival by 33% in standardized models.&nbsp;



Surprisingly, drought increased survival odds in all models except for the acute adversity model, with the most significant effect in the moderate adversity model.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acute-adversity-and-lifespan-nbsp">Acute adversity and lifespan&nbsp;</h2>



The average adult lifespan for yellow-bellied marmots was found to be 3.8 years, but acute adversity significantly increased the risk of shorter life expectancy.



“We found that a CAI effectively captures short-term survival risk in yellow-bellied marmots, and even in the long term, increased adversity early in life lowered the adult lifespan,” said Ortiz-Ross.&nbsp;



“Positive effects didn’t cancel out earlier adverse ones, suggesting that adversity does accumulate in marmots and can’t be fully recovered by positive experiences.”



The study supports the hypothesis that a cumulative adversity index is a valuable tool for assessing the long-term impact of multiple early life stressors on marmot survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-conservation-efforts-nbsp">Improving conservation efforts&nbsp;</h2>



“What we’re facing in terms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/effective-conservation-efforts-key-to-saving-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> management is death by a thousand cuts. We typically study one factor at a time: humans, predators, climate, and so forth,” said co-author and UCLA professor Daniel Blumstein.&nbsp;



“But these impacts occur together and have a cumulative effect. We need a way to figure out which of these stressors - or which combination - has the biggest cumulative effect, and our research shows the CAI can do that for marmots.”



For instance, conservation efforts targeting this marmot population could focus on the down-valley group, which fared worse than expected, and on reducing maternal mortality and improving the health of mothers.&nbsp;



Surprisingly, reducing predation or addressing summer drought may not be as critical, as these factors did not have as much influence as initially anticipated.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.14485" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology Letters</a>.



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Early adversity reduces life expectancy in most mammals

Early life adversity can have lasting health impacts on individuals,...

When we think of therapy dogs, we usually picture these furry companions offering comfort to patients in hospitals. But what if these four-legged friends could also provide emotional support to the very people who take care of those patients - our health care providers?



In a fascinating new study, this concept has proven to be more than plausible. The results reveal the surprisingly positive effects of Buckeye Paws, a therapy dog program that health care workers say helps reduce emotional exhaustion and boosts their work engagement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-buckeye-paws-program">Buckeye Paws program</h2>



For those who might not know, the Buckeye Paws program involves engaging health care workers with highly trained dog-handler teams. 



The program was part of a pilot study involving 64 participants across a range of health care services. 



The health care workers included physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, rehabilitation therapists, and unit clerks in two intensive care units and two medical surgical units.



The handlers in this study were all hospital employees who volunteered their time with seven certified therapy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-and-their-humans-often-share-similar-personalities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> to offer this unique intervention thrice a week over eight weeks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-work-stress-mood-and-therapy-dogs">Work stress, mood, and therapy dogs</h2>



The study, led by researchers at&nbsp;The Ohio State University <a href="https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wexner Medical Center</a>, evaluated the effect of animal-assisted activity on healthcare worker stress, burnout, work engagement, and mood.



“There was free interaction with the dogs that people could spend as much or as little time as they wanted with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interacting-with-dogs-can-ease-physical-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>. Prior to their interactions, we asked them to fill out a basic one to 10 mood scale. And then, after the interaction, they did that again,” explained Dr. Beth Steinberg, principal investigator of the study.



The researchers found that the positive mood self-reported by the health care workers nearly doubled when they engaged with the Buckeye Paws program.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-animal-assisted-therapy">Impact of animal-assisted therapy</h2>



<a href="https://medicine.osu.edu/departments/psychiatry-and-behavioral-health/buckeye-paws" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buckeye Paws</a>&nbsp;was launched in March 2020, right before the pandemic hit. As the program grew, the Ohio State team set out to measure its impact. 



Dr. Steinberg co-founded Buckeye Paws with Mary Justice, chief administrative officer in Ohio State’s College of Nursing. Steinberg noted how easy it was to recruit participants for the program.



"The recruitment for this study was incredibly easy because as soon as you said, ‘We're going to do a study assessing your response to therapy dog interaction,’ people were like, ‘I'm in!’” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-interactions-with-staff">Dog interactions with staff</h2>



Dr. Steinberg takes rounds on the hospital floors with her yellow labrador retriever Brienne, while Justice visits staff with her English cream golden retriever Shiloh.



Although these interactions with staff are often brief, just a few minutes at a time, they seem to leave a big impact on the healthcare workers. Many study participants reported an immediate decrease in perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and burnout.



“We brought the dogs to the units and many times we had staff in tears sitting with the dogs, telling them about their day,” said Dr. Steinberg.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-therapy-dog-programs">Future of therapy dog programs</h2>



With national concerns about physician and nursing shortages, a program like this could significantly improve workplace satisfaction and retention.



“For the most part, people have an affinity to a non-judgmental, warm, furry animal that can come and just sit with them and listen. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-learn-better-with-praise-and-petting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogs</a> don't care what you look like, how you're feeling that day; they just know that when you need them, they're there,” said Dr. Steinberg.



Due to the program's success, Buckeye Paws expanded in March 2022 to offer therapy dog assistance to students, faculty and staff of The Ohio State University. 



There are now 29 dog-handler teams in the program, with additional teams on-boarding and more gearing up to begin the process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-therapy-dogs-and-healthcare">Therapy dogs and healthcare</h2>



Program manager Aimee Mitchell noted that dog-handler teams must pass basic and advanced obedience training.



The handlers must also earn the Canine Good Citizenship certification from the American Kennel Club, and be certified by a national therapy dog organization, said Mitchell. 



The future looks bright for the intersection of therapy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-imitate-human-actions-from-2d-videos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> and healthcare providers. This research has already inspired the launch of a similar program at a hospital system in Fort Wayne, Indiana.



The study is published in the <a href="https://medcraveonline.com/IJCAM/IJCAM-17-00701.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Complementary &amp; Alternative Medicine</a>.



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Therapy dogs reduce emotional exhaustion and work burnout

When we think of therapy dogs, we usually picture these...

Many people might cringe at the mention of electric eels, but what is it that makes these creatures such a shocking presence in the animal kingdom? 



Are they truly electric, and do they possess the power to deliver a jolt strong enough to stop you in your tracks? The science behind these aquatic hunters is truly fascinating. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anatomy-of-electric-eels">Anatomy of electric eels</h2>



Electric eels are not actually "true" eels as those found in the order Anguilliformes, which includes well-known species like the Moray eel. Instead, these creatures belong to the Gymnotiformes order, also known as knifefishes.



Despite the name of electric eels, their lineage diverges from what we typically imagine when we think of these slippery, elongated fish.



In terms of physical attributes, electric eels bear a closer resemblance to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/controlling-invasive-carp-with-sound-waves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carp</a> and catfish, with their elongated, slender bodies and tapered tails designed for swift movement through the waters. This sleek form aids their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-hunting-behavior-observed-among-electric-eels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hunting</a> and survival in the dynamic river ecosystems of South America.



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



A fully grown electric eel, native to the murky rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basin, can reach an impressive length of 2.5 meters (8 feet) and weigh up to 20 kilograms (45 pounds), making them formidable predators in their environment.



Unlike their marine cousins, which rely on gills for oxygen, electric eels are primarily air breathers, deriving around 80% of their oxygen needs by gulping air into their mouths. 



This fascinating adaptation allows them to thrive in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/as-oceans-warm-up-smaller-species-of-fish-will-dominate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxygen-poor waters</a>, giving them an edge in environments where other species might struggle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-generators-of-electricity">Living generators of electricity</h2>



Delving deeper into their anatomy, three unique organs nested within electric eels give them the incredible <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electric-eels-can-genetically-modify-other-creatures-by-shocking-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ability to generate electricity</a>. 



Referred to as the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sach's organ, each of these marvels of biology is packed with around 6,000 specific cells called electrolytes. 



The function of these electrocytes? They simultaneously discharge power when the eel feels threatened or when it launches an attack on potential prey.



"Electric eels are like living batteries. They have stacks of modified muscle cells called electrocytes, which have both a positive and a negative side," noted Dr. Rupert Collins, Senior Curator of Fishes at the <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural History Museum, London</a>.



"When the cells are triggered, they discharge an electrical impulse into the surrounding water, making electric eels living, breathing generators of electricity."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-shocking-survival-mechanism">The shocking survival mechanism</h2>



One might wonder how an electric eel manages to generate such potent electric shocks without zapping itself in the process. The exact mechanism still eludes scientists.



However, the predominant theory suggests that the water surrounding the eel likely absorbs most of the electrical current.



Given that each electric discharge lasts only for approximately 2 milliseconds, it's plausible that the shock isn't long enough to harm the eel itself.



Typically, the eels generate around 600 volts of electricity, but there have been instances of eels creating a stunning 860 volts, according to one study.



While fatalities from electric eel shocks are exceedingly rare, multiple shocks can trigger severe respiratory difficulties, even causing your heart to stop. 



Coupled with the possibility of drowning, coming face-to-face with an electric eel in open water could yield deadly results. If the eel doesn't get you first, the water might grasp you in its deadly embrace thereafter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-role-of-electric-eels">Ecological role of electric eels </h2>



Electric eels are not just powerful predators; they also play a crucial role in maintaining the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-ecosystems-constantly-share-energy-to-achieve-balance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">balance of their ecosystems</a>. 



As top predators in the waters of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, they help control populations of fish and other aquatic creatures. 



By hunting with their electric discharges, they can stun multiple prey at once, efficiently capturing food while maintaining the equilibrium of the food chain.



In recent studies, researchers have observed that electric eels may even influence their surroundings beyond hunting. 



The electrical fields generated by these creatures could play a role in deterring other predators or even communicating with each other in the murky waters they inhabit.



This interaction emphasizes their importance as not just predators but as essential contributors to their aquatic ecosystems.



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Electric eels have a secret weapon to generate electricity

Many people might cringe at the mention of electric eels,...

Scientists have recently discovered an important control circuit involved in swallowing food. The study has shown that fly larvae have special receptors in their esophagus which are triggered as the insect swallows something.&nbsp;



This leads to the release of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/serotonin-expedite-learning-process/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">serotonin</a>, a messenger substance that is frequently referred to as the “feel-good hormone.” The release of serotonin ensures that the larva continues to eat. 



Although the study focused on flies, the experts argue that humans may also have a similar control circuit.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-swallowing-food-makes-you-want-more-nbsp">Swallowing food makes you want more&nbsp;</h2>



Imagine you're sitting in a restaurant, feeling hungry, with a delicious pizza in front of you. Its irresistible aroma fills the air.&nbsp;



You take a bite, savor the flavor as you chew, and the moment you swallow, a wave of satisfaction hits you: Wow, that was amazing! Without hesitation, you reach for another slice and eagerly take another bite.



While the pizza’s smell and taste motivate you to begin eating, it is the pleasurable feeling you have after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cane-toads-swallow-their-tongue-when-they-eat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">swallowing</a> which is responsible for you continuing to eat. 



“But how exactly does this process work? Which neural circuits are responsible? Our study has provided an answer to these questions,” said Michael Pankratz, an expert in life and medical sciences at the <a href="https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bonn</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neurons-communicate-with-the-digestive-system-nbsp">Neurons communicate with the digestive system&nbsp;</h2>



The study was focused on the larvae of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruit-fly-smell/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruit fly</a> Drosophila, which have from 10,000 to 15,000 nerve cells - a manageable number compared to the 100 billion nerve cells in the human brain. 



However, these 15,000 nerve cells form a highly complex network, with every neuron having branching projections through which it contacts dozens or even hundreds of other neurons.



“We wanted to gain a detailed understanding of how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-humans-have-shockingly-different-digestive-systems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digestive system</a> communicates with the brain when consuming food,” Pankratz said. 



“In order to do this, we had to understand which neurons are involved in this flow of information and how they are triggered.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-activated-network-of-neurons">An activated network of neurons</h2>



The scientists investigated not just the paths of all of the nerve fibers in the fruit fly larvae but also the connections between neurons.&nbsp;



To do this, they cut a larva into thousands of very thin slices and photographed them under an electron microscope.



“We used a high-performance computer to create three-dimensional images from these photographs,” Pankratz explained.&nbsp;



Next, project assistants Andreas Schoofs and Anton Miroschnikow analyzed how all these nerve cells are connected to one another.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-food-quality-while-swallowing-nbsp">Detecting food quality while swallowing&nbsp;</h2>



The investigation helped the researchers identify what they called a “stretch receptor” in the esophagus that is wired to a cluster of six neurons in the larva’s brain which can produce serotonin, the “feel-good hormone” ensuring that we feel rewarded for certain actions.



The serotonin-releasing neurons receive new information about what the fly has just swallowed.&nbsp;



“They can detect whether it is food or not and also evaluate its quality,” Schoofs explained. “They only produce serotonin if good quality food is detected, which in turn ensures that the larva continues to eat.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study-nbsp">Broader implications of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The scientists believe that this fundamental mechanism most likely also exists in humans, and, when defective, it could lead to eating disorders such as anorexia or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/binge-eating-linked-to-a-specific-set-of-brain-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">binge eating</a>. 



Thus, the results of this study might also have implications for the treatment of such disorders.&nbsp;



“But we don’t know enough at this stage about how the control circuit in humans actually works.There is still years of research required in this area,” Pankratz cautioned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-swallowing-in-mammals">Food swallowing in mammals</h2>



The study authors noted that serotonin signaling has been implicated in motor function in the mammalian esophagus as well.



“The human esophagus also has distinct regions, with a proximal striated muscle region that is mainly controlled by motor neurons in the brainstem and a distal smooth muscle region that is controlled by central neurons in the medulla oblongata and peripheral neurons of the myenteric plexus.”&nbsp;



The researchers concluded that, despite the differences in the number of cell types as compared with the fly, it would be interesting to see if serotonin also monitors the completion of a biologically meaningful action such as swallowing or other vital activities in mammals.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.08.025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Swallowing food triggers ‘feel-good hormones’

Scientists have recently discovered an important control circuit involved in...

A recent discovery slamming the fish world is drawing us deep into the abyss. The protagonist of our story is an ancient fish called a coelacanth. 



If you haven't heard of them, these large, less-than-attractive fish have been swimming around our planet for over 400 million years. Yet, they still have a few tricks up their fins.



Our adventure starts in the sun-soaked stretches of Western Australia, where an ancient, pristinely preserved new coelacanth species from the Devonian Period was <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/coelacanth_Ngamugawi-wirngarri_new-species_credit-Katrina-Kenny_1b.jpg">found poking through the sand</a>.



The story weaves between past and present, science and culture, tracing the evolution of coelacanths and the Earth itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coelacanths-a-fish-out-of-time">Coelacanths: A fish out of time</h2>



What makes these deep-sea dwellers so fascinating? Today, coelacanths are a rare spectacle observed off the coasts of eastern Africa and Indonesia. 



Reaching up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet), they are known as "lobe-finned" fish. Their fin structure bears an uncanny <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-shoulders-evolved-from-the-jawbones-of-ancient-fish-called-placoderms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resemblance to our arm bones</a>.



This particular quirk places them closer to lungfish and backboned animals -- frogs, emus, mice (and yes, dear reader, humans too) -- than most fish.



Over their 410-million-year tenure, coelacanths have bloomed into more than 175 species worldwide. One of their finer moments of diversification occurred during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-were-not-the-only-animals-that-grew-fast-during-the-mesozoic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mesozoic Era</a>, the age of dinosaurs. 



But as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extraordinary-dinosaur-fossils-discovered-from-the-end-of-cretaceous-era/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous Period</a> (around 66 million years ago) rolled to a close under the impact of an asteroid, these mighty fish fell off our fossil radar.



In 1938, however, a group of South African fishermen pulled a Lazarus-like marvel from the ocean's depths -- a living, breathing coelacanth. 



This resurgence led to their infamous reputation as 'living fossils'. However, evidence is beginning to challenge this notion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birth-of-ngamugawi-wirngarri">Birth of Ngamugawi wirngarri</h2>



This brings us to our ancient starlet, the newly discovered coelacanth called Ngamugawi wirngarri. This specimen comes from a time of heightened tectonic activity. 



These time periods were earth-shaking epochs when the terrestrial plates shifted and carved out new habitats.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/coelacanth_Ngamugawi-wirngarri_skull-discovery_credit-Katrina-Kenny_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/coelacanth_Ngamugawi-wirngarri_skull-discovery_credit-Katrina-Kenny_1s.webp" alt="Ngamugawi wirngarri, a new coelacanth species, skull bones after they were acid etched out of rock at Museum Victoria, 2009. Credit: Flinders University" class="wp-image-1944732"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ngamugawi wirngarri, a new coelacanth species, skull bones after they were acid etched out of rock at Museum Victoria, 2009. Credit: Flinders University</figcaption></figure>



Dr. Alice Clement, an evolutionary biologist and paleontologist from <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a> in Australia, was part of the team that christened the fish in partnership with the Mimbi community.



"Our analyses found that tectonic plate activity had a profound influence on rates of coelacanth evolution," she revealed. 



"New species of coelacanth were more likely to evolve during periods of heightened tectonic activity as new habitats were divided and created."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gogo-sites-and-coelacanth-fish">Gogo sites and coelacanth fish</h2>



Ngamugawi wirngarri lived about 380 million years ago amidst the Devonian Period's tropical reefs, teeming with more than 50 species of fish. 



Today, this region is the rocky Gogo Formation on Gooniyandi Country in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia.



John Long, a Flinders University Strategic Professor of Palaeontology, sheds light on the importance of the Gogo sites. 



"For more than 35 years, we have found several perfectly preserved 3D fish fossils from Gogo sites," he said, "which have yielded many significant discoveries, including mineralized soft tissues and the origins of complex sexual reproduction in vertebrates," he explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-ngamugawi-wirngarri">Importance of Ngamugawi wirngarri</h2>



The story of coelacanths takes a crucial turn as we dive deeper into their lineage. Many landmarks of human anatomy, such as our jaws, teeth, and chambered hearts, can trace their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-rays-were-more-diverse-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roots to early fishes</a> in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-swamp-creature-found-in-namibia-was-an-ambush-predator/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Early Palaeozoic</a> (540-350 million years ago).



Although coelacanths' evolution has dramatically slowed since the dinosaur era, they're not static entities fossilized in time. 



Richard Cloutier, a vertebrate paleontologist at the <a href="https://www.uqar.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Quebec</a> in Rimouski and a study co-author, offers unique insight.



"While most early forms remain poorly known, our study allows us to start understanding how living coelacanth species of Latimeria might not deserve the enigmatic title of 'living fossils,'" he explained.



The discovery of Ngamugawi wirngarri brings to light the intricate interplay between biology and geology that has shaped life on our planet. 



It's more than just a fish tale -- it's a story about the profound influence of Earth's ever-changing skin on the dance of evolution.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51238-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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'Living fossil' fish species has survived for over 400 million years

A recent discovery slamming the fish world is drawing us...

Believe it or not, pet food gobbles up a whopping 9 to 20 percent of all livestock worldwide, with the higher end of the scale being true for high pet ownership nations like the U.S. 



But what if there was a way to reduce this significant environmental footprint with vegan diets for dogs without compromising their health? Turns out, there might be.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rise-of-vegan-dog-diets">Rise of vegan dog diets</h2>



Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not strict carnivores. They are, in fact, omnivores by nature. This basically means they can thrive on a diet consisting of a mix of plants, minerals, and synthetic ingredients as long as all the necessary nutrients are present. 



A growing number of companies are catching on to this and are producing vegan dog food that ticks all these boxes.



By 2024, ten scientific studies had been published indicating positive health outcomes for dogs on vegan or vegetarian diets. And it's worth noting that the British Veterinary Association has even given a thumbs up to nutritionally sound vegan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/probiotics-help-overweight-dogs-shed-pounds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">canine diets</a>.



However, the critical question still remained - What is the real magnitude of the health benefits that average dogs could enjoy from a vegan diet?



In other words, once we account for age, sex, neutering status, breed size and exercise level - all of the elements that can influence a dog's health - could we still see notable health improvements in dogs on a vegan diet?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-benefits-of-vegan-dog-diet">Health benefits of vegan dog diet</h2>



A research team led by Veterinary Professor Andrew Knight analyzed health outcomes for a staggering 2,536 dogs, including 336 that had been on a vegan diet for at least a year. 



The experts found an actual decrease in seven general indicators of illness in the vegan diet group.



The study revealed that dogs on vegan diets were less likely to require medication or specialized medical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warning-dogs-drinking-from-public-water-sources-is-dangerous/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets</a>. 



Dogs on vegan diets also needed fewer trips to the vet, were frequently assessed as healthy by their owners and veterinarians, and exhibited lower rates of illness.



When they did fall ill, these dogs also showed fewer health disorders compared to those on conventional meat-based diets. These improvements ranged from 14 percent to an impressive 51 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reduced-likelihood-of-health-disorders">Reduced likelihood of health disorders </h2>



To add to the weight of these findings, all of the observed differences were statistically significant. In non-statistician speak, this means that the differences seen were not due to pure chance but are likely true. 



What's more, the likelihood of suffering from six specific health disorders fell by 50 to 61 percent compared to dogs fed traditional meat. 



These disorders included some common doggie health problems like weight issues and problems with the ears, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-different-diets">Comparing different diets</h2>



A recent study found that of the 22 most common health disorders, 11 were most prevalent in dogs on conventional meat diets.



Eight were most common in dogs on raw meat diets, and just three were most likely in the vegan diet group. 



Overall, 49 percent of dogs on conventional meat diets were unwell compared to 43 percent on raw meat diets and a mere 36 percent on vegan diets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-impact-of-vegan-dog-diets">Environmental impact of vegan dog diets </h2>



Beyond the health benefits explored, the environmental ramifications of switching to vegan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-breeding-dogs-like-dachshunds-deserve-a-healthy-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets for dogs</a> are equally compelling. 



Traditional meat-based pet food significantly contributes to the carbon footprint due to the intensive resource demands of livestock farming, such as land, water, and feed. By reducing reliance on meat, vegan dog food can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation rates. 



According to a study from <a href="https://www.ucla.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA</a>, if all U.S. dogs and cats switched to plant-based diets, the reduction in meat consumption would be equivalent to taking millions of cars off the road in terms of carbon emissions. 



This shift offers a dual benefit: fostering pet health while supporting environmental sustainability - an urgent consideration in our rapidly changing climate landscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nutritional-considerations">Nutritional considerations </h2>



While the prospect of transitioning to a vegan diet for dogs presents numerous advantages, it is not without its challenges. 



Ensuring balanced nutrition is paramount, as improper diets can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients like protein, calcium, and vitamins such as B12 and D. 



For pet owners contemplating this switch, it's advisable to consult with veterinarians or pet nutrition specialists to tailor a nutritious plant-based diet. 



Recent advances in pet food technology have yielded a plethora of commercially available vegan options, fortified and balanced to cater specifically to canine dietary needs. 



Paying close attention to food labels and opting for brands with reputable nutritional accreditations can help safeguard against potential deficiencies, ensuring that the transition supports <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/medium-sized-dogs-have-a-greater-risk-of-developing-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pet health</a> effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-final-verdict">The final verdict</h2>



"Dogs fed vegan diets clearly had the best health outcomes in this very large-scale study, and these results are consistent with prior studies in this field," said Professor Knight.



"Nutritionally sound vegan diets offer extremely large environmental benefits, so this is very good news for dog owners who want to protect the environment while also maximizing their dogs' health." 



"However, care should always be taken to ensure diets are nutritionally sound, by checking package labeling and purchasing from reputable pet food companies."



Vegan dog have significant potential for a more sustainable planet and healthier pooches. But, like every aspect of pet care, it's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vegan-diets-may-not-be-best-for-dogs-after-all/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">essential to do your homework</a> and ensure that you're making the best choice for your furry friend.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)11609-X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heliyon</a>.



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Dogs on vegan diets stay healthier and visit the vet less often

Believe it or not, pet food gobbles up a whopping...

What lies at the bottom of the ocean? For many, it’s a dark and mysterious place, full of creatures we know little about. But sometimes, discoveries shed light on these mysteries. A new study has done just that, focusing on an unusual deep ocean dweller who likes to eat Sargassum.



Bathyopsurus nybelini, an isopod living nearly 3.7 miles (6,100 meters) deep beneath the ocean's surface, has a very unique diet: it feeds on Sargassum algae that sinks down from the ocean’s surface.



The study, led by Johanna Weston, a hadal ecologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (<a href="https://www.whoi.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHOI</a>), reveals just how connected the surface of our oceans is to the deep sea. 



Let's find out what makes this discovery so fascinating and important.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sargassum-in-the-deep-ocean">Sargassum in the deep ocean</h2>



In the summer of 2022, a group of researchers set out on an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/five-new-hydrothermal-vents-discovered-in-the-pacific-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adventure with Alvin</a>, a human-occupied submersible, to explore the Puerto Rico Trench and the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center in the Caribbean Sea. 



Thanks to Alvin's recent upgrades, including better deep-diving abilities and high-res image capturing, this journey became a reality.



While exploring the ocean depths, the team observed something unexpected: an isopod swimming upside down and away from the seafloor, clutching a frond of Sargassum algae as long as its own body. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-worm-discovered-off-costa-rica/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">At these depths</a> -- between 5,001 and 6,284 meters -- Alvin filmed 32 individual isopods and collected two samples for further study. 



According to Weston, “It was exciting to see this beautiful animal actively interacting with Sargassum, deep in the ocean. This isopod is so rarely seen; only a handful of specimens were collected during the groundbreaking 1948 Deep Sea Swedish Expedition.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-food-source">Unexpected food source</h2>



Sargassum is a type of brown algae typically found floating on the ocean's surface, forming dense mats that stretch for miles. In the sunlit zone, it thrives, photosynthesizing like any other plant. 



However, when Sargassum dies or detaches from its floating mats, it begins a slow, downward journey into the dark abyss.



That’s where Bathyopsurus nybelini comes in. This deep-sea isopod seems to wait patiently, adapted to find and feast on this sunken source of nutrients. 



“This isopod illustrates that an animal in a dark and high-pressure environment at the bottom of the seafloor has evolved multiple adaptations to feed on algae that grow in a sunlit ecosystem," explains Mackenzie Gerringer, a deep-ocean physiologist at <a href="https://www.geneseo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUNY Geneseo</a> and co-lead author of the study.



It’s an unlikely meal, but one that provides essential nourishment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isopods-and-deep-ocean-sargassum">Isopods and deep ocean Sargassum</h2>



Why is this discovery such a big deal? For one, Bathyopsurus nybelini has developed unique adaptations to survive in an environment where most creatures would struggle to find food. 



It uses a specialized swimming stroke, moving upside down and backward with large paddle-like legs, to carry Sargassum fronds off the seafloor. This might be a clever strategy to avoid predators by lifting its food into the water column.



But the adaptations don’t stop there. This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">isopod has mouthparts</a> that are serrated and ideal for tearing and consuming the tough, fibrous Sargassum. 



Inside its gut, it harbors bacteria that help break down the algae’s complex polysaccharides -- molecules that are notoriously difficult to digest. 



“Life everywhere, even in the deepest depths of the sea, is inexorably connected to the microorganisms around it,” says Logan Peoples, an aquatic microbial ecologist at <a href="https://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flathead Lake Biological Station</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-web-of-life-from-surface-to-seafloor">Web of life from surface to seafloor</h2>



The presence of Sargassum at such deep depths has bigger implications for how we understand ocean ecology. This study highlights the close connection between the surface ocean and the deep sea.



When Sargassum sinks, it plays a role in carbon cycling and storage, which affects global climate patterns. 



We’re already seeing significant ecological and economic impacts on coastal communities due to changes in how much Sargassum is found in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.



Researchers are eager to figure out just how much Sargassum makes it to the seafloor and how its arrival varies with the seasons and long-term environmental changes. 



Understanding these dynamics could help us predict how deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-pigs-unicumbers-strange-stunning-creatures-discovered-abyssal-plains-ccz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean communities</a> respond to shifting environmental conditions.



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



The discovery of Bathyopsurus nybelini feeding on Sargassum also highlights the importance of advanced technologies in deep-sea exploration. 



Alvin, the submersible that made this observation possible, was recently certified to dive to depths of 6,500 meters. 



This achievement opens new doors for marine research and underscores the significance of developing new tools and techniques to explore and study the ocean’s most remote regions. 



As Anna Michel, Chief Scientist for the <a href="https://ndsf.whoi.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Deep Submergence Facility</a>, noted, "The discovery described in this paper was possible due to its new deeper diving capabilities, which is very exciting for the Alvin team."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-ecosystems-and-human-impact">Deep-sea ecosystems and human impact</h2>



Why should we care about an isopod munching on seaweed at the bottom of the ocean? Well, it all comes down to how connected our planet’s ecosystems are. 



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-forms-dust-clouds-that-devastate-marine-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human activities change ocean conditions</a> -- from climate change to pollution -- it’s really important to understand how surface processes link to deep ocean ecosystems.



Every discovery, like that of Bathyopsurus nybelini, reminds us that even the most extreme environments on Earth are part of a larger, interconnected web of life. 



The more we learn, the better equipped we are to protect these ecosystems and manage the impacts of our actions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-sargassum-on-the-deep-ocean">Impact of Sargassum on the deep ocean</h2>



This study is just the beginning. Scientists plan to continue investigating how Sargassum and other surface-derived materials affect life in the deep sea. 



More research is needed to understand the seasonal and long-term changes in the abundance of Sargassum and its impact on deep-ocean food webs.



As we explore further, new discoveries will undoubtedly reshape our understanding of these hidden ecosystems. 



As Weston puts it, “We’re excited to share its amazing story of adaptation and this important reminder that habitats and organisms on our planet are deeply and intricately connected.”



The ocean is vast, and there is so much more to uncover. So, what other secrets lie in the deep, dark waters? Only time, curiosity, and continued exploration will tell. 



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.0823" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</a>.



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Robot discovers surprising food source for deep ocean creatures

What lies at the bottom of the ocean? For many,...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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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?

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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



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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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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



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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



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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



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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

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" 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> 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

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" 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> 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...